Whoa, back to the 70s

[austi15]

Dunno if this has been posted yet... but Harman Kardon just came out with what looks to be a brutal integrated/receiver (dunno if it has a tuner)

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=HK%20990/230

Look at the inside!!!! Probably close to $2k, but that fits with inflation adjusted TOTL 70s

I want one NOW! And I thought I was happy with my HK3490

dual toriodals (looks like dual mono, or quasi dual mono), with huge heatsinks, massive caps...

 

[winters860]

That's a hell of an amp by any measure!

But as much as we gnash our teeth and moan about how they don't make them like they used to, how many of us could even think of ponying up to buy one new?

 

[bastek]

I think buying used is still a better value, in the late 80s digital stereo integrated amps were common, i bought this Onkyo for $800 in 2002, in '89 it listed for $3K.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT2/AG10/AG10.html

 

[dshoaf]

Looks like it hasn't made it into the US market, though. Nice to see 'em made that way.

Cheers,

David

 

[jaykoly]

I am glad to see what looks like a high end amp from HK again. I have an HK 870 amp which I think was a very high quality amp from the early 80's that I still use today.

 

[Doctordirt]

Looks like 450 for 2 channel, and 1k for HT version tops. Seems like a good value to me. Looks like it combines the old styling and simplicity with the latest and greatest, so I would definately consider it.

 

[austi15]

In Britain the HK990 is 1k pounds, so probably will be 1.5-2k here.

I think it is coming here. If not there will probably be a demand for it.

 

[jhoyt]

Wow, that's pretty cool. Yamaha also came out recently with a nice 2-channel integrated. Gorgeous stuff. Is HK trying to recapture a little of their former glory? That would be awesome!

 

[dshoaf]

Wow, that's pretty cool. Yamaha also came out recently with a nice 2-channel integrated. Gorgeous stuff. Is HK trying to recapture a little of their former glory? That would be awesome!

Well, the designers can certainly pump out the designs and the PRC (according to the label in the pics on the HK site) can build 'em 24x7. The problem right now here in the US is that HK pretty doesn't have distribution channels that will get the product in the hands of people who will be willing to pay for it.

How many folks that frequent Best Buy or Costco will buy something like that? They're going to need dealerships who will be willing to stock it - or at least be willing to order one.

Still wishing....

Cheers,

David

 

[SBEEZ]

Nice setup. I'll wait the 10-20 years until it becomes a vintage item and becomes a little cheaper.

 

[olblueyez]

I have been eyeballin that sucker ever since it showed up on the HK website. it would be perfect for my Stello dac with balanced outs. I hope they release it here in the US. It would not be the first time HK had some nice HiFi 2 channel gear that didn't make it over here.

 

[eThink]

Comparison to h/k PM665vxi from 1990

Dunno if this has been posted yet... but Harman Kardon just came out with what looks to be a brutal integrated/receiver (dunno if it has a tuner)

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=HK%20990/230

Look at the inside!!!! Probably close to $2k, but that fits with inflation adjusted TOTL 70s

I want one NOW! And I thought I was happy with my HK3490

dual toriodals (looks like dual mono, or quasi dual mono), with huge heatsinks, massive caps...

Take a look at these AK threads on h/k integrated amplifiers from the 1970s and 1980: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80917 and http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36110

The hk 990 seems to match up closest to the h/k pm 665vxi from the late 1980s. As you will see in the the AK thread, the MSRP for the h/k PM665vxi was $775 in 1988 dollars. The PM665vxi specifications from the owners manual are attached as a PDF to this posting. Sonic performance and build quality of the PM665vxi was very good. Do a search of AK "Solid State" threads.

The PM665vxi was made for h/k in Japan, probably by the Japanese OEM, Silver (Shin Shirasuna Electric Corporation). http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT2/HK700/HK700.html

It appears that most h/k gear is currently made in China. From my recent and painful experience, h/k gear from the past 15 years does NOT have the same build quality as the h/k Japanese gear from the 1970s and 1980s. :thumbsdn:

If I was looking for a an h/k 2-channel, integrated amplifier, I would choose "vintage" h/k over the current h/k 990. I would also pay an experienced tech to check out the unit and replace any questionable components.

Finally, my primary components for my 2-channel, music system are "vintage" h/k gear: :thmbsp:

• 
  [*]Tuner: h/k 915
  [*]Preamp: h/k 825
  [*]Power Amp: (2) h/k 775 "mono blocks"

 

[austi15]

It appears that most h/k gear is currently made in China. From my recent and painful experience, h/k gear from the past 15 years does NOT have the same build quality as the h/k Japanese gear from the 1970s and 1980s. :thumbsdn:

I would agree with you in terms of their HT stuff. I would disagree with that point in terms of their stereo receivers. Granted, my HK3490 hardly compares build-quality-wise to a TOTL h/k receiver or integrated from the 70s or early 80s. But for 300 bucks NEW -less than $170 in '88 according to an inflation calculator-, it's a bargain. Honestly it sounds almost as good as my Marantz 2216 (at a similar output level appropriate for the 2216), far better than my onkyo TX-5000, and on par with my yamaha A-700 in terms of output power and SQ (to cover a few of the major receiver/integrated manuf.s at the time.)

