Introduction to Harman Kardon HK 990 Stereo Integrated Amplifier with Digital Room Correction and Dual Subwoofer Bass Management – Part III
Circuit design and the tape recorder section are the focus of the final section of my HK 990 review. The topics are addressed to different groups. Those interested in the tape recorder section will find information on Page 9. The tape recorder interface section outlines matters of connectivity and usage. Usability issues are discussed. The tape recorder interface section is at the level of the prior two parts and assumes no knowledge of circuit-level electronics.
The circuit-design section enters the land of high-end design, mostly guided by the design principles of Matti Otala. My intent here is
Specifications
- Design: Solid State Stereo Integrated Amplifier
- Power: 2 x 150 watts RMS into 8 ohms @ 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 2 x 300 Watts into 4 Ohms
- MFR: 10 Hz – 100 kHz
- THD: <0.07% at Full Output (8 Ohm Load)
- Analog Inputs: 7, Plus 1 Phono MC, 1 Phono MM, and 1 Balanced XLR
- Digital Inputs: 1 HRS-Link, 2 Optical Digital, 2 Coaxial Digital
- Analog Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 350mV/43k ohms for tuner/CD, 10mV/47k ohms for Phono-MM, 1mV/100k ohms for Phono-MC
- Digital Input Capability: All Standard Digital Formats
- Dimensions: 6.4″ H x 17.3″ W x 17.5″ D
- Weight: 43.2 Pounds
- MSRP: $2,599 USA
- Harman Kardon
- SECRETS Tags: Harman Kardon, HK 990
This circuit design section assumes the reader has knowledge of analog design equivalent to a 1980’s Audio magazine. I started reviewing in the 1980s. I took my cues at what level to write from Audio and never let go. Some of the technical terms bubbled to the surface in the HK 990 literature as the marketing folks tried to capture the unique aspects of the unit. You get only words without graphs or block diagrams. Usually, only when engineers write the literature does it all jell. Accuphase is an example of this practice operating to perfection. The literature Harman produced in the 80s and early 90s included circuits, novel measurements and even Bode plots. Sansui and Kenwood were producing similar material. Sansui was a big loss
Here are links to Part I and Part II of this series.
Construction of the Analog Blocks
A textbook by Bob Cordell is an excellent reference. The book is oriented to those interested in audio-electronics design.
During the early 90’s, I summarized basic fundamentals in several issues of The Audio Critic and analyzed fully-designed commercial components as case studies. Issues 18 and 20, focus on
Free PDFs of these articles are available at www.theaudiocritic.com.
For those with a limited knowledge of electronics, the classic The Art of Electronics (Horowitz and Hill) is a must-have. Though pricey and heavy (at 1100 pages), the breadth of material well serves the needs of both novices and experts. If you are lucky, it may be in your local library; otherwise, try to secure a copy through interlibrary loan.
Significantly cheaper is the 5th edition (2011) of Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics written by Stan Gibilisco. I have not reviewed the text, but it has been recommended by others whose opinions I value.
HK 990 Volume Control
The volume control is a good starting point because it is the one spot in the HK 990 where Otala design concepts are violated. Two stages of operational amplifiers are present when an analog source, including
The Analog Device AD825
The AD825 has some unusual characteristics that are more consistent with Otala design rules. That said, the
The downsides of the AD825 include higher noise levels than the typical audio
The digitally-controlled volume IC in the HK 990 is a JRC NJW1159 comprised of only silicon switches and a
The 50k ohm input impedance of the JRC NJW1159 is typical of an analog control. However, MOS transistors are sensitive to electrostatic discharge and stress when the input voltage exceeds the +/-7V power supplies. The AD825 unity gain buffer in the signal path protects the JRC part. A DC blocking capacitor is at the input of the buffer. Another is at the input of the volume control. A second AD825 with a gain of 2.4 (8dB) at the output of the volume control prevents it from being loaded by the
HK 990 Power Amplifier
The power amplifier is
The differential pair at the front of the amplifier is biased by current sources and a buffer stage isolates the first gain stage from the second. The differential pair and second gain stages are both cascaded. Both voltage gain stages have local feedback (emitter degeneration). The four circuit techniques linearize the open-loop distortion of the amplifier and keep the return-loop gain to Otala’s desired minimum level. Just for reference, some AVRs over $1000 do a complete power amp with eight transistors including the AB bias and current gain stages.
