Harman Kardon 3390 & 3490


Found both of these receivers for cheap price.The 3490, 120 W/C +/- 45 amps, the amperage I find hard to believe, for $299, and 3390 80 W/C +/- 40 amps.

I listen at 92/94 db or less, most all the time.I like my hearing real well!The tube amp I've used is 22 W/C and when I play music at 94/95 db for a few seconds there seems to be more left on the tube amp. I sit 10' from each speaker.I used an SPL meter to check the loudness. The speakers are Vandersteen 2CI's.Oh, the room is 15 x 27 with door ways at the opposite end of the room.
Thanks for any help you may afford me.
Harley
harley52
Hi Harley

From what I've read online the HK 3490 amp section is quite powerful and could push your Vandys to the 92/94 db you require without any issue.

Here is one A'gon member who reviewed the HK 3490

Audiogon member review HK3490
I have a 3490 I bought as a backup and have been using as both an integrated and a pre. I think it has pretty high current and sounds pretty darn good for th $220 I paid on the 'bay. I have used it to drive Ohm Walsh 2-100s and it was fine. I would not hestiate to get one if I was looking for good mid-fi at a reasonable price. I found that when I used it as a pre with my better power amp the quality, clarity and detail level increased but not nearly as much as I expected. I am about to hook it up to a new amp and it will be interesting to see if the money I paid got me much incrementally.

I also got a 3480 for a friend and she too has found it more than enough driving some older Ohm C3 speakers. Its a pretty good deal in my book.
Incredible bargains, especially if you listen with your ears and not your eyes.
Saw this and thought I would mention that I recently used the HK as a power amp for a bit hooked up to a Yamaha C70 preamp that I was given. As a power amp it was way better than I anticipated...good to great mid-fi for lack of a better metric...maybe even decent true hi-fi. It will not stay in my system as I have other better pieces but I needed something that had options for multiple speaker setup and this is the only thing with that in my closet. I will keep it as a backup piece or use it in another room. Its definitely a cheap way into better than average sound for someone doing the entry level thing.