Harman Kardon intros AVR 354, AVR 254 and AVR 154 receivers
If you were wondering yesterday how a peripheral could be bundled in with an unreleased item, we've got your answer today. The Bridge II, which was unveiled less than a day ago, will indeed be packaged with the AVR 354 receiver, which was introduced more recently alongside the AVR 254 and AVR 154. The 354 / 254 are both 7.1-channel units, with the former packing 75-watts per channel and the latter 50-watts per channel; the 154 is a 5.1 device with 30-watts per channel. You'll also find HDMI 1.3a capability, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding (top two only) and a new graphical on-screen menu. Price wise, the AVRs will set you back $899, $649 and $399, respectively, and while the first two are available now, the 154 won't arrive until July. Oh, and for you stereo lovers out there, the HK 3490 (2 x 120W) and HK 3390 (2 x 80W) are all new as well.
[Via Digital Trends]
[Via Digital Trends]

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pip @ May 30th 2008 9:35AM
Kind of useless. The lack of HDMI ports is a huge turn off. Right now everything, and I mean everything, is HDMI out. I can count upwards of five or six HDMI devices I need to plug into my HDTV, and I'm not even that hardcore of a home audio/theater geek. I can't imagine what the really insane people are doing, they must have twin linked HDMI switch boxes going or something.
These companies need to start dropping the SVid links and start adding 6-10 HDMI inputs instead.
daaper @ May 30th 2008 11:12AM
It does seem a bit overkill to have 5 s-vid and only 3 HDMI...damn, I thought this could be a contender for my HT, too. I really like the styling: techy, yet understated
SimbaDogg @ May 30th 2008 3:24PM
jesus christ...5-6, what do u have...i only have a ps3, PC, sat box
The Fuzz 53 @ May 30th 2008 10:06AM
Am I the only one that thinks that for that kind of money you should be getting more that 75W/channel?
Brian @ May 30th 2008 10:57AM
The HK AVR's are not available yet! Also HK's 75 watts are like other companies 125 watts!
Research is your friend!
Aaron Smith @ May 30th 2008 11:23AM
Although I'm a fan of HK I feel they are a little overpriced compared to the features I can get from Onkyo or even Denon. Anybody else feel this way???
Galicki @ May 30th 2008 11:57AM
Features? Get a JVC if you want a lot of features. I had a HK and though performance was great. Not much worse than my Rotel that costs twice as much. The rotel has two features. Bass and Terrible. I dunno, maybe I'm just cranky about 7.1 9.1 11.2. 90% of the time I just want to listen to music out of some nice 3 way floor speakers. I hated my 5.1 system with the bookshelves and listening to the crappy music reproduction. I'm not watching Star Wars anyways..so maybe its just me. I think I'm going for the HK 3490, $325 at J&R.
Video Master @ May 30th 2008 7:15PM
At least the exterior design is good - this leaves many other co's like Onkyo and Denon in the dust