New Kenwood Digital Receiver with TI PurePath Technology

[Audioholics]

Haven't heard about Kenwood in a while? The new Kenwood VRS-N8100 receiver comes with a rear-panel Ethernet connector which lets you stream audio and video files from your computer to your home theater system. A front-panel PCMCIA card slot accepts media card adapters so you can display pictures from digital cameras over your home theater, and on-screen GUI operation makes it easy to find and play all your digital media. Additional cool features:

Auto game console recognition (complete with front digital audio connection)
Dual-Source/Single-Zone operation allows headphone use while the rest of your family enjoys music through speakers.
Dolby Headphone processing
Universal pre-programmed remote is ready to go with Xbox and PlayStation2 codes.
Dolby Pro Logic IIx
ADI SHARC 32-Bit DSP processor
PurePath digital power amplifier delivers 130 watts to each of six channels.​

The new Kenwood VRS-N8100 is shipping this month and has an MSRP of $800.

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[Rip Van Woofer]

Handsome chassis. SHARC (same one as the flagship Denon et al?). Good features (but no mention of bass mgmt in the press release, so...). Attractive price. Great old name from audio's past (they had some really good stuff in the '70s, esp. some renowed tuners).

But the million-dollar question is: will the TI digital amp deliver better THD+N than has been the rule with others? Or is this merely another mass-market design for those who want a small chassis and cool operation and don't care about tiptop audio performance? A quick look at the TI digital audio site shows stuff about computer audio apps but not home audio. No specs. Hmmm. Didn't look at the "white paper", tho.

If it has good bass mgmt. and ease of use maybe it'd be a winner w/good ol' analog outboard amps, at least for the main speakers. As would the Harman/Kardon digital series receivers I've been eyeing for that purpose. On admittedly incomplete research the HK units, both digital and AVR series, seem to offer unusually good bass management even at moderate prices.

 

[Rob Babcock]

The VRS-7100 has been receiving high marks for sound quality at AC. The Kenwoods do maintain a direct digital signal path all the way to the speakers, which is great for digital sources (one or two less AD/DA cycles can't hurt) and are pretty decently featured. According to our "shootouts", the Kenwoods sound very good thru both analog & digital inputs, where the Panny is considered to be great with digital & lousy w/analog.

It's cool to see a higher end offering (although rated power is the same), and the ethernet card sounds cool. I'd really love to see USB 2.0 inputs, as that would make integration simply in my rig.

I wonder when the Denon's/Onk's/Yamaha's will catch up? That positions Kenwood & Sony at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Will AH be getting a review sample at all?

 

[Rob Babcock]

BTW, the '7100 is actually being marketed to gamers, and it's remote controls Xbox & PS2 code libraries.

 

[Audioholics]

Will AH be getting a review sample at all?

I have a meeting set up with Kenwood at CEDIA.

 

[Rob Babcock]

There was quite a lot of discussion about the '7100 at AC. Here's a link to a reader's own shootout of the Kenwood vs some other digital units.

WARNING: AC isn't full of sliderule types. Anyone whos sensibilities are shaken by subjective opinions or the expression thereof best avoid this link.

 

[Swylen]

Handsome chassis. SHARC (same one as the flagship Denon et al?). Good features (but no mention of bass mgmt in the press release, so...) If it has good bass mgmt. and ease of use maybe it'd be a winner w/good ol' analog outboard amps, at least for the main speakers.

Found on Vanns.com site.

Bass management lets you set up your system so that deep bass is sent only to those speakers designed to handle it, reducing distortion and increasing dynamic range. Bass management is performed digitally, allowing greater precision and control. You can also increase bass by preset amounts using Bass Boost to give your music an even richer, fuller sound.