I Need A Receiver! (1 Viewer)

[Steve Gazi]

I trying to finish up my home theater setup, but I need to choose a receiver. I was looking at the Kenwood VR-507, but it seems that it's a 50/50 call from all of the opinions I've read. The Onkyo that's about the same price only has 55 watts a channel. Is that equal to the Kenwood's 100 watts a channel? I was reading somewhere that Kenwood was rating their's in peak and Onkyo was doing RMS.

 

[Thomas_Berg]

uh, yes. many manufacturers (mostly in the low-end, Joe 6-pack market) overrate their wattages and/or only rate them at 1000 Hz. now better quality receivers, such as Onkyo's line, rate their power from (typically) 20-20,000 Hz.

the Onkyo is more powerful than the "100 watt" Kenwood, so this is not an issue. i'd go with the 494 over the Kenwood.

 

[Thomas_A]

I'd second that notion. As good as everyone says the kenwoods are these days... they still overate the power. My pioneer in the bedroom is the same way. Its supposed to have the same power as my Yammie in the main theater...but my yammie is 2x as strong.... Most your HK's,Yammies,Onkio's,marantz are higher current and thus 55w is actualy louder than thier 100w...and usualy cleaner. Now ...I'm not saying the kenwoods are no good..but between the two...get the onkyo..IMO:b

 

[BryanZ]

A great deal depends upon your speaker efficiency and how loud you want to listen to them. You have to double the wattage to get a noticeable 3db increase. For example:

1w - 87db (@ 1 meter, speaker efficiency subject to your speakers)

2w - 90db

4w - 93db

8w - 96db

16w - 99db

32w - 102db

64w - 105db

Subtract 3 db for every meter you sit away from the speakers (if I'm not mistaken). Best advice I can give you is to not get caught up with wattage. Instead worry about quality. The Onkyo or Denon AVR-1602 or Yamaha RX-V420 will all sound slightly better then the Kenwood. Hard to go wrong here.

 

[JerryW]

Ditto, go Onkyo. Best mid-fi receivers in the business (IMO).

 

[Albert M]

The VR-507 is a very good receiver. Why not test both out at home. The VR-507 has SRS Circle Surround and the adjustable DPL2 music modes(center width,dimension and panorama). Both are solid in performance for the price.

 

[jacek p]

RE: "I was reading somewhere that Kenwood was rating their's in peak and Onkyo was doing RMS."

I just purchased Kenwood VR509 and I am very pleased. Contrary to the statements from people who know it all, the specs for VR509 read:

"100W per channel minimum RMS...at 8 Ohm from 20Hz to 20kHz with no more than 0.7% total harmonic distortions..."

"total harmonic distortions 0.05% (1kHz, 50W, 8 Ohm)"

The difference in acoustic output from different amps people are hearing may have to do with various efficiencies at 4 Ohms (high Amps will do better), quality of connections with speakers, and varying efficiencies of the speakers (which can vary by 3dB and even more which means 2x more power required or even more for the same effect).

I hope this helps to clarify common power issues. I wish people stopped bullying Kenwood gear, which yes, has better value, and no, is not "cheap" in quality.

Cheers,

 

[Sean Conklin]

You tell 'em jacek!
The previous Kenwood bashers(Yes you Thomas Berg ) sure have some wrong information.
Kenwood is NOT rated at 1000hz it is in fact 0.7% THD 20-20,000hz! And the 494 I believe is rated from 20-100,000hz anyway.
Sorry but Kenwood is not in the same league as J6P receivers(what the heck constitutes a J6P receiver anyway?!)such as Technics, cheaper Sony's or the Cheap Pioneers. Notice I said "cheap"! The bottom of the line Pioneers, Technics, Sony's, are plasticy and cheaper looking. And do not come close to the Kenwoods!

My pioneer in the bedroom is the same way. Its supposed to have the same power as my Yammie in the main theater...but my yammie is 2x as strong....

Ok so your Yammie sounds more powerful than your Pioneer.
How much more powerful does it sound than your Kenwood?!
OOhhh, you don't have a Kenwood.... case closed.
Steve: I am not saying go with either one, just let your ears decide! Both are comparable and BOTH will do the job!!