Counting output transistors at the output of an amplifier is a futile exercise. You need to refer to the data sheet to find the short term and steady-state current each transistor can source or sink safely. The frequency at which the current gain goes to 1 (the point at which we could replace the transistor with a wire) should be near 30MHz. Current gain in the audio band should be greater than 20 when sourcing the maximum steady state current. Open-loop distortion under full load depends on the process technology. Typical
The HK 990 is
The HK 990 power amp uses separate transformer winding for the voltage and current gain stages. +/- 80V for the voltage stages and +/-60V for the output stages, as shown in the diagram above. This approach prevents the power supplies for the voltage stage from being modulated as the current stages send significant current to the speaker. A higher supply voltage for the voltage gain stage is rarely attempted because under a fault condition (shorted speaker terminals, for example) the number of pathways through which the transistors can be damaged multiplies. In a traditional amplifier with a high return-loop gain, the amplifier is relatively insensitive to modulation of the power supply (power supply rejection ratio). With the lower return-loop gain required by
Since spec sheets make a big deal of the size of the capacitor on the unregulated rails, I can report each cap on the +/-60V supply is 13600uF, slightly less than reported on the HK spec sheet. The size of these capacitors is important at low frequencies (20Hz) where the power supply is required to source or sink significant current in one direction as the
The +/- 80V rails have 1000uF capacitors on the unregulated rails. This capacitor can be much smaller since the current drain on the 80V supplies from the voltage gain stages is smaller than what is flowing on the +/-60V rails driving the speaker.
The HK 990 spec sheet gives no FTC power rating into 4 ohms. The back panel of the HK 990 has a 1000 Watt rating for
Harman Kardon was the first company to adopt the Audio Graph Power Cube measurement system. The unit tests for stability into
The Audio Critic had access to a Power Cube measurement system. Harman products always did well while many other higher-priced units failed. That said, some amplifiers with traditional circuit topologies also did well. Class D amplifiers tend to create poor Power Cubes.
The idle current of the output stage is very high. The unit gets hot with no input signal, so it is advisable not to rest another component on the HK 990. The high idle current is an attempt to reduce crossover distortion with the low return-loop
Not a single bypass or blocking capacitor is found in the power amp. A DC Servo circuit is designed to prevent a DC offset voltage from appearing at the speaker terminals. A DC servo provides a compensating voltage at the power amplifier’s input to remove the DC offset at the output. The servo circuit is designed to only respond to subsonic frequencies and DC. The use of a DC servo to eliminate capacitors is not a universally accepted method to improve sound quality. Some argue the additional active circuitry for the servo is more audible than a well-chosen capacitor.
Be careful with the power amplifier inputs. If the input has significant DC, the amplifier will go into protection (note the DC over-current sensor in the figure. The DC over-current detector also activates if the speaker terminals are shorted or an internal component fails in the amplifier.). An amplifier with a DC blocking cap at the input would remove the DC.
New to the HK 990 is the ThermalTrak class AB bias stage. Normally the bias circuit has a diode placed on the heat sinks so
Harman has
HK 990 Phono Stage
In his first
The problem is more difficult in a
Iout=VinG where G is conductance which is the reciprocal of resistance.
