Sound Launches With New Harman Kardon Audio/Video Receivers

Harman Kardon, a division of Harman International Industries, Inc., has introduced three new audio/video receivers for the home.

The company said that each receiver takes advantage of the latest sound and video technologies - such as the latest high-bit-rate formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio delivered via Blu-ray Disc and the HD video content stored on iPod and iPhone products - and incorporates them into a beautifully designed, easy-to-use system.

The AVR 1600, AVR 2600 and AVR 3600, the company noted, are all capable of generating multichannel surround sound, allowing users to hear the crisp detail of a soft guitar stroke and the exciting explosions coming from different directions in the latest action movie. S

Harman Kardon's new line of receivers makes its debut at a time when more than half of U.S. households own a high-definition TV, according to the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing. However, solely owning a high-definition TV without the proper receiver or sound equipment means that these households can only take partial advantage of the technology being offered through their TV systems. Audio/video receivers not only help integrate the best sound possible coming out of your TV, but they also help integrate playback of other devices.

The AVR 3600 comes equipped with Harman Kardon's The Bridge III, a universal dock for the iPod and iPhone that connects with a single cable and lets users navigate music and video collections with the unit's high-resolution on-screen menus. The AVR 3600 is one of the few receivers to play back HD videos from iPod or iPhone products. Non-HD videos from the iPhone are automatically optimized by the AVR 3600 to bring the video quality to the HD standard, 1080p.

Given the importance of integration of multiple entertainment devices, both the AVR 3600 and AVR 2600 feature Dolby Volume to maintain consistent and clear sound volume when switching between multiple sources, such as from DVR to TV to music, one TV channel to another or even a TV program to an overly loud commercial. Harman Kardon receivers have earned worldwide accolades for their uncompromising sound quality. From entry-level to advanced models, the multichannel receivers are held to the brand's high-performance standards. With a few simple steps, the AVRs adjust sound to exact room setups. With Harman Kardon's proprietary EzSet/EQ system, the user plugs in an included microphone and follows full-color on-screen instructions (text-only in the AVR1600).

"Novice home-theater installers shouldn't fret. Harman International brought sound to the first movie theaters and it also introduced many of the technologies associated with the world's best amplifiers. Simplifying the household setup has become a big part of that process," said Christopher M. Dragon, director of consumer and field marketing, Harman International. "Our team of engineers continues to deliver the ultimate home-listening experience that's easy to set up."

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