Harman Kardon HK 3490 Best Prices!
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Harman Kardon HK 3490 Best Prices!.
Product: Harman Kardon HK 3490 Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
Compare Prices on Harman Kardon HK 3490
I formally owned a Rotel RX-1050 and decided to give the 3490 a try. I really buy a nice 2 channel amp to drive my B&H 603's and the HK does the job well. What I liked that you won't catch in other 2 channel amps is two digital in's, xm ready, ipod integration and 2x sub out. For the ticket you really can't beat it. The size is about 33% larger than my Rotel. The power about 25% more.
The controls of course are very diminutive, source+balance+tone. No EQ.
The phono amp provided hum free sound from my Tech. 1200.
I will mention that the Bridge I contrivance has some problems with this original amp. HK told me that the manual has a typo when they said the Bridge I would work with this blueprint and I have to wait until the Bridge II is released in September.
My only other microscopic complaint is the contrivance has composite out for video. Why bother? This would have been a home race with component/DVI or HDMI out. Doesn't seem like it would have added that worthy to the imprint to add a HD profitable switch to the arrangement.
I'm obvious a 3495 will near out in a year and fix this. 
I passe the HK 3480 (the precursor to this model) for five years and loved it. The 3490 is even better. The sound is more robust and bulky, not different, but impartial more refined. It easily powers my Klipsch Synergy speakers and would pair well with any mid-level speakers. With 120w even inefficient speakers will have more than a enough power to disappear air.
Further, the 3490 has an distinguished unusual feature: digital inputs. This is a very nice option for those who have made the jump to an all digital music library and expend a digital jukeboxes like the Roku Soundbridge or the Squeezebox. Both players have digital outs and pair up nicely with the 3490.
The disagreement in quality from digital inputs or analog is debatable, but to my ear, going from the 3480 with analog cables, to the 3490 with optical TOSLINK, there was an immediately improvement in clarity. Songs with lovely sound work came alive. Soft details were more apparent. It's been a huge upgrade for me.
It's considerable to designate that the 3490 doesn't leave analog fans in the frosty either. It has a very nice tape loop and a extraordinary gold plated stereo pickup. In short, whether you're library consists of vinyl or mp3s this amp will do it all.
I have always been a fan of Harmon Kardon, and I bought the older 3480 because I'm a strict fan of stereo music listening. The 3490 is a very incandescent update to the 3480, bringing it into the 21st century with a host of digital options. For those who rely on an iPod for music, there is specific iPod cradle for this amp that allows you to play your iPod's music effortless over the stereo while controlling it with the HK remote. This amp is also XM Radio ready, fair tear in your XM receiver and the HK will allow you to control it.
It's very hard to gather a subtle, high powered stereo receiver with these features. The market has sadly moved away to the home theater, multi-channel world, but I'm gay Harmon Kardon is peaceful trusty to their stereo listeners.
Build quality is very nice. It's not a flashy amp, it doesn't light up the room with needless LEDs. It's very understated, and splendid. HK even includes two runt inserts that shroud the front inputs and bass, treble, and balance controls (nice if you don't want people messing with your settings, or you bask in a orderly perceive.)
Other than the digital options, the tape loop and the phono pickup, the amp does allow video switching and pass through should you want to integrate into your home theater. The other critical detail are the speaker posts. They allow the utilize of banana clips or allow you to obtain naked wire in two different ways to the posts. This is nice if you don't have a lot of clearance unhurried the amp.
At this effect point, there is simply nothing out there that can compete with this amp in terms of quality, performance, or features.
I was in search of a fine conventional amp, a replacement for a previous Harman Kardon, so I was a bit biased...but this is an incredibly powered amp, with FM tuner, video inputs, noteworthy more, and at a sign that causes one to discontinuance dreary in your tracks and order it. I did, and I have no plan how they keep together such sound quality at such a shameful sign.
