Price Paid:  $75.00 from ebay.com

Summary:
I bought my KR-V7070s on ebay.com. Didn't expect much from this price but when it arrived, it gave the best surprise so far on ebay. It is very well built and all the functions are easy to use and great on music or movie. Powerful and clean. Initially I wanted it to be used in my work area for a pair of bookshelf speakers. I hooked it up with my video source and tested with a few movies. Wow, it is absolutely great with suround sound! Not to be compared to my friend's HK high end but very enough for my humble 12*15 family room. I saved big on buying an AV receiver/amplifier and spent the money on movies. I bought another KR-V7070 for my work area (this time I waited long enough to snap a great deal on ebay). It has terrific FM signal pickup and I am very satisfied. I have owned them for over 3 years and they work like a charm. Especially the one in work area, I almost let it on day and night and it never gets overheated or having any problem. I think it is enormously undervalued on the used market. Go grab one if you are on a budget!

Strengths:
Very well built and great sound for the money. Kenwood is famous for durability of its mobile communication device and car electronics. Built to last and please!

Weaknesses:
Not for the audiophiles for its price and probably subtle difference than higher end.

Similar Products Used:
Denon 700V, Sansui, Harmon Kardon

Price Paid:  $300.00 from www.etronics.com

Summary:
I'm guessing mine is a 2003 model and i got it a week prior to this review. It's an amazing machine which is also THX certified. I love it and it will take me far along my path of home theaters.

600 watts x 6 channels for 6.1 surround sound, 6th channel could be the surround rear center speaker or it can be adjusted to be a subwoofer (not counting the already supplied subout), a 7th preout channel and all the surround decoding you can ask for.

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/product.jsp?productTypeId=55&sortBy=price&productId=2532

You guys have to get this receiver... THX CERTIFIED!!! Also did you guys know you may receive the THX demo disc for buying a THX component? Yes you can, but retailers have a right to refuse the distribution of the demo disc, but you can ask for it with high hopes. I got mine from a different source, but it's for me to know and you to find out. The THX trailers like tex, tex2 (moocan), and tex ex, ect. (the thx trailers are usually at the begining of thx movies). Remember, the demo disc isn't for sale for the consumer market. go to www.thx.com for more info.

Back to the receiver... i don't regret buying it... especially for the price i got it for. I love the sound it makes while in the various surround modes.

Strengths:
Many features, easy setup, tons of surround decoders to choose from and best of all THX certified. Gotta love the 6.1 surround sound.

Weaknesses:
it gets kind of warm, but maybe i should ventilate the rack more so that more air circulation can occur. but other than that, i don't regret buying this fine peice of machinery.

Similar Products Used:
JBL pb-12

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Bought this unit in '96, and have had no problems until recently. For the 1st time, I have connected a set of 'B' speakers AND rear surrounds. Now the rear surround channels have no output. Advise against this setup, unless someone has experienced this before and found a workaround. I could have possibly fried the rear channels by not having the correct impedance setting when connecting.

Strengths:
rich, powerful sound with Bose301's and PolkAudio rm6700/psw303

Weaknesses:
analog receiver
spring connectors on rear,center channels

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $300.00

Summary:
This is a great receiver. I just upgraded to the new Kenwood VR-510 with Dolby Digital, Circle Surround Sound, and DTS. It wasn't until I made the upgrade, probably expecting more of a difference in the sound quality that I appreciated the 7070. Even though it's only Pro Logic, it has a great sound to it that is not easily surpassed. I got the 510 at a great price - $375, but if I had paid any more for it, I don't know if I would have felt the cost effectiveness of the upgrade.

I won't be giving up the 7070 anytime soon, I'll find a use for it somewhere else in the house!

Strengths:
Great sound quality. Good hookups for dubbing tapes from one VCR to another. Good stereo reception.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha, Kenwood

Summary:
I love it, this is the machine that I started on and It is a wonderful piece of equipment.

Strengths:
Strong Sound, Crisp, and definate

Weaknesses:
None aparant to me for what it has available

Similar Products Used:
N/A