Integrated Amp Reviews

Harman Kardon HK 990 integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital Sources: Sony XA-5400ES SACD/CD player, Oppo BDP-95 universal BD player, Logitech Squeezebox Touch networked music player.
Preamplification: Parasound Halo JC 2 BP preamplifier, Meridian HD621 HDMI audio processor & 861 Reference V6 digital surround controller.
Power Amplifiers: McIntosh Labs MC303 (three-channel), Bel Canto Design REF1000 Mk.II (monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Aerial Model 7T, B&W 800 Diamond, JL Audio Fathom f113 subwoofer.
Cables: Digital: Black Cat Veloce. Interconnect: Kubala-Sosna Fascination (XLR, RCA), QED Silver Anniversary XT. Speaker: Kubala-Sosna Fascination. AC: JPS Aluminata.
Accessories: APC S-15, Environmental Potentials EP-2450 power conditioners.—Kalman Rubinson

COMPANY INFO
Harman Kardon
400 Atlantic Street, 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
(800) 422-8027
www.harmankardon.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
yoniyama's picture
Submitted by yoniyama on March 27, 2012 - 11:24am

I have my Sony XA-5400ES hooked up to the Harmon Kardon HK 990 (now you know I am a certified fan of Mr Rubinson) of which the sound comes out from a pair of Revel Performa M20.  I usually play the Sony through the XLR input and in Direct Path mode, rather than an optical input. 

I am quite happy with the set up but now I need to replace the book shelf speakers with floor standing ones so my 3 year-old baby won't be knocking down the speakers onto her head.  And I don't plan to use any sub-woofer.

I have narrowed the choice of floor standing speakers to:

1  Magneplanar 1.7; or

2  PSB Synchrony 2.

I have heard both speakers at two different dealers with different amps and cd player, but I have not been able to hear them at home with my HK990 and Sony XA-5400ES.  The Synchrony 2 does everything very well, but it lacks the ribbon magic of the 1.7.  I worry about 1.7's lack of bass, even though the HK 990 should be powerful enough.  (I know a sub-woofer could be a solution to the bass deficiency of the 1.7, but I am NOT getting a sub-woofer.)

Any comment for my concern or suggestion for an alternative at a similar price range would be much appreciated.

 

 

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JohnyBGood's picture
Submitted by JohnyBGood on May 15, 2012 - 6:02pm

The manual isn't very thorough.  I'd love to know how to adjust bass & treble.

rg500g's picture
Submitted by rg500g on April 30, 2014 - 3:52pm

I need to ask a clarifying question.  Do I understand correctly that should I wish to listen to an LP on my turntable through the HK and take advantage of equalization, I really need to digitize the LP and play that instead, otherwise I am limited to a 'direct' source which will not be able to take advantage of equalization configurations created during the setup process?  I was days away from purchasing the amplifier, but if this is the case I'll need to look at other options.

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