The RIAA network is connected around the
The plot below was taken from the original literature for the Citation XXP
Low frequencies pose a problem with this approach. Here, a closed-loop voltage gain of 60dB is required to match the inverse RIAA curve for a moving magnet cartridge. The open-loop gain of the
I do not have measurements of the HK 990 to confirm if it exhibits this problem. Some earlier HK
The DC servo used in the
An open-loop emitter-follower buffers the transconductance amplifier from the load presented by the line stage. Almost all
A 330pf capacitor is at the input. This high value exceeds the specifications of most moving magnet cartridges when the turntable wiring is included. At this price, I would like to see a switch on the back to offer different loading options. In the absence of that, a low-valued capacitor is advisable since the value can be raised externally. In contrast, nothing can compensate for too much capacitance at the
Moving coil cartridges see a pre-
HK 990 Headphone Stage
The high performance Texas Instrument TP6120 obviates DC coupling or blocking capacitors in this stage. The TP6120 has very low distortion and noise. It has a current feedback topology and 1300V/us slew rate. I have no idea why it is designed with a slew rate 100 times larger than what is required. Without circuit details, I cannot conclude if Otala would approve, but with a THD under full load approaching 0.0002% at 1 kHz, I doubt this design has
One issue I identified involves the calibration microphone connected using the headphone output. If nothing is done, the microphone could potentially be damaged when plugged in while a large level signal is at the headphone jack. The headphone amps are disconnected when the HK 990 is put in calibration mode, but it is unclear if they are disconnected automatically when the microphone is inserted and the unit is not set to calibrate. I suspect all HK units with room calibration have the same
HK 990 Analog Circuitry Connected to the DACs
The analog circuitry in this stage is a typical design and does not reflect any influence of Otala so I will not spend much time discussing it.
The Analog Devices AD1955 has a current source output. No on chip
Analog Devices OP275 and TI OPA2134 are used. The characteristics of these
A DC servo circuit senses the DC offset voltage at the output of the DAC signal chain and introduces an offset current at the DAC to correct this (recall the DAC has a current output). The topology eliminates all coupling and DC blocking capacitors from the signal chain This is the first time I have seen a DC servo integrated in the digital-to-analog conversion block.
The output of the analog electronics connected to the DAC goes directly to the volume control bypassing the buffer in the direct path. In total three active
Conclusions About the HK 990 Circuit Design
I wrote much of this material in October 2010. At the time, my sole reference was the service manual (the actual unit arrived several months later). I intended the piece to be a preview of the HK 990, which had just been shown at CEDIA. Since then, the HK 990 received a positive review from Tyler Stripko and at least one other professional reviewer. It is rare for a relatively low-priced unit to achieve such consistently positive reviews. I will not comment about my impressions of the sound of this amplifier, other than to note that Tyler’s positive sentiment may be justified by the work of Otala. Every design decision is backed up with some quantitative analysis. The HK990 is a polar opposite of designs offered by others where the design techniques are more closely allied to black magic than solid engineering and expensive metalwork wraps the questionable design to give the look of ultra high tech. A five-figure price is tacked on to enhance the aura of ultimate performance. Poor measured results are often a consequence when black magic replaces science. The component may sound different, but different is not necessarily better.
HK 990 Dual-Domain Tape Recorder Outputs and Tape Monitor Details
Having been involved with tape recorders since reel-to-reel was the state of the art. I invested considerable effort in testing the dual-domain tape recorder interface function. Conceptually, a dual-domain tape output path should be a must-have for those seriously rooted in recording. With a dual-domain configuration, both analog and digital inputs appear at the analog tape output jack (to recorder in) for the two tape recorders (Harman calls these CD-R and Tape). Analog and digital inputs also appear on the single record digital output (to digital-in on the CD-R or MiniDisc player). The rear panel section with the tape outputs is shown below.
Harman allows the tape outputs to record a source (analog or digital) independently of what is heard on the speaker. This feature is relatively common in analog integrated amplifiers and preamplifiers replacing the single tape monitor button.
Listening to one input and taping another provides a tape monitor function. For example, one might tape the Tuner with the cassette deck connected to Tape using this sequence of operations:
- Select Tuner using the record-out selector.
