[dropzone7]

Okay, this Kenwood VR8070 has everything I'm looking for and it's right at the price point I can talk the wife into right now. I have not owned anything Kenwood in probably 10 or 15 years and frankly I'm not sure of thier quality. I mean, the fact that this unit has THX select certification kind of leads me to believe that it can't be total crap, right? I know, THX certification is not the answer to everything and lots of people probably could care less for it. I have only been able to find like 2 reviews on this unit and both were good but I have yet to find anyone that actually has experience with one. Any ideas on why I should or should not go with this one? This would hopefully be an upgrade from my Sony DAV-FC7 home theater in a box system. I can get the Kenwood for under $350 and that looks really tempting unless somebody cares to convince me otherwise.

 

[spankle]

I've got one. That said I don't have much to offer because I'm no audio head but it works well enough for me. The reason I bought it was the price and the 3 component inputs. HD looks fine across them.


Audio wise I can't compare. They drive my 6ohm speakers just fine but I don't listen to loud stuff or rock the house w/ music. It's basic listening.

The receiver doesn't get too hot. I was expecting much more heat.


I can tell you the user manual is bare bones. You might as well toss it. The remote isn't great but it works. You'll have to work a little harder to get the surround field the way you would like it because it doesn't have an auto setup w/ a mike like some others do.


+ = cost, features, cosmetics are nice

- = horrible manual


I think I read on this forum that somebody else had one and flipped it for a "better" unit. This thing works great for my needs. I don't think I would hear any difference compared to something else. Again... I'm not an audio head.


2cents worth zip.

 

[dropzone7]

Thanks spankle. Do you happen to have or know where I can find a pic of the back of this unit? I want to take a look at the inputs. What are the speaker wire connections like?

 

[spankle]

Can't think where I saw a back pic... If I remember I'll post a reply.


Back inputs are banana plugs (i think that's what they're called, I told you I'm no audio-file). They screw to fasten the wire.


There are 2 optical inputs but wish there were 3. The HD component maps 2 optical audio but not a 3rd. I minor problem.

 

[mchiasson]

I was looking for pictures myself. I finally found some earlier today. You can see it at etronics.com.

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?...70&svbname=303


You can click on the "View larger images" link or click here for the picture directly.

http://www.etronics.com/products/lar...070back_lg.jpg


Btw, I have had two Kenwood receivers over the past eight years(had to upgrade for DVDs about five years ago). I haven't had any problems with either of the two units. I will probably wind up getting this same unit over the next few months(need component video options ).


Hope this helps.

 

[spankle]

maybe they're binding posts. ?


(running a major cold so head is VERY foggy)

if I only had a flu shot. : )

 

[spankle]

I bought my 8070 from etronics and can only say nice things there.

Good experience. 2 for 2.

 

[dropzone7]

mchiasson, thanks for the pics and spankle thanks for your input as well. It's down to this unit or a Pioneer 1014. The Kenwood has more component inputs but other than that I'm not sure what the deciding factor will be at this point. Both are within about $20 of each other from online retailers. My listening will be about 90% movies and maybe 10% music so not sure if that makes an argument for one over the other. I'm also looking at speakers since my current set up is a home theater in a box. I'm interested in the Acoustech line from Bic America. I have read nothing but good things about them and I think once the reciever has been choosen everything else will fall into line. This is too much like work. Just when I think I have made up my mind I find something else. If I had money I would be dangerous.

 

[Eyleron]

Dropzone what did you end up buying?

 

[jbug]

I bought my 8070 from etronics and can only say nice things there.

Good experience. 2 for 2.


Spankle, I am anxious to read your review of the 8070. Mine should be here tomorrow. All the hype seems to be going to the Pioneer 1014.

 

[CCarncross]

Guys read this thread about the 8070. This may be the reason NOT to buy it. I dont know how loud this guy listens, he hasnt said, nor if the speakers he has are a tough load to drive, I didnt think any of those he listed were a tough load, but it shuts down...which tells me its got no grunt in the amp section...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...84#post5058184

 

[ReAp]

Quote:

Originally posted by CCarncross Guys read this thread about the 8070. This may be the reason NOT to buy it. I dont know how loud this guy listens, he hasnt said, nor if the speakers he has are a tough load to drive, I didnt think any of those he listed were a tough load, but it shuts down...which tells me its got no grunt in the amp section... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...84#post5058184

Yes, that does seem to be my problem right now. To give you an idea of how loud I listen... I'm still able to speak to the person next to me on the couch comfortably without yelling.