Now this new series looks to have the build quality of the vintage stuff coupled with some more modern conveniences such as a great DAC (spec-wise, dunno how it sounds). I want to hear one before I buy of course, and I only have a few months until college and just bought 3 cars that need substantial work, so it's unlikely that I will buy one.

I will agree with you that value-wise the vintage stuff is much, much better....but think....in 20 years, if everybody buys vintage now, what will fill our thrift stores?

 

[eThink]

Today's "throw-away" consumer electronics

I will agree with you that value-wise the vintage stuff is much, much better....but think....in 20 years, if everybody buys vintage now, what will fill our thrift stores?

In the "throw-away" society that has evolved over the past 10 years, I doubt that 95% of today's consumer electronics will be around in 15 or 20 years to be vintage! :scratch2:

Today' s "black plastic crap" from China and sold at Wal-Mart and Best Buy is unlikely to have a productive life beyond five years. :thumbsdn:

 

[Rodzilla]

In the "throw-away" society that has evolved over the past 10 years, I doubt that 95% of today's consumer electronics will be around in 15 or 20 years to be vintage! :scratch2:

Today' s "black plastic crap" from China and sold at Wal-Mart and Best Buy is unlikely to have a productive life beyond five years. :thumbsdn:

sad but true...not only is the quality not there...most anything beyond the most basic faults are virtually unrepairable at any reasonable cost..even by the manufacturer..the best possible outcome for most of it is that it goes to a recycler instead of the landfill when it inevitably breaks down..ironically in some ways this will make a modern bit of electronics that still works 15-20 years from now, even more amazing and rare than anything from 15-20 years ago is now

 

[automojo]

Take a look at these AK threads on h/k integrated amplifiers from the 1970s and 1980: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80917 and http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36110

The hk 990 seems to match up closest to the h/k pm 665vxi from the late 1980s. As you will see in the the AK thread, the MSRP for the h/k PM665vxi was $775 in 1988 dollars. The PM665vxi specifications from the owners manual are attached as a PDF to this posting. Sonic performance and build quality of the PM665vxi was very good. Do a search of AK "Solid State" threads.

The PM665vxi was made for h/k in Japan, probably by the Japanese OEM, Silver (Shin Shirasuna Electric Corporation). http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT2/HK700/HK700.html

It appears that most h/k gear is currently made in China. From my recent and painful experience, h/k gear from the past 15 years does NOT have the same build quality as the h/k Japanese gear from the 1970s and 1980s. :thumbsdn:

If I was looking for a an h/k 2-channel, integrated amplifier, I would choose "vintage" h/k over the current h/k 990. I would also pay an experienced tech to check out the unit and replace any questionable components.

Finally, my primary components for my 2-channel, music system are "vintage" h/k gear: :thmbsp:

• 
  [*]Tuner: h/k 915
  [*]Preamp: h/k 825
  [*]Power Amp: (2) h/k 775 "mono blocks"

There are a couple of exceptions. The Signature amps, I have a 1.5 amp, has the build quality and sound of Harmans best vintage amps (Citation 12, 16 Citation 22,24, etc) made in the USA by same factory that manufactors Mark Levison, built in early 2000's.
I would also ad the PA2400, built in the early '90's. I also recently aquired a PA2000, built somewhere in the early 2000's. Made in Korea, but is a solid great sounding amp, and surprising well built, nicely laid out circuitry. While I plan on using the PA2000 for a second room system, pair of the livingroom system, I tested it bridged (it's 4 channel ) and ran it of my Citation 21 preamp into a pair of ESS AMT 3's.
I have to tell you it held it's own, while only 100wpc in bridged it began running out of steam at higher levels. However, it had no problem playing the AMT 3's to satifying levels without running hot into 4 ohms.
It has a similiar neutral sound like the PA2400, just doesn't have the shear bass punch and a tad less clean sounding, but for $45 it's hard to complain.
While I can't vouch for the early 2000 H/K receivers, sound or build quality, they seem to have a decent following.
Hopefully H/K decides to take the Marantz route, and start again building some nice 2 channel gear along with the 'mass market' H/T stuff, that amp looks like a nice start, however as mentioned getting it to their current retailers, well they wouldn't have the customers for it-perhaps they should try to market the stuff via Internet and go from there.

 

[Hokieman]

If I was looking for a an h/k 2-channel, integrated amplifier, I would choose "vintage" h/k over the current h/k 990. I would also pay an experienced tech to check out the unit and replace any questionable components.

I'm with eThink here - HK still needs to prove (at least to me) that it's current 2 ch stuff is up to par with their earlier offerings. I haven't encountered anything yet from them that does. I'd be surprised (pleasantly, I assure you) if this thing could top my PM660 @ its 80 wpc.