Harman Kardon announces 4 new Receivers and iPod Dock

Harman Kardon announced 4 new receivers: 7.2-channel AVR 740, 7.1-channel AVR 340,and the 6.1-channel AVR 240 and AVR 140. All four models have a iPod interface via The Bridge, the name of their dock. HK, similar to Denon S-101 and S-301, feature iPod menus on TV and receiver screen. iPod can be controlled with remote control. One little thing in the press release that I don't like is the phrase "a compatible iPod". It is easy to guess that by being compatible they talk about regular iPod and not Shuffle nor Nano. The Bridge dock is sold separately for $99 and comes with a proprietary cable.

The higher-end model, AVR 740 features HDMI and is capable of upscaling the video upto 1080i with Faroudja FLI2310 chip. AVR740 delivers 7 x 85 Watts of audio power into 8 Ohm with a <0.07> 7 x 55 Watts and is doing <0.07>EzSet/EQ room correction functionality.

As for lower end models, here is what Harman Kardon says:

The AVR 140 (September; SRP $699) incorporates the Quadruple-Crossover Bass Manager, along with HDTV-compatible component video inputs, on-screen display via its component video outputs, digital input polling, input titling feature, and FM/AM tuner. It delivers 6 x 40 Watts of power output (into 8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, <0.07%>
“Our AVR 40 series receivers incorporate a number of genuine engineering breakthroughs, including innovative iPod connectivity, and HDTV and multiroom capabilities, to take audio/video receiver design to never-before-available levels of performance and functionality – and provide entirely new ways for enjoying home entertainment,” commented Tom McLoughlin, President of Harman Kardon. “Complementing their extraordinary audio and video quality and versatility, the receivers also offer distinctively elegant styling, total ease of use and unprecedented value, to meet the needs of dealers, systems integrators and consumers as never before.”

AVR-740 will be available in December, AVR-340 - in October, and AVR-140 and AVR-40 in September.

Source: Engadget and Marketnews.ca