Price Paid:  $199.00 from J & R

Summary:
This is the best receiver I have heard in its class. I wanted plenty of power without paying thousands for extra features, inputs and outputs I will never use and dont need. The SA-HE200k does what I need it to do. A powerful 130 watts x 6 and more than enough inputs. The sound is clean and smooth. The remote could have been designed better. However, the remote does get the job done. I have not had a problem with heat. The fan works properly and quietly. There are enough sound field modes to drive you crazy. You may not use all of them. The sound quality is superb
and is better than some high-end receivers.
DTS, prologic 1 and 2, Dolby Digital are all right there and sound excellent. This is truly an awesome buy. Why pay hundreds or even thousands for fancy bells and whistles that you will not use when you can purchase this at a resonable price and get excellent sound quality and features. You don't have to sell your arm to have great quality but you also can't go cheap. This is a great receiver.

Strengths:
Power, sound quality, price, input and features.

Weaknesses:
remote design

Price Paid:  $339.00 from REX TV

Summary:
I had spent $$$ on a JVC BVK 9010 audio receiver system that just wasn't easy to use and I felt it just wasn't performing in concert with my Pioneer Elite TZ F700's ($3500/pr retail). Something was missing. Enter this system...Wow! What a sound. Easy to use. Incredible sounds never heard before. My Golden Retreiver runs through the house looking for the sounds. Exceptional, Clean, Clear, & Crisp highs, mids, and lows.

Strengths:
Ease of hookup. Remote (didn't have to read the manual to get going). Very versatile for older analog and newer DTS audio/DVDs. Good thing I didn't listen to them in a dealer before I bought it. Easily worth upwards of 2000.00 in my humble opinion. I have heard some of those systems and they don't sound like this one. One of the best buys on the market.

Weaknesses:
Kinda heavy, but so is anything else in this category. Doesn't cut off automatically. Could be a heat problem if not addressed. Not for kids to play with.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer, Sony, Toshiba, JVC

Price Paid:  $354.00 from Rex

Summary:
I decided upgrade my dinosaur sony pro logic receiver after several years of superb use. I painstakingly researched not only the new receivers, but the Dolby Digital technologies as well. The Panasonic SAHE200K has everything that I want as far as the prologic II, 6.1, Dolby Digital-EX DTS-ES, various imputs, displays, overall appearance, and the price was right. In addition, the SAHE200K is pushing more than enough power output to my old Bose 6 series II speakers that sounds surprising crystal clear at high volume levels. I use a Bose VC10 center and a polk 10" sub. I am very pleased with the SAHE200K purchase. In my opinion, this particular receiver has no competition and stands alone as the best reciever on the market today surpassing all in its class.

Strengths:
Sound clarity for the buck. Expect to pay alot more anything comparable.

Weaknesses:
The set up, the control over the surround fields and modes are somewhat confusing even when you read the book first (duh). I listen to alot of live performances, and the treble and bass can only be adjusted in the 3 channel stereo mode which was very weird. However, in the surround modes, one may change the speaker settings + or - for the center (mid-range) and sub-woofer (bass). Providing a good audio recording source, the treble need not adjusting. DON'T lose the remote or you lose half the control capabilities.

Similar Products Used:
All of the newer ones...i.e. harmon, onkyo, sony, kenwood.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Decided on this receiver after comparing against similiar featured receivers from various quality companies, and have not been disappointed. Plenty of power to support home theatre/stereo applications with the analog and digital inputs/outputs to meet the needs of most and then some. Add to that the latest Dolby and DTS decoders that add a centre rear channel, you just can't beat this receiver for the price. The instructions and set up I found simple and have no complaints with the various surround modes. Bass and Treble controls are accessible through the remote.

Is there anything better out there? You bet, but be prepared to take the jump to a THX equipped receiver for a lot more $$

Strengths:
Panasonic's Flag Ship with many extras, will accommodate all your analog and digital needs - one of the few receivers with a turntable in.

Weaknesses:
The remote could be better, a little more user friendly, but OK after you get use to it.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Elite

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Circit City

Summary:
The sound is great; in sterio and in 6.1
Easy to use as far as high end recievers go.
I had an Onkyo for about 2 weeks but was soon convinced that my JBL S312 speakers should sound better. I took the Onkyo back to Circit City and took the advice of one of their employees and bought the PANASONIC. My responce to concidering a Panisonic was negit

Strengths:
ve but I figured I could always return it. Well I will not be returning it and my JBJ's sound as they should.

Weaknesses:
on screen display would be great

Similar Products Used:
onkyo yamaha kenwood sony