 

[Steve Gazi]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm still undecided. I'm not an audiophile.. yet. This is going to be my first home theater setup, so I don't know if I'd be able to tell the difference or not. I'm just looking for something that will play loud, clear, have some decent features and give me room to expand if need be.

 

[Kevin. W]

Steve,

If your looking at the Kenwoods you may want to look at their VR510 model(THX certified).

Kevin

 

[Norm Strong]

In spite of the remarks above, all manufacturers have to spec their receivers the same way. The FCC requires it. In fact the rules are quite specific, detailing just how power must be measured.

A manufacturer can derate his receiver if he wishes, but he can't make any statements to suggest that this is the case. I believe (don't quote me on this) that the McIntosh "trick" is now illegal.

"We conservatively rate our amplifiers at 0.1% THD, although out customers tell us they measure less than .01%"

This underhanded trick is designed to get all the benefits of selling an amplifier with distortion of .01%, while taking responsibility for only 0.1%. I think it's currently against the law. At least I hope it is.

 

[Thomas_A]

Actualy sean...I put the kenwood in the same catagory as my pioneer...from what I have heard side-side at the store! I also put jvc, and lower sony in this line also. I also stated that I was not nocking the quality of the newer kenwoods...but In real world,, a yammie, onkyo,denon,merantz, hk will out perform your kenwood,,, unless you have the newer _high end line...

:b

 

[Vin]

Steve, I suggest you take Sean's advice and listen to both. I happen to own the VR-507 (this is my second Kenwood, BTW) and I love it. Besides being loaded with features, it performs like a receiver costing much more than the $300 (or less) that it can be had for!
Good luck,
Vin

 

[Steve Gazi]

Are the 55 watts from the Onkyo loud?

 

[PaulShady]

Steve, this is a pretty cool post because I'm in the same boat! I'm about to get my first HT system, and was undecided between the a Kenwood VR509 and the Onkyo DS494. I LOVE the Onkyo 595, but it's just a little more than I wanted to spend. (95% will be used to watch TV/DVD). Although I really like the Onkyo, the 494 doesn't allow you to "delay" to the speakers, or alot of custom speaker setups, which the Kenwoods do. (I'm Really new here so if I'm wrong someone PLEASE correct me.)
I'm sticking with the Pro Dolby II, and thats why I'm "most likely" going with the Kenwood VR509. It's just under $300 now, which sound nice to me. Its about $125 more for the Onkyo 595. (And for all the people that don't think the $125 is much, I agree, but I've "upped" all my speakers, and DVD player, and I'm still over what I "wanted" to spend)
And like you Steve, I'm not an Audiophile, I just want a pretty good system for my dollar.
Good luck,
Paul

 

[Sean Conklin]

Actualy sean...I put the kenwood in the same catagory as my pioneer...from what I have heard side-side at the store!

Thomas A, my point exactly, you can almost never get a proper audition of the Kenwood.

Of course the Yams and the rest you mention will sound better in the store, for some reason the Yams and such are hooked up to some nice Klipsch's or something IN the theater room! The Kenwood is lucky to have some dinky CRAP speakers hooked up to them! Hook the Kenwood up to some nice B&W's or JBL's, or Def Tech's and you will see the Kenwood in a new light!

Paul Shady: You are right, the Kenwood has more flexibility than the 494. I used to install, and worked out of a showroom, and we had the Kenwoods "properly" set up and we had the Denon's and Onkyo's set up "properly" too, and you know what, we couldn't keep the Kenwoods in stock!!

Kenwood gives you more bang for the buck, I suggest to the people considering Kenwoods, take it home if you can and audition it in your home, unless you can get a "proper" demonstration!

Good Luck and HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

 

[Steve Gazi]

I found the VR-507 for $240 shipped. That's hard to pass up.

 

[Sean Conklin]

That is a good price Steve, it is hard to pass up.

I wouldn't let our haggling sway you either way, but if you want a great budget receiver the 507 will make you happy...

 

[MatthewJ S]

here's an easy solution, just pair that kenwood up with a speaker w/ 102db efficiancy!!!!!!!!!