GCB

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1810.00 from Retravision

Summary:
I actually have the later KRF-X9995-D but couldn't find it's folder to review it in. They are very similar except the 9995 is a little improved with more power and features. Most reviewers said these are not great with music and that knocked their overall. Also the five only channel amps hurt them. It's a shame because as a movie soundtrack machine these are awesome. Surprisingly, they are good with DVD-A multichannel music too. I never saw this reviewed back when they were new, but as they were released with a matching DVD-A capable player (DVF-9030), Kenwood obviously tuned them for such. CD playback is bland. Tuner is bland. DVD Video is awesomely powerful and exciting. DVD Audio is very smooth and beguiling. I use the SBR pre-outs through a 2 channel KRF-3080 receiver at the back of room and get my 7.1 rears with an LFE for a sub back there. I used to have both units at the front of room but the remote drove me crazy, always finding both! The remote is very impressive, a large touch screen unit, but in practice its a battery chewer and we use a simple remote off another Kenwood we have most of the time for ease of use. In Australia you can still find these Kenwoods around new in store's and for such a large impressive looking beast, you can get them for a song. Especially when you consider 130W 8ohm, 185 6ohm and 200 4ohm and THX Ultra with 7.1 pre-outs. As an only system where you play lots of CD's don't bother. As a dedicated movie machine, excellent, especially if your room only has space for 5.1 and you want a great looking centre piece. With the gloss 2-pack end casings and gloss speakers like Quad, Pinnacle or similar, its a very classy look. Don't bother seeking out a matching DVF-9030 player though, not to use anyway (CD replay is ok and 5 disc carousel). While they look great together, it will drive you crazy with misreading discs mid-movie and not reading burn't CD's. We have ours set-up beside each other for the cosmetic's only, we use a Samsung 841 with DVI out as our player. As I said, if you find one cheap enough, it will enhance your house and your movies.

Strengths:
Looks. Impressive size. Impressive remote control. Brute power. Channel steering. Multi channel music is smoooooth.

Weaknesses:
CD replay is dead. Very sensitive to touching speaker wires, even one fine strand will cut it out. Only five onboard amps. Awkward to use remote.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz SR7300OSE, SR5200, Kenwood KRF-X9060D-S, KRF-X6060D-S, KRF-X4060D-S.

Price Paid:  $3000.00

Summary:
Kenwood's KRF-V9993D AV receiver is an evolution of the X9992D that we reviewed in April this year. Despite some similar on-paper specifications there are quite a few changes between these generations, even though so little time has elapsed.

Most noticeable is that the V9993D has offloaded the THX Ultra badge. This has allowed Kenwood to veer away from standard AV amp electronics and implement its own DRIVE digital technology, which it considers superior. New for the V9993D is wide bandwidth amplification in readiness for SACD and DVD-Audio, dts decoding as standard, and a rather fetching line in vivid blue lights and lacquered wood side panels. The input count has positively exploded, with no less than 14 digital inputs and two outputs. The processor can now decode HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) audio CDs, and there are several useful features for multi-room set-up, including zoned AV output and inputs for two multi-function remote extenders.

The remote control is the same sexy, two-way touch-screen device of its forbear albeit with some different swirling 3D graphics and more programmable features. It is a superb piece of design and if sold separately would easily give Marantz's RC5000 a run for its money.

Similarly retained is the slick ergonomics. By using the remote control's on-screen display everything can be set up in a matter of minutes and, even if you do get lost, the manual is a masterpiece of clarity. Power is a healthy five times 110Watts to all channels, there is an RDS tuner built-in, and behind the motorised front flap are all the buttons required to control the amp when the batteries in the remote control go flat.

One feature that is quite blatantly missing when lined up against the rest of this roundup is any form of Surround EX decoding or facility to add it on at a later date. The V9993D remains stoically a traditional 5.1-channel amp and has no truck with any surround-back shenanigans. As EX is fully backwards compatible with standard Dolby Digital and dts this is not a terminal problem, but it remains a serious omission for a cutting edge AV amplifier.

Considering that the X9992D had a reputation of being gung-ho with movie soundtracks, it is a pleasant surprise that this latest Kenwood receiver has a well balanced and even-handed sound that, if anything, rests a little on the laid back side of neutral. Bass is solid with a warmly rounded nature that never becomes excessive, and it is exactly the same sonic story with the upper frequencies. Treble is smooth and controlled even with the volume turned way up into the Noise Abatement Society horror zone, and there is plenty of power on tap throughout.

The atmospheric scenes in The Sixth Sense lose none of their intensity despite this smooth performance, although critical listening reveals a gentle masking of finer detail and a certain colouring of the sound. Voices that you know well take on a slightly different character but the more you listen the less noticeable this becomes.

This slightly soft approach takes any hard edges off stereo music and tonally you always seem to be a few degrees away from the whole truth. However, this does not detract from the fact that after a few minutes listening to the KRF-V999 you find your head bobbing and feet tapping to an enjoyable, if not analytical, musical presentation.

Kenwood's latest AV receiver tends to grow on you with time. It is far from being the most tonally accurate amplifier but it manages to exude a mellifluous, rose-tinted performance that is hard to dislike. It has the power to push the volume to party levels, comes with one of the world's best remote controls and is one of the easiest AV amplifiers to use full stop.

Overall, a very capable performer, for movies more than music - which is unsurprising considering its lineage. Just misses out on a badge.

Strengths:
Perfect

Weaknesses:
nothing