Surround receiver is a shining example of hk’s long-standing tradition of mating useful, creative features with outstanding sonic quality. Rear-panel inputs and outputs are all clearly marked, and–unlike some surround receivers–most essential functions can be accessed through front-panel controls rather than merely through the remote.
The remote can control many other non-harman products in addition to the avr65, but it takes a careful reading of the well-written manual to set this up. The avr65 automatically senses the type of digital surround encoding in use and adjusts to accommodate it. One caveat about the digital processing is the 48khz limitation on the digital input. To further “future-proof” the avr65, harman has designed the model with two other unique analog features: high current capability (+/- 40 amps) and ultrawide bandwidth (8hz – 80khz).
Because loudspeaker impedance (the inherent resistance to the incoming voltage) varies with frequency, the amplifier may need to deliver, at moments, up to six times the current load required for the speaker’s impedance rating; the avr65′s high current capability does just that. Harman’s ultrawide bandwidth offers linear frequency response to around 80khz, well beyond the range of human hearing. This reduces undesirable phase shifts within the audible spectrum and increases “headroom,” the amplifier’s ability to reproduce complex, dynamic transients (such as cymbal crashes) with greater accuracy. The benefits of these features came through clearly in our testing.
Tags: Surround receiver
