The absolute best in its price range!
Written: Jun 23 '01
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Pros: Cheap, Plenty of inputs/outputs, Beautiful LCD Display
Cons: The Remote Sucks!
The Bottom Line: Cheap, runs cool, great sound and power, dolby digital, digital inputs, 5.1 channel, etc... This bad boy is a must have!
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| BrianThomason's Full Review: Kenwood VR-406 Receiver |
Price Paid: $113 + shipping
Where: Ebay
Condition: New
I was a bit reluctacnt to buy with the bid price being as low as it was, but I thought, "It's Kenwood - It can't be THAT BAD!"...
Luckily I won the auction and must say that it is the buy of my life so far!
While lacking DTS, it lacks nothing else! 4 analog audio inputs, 3 out, 2 video in/out, 2 ac out (To hook up a CD Player, DVD into the back if your wall outlets are running low), 5.1 channel surround support, and two digital inputs (one optical, one coaxial), 100Wx5 Channels, Subwoofer Pre-outs (for a powered sub if wanted), binding posts and spring loaded speaker hookups in the back, and a remote control with batteries! Ok, the remote sucks, but everything else is NICE!
No Dolby DTS support, but it does support Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic.
You should be sold already with features like that at under $125 bucks, but if not, I'll pursuade you further...
It's easy to look at, but also easy to hookup... Within minutes, I Had it all up and running. It has a nice on-screen setup feature which allows you to setup whether you want sterio or surround sound... There's also a handy little diagram on the left which shows which speaker channels are being powered! You can also hook up two sets of speakers and switch between the two - Very nice if you're on a budget and would like to be able to listen to your music outside, as well as in!
Besides input and the ability to control certain functions of a DVD Player, CD Player, Tape Player, Record Player (why, I don't know, but I'm assuming that's what phono means), and two video devices, it also has a nice radio tuner built in!
It come's with an AM Antenna, and a rather dinky FM Antenna... I had an old VHS TV Antenna laying around, hooked it up to it, and it picks up every single station in my area with crystal clarity... Some receivers have VERY poor tuners, so that feature is more impressive to me then it may sound to you...
Not alot of bad things to say here... Well, aside from the remote!
They're nice enough to provide you with batteries, but this tiny little one ounce remote will probably find itself in the garbage can in about two minutes flat! The buttons are small, usually have multiple functions, it dosnt work with many devices I have, etc.... Invest the money you save into a nice universal learning remote... (Which is what I'm about to do!)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 113.00
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Epinions.com ID:
BrianThomason
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Member: Brian Thomason
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 6 members
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