- Select Tuner on the remote control to listen to the source through the speakers.
- Press Tape on the remote to hear the recording off the cassette deck.
Even with a CD-R, monitoring is important. I cannot tell you how many times I thought I hit the record button, but inadvertently hit Play instead. With the meters moving, everything looks OK, but it’s not. Another example where monitoring could save the day is when the Tuner is selected as record-out and not Phono that you wanted to record; again, the meters are moving but you are recording the wrong thing.
Source selection for the tape recorders is only available on the front panel, making the selection more than a nuisance when all the buttons on the front panel are similarly-sized with low-contrast lettering.
To select a recorder, the Record Output button is first selected, then the two Source Select buttons are toggled, and finally Record Output is re-pressed to return the source selector to its normal function so the speakers are operative. From the remote, toggling the source select for the output to the speakers is unnecessary. Each input is assigned a button.
Closely-spaced buttons may cause an adjacent button to be depressed. Put your finger a little to the right of source select and you press the input assignment setup button. Cancelling that is no fun.
Many AVRs offer one or two tape outputs (with composite video outputs also supplied for at least one). These outputs are analog and transmit only analog inputs. No monitor function is available.
You can try to mimic the Harman’s functionality using the Room 2 analog outputs on the AVR, but care is required as there is no protection for self loops under this setup: say goodbye to your tweeters were both Tape for Room 2 and source selected at the same time with the recorder activated. The oscillations are typically a square wave at the maximum swing of the tape recorder.
You may be able to work around this using the AVRs Room 2 input assignment GUI. One might try to assign Room 2 Tape In to an unused analog input. I make no guarantees you can perform a setup with an AVR Room 2 that will insure a disaster will not occur. I play it safe and live without the monitor function with an AVR. I use headphones connected to the recorder to do the monitoring function.
Almost all AVRs provide only analog inputs (single domain) at the Room 2 outputs.
Tape I/O signal flows at the block diagram level
This diagram is similar to the block diagram of the digital input selector presented in Part 2, but the circuitry to support tape recorders has been included. The yellow box highlights the added circuits. The Texas Instrument SRC4392 multi-function chip has two digital input selectors. As can be seen one selector is used for the tape output path and one for the main path. In the tape output path the selector only routes SPDIF signals (green) and does not recover the PCM data as it does for the main path. A second set of input selectors are required for the tape recorder output path because the digital input selected is different from what is being sent to the speakers.
An extra DAC is required in a dual-domain tape system to convert the digital inputs to analog. This is highlighted in the yellow box. The DAC for the analog record outputs is part of a multifunction AKM 4683. The performance of the AKM DAC is lackluster, with a worst-case dynamic range equivalent to 15.5bits and distortion of 13 equivalent bits. The AKM 4683 also houses the requisite SPDIF receiver.
Older cassette and reel-to-reel machines need the analog output. The quality of the conversion of the digital inputs to analog is not that important since all CD-Rs and MiniDisc recorders have digital inputs; however, a problem with this assumption in the case of the HK 990 will be identified below.
A designate the diagram above BLOCK DG.
The analog selector block is shown in this diagram, with the circuitry to support tape recorder in yellow. Like the digital path (BLOCK DG), the analog input selector has second set of switch selectors that aggregates the analog inputs for the tape recorder outputs. Everything in this tape output channel (in the yellow box) is only AVR grade: the switches, for example, are MOSFETS, not relays.
The selected analog input must be converted to digital to provide a digital tape output. The ADC should be of high quality because it replaces the ADC in the digital tape recorder. Unfortunately, the HK 990 disappoints. The ADC is also in the AK4683 (with an ADC and DAC, it is called a CODEC). The ADC has a worst-case dynamic range equivalent to 15.5 bits and distortion of 13 equivalent bits.
You may ask why the output of the high-quality Cirrus CS5361 ADC in the main path (in the upper right of the diagram) is not used instead of adding an ADC just for the tape recorder outputs. The principle justification is the bifurcation of the input to be recorded from what is played on the speakers.
