The helm

The Harman/Kardon AVR254. An affordable powerhouse of HD audio decoding and digital video processing. Before we delve into this A/V receiver's impressive list of processing and decoding technologies, let's take a quick peak at the system's foundation. First, 7.1 audio channels mean that with the right home audio speaker system, you can enjoy the most advanced, complete, all-encompassing audio soundstage available. Second, with 50W backing up each channel, you experience your surround speakers' full potential. Finally, for optimal integration as your home theater's new command center, the AVR254 sports a wide variety of audio and video connections, including HDMI v1.3, the most advanced digital interface.

A decoder ring for big kids

Okay, so you've got the 7.1-channel surround sound speaker system and an HD audio/video source like Blu-ray Disc. Now, in order to bring these two ends of your home theater infrastructure together, all you need is some serious audio decoding . . . While the AVR254 offers support for a wide variety of Dolby® and dts® decoding formats, three giants stand out among the rest. Dolby True HD is a high definition audio technology that uses lossless coding technology to faithfully reproduce the sound of your favorite movie's studio master track. An improved version of other conventional dts® formats, dts-HD Master Audio uses high data bit rate performance to provide high-quality sound for up to 7.1 channels of discrete digital sound. Also, the active matrix multi-channel audio processing system Logic 7® converts, or upmixes, two-channel stereo signals into five- or seven-channel signals, allowing you to better experience the surrounding ambient sounds that are already present in stereo mixes. As an added audio feature, the AVR254 offers 7.1-channel preamp output and assignable rear-channel amplifiers, giving you the freedom to expand into bi-amping applications for serious amplification.

"Upscale" video processing

Directional Correlation De-interlacing. Upscaling. Processing. Algorithms. Whoa! Slow down. Enough with the mumbo-jumbo. Thanks to Faroudja DCDi Cinema&trade, the Harman/Kardon AVR254 is able to deliver advance video-reproduction performance to your new 1080p HDTV with video from a variety of sources. Using advanced algorithms, Faroudja technology upscales all video content (regardless of resolution) to 1080p . . . the highest resolution available. In addition to merely upscaling your video resolution, Faroudja converts your standard interlaced signal to progressive scan, removing the jagged edges that generally appear when this type of conversion is performed. Big deal, you might say? By advancing your video signal to progressive-scan 1080 (1080p), you get a video picture with the highest level of detail and smoothest reproduction available. Additionally, support for 1080p includes an on-screen display, making navigation of the AVR254's features a breeze.

Customized audio

A variety of factors can influence your home theater system's audio performance, including your home theater itself. The acoustics of your listening area, i.e. the position of walls and furniture, play and important role in determining the ultimate soundstage you experience. So, in order to achieve optimal audio performance in your living room, you have two options: 1) design your listening area to match your audio system's requirements, or 2) customize your audio system's performance to match your listening area's unique properties. That is, time-consuming and expensive versus fast and convenient. With the Harman/Kardon AVR 254, the decision is made for you. EzSet/EQ™ technology uses an included set-up microphone and sound-test program to optimize your speaker's settings for ideal performance in your listening area.

Ready . . . Set . . . Ready!

Imagine . . . whether you're just getting home from a weekend road trip or from your evening commute, you've been rocking out for the last twenty minutes to a killer playset on your MP3 or satellite radio service. As you pull into the garage, however, major bummerdom sets in . . . the only way to keep the mix alive is to remain seated in your car, in your garage, surrounded by lawn-care tools and the silence of stillness under your tires. Wait a second! You've got the Harman/Kardon AVR 254 in your living room. Thanks to a built-in XM Ready® tuner and a mini jack input for plugging in your MP3 player, you're just seconds away from firing up that awesome playlist inside.

HDMIncredible

Bringing you the absolute best in connectivity, the Harman/Kardon AVR 254 features three HDMI connections. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the only interface in consumer electronics that can carry both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in all HD formats including 720p, 1080i and even 1080p. Your incoming media content comes in a variety of sizes, resolutions and formats, and with that in mind, HDMI systems automatically configure to display that content in the most effective format. Since HDMI carries all channels on video and audio, there is only one cable to plug into any HDMI-enabled source and display device. No more complicated cable set-up when installing your home theater system, and no more ugly cable mess behind your components. HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on this single cable. Also, HDMI is fully backward-compatible with DVI. (Please note that a physical adapter, sold separately, is needed to make the conversion from HDMI to DVI.)

Avoid the 'No Wire' ire

The advent of HDMI has been monumental in the advancement of all your favorite audio and video gadgets. Don't miss out on all that your new AVR 254 offers — in terms of high-definition audio and video connectivity — by leaving a set of HDMI cables off the list. Vann's sales representatives are here to explain all your options, so you can make the best purchase and get the most out of your hi-def system. Call the 800 number at the top of this page for expert advice.

Comparison Specifications

• Processing decoding: Dolby®: Digital Plus, Pro Logic® IIx, TrueHD, Virtual Speaker / dts®: 5.1, ES 6.1 discrete and matrix / 96/24™, Neo:6, High Resolution, Master Audio&trade
• Output power: 50W x 7, multi-channel / 65W x 2, stereo / High-current amp
• Best video connections: 3 HDMI v1.3 inputs with Deep Color / 1 HDMI v1.3 output / Full A/V processing and repeater
• Best audio connections: 3 coaxial digital audio in (2 rear, 1 front) / 3 optical digital audio in (2 rear, 1 front) / 1 rear coaxial out / Digital input polling
• Multi-channel audio in: 7.1 direct audio inputs
• Other audio connections: 7.1-channel preamp output / 6 analog audio inputs / 4 A/V direct audio inputs
• Other video connections: 3 assignable 100MHz component inputs / 4 S-Video inputs
• Other connections: IR-in/out jacks / RS-232 upgrade data port
• Plug-and-play: Mini jack input / XM Ready® tuner
• Remote control: 7-device programmable remote

Additional Specifications

• DSP processor: Cirrus® CS 49700
• Video processing/conversion: Faroudja DCDi Cinema™ scaling/processing to 1080p
• 1080p with OSD
• Bass Management: Quad crossover
• Room equalization: ExSet/EQ™
• DAC output: 192kHz/24-bit
• On-screen display: HD graphical menu system
• Input tilting for all inputs
• AUDIO
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 100dB / Frequency response: 10Hz - 120kHz

Manufacturer Specifications

• FM TUNER
• Frequency range: 87.5MHz - 108.0MHz / Signal-to-noise ratio: 70dB mono, 68dB / Distortion: 0.2% mono, 0.3% stereo / Stereo separation: 40dB @ kHz
• AM TUNER
• Frequency range: 520kHz - 1720kHz / Signal-to-noise ratio 45dB
• VIDEO
• Television format: NTSC / Input/output level/impedance: 1 Vp-p/75 ohms / Composite/S-Video frequency response: 10Hz - 8 MHz / Component video frequency response: 10Hz - 100MHz
• Speaker terminals: Color-coded binding posts

Dimensional Specifications

• Dimensions: 6.5" H x 17.31" W x 15.0" D
• Weight: 27.7 lbs

Harman Kardon AVR 254 Warranty Details

2-year parts and labor warranty