First Look: AV Receivers

Price: $3,499
Channels/Power: 7x85W
Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, Logic 7 Cinema and Music modes, Vmax, HDCD
Ins and Outs: Three coax and three toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog, USB, two HDMI (spec 1.1), three component video, RS-232, 12V trigger
Highlights: XM Satellite Radio ready, EZSet automated setup and EQ, transcoding of composite and S-Video and component video to HDMI w/ Faroudja deinterlacing with DCDi, multi-source/multi-zone

Harman Kardon's latest AVR is one the newfangled bunch, mixing all the typical Dolby and DTS surround processing with a vast array of advanced home theater and convergence features. On the home theater front there's HDMI switching with upconversion of all incoming sources to 720p or 1080i with Faroudja deinterlacing, and direct digital connection to DVD-Audio players. On the convergence side the AVR-745 features USB digital audio and XM Satellite Radio connectivity. All this in a chassis with seven channels of high-current amplification rated at 85-watts per. Available in mid-May.