A designate the diagram above BLOCK AN.
This block diagram illustrates the conclusion of the recorder output’s journey as it makes its way to the rear panel RCA jacks. This diagram clarifies the dual-domain aspect of the tape recorder path. Both digital and analog outputs are shown at the right. Depending on the component that the user has selected to record, a signal from the analog block (AB) or digital block (DG) is sent to the output (signals entering at right).
Note the switch prior to the two analog outputs CDR-Out and Tape-Out. The switch prevents self-oscillation. When listening and recording from CDR, the switch mutes CDR-Out, preventing a self-oscillation through the CDR recorder. Tape-Out is muted under similar conditions.
The digital Coaxial Out lacks the switch. The single digital output is live when you select to record from the CD-R or the Tape input. In contrast, the analog output for CD-R (Tape) mutes when to-record CD-R (Tape) is selected. Mixing analog and digital connections in a recorder can cause a self-loop and high-level oscillation that may damage your speakers.
Proper Connection of the HK 990 Tape I/Os to a Digital Tape Recorder to Avoid Self-Oscillation
When connecting the HK990 to a tape recorder, I advise one of two methods to prevent self- oscillation:
1) Use only analog cables for the input and output connections.
Given the quality of the ADC in the HK 990 (AK4683) little is lost since the ADC in your CDR is likely to be as good as the one in the HK 990, especially if the ADR a semi-professional unit. Coming out of the CD-R analog to the HK 990 does degrade the signal since it travels through the DAC in the CD-R and the ADC (AK4683) in the HK 990. This is a redundant DAC – ADC path.
2) Use only the digital cables for the input and output connections.
Self-oscillation is avoided by coming into the HK 990 from a recorder’s digital output (in the all-digital hookup) because both digital inputs mute when record selector is set to CD-R or Tape. In this manner, the oscillation is broken on the input connection for the digital inputs and the output connection (discussed above) for the analog connection. This is what makes mixing analog and digital connection so dangerous.
By simultaneously muting both CD-R and Tape digital inputs, tape-to-tape copying from CD-R digital in) to Tape is enabled. This is probably related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, whereby Tape-to-Tape copying is allowed with only analog interconnections.
At first glance, an all-digital connection of the CD-R appears preferable. The all-digital path eliminates the DAC – ADC redundancy on the recorder output side. However, conversion quality is crimped because the AK4683 ADC replaces the ADC in your CD-R.
With only one digital output, I do not understand why it is not marked digital output for CD-R and made to mute when CD-R is selected as the analog CD-R does. This should be a straight-forward software fix to allow mixed analog and digital connections.
The digital output is limited to a 16 bit depth and 48kHz sampling rate. Consumer digital recorders would mute if high resolution SPDIF data was allowed to appear at the output.
Conclusions About HK990 Tape Recorder Functionality
Harman is to be congratulated for providing the dual-domain tape recorder interface. Regrettably, the front panel controls make it difficult to use. The quality of the internal ADC and DAC in the tape recorder path is disappointing. Mixing analog and digital connections to a CD-R or MiniDisc recorder can result in potentially damaging self-oscillation.
Overall Conclusions About the HK 990
For those who started with Tyler’s review and worked their way through this three-parter, 20,000 words have passed your eyes. Only a very special product requires that level of analysis. There is no comparable for the HK990. One could say that an equivalent could be crafted with three or more boxes. Unfortunately, this is not a viable option because many different functional blocks inside the HK990 interface with each other in ways that cannot be replicated with RCA cables running between multiple external boxes.
As with any debut product, the HK990 has some glitches. The front panel controls are very difficult to manipulate and the room-correction system has some software bugs. Putting these issues aside, the HK990 is a revolutionary product that will be on the list of the 100 most important audio components ten years from now.
