Most powerful receiver under $500 (1 Viewer)

Brian_Tho · Jan 15, 2003

Anyone?

Jack Briggs · Jan 15, 2003

*rifles through magazines and annual equipment guides, and browses Internet reviews*

ChadLB · Jan 16, 2003

Here is a list of receivers less than $500...there are more if you buy from places like etronics, onecall, jandr, etc...

BRAND NAMEPRICE
SONY STR-DE485$199.99
JVC RX-6020VBK$199.99
PIONEER VSX-D411$199.99
KENWOOD VR-605$199.99
PANASONIC SA-HE0$199.99
PIONEER VSX-D511$249.99
YAMAHA HTR-5540$269.00
PANASONIC SA-HE100$299.99
PIONEER VSX-D711$299.99
DENON AVR-1603$299.99
KENWOOD VR-6050$299.99
JVC RX-7020VBK$299.99
ONKYO TX-SR500$299.99
SONY STR-DE685$299.99
SONY STR-DE885$349.99
YAMAHA HTR-550$349.99
DENON AVR-1403$399.99
JVC RX-8020VBK$399.99
HARMON KARDON AVR 125$399.99
KENWOOD VR-6060$399.99
PIONEER VSX-D811S$399.99
YAMAHA HTR-5560$429.99
MARANTZ SR4300$449.00
HARMON KARDON AVR 225$499.99
PANASONIC SA-HE200$499.99
DENON AVR-1803$499.99
JVC RX-9010V$499.99
SONY EX STR-DA1ES$499.99
ONKYO TX-SR600$499.99

Shawn_E · Jan 16, 2003

I would go with the Kenwood VR6070. It's the only THX Certified, 6.1 Receiver I know of under $500.

Justin H · Jan 16, 2003

I agree.

92Watts x 6 of actual output for under $500 is tough to beat.

george.Legeza · Jan 16, 2003

I would go with the Kenwood VR6070. It's the only THX Certified, 6.1 Receiver I know of under $500.

Just stopped into this thread and noticed this. I was just about to buy the H/K AVR-325 from Costco for $500, but does anyone here happen to think I'd be better off with the Kenwood VR6070? This is the first time I've heard this receiver mentioned, so now I'm a little skeptical...

Any advice?

Click to expand...

Andy_SB · Jan 16, 2003

Just stopped into this thread and noticed this. I was just about to buy the H/K AVR-325 from Costco for $500, but does anyone here happen to think I'd be better off with the Kenwood VR6070? This is the first time I've heard this receiver mentioned, so now I'm a little skeptical...

George, almost every informal review of the 6070 I've read on various web boards has been positive... there just don't seem to be a lot of Kenwood owners around. Additionally, as others have mentioned, the 6070 was tested at 92w x 6 in Sound and Vision magazine, which is very close to the rated power and excellent for this price range.
The Kenwood does have a few weaknesses, such as a very low 10mhz component video switching bandwidth, but overall it is a feature-packed receiver considering it goes for $450 or less.

As for H/K, many people swear by the brand and say their receivers produce the best sound; however, their reliability/build quality is a concern for me. I keep hearing that "H/K has improved in this area recently", but I've just read too many accounts of problems people have with their H/K receivers. Notably, the AVR-320 and 520 both have a very common problem with one of the surround-back channels in Logic 7 mode, and early builds of the AVR-8000 caused a humming noise coming from the center channel speaker.

I'd at least audition the Kenwood before you make your decision, if possible.

Click to expand...

Brian_Tho · Jan 16, 2003

Yes, but the problem is I will not be able to audition. I am buying online. My original ? was what is the most powerful receiver under 500 dollars. Would that be the 6070?

Andy_SB · Jan 16, 2003

Yes, but the problem is I will not be able to audition. I am buying online.

I was actually directing that towards George...

Anyhow, in regards to your original question, I think the 6070 (and 6060?) would certainly be one of the most powerful receivers under $500 considering how well it's tested. The only receivers I can think of that are rated higher are JVC's at 120 watts. However, I don't know of any recent tests of the actual power output of JVC receivers.

- Andy

Click to expand...

