Hello All.
The story is simple. My AVR7300 took a nose dive after the firmware upgrade from HK failed on it and rendered the microprocessor useless. Its in for warranty repair now.

Now...I needed something quick with the weekend at hand and July 4th weekend on its way.

I went to Circuit City and bought a open box HK AVR335 without remote (7300 remote works just fine). The 335 is a 7.1 channel AVR.

I installed everything, recalibrated, and voila. AMAZING is all I can say.

I got this 335 for $219 because the remote, manuals, and paperwork was missing....this to me was a great deal for something I could use for 4-8 weeks while my 7300 gets repaired.

When I say WOW...its that I cant tell a bit of difference between this AVR and my 7300...except the $800 lower price tag. I couldnt believe it. So it doesnt have faroujda upconversion...but who uses vcr's anyway....

I am impressed and may just have to resell that 7300 when I get it back. I will keep this puppy and perhaps add on another Outlaw monoblock or two.

It is powering my 4xqs8 - VP150 - EP600 - and 2xM80 (connected via 2 outlaw monoblock amps).


TARUN

I was wondering if you could tell a difference between the two (receiver's) with the outlaw's in place. Looks like this might work out for you after all.

No reason to keep the 7300, sell it and use the dough toward another amp and more goodies.

You know what. I use Ken's Axiom mix as my reference. Thanks KEN.

I cannot tell the difference at ALL!

I mean that...it sounds 100% identical.

The video processing doesnt matter since all I use in my HT setup is a DVD player.

-Tarun

You're kidding me!

No kidding....its the truth.
Disc 5 in my CD Changer.

Well, I'm glad you like it! Maybe I'll put together a sequel at some point...

Wish I had the $$ to take that 7300 off your hands... Lacking the monoblocks, it sounds tempting. For some reason.

A sequel you need.
Lets get a move on.

Lets not discuss changing of hands on the axiom boards. Amie may get upset.

email: tarun@tarun.com
hahahha.

Tarun, glad to hear that you got good results, and not a bit surprising. The 335 apparently has more than enough power for the speakers that you don't have on the Outlaw monoblocks, and the extra power that the 7300 has is simply an unused excess capacity.

I was and am actually quite a bit surprised.
I only wish it came with all of its accessories.
Mainly I wish I had the mic that it is supplied with for the EZSet+. I cannot find specs on those microphones...if anyone has any clues let me know.

When my 7200 died on me, I went through this same mental process as you. I ended up buying the 7300 as I couldn’t be without sound for several weeks while waiting for the 7200 to be looked at (was a blown fuse).

I’m wishing I would have done what you did though. IE: inexpensive AVR for a pre-pro and a set of amps to drive the speakers. Now I have a $1300 AVR that is already outdated and I’m buying a stand alone video processor, so the 7300’s DCDI won’t even be used.

To the 7300’s credit though, it does significantly improve my SD satellite feed. It also has a better scaller than my current dvd player via component.