Receiver: Kenwood VR-806

[markw]

Some words of advice, MArv...

You picked up a Yamaha receiver and within two days decided you didn't liKe it? You didn't even give it a fighting chance.

The receivers aren't toasters or a George Forman grill where you simply plug 'em in and you get 100% of their usefulness out of 'em.

Remember I said previously "Learn to love your manual"? There's a very good reason for that. You gotta learn how to work 'em. You need that manual in order to navigate through the multiple layers of menus you need to make it do what you want it to do.

When I got my Denon 2802 a few years ago I had to spend a few days studying the manual and making adjustments. It really came into it's own after about a week of part time reading and tweaking. ...and I've been playing with stereos since the early 60's and within the past fer years have helped quite a few friends through their HT setups.

The more they do the more complex the setup procedure.

...and with only two speakers there's not a heckuva lot you can do. All you can do is use the stereo mode or, as I've mentioned previously, if you have a phantom center mode you can use that.

You can't really use and judge the surround and/or DSP potential of your system. Whatever you hear with them is not "real". That's like confusing non-partnered sex with the real thing.

 

[marv117]

I know! I'm such an idiot! Oh well, I learn from my mistakes and I got a lot more to learn! Need to do more reading also.

 

[marv117]

I think I'm gonna have to buy a $200 receiver and find a center speaker. ::sigh::

 

[marv117]

I think I'm gonna go with the Pioneer VSX-815 for $300. This time I will keep it alteast a week to test it out before returning it if I'm not happy with it.

I'll worry about the center speaker later.

 

[marv117]

Should I be worried about the 1yr warranty from Pioneer?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

1yr warranties are pretty standard in the business. There are some very good buys in your price range this week.

This is about the best you are going to do under $300. You won't have to return this unit, and it'll blow away any 100 watt receiver you've been looking at in power and sound. Manufacturers warranty.

http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=900971233

Keep an eye on this one. Chances are it will go above $400, but who knows? It's a $1300 receiver! 3 yr warranty.

http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10373206

 

[Cygnus]

Did you try the Denon? If so, what model was it and did you like it?

 

[marv117]

I was looking at the entry level, denon avr485.

 

[marv117]

Do you think there will be some nice sales on a major holiday, like July 4th?

Maybe if I wait a couple of months I will get a better deal on a better receiver.

 

[markw]

repost from first page

1) Have your cash ready or be prepared to charge your purchase.

2) Have a pretty good idea of what brands/features you want and/or need. Be somewhat flexible as far as exact make/models go.

2.5) If you can live with last years model, termendous savings can be had,

3) Scour the Sunday paper flyers for the Big Box ads. Circuit City, Best Buy but in particular those from 6th avenue and Expo.

4) This is where the patience comes in. The ads generally repeat every few weeks. If something catches your eye this week, jump on it. If not, put your money back in your pockets and check every week for something new.

It'll happen eventually. Trust me on this.

Using this method, particularly # 2.5, I was able to score, NIB a Denon 2802 for half price when they came out with the 2803 and a Velodyne 1210 for $300. All it takes is patience and planning.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

The receivers aren't toasters or a George Forman grill where you simply plug 'em in and you get 100% of their usefulness out of 'em.

But they should be like toasters. They'd probably have a much larger market if they were. If any schoe could take it home, plug it in, push toast and watch a dvd in surround, those things would be selling like hotcakes (or Eggos, since we're talking toasters).

Instead, receivers are still pretty much relegated to audiophyles and technophyles. In my circle of friends and acquaintences I only know one person who has a home theater and that's a relatively inexpensive HTiB.

Price might be one reason, but I think intimidation by the technology is the main one.

 

[markw]

There's a fortune to be made by someone here, Shadow.

But they should be like toasters. They'd probably have a much larger market if they were. If any schoe could take it home, plug it in, push toast and watch a dvd in surround, those things would be selling like hotcakes (or Eggos, since we're talking toasters).

Instead, receivers are still pretty much relegated to audiophyles and technophyles. In my circle of friends and acquaintences I only know one person who has a home theater and that's a relatively inexpensive HTiB.

