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What's up with Harmon Kardon receiver line?

Let's face it, as big of a corporation as Harmon International is, shouldn't Harmon Kardon be pushing AV receivers a little harder?!
I personally have thought highly of the Harmon sound mostly over years. In fact, I think their receiver line has offered otherwise excellent performance for the money - if making high current, very clean sounding pieces throughout the line!
Actually, of all the mass-marketed AV receivers I've dealt with over the years, I feel the Harmon-sound has been at the top of the heap sonically, dollar per dollar, over the years - especially at the lower price points.
But let's be honest, Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo (especially as of late), and Marantz have always out shined Harmon Kardon in marketing their receiver products - even being more "up to date" on their features and such. SO WHAT GIVES?!!!
I noticed Harmon basically offers some entry level pieces across the board with the latest features and tech (minus the superb Audyssey - boooooooooo!), and no higher end upgraded pieces.
Anyone else's thoughts on Harmon Kardon and their place in the AV receiver world?
iplaynaked
russ_l
95 posts
 
Mapman- just received this response from HK

"Good afternoon and thank you for your inquiry. The HK 990 is a European product only. We will not be bringing it to the U.S. We have a similar model, such as the HK 3490".

We'll all have to move to Europe to get the good stuff; I'm sure the 3490 does not live up to the 990.

Niki- thanks for letting us know though.

Russ
iplaynaked OP
193 posts
 
Sounds like some slippery politicking to me, er something...
OK. Here's what we do. We take over Europe, then it becomes our continent. Then we can have the 990 for ourselves! mmmmmmuaaahahahaha...muuuuaahaahahahahahaha!!!
niki_69
19 posts
 
Yes...not available in the states.HK 3490 is not even close(priced at $299).The price for the HK990 is $2000.To return to the OP question,may be the problem is the marketing strategy for the USA alone.I see HK in the systems/photo on some European forums all the time(together with much more expensive equipment).I also see the top models advertised on web sites in the east,together with valve amps,McIntosh,Classe etc. Harman International allways had special JBL speakers for sale in Japan.You cant even order them via JBL/HI dealer here ...The same is true for the HK990.Bad.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
Probably just too limited of a high end market and too much competition in the US for HK, especially with the devalued dollar.

Oh well, at least we know they are capable of making very good stuff when they chose to.
arnettpartners
312 posts
 
I don't know what's up with HK receiver line either, but the HK990 integrated is now available in US as you might have noticed. You can order it from the factory for I think $2399.00 free shipping. I've got a 3490 and 3485 both of which have excellent sound--much better than the Citation 7.1 which I previously owned. Will be interested in knowing how the 990 compares. Available specs are impressive. Lynne
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