All speakers are JBL Northridge series, except for Pioneer floor models.


7.1 setup. I'm bidding on multiple amps right now. Other than that, the receiver sounds great. But considering the money I'm spending on amps you might want to look at something else too.

 

[Eyleron]

So dialogue is what....70 dB? Doesn't seem loud enough to warrant shutting it down.


I'd consider that it may be one defective unit in otherwise fine model line.

 

[CCarncross]

Pretty amazing, if I turn my Yamaha to half way I can barely yell at the person sitting next to me. Which indicates to me its one of two things, barring an actual short. The Kenwood has no power at all, or you have extremely inefficient speakers. I believe on the other thread you mentioned having a SPL meter, why havent you just measured it?


Unfortunately companies know good and well that people see price and features, and until they get burned with a crappy product, thats all they tend to see. B4 you spend $1000 on an amp, I would have returned the Kenwood and bought something else, you may even spend a little less money in teh end compared to that Kenwood AND amps..

 

[Eyleron]

Yeah and his speakers are 91 db JBL Northridge! You'd think would be sensitive enough. And being a THX certified amp (not that the badge means it's touched by the gods, but...) shouldn't the 100 watts per channel be pretty trustworthy?

 

[Bikedorian]

I have the Kenwood 6060 which is the predecessor to the 8070. Nothing has changed that I'm aware of in the amp section. Sound and Vision measured this unit at 92 watts, ALL channels driven. I can drive my HT to ear bleed territory without noticeable distortion.

One thing that is very important with a unit of this power and price range is it needs air. If it's in a space that dosen't allow for proper ventillation, it will shut down. When I first placed mine in our entertainment center, it shut down. I opened up the back and lower the shelf to make more room and it hasn't shut down since. This is one excellent bang for the buck unit but it has short cuts to reach it's price point. I can live with the short cuts. I am very happy with the receiver.


David

 

[ReAp]

Update on my Kenwood VR-8070. Finally received my Audiosource monoblock amp, which is powering my center channel now. I can now crank up volume as much as I want and receiver will not go into standby mode. So unlike what the manual for Kenwood was saying it was my cables shorting out, it was indeed the inept power supply for the receiver not being able to handle the output.


Now while most people on here will say Audiosource (nice piece of junk) I actually think it sounds great. It really pushes my center channel. I hear things now in movies I never heard before. So I ended up getting another Audiosource amp on ebay and got it fairly cheap for 82 bucks. It's the audiosource amp one(A) 80 X 2. I'm gonna use that to power my Left and Right channel fronts. That should free the receiver to easily power the 4 surrounds, and if it doesn't I'll try and pickup the Adcom 2535 amp on ebay as well.

 

[kennethmmiller]

dropzone7,


i have the onkyo 602, and i'm real happy with it. it has all of the ins and outs that you are needing. you can find it for $350 shipped online. it has a very nice amp that has plenty of multichannel power.


good luck,

ken

 

[Bikedorian]

"which is powering my center channel now"


I may have missed it but what speakers (LRC) are you running?


David

 

[Eyleron]

Here's what a review says about the Kenwood's amplifier section. It sounds like the transistor amplifiers are unique to each channel, so not powering one channel won't relieve other channels FOR THAT PART of the amplification process. However, the power supply, of course, is shared amongst the channels, so you'd think an outboard amp would ease up on the overall power supply demands.


_______________________________________

The VR-8070 has seven 100-watt RMS channels designed around Kenwood's K-STAT™ (Kenwood – Self Tracking Audio Transistor) Discrete Audio Amplifier technology. Each output channel uses a complementary pair of these K-STAT™ devices to drive the speaker load. What's unique about the K-STAT™ devices is the integrated thermal compensation sensor inside the 5-pin package that constantly adjusts the characteristics of the output drive circuit to optimize performance. The design topology improves sound quality and consistency at all volume levels. All 14 of the K-STAT power devices are mounted to a large heatsink to ensure adequate thermal dissipation. Speaker impedance is still an issue and should not drop below 8 ohms nominally. Lower speaker impedances cause overheating in the output devices and shuts down the receiver.


The power supply in the VR-8070 is a linear design that uses a large power transformer and hefty 20,000 micro-Farad (10,000 per voltage rail) capacitors for storing large power reserves for the output devices. These large capacitors serve as a power reservoirs for short term high power needs.