Price might be one reason, but I think intimidation by the technology is the main one.

As I said in a previous post, the more a unit does, the more you have to learn how to use it. When someone designs a receiver that knows what you want and need ahd can set itself up with as minimal thinking as possible, then we'll have something.

Of course, there's always vintage stereos where everything is pretty intuitive but the current crop of HT receivers does quite a bit more than play an internal tuner and a stereo phonograph and/or tape deck. All you had was a tuning knob, a sourceselector knob, a volume control knob , maybe a bass and treble control and that was about it.The biggest issue was when someone accidentaly pushed in the tape monitor swuitch of turned off thes peakers.

Times change. They do a heckuva lot more today.

As it now stands, the only thing that even comes close for user friendliness iis the upper priced Bose all in one systems and these are not without their faults.

Besides, once the initial setup is done (correctly) modern receivers can be fairly user friendly, particularly if you invest in a good universal remote and program all the macros. ...at least until you change the batteries.

but, it will come eventually. Remember back in the old days of computers before windows and you actually had to key in commands into a blank screen? Can anyone say "DOS"?

 

[marv117]

The funny thing is I am a computer programmer/technician, but I don't know anything about HT and A/V. Hey, we were all beginners at one point.

I will take your advice and watch out for the flyers and I'll be ready to know which one I will want and features/specs I want in a receiver.

BTW, I saw the Denon 3805 at E.Expo and wow is it a really nice receiver. I know it performs great but it looks great also! I love the design/layout. I'm a 60/40 person when it comes to beauty from inside/out. If only I can afford that model! sheesh!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

As I said in a previous post, the more a unit does, the more you have to learn how to use it. When someone designs a receiver that knows what you want and need ahd can set itself up with as minimal thinking as possible, then we'll have something.

Of course, there's always vintage stereos where everything is pretty intuitive but the current crop of HT receivers does quite a bit more than play an internal tuner and a stereo phonograph and/or tape deck. All you had was a tuning knob, a sourceselector knob, a volume control knob , maybe a bass and treble control and that was about it.The biggest issue was when someone accidentaly pushed in the tape monitor swuitch of turned off thes peakers.

Times change. They do a heckuva lot more today.

As it now stands, the only thing that even comes close for user friendliness iis the upper priced Bose all in one systems and these are not without their faults.

Besides, once the initial setup is done (correctly) modern receivers can be fairly user friendly, particularly if you invest in a good universal remote and program all the macros. ...at least until you change the batteries.

but, it will come eventually. Remember back in the old days of computers before windows and you actually had to key in commands into a blank screen? Can anyone say "DOS"?

Mark,

Good post. I wonder how many members have purchased new higher end receivers, and haven't experimented with speaker placement, room layout, and balancing the parametric eq or auto setup. These systems are not turn key. You must take the time to read the manual, set up your system, and continually tweak it to realize the awesome sound they can potentially put out. These manuals are not user friendly, which makes this forum so much more valuable as a free tool and much needed guidance.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Well, you guys make a great case for a neophyte not buying Denon. I hear their owner's manuals are completely baffling. Not what us beginners need to feel confident in our equipment.

 

[markw]

They are all a little challanging.

Well, you guys make a great case for a neophyte not buying Denon. I hear their owner's manuals are completely baffling. Not what us beginners need to feel confident in our equipment.

If you're afraid to read, learn and experiment then this is not the hobby for you.

...unless you want to pay someone to set it up for you.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

To be honest, I want it to work right out of the box, but I know that's not possible. So the second option is to buy from a company that knows how to write its owner's manuals (or uses a company like mine to help them write them ) and I have heard Denon is not that company. Just as I heard if you want a user-friendly remote, Pioneer is not the way to go.

If the hobby is difficult enough on its own, why do I need it more complicated by buying stuff that is hard to understand? Seems reasonable to me.

And really, in my mind the hobby part is collecting and watching movies. The gear is a means to an end, not the end itself. Its supposed to enhance that experience, not take away from it.