Brian_Tho · Jan 16, 2003

Thanks Andy thats what I have heard so far also. Just wanted to confirm it. As for George, I tested the 325, and found its audible qualitys wonderfull, power was a joke! Maybe I was testing a receiver that was setup wrong. I no the H/K guys hate me know. Thats just my opinion, of course I could be wrong!

TimothyE · Jan 16, 2003

Brian,

In your other thread, I thought you said you listened to the 125. You made no mention of the 325.
???

Tim

Brian_Tho · Jan 16, 2003

Listened to the 325 yesterday at CCity. Sorry I didn't clarify.

Jonathan M · Jan 16, 2003

Brian,

Why are you so concerned about power? Remember that doubling the power will only increase output by 3dB - that's not a lot, and not worth worrying too much about. Speaker sensitivity will also make a difference, as will the size of the room.

IMO, in this price range, the "sound" of amplifiers is very much unimportant. It is the room and the speakers that make the big difference. Make sure that when you listen to them you disable any "sound enhancements" and that the system is set up properly!

Remember this when you consider both how much you spend and what to spend it on. You'll find that in a few years time you will probably want to upgrade anyway.

My advice is to buy a receiver that:

1. YOU like the way the interface works (INCLUDING REMOTE!)
2. YOU like the look of.
3. YOU like the sound of (Unimportant unless you are using YOUR speakers to audition it)

(Notice the YOU in capitals - people can give advice on this or that unit until they're blue in the face, it won't change what YOU like)

Cheers,
Jonathan

Brian_Tho · Jan 16, 2003

I agree. So all receivers in this range have the same power output? I am very concerned about power, I think that turning the H/K 125 up to 0dec just to get decent sound is crazy. A friend of mine has a str-de835 and soon as he cracks the volume it puts out mad power. Why do the older receivers operate diff. The new ones have to be cranked way up that concerns me. I would like to have a receiver with good power. Maybe Im a newb, but please explain this to me.

Wayne Ernst · Jan 16, 2003

Yes, but the problem is I will not be able to audition. I am buying online. My original ? was what is the most powerful receiver under 500 dollars. Would that be the 6070?

Brian, Do you live near a Best Buy store? They should have the 6070 on the shelves. Granted, listening to it and fully hearing its capabilities might be kind of hard in the open Best Buy listening areas. However, you should be able to get a feel for the quality of the Kenwood receiver.

Click to expand...

Jonathan M · Jan 16, 2003

Brian,

No, not all receivers have the same amount of power. What I am getting at is that they can likely produce SIMILAR amounts of volume into a given speaker.

As for where on the volume control one has to be to produce the same apparent loudness, that is completely different, and depends on the preamplification stage that the manufacturer decides to use. Some are designed so that they are producing their full power when the display measures 0dB, while others have different levels.

The Sony that you describe probably reaches it's limits once you are half way round the volume scale. After that, it'll start clipping, and just start sounding awful. Ofcourse, it'll be louder, but the sound will not be clean.

Don't worry about the numbers, or the features (unless there is something you really need - not likely IMO - 5.1 channel DD and DTS is enough for me). Most of them are meaningless, manipulated, marketing.

Worry about how it feels, looks, and sounds.

MichaelMOS · Jan 16, 2003

Might want to wait for the new pioneers to hit retail in march. 475 for the top of the line (non-elite series i mean). They just released them at CES.

I looked at the kenwood also but things like the 10Mhz compnent bandwidth and the low number of digital inputs kept me away.

DonJ · Jan 16, 2003

HK 325 Costco 499.99

Angelo.M · Jan 17, 2003

...the "sound" of amplifiers is very much unimportant. It is the room and the speakers that make the big difference.

Amen.

And whether or not amplifiers have a sound is debatable.

Click to expand...

David James · Jan 17, 2003

I had narrowed down my choices to an H/K 325 and a Kenwood 6070. I did an a-b comparision of the Kenwood 6070 and H/K 320, (they didn't have a 325), this past weekend. Yes I could tell the difference, but I really couldn't decide which one I liked better. I decided I could enjoy either one. My Kenwood will be delivered today.

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