FEATURED COMMENTS
The Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory safety mark on the HK990
Written by David Rich , November 03, 2011
In my discussion of the protection system for the power amp I neglected to mention the ETL safety mark at the rear of the HK990. ETL is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), certified by OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) to assess equipment safety. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is also an NRTL and uses the same tests as all other NRTL’s. The NRTL mark is found on most products sold at Best Buy, but high-end equipment is more likely to display a CE mark, referring to standards, including safety, required for sale in the EU. CE testing is undertaken by the manufacturer, not a third-party. CE certification is less comprehensive and less expensive to achieve since the tests are done internally.
The absence of replaceable fuses or resettable circuit breakers illustrates an enhanced safety element of the HK990. When the Amp Fault line goes high (see block diagram of power amp above), the power to the transformers driving the power amplifier is cut off by a relay in series with the transformer. This is done under the command of a protection circuit that monitors for faults. The protection circuit also commands another set of relays to open the connection of the amplifier to the speakers. This removes a fault that could be caused by a short in the speaker cable and protects the speaker from a large voltage at the amplifier’s output when the fault is inside the amp. A third transformer supplies power to the protection circuit and remains connected to the AC line.
A user-induced fault might be a shorted speaker terminal or an overdriven amplifier input. The amplifier will recover after it is switched off provided the user removes the cause of the fault before turning the unit on again. If the amplifier is internally damaged, the fault signal status returns and the relays at the speaker and AC line again open. Now the amp most go for service. For the HK 990, it is never incumbent upon the user to change a fuse or reset a breaker as would happen if the amplifier did not have internal relays. That’s to the good because a user might substitute a higher amperage fuse, which would be quite dangerous were the unit to remain on when an internal fault produces a potential safety hazard.
Circuit-breaker values cannot be change by the user, but the fault must be significant enough for the current flowing in the power line to exceed the breaker’s pre-set level after damage has occurred. The HK 990’s fault status line activates well before the line current reaches the maximum level. Some amps have many sub-fuses that activate when one amplifier draws too much current. The user must remove the cover and identify the tripped fuse. NRTL-tested equipment is affixed with a label that warns against opening the cabinet (for good reason).
When fuses and breakers are present, no relay may be in series with the speaker’s output terminals. Your speaker could be damaged before the fuse or circuit breaker activates. The HK990 does have a couple of hidden fuses that trip if the protection circuit is defective and fails to act. Any component in the category of the HK990, including a home theater in a box, is vetted similarly by an NRTL and has a similar protection system. The website below identifies the marks that should appear on your amplifier after passing a safety inspection by a third-party NRTL.
www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtlmrk.html
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Congratulations with an Exceptional Review!
Written by Igor Khachaturyan , November 04, 2011
I would like to thank and thank you for the most comprehensive and informative review that i have read in many years!
Once could only wish that all audio reviewers had your competence and willingness to provide facts instead of based opinions.
Bravo!
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Re: Congratulations with an Exceptional Review!
Written by David Rich , November 05, 2011
Igor,
Your support of my work is appreciated and I am glad you found it useful.
Nothing like his would be possible without the support of the editor-in-Chief, managing editor, and the site manager. Besides the process of editing the document, the staff prepared the piece for on-line publication, then split it to improve ease of navigation. Also, many figures were modified to enhance readability.
It would have been impossible to present this in printed form, and I am heartened by the team’s commitment to ready my work for the site.
Your feedback validates everyone’s effort.
David Rich
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CLICK TO VIEW MORE COMMENTS
HDMI
Written by Nick , November 06, 2011Bummer that there is no HDMI. I have a two channel system, but several sources that only output over HDMI.
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Congratulations
Written by Pere Barceló , December 05, 2011Dear David,
Congratulations on something that some could call a review but it seems to border on a research paper. I have never seen such and in-depth technical analysis like this one.
Thank you for you work on this piece.
I must also admit that having considered buying this unit, your work brings more doubts as it points out to some clear software mistakes in most of the room correction programs.
