Kenwood KR-VR209 Receiver

Pros: Nice features, easy to setup, convenient remote
Cons: Lacks some headroom, cheap connectors, poor radio reception

I've had this receiver since it was first released several years ago. It was the first Dolby Digital (DD) receiver that broke the $400 price barrier with excellent sound and features. I believe I bought it after reading a very positive review in the mag ...

Pros: good price, great sound, grows with your system
Cons: remote reception, not dts

I bought this receiver new in Oct of 99 and have been using it for over 4 years now.
It has proved to be a very versatile and quality sounding product. Even after 4 years, I have still not outgrown it. The subwoofer output is nice. Also the optical input has been good to have in the dvd revolution.
Sound quality is great. It really shines when playing a cd through the dvd optical input. There is no noticable distortion whatsoever.
There is one minor complaint, though. The remote reception will occasionally stop entirely for a short period of time. Apparently this is not an uncommon thing for the vr-209. UPDATE: The remote sensor was repaired. It cost me $35, but was well worth it.
Overall I would definitely recommend this receiver to anyone looking at it.