Don Lindich’s Sound Advice Blog

Harman/Kardon receiver (A/V model depicted)

One of my favorite recommendations for audiophiles on a budget (or any audiophile, for that matter) is a Harman/Kardon stereo receiver from harmanaudio.com.

Given their prices Harman/Kardon’s audio/video receivers are a bit behind the curve compared to competitors, but they still make one of the best stereo receivers going.  Harman/Kardon built their reputation on clean, strong amplifiers and their stereo receivers are no exception.  In fact, they are some of the best performing receivers at any price, as well as some of the best values.  Their top models has a strong, 120 watt per channel amplifier that can easily drive 4-ohm speakers.  This makes them up to the task of driving most any speaker and you would have to spend many times more to get a noticeable improvement, if any improvement at all.  It’s not for nothing that the Harman/Kardon receivers are an annual recommendation by Stereophile magazine, the most finicky of audio publications.  Most Stereophile-recommended products sell for many thousands of dollars!  I don’t agree with Stereophile’s philosophy on tweaks and speaker wire, but I definitely agree with their recommendation of these receivers.

Here’s the best part: you do not have to spend anywhere near the $399 list price to get one of these outstanding, genuinely high-end pieces of equipment.  They are offered at bargain prices from harmanaudio.com, an offical Harman International clearance site.  Right now you can get the 120 watt per channel HK3485-Z (Z means refurbished, or B-stock) for only $229.00, reduced from $399.  The 80 watt per channel HK3385-Z sells for only $199, reduced from $299.  If it was my money I would spend the extra $30 and get the HK3485-Z, just to know I had the best.  The Harman/Kardon stereo receivers have phono preamps built-in, and good ones at that, making them perfect for a vinyl playback system.

Ohm Walsh 200 Speakers

I will soon have a review of the Ohm Walsh 200 speakers posted.  The review samples were sold by Ohm to Sound Advice fans living a few hours from me, and given my love of road trips I agreed to bring them to the purchasers once my review was finished.  I recommended they buy a HK3485-Z to drive their new speakers.

I hooked everything when I dropped off the Walsh 200s and even driving these $3,000 speakers, the $229 HK3485 fully did them justice, producing magnificent sound that literally brought a tear to the eye of one of the purchasers as she heard the speakers for the first time.  If you want truly high-end sound quality, buy an HK3485 and use your savings to buy some really great speakers.

The Magnepan MMG is another fine-sounding exotic speaker.  Though the MMGs sell for only $599, few inexpensive amplifiers can drive them.  The HK3485 is one of them, and at $599 for MMGs and $229 for the HK3485 you have an exotic, high-end sound system for well under $1,000.  The Polk LSi series is another spectacular speaker that requires a strong, 4-ohm amplifier. Yet another perfect match for the HK3485.

At $229 you won’t go wrong no matter what speakers you buy, be it exotic Ohms or Magnepans or high quality, conventional speakers from companies such as Axiom Audio, the Speaker Company, or Acculine.  If you like to upgrade you can start small and move to exotic speakers later- these receivers will be up to most any task.

Stop back for tomorrow’s Product of the Day!