As such, I’d like to ask if you have any additional info on the manufacturer as far as if they are willing to to into theses issues and provide a fix through a firmware update down the road.
My other question would be, software aside, if there is any other implementation mistake that warrants consideration. I could live without the room correction but not if the DAC, preamp or power stage has a major fault.
If you prefer to privately respond as this is a personal request I’d be delighted. Sorry but I’m not an engineer and some stuff has proven hard for me to follow or understand.
Many thanks in advance and again a most enthusiastic congratulations!
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Thank You!
Written by jkasch , January 16, 2012Probably the most informative review I’ve ever read. I’ve had my HK 990 about 18 months now and love it more than ever.
Three points I’d like to add/question:
I believe EQ1 works without subs. I’m running floorstanders that have no trouble getting down to 30hz. EQ1’s effect is obvious in my room. It kills the room-boom, nicely. EQ2 and 3 are very similar in my setup and sound a bit thin on all but the most bass-heavy recordings.
HK has always listed 4 ohm power output in the literature I’ve seen. It’s stated as 300wpc, 20-20K, but with
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Power Cube measurement
Written by Ian MacLeod , January 29, 2012Dr. Rich,
I spent a day with your review, and came to appreciate my HK990 so much more. It is driving my JBL Array 1000 speakers now, and I consistently have goosebumps when listening. I do not use the room corrections with the Array 1000 speakers, so these weaknesses are not an issue with me, though perhaps I would use it if it worked better.
I case you or anyone wants to see the Power Cube measurements, you can find them here (they look pretty good to me):
http://www.audiovision.dk/harman/Brochure – HK Insight 2009 (English EU).pdf
One question I do have. I use balanced cables to connect the HD990 CD player to the HK990, which then runs analog, Direct path. This is using the player’s DAC, which is also dual AD1955. However, after reading your article, it seems to me that it would be better to run the player over the HRS-link and use the HK990 DAC. This not only saves the expensive balanced wires for something else (I may return them), but removes this extra wire from the circuit as the dual HK990 DACs provide balanced output directly to the amp. What is your view?
Thanks again for a superlative review. I hope you share more.
Ian
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EQ1 works without subs?
Written by David Rich , February 03, 2012jkasch
Thanks for your kind words on this work.
I tested many speakers full range and do not recall seeing EQ1 do anything in the frequency response plots as I toggled to all the possible modes. The instructions say:
“This preset processes the subwoofer channels only”
Unfortunately the unit has gone back so I cannot check to be absolutely sure. Going from direct to any EQ mode can introduce a significant level difference (1 – 2dB).
You are correct the instructions have a 4 ohm FTC specification:
Continuous average power per channel (FTC), 20Hz – 20kHz, both channels driven: 300 watts @
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Go with the HRS-link
Written by David Rich , February 03, 2012Ian
I do not know how you could have possible found that power cube in the fine print of some HK brochure on an EU site.
The balanced inputs on the HK990 use good opamps but not as good as what is in the rest of the direct path or the DAC output circuits.
I do not have the HD990 schematic but from looking at the board it appeared to have discrete buffers driving the balanced outs.
David Rich
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Ian – a subjective opinion
Written by Tyler S , February 07, 2012From my time using the HK990/HD990 combo, I agree with David – stick with the HRS-Link. While the RCA and balanced analogs certainly sounded very good, the HRS-Link was still noticeably better to my ears. The biggest difference was how individual notes just seemed to resonate more naturally and decay beautifully into the background. Sound via HRS-Link was just more life-like to me, more like what you hear with live performances. I also preferred to keep the equalizers OFF for all of my listening.
Best idea is to try out the different options for yourself and see what you like the best.
Tyler Stripko
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HRS-link it is
Written by ian macleod , February 15, 2012Dr. Rich and Tyler,
In the end I did let my ears decide. HRS-link it is, and I returned the balanced cables.
I can’t recall how I found that Power Cube reference, but I’m sure Google helped…
Thanks for responding.
Ian