Harman Kardon 730 Twin vs Yamaha R-1000

Spellbinder

Spellbinder

My Spine Is The Bassline
I recently had a Sansui AU -7700 I had to part with due to a job loss and a huge financial strain. Though I'm not on my feet yet, I'm in a position to get something to listen to my records again.

Anyone have any experience with either the Harman Kardon 730 Twin or the Yamaha R-1000? They are both similarly priced. I'd be using either Original Large Advents or Boston Acoustics A-100s. I listen to FLAC files through my computer going to the AUX and I listen to a lot of LPs with my Dual 1219.
 
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Raccoon1400 said:
I had a 730, it was killer. Nice fat sound.
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Looks like a 730 in your avatar.

I'm guessing that my love of LPs and my vintage turntable and speakers would be a better match with the AK 730. But I do love Yamaha as well. But being a bit newer and with a digital tuner, I'm not sure. I'm leaning to the 730 as it stands now.
 
the hk730, to my way of thinking, is far and away the better choice of the two if the price is similar - not the least of reasons for which is some congenital defects in the engineering of the R-1000 (inadequate heat sinking) and some proprietary components made of the purest unobtainium.

The R-1000 is an OK, later receiver. The hk730 is excellent in all respects (although older and perhaps needing some rehab work).

R1000front.jpg

R1000guts.jpg
 
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The HK730 has been serviced (fully cleaned inside and lamps replaced). The Yamaha is in nice physical shape though no work or cleaning has been done to it.

I guess this is really a no-brainer the more I think about it.
 
lifer70 said:
same as Robisme - have them both, love them both but would go with the 730.
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My first system (purchased new in the late 70's) included both a 730 and the Dual 1219. I still have both and marvel at the magic they make together.

The HK gets my vote hands down.

:yes:
 
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Mutemike said:
My first system (purchased new in the late 70's) included both a 730 and the Dual 1219. I still have both and marvel and the magic they make together.

The HK gets my vote hands down.
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Now that's what I like to hear. I love my Dual 1219. The best match is what I'm looking for.

I think I will pursue the Harman Kardon 730. Really appreciate the input thus far, guys!
 
@ mhardy6647

I notice you added images for the Yamaha.

Here's are the images for the Harman Kardon 730 I'm looking at...

vZFLO.jpg


mXslW.jpg


ia8MJ.jpg
 
If any receiver were to wind award for that classic “Brooks Brother Ivy League” looks it would be the HK 730. For me at lease it was the first quality audio product I owned. It will be kind to your speakers too. When I had problems I would blow a fuse on my HK, not speakers. (Don’t get me ranting on Adcom and B &K).

When I run into used a HK 730 my experience is that they have been well cared for, is it that they look so good that you just treat them right? I can’t say that about Yamaha, like aging rock stars, well they sound better then they look.(Life in the Fast Lane!)

However while the HK has a nice full sound the Yamaha might have more punch on the low end and maybe a little more detail. My drug of choose now of days are Yamaha separates. So I must put in a good word for these girls. I am always surprised that Yamaha looks like ‘Panic in Detroit’ under the hood, they get warm ( or hot) but they get the job done.

In fact I found a thrift store HK 730 for a friend living the hippie life in a Maui rain forest. It is still going strong.
 
I use a HK 330c at work. Fully recapped and sounds nice. In fact I have 3 HK 330c is with different caps to compare..I gave my 730 to Goodwill 2 weeks ago..Needed to thin out as I completed a Recap of Marantz 2220b & 2230..I like the sound much better with the Marantz. Yamaha I have not worked on...always looking out for 2020, 2040.

The only issue I see with HK...is the Cheap switches. Just plain poor. In fact, HK is the least in built quality for receivers and if you search my threads I have several recap projects with many brands. But is all about the sound and so I Deoxit the heck out of these switches.
 
Harmon Kardon and Luxman are my favorite Vintage Amps. It wouldn't surprise me if even today's high end amps would be hardpressed to sound as good as these after their refurbushed properly. Anouther favorite of mine are vintage Pioneer and Realistic Recievers, more for the nastalga and appearance. They sound good too, but I doubt as good as Harmon Kardon or Luxman. Take a look at photo's of the inside of the 730, and judge for youself...note the dual power supplies.
 
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Spellbinder said:
Looks like a 730 in your avatar.

I'm guessing that my love of LPs and my vintage turntable and speakers would be a better match with the AK 730. But I do love Yamaha as well. But being a bit newer and with a digital tuner, I'm not sure. I'm leaning to the 730 as it stands now.
Click to expand...

It is the h/k citation receiver in my avatar. (See my citation receiver thread for more pics and nudies)
I sold my 730 when I got the citation receiver.
I recapped my 730, and replaced a bunch of transistors in the power amp.
 
I just looked at... believe it or not a Niko NR-1015 reciever that challanges the HC's interior layout with modular construction, thick internal shielding between stages, Big solid heat sinks and a big tuner section. It however doesn't have the dual power supplies of the HC. But Nikko...What's Nikko? Taking a look at a few others "Under the hood" has given me a new respect for Nikko. Take a look at their alpha VI power amp.
 
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Well, I just pulled the trigger on the Harman Kardon 730. I can't wait as I'm currently using a mediocre Denon AVR-900 to tide me over. The HK 730 seems to have been gone through pretty thoroughly, as well.


From the description...

"Harman Kardon 730 s/n 5679 Replaced weak and leaky electrolytic filter capacitors in the power supply, phono and amplifer driver stages as necessary. Replaced defective multiplex processor integrated circuit and religned 19Khz adjustments. Removed all output transistors and inspected mica insulators and redressed them with thermal compound. Cleaned and reconditioned all mechanical tuning capacitor assembly, switch wafers and control potentiometers. Replaced dial indicators as necessary and religned dial scale and muting threshold. removed front panel and cleaned dial plate and backglass. Realigned broken source selector shaft as best internally/externally cleaned and detailed as best. The receiver was final tested extensively driving a pair of Klipsh 5.2 loudspeakers and overall performance was outstanding."
 
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