Owl256

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.80 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $249.00 from J and R

Summary:
This was my first surround sound reciever amd I am very happy the results. This unit to me seems to be of higher quality than others in the price range. It seemed to focus more on quality and sound then it does on looks. On the inside it has a big fat transformer and a couple huge transistors connceted to a big heat sink and fan. The sound itself on the unit was clear, neutral, and undistorted even at high volumes. With the six channel inputs the sound was even better especially with DVD Audio. What I did not like was the lack of features. I ran out of S video ports and had to buy one of those stupid switches. The remote albiet cute, was cheap and looked like it belonged with a 10 year old vcr, not a receiver of this caliber. Another thing that was not good was the look of it. It cannot ever be considered graceful of elegant. It just looks like a big brownish box. This reciver is a great performer in the audio department, but its features, remote and aestetics are lacking. Unfourtunatly my beloved Technics died about three years after it was purchased making me have to buy another less capable AV receiver.

Strengths:
Sound quality, power, well built

Weaknesses:
Lack of features, cheapo remote, gets hot, died on me, ugly.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic DVD Audio player, Quasar VCR, RCA DSS, Sony TV

Price Paid:  $350.00 from AAFES Base Exchange

Summary:
When we first set it up we were very pleased with it. We liked being able to adjust the sound type (Live, Theater, Sim-Surround, etc.) The fine volume control was nice. With less than a year of operation the receiver sound started to cut out intermittently. After the receiver has been on for a while the sound cuts out every 5 seconds or so. The blue MOSFET light has also illuminated and will not go off. We haven't been able to use it for months now. We moved shortly before the failure and were not able to locate our paperwork to make a warranty claim within the one-year period. We are very unhappy with the unit - obviously. Repairman estimates $200+ to repair.

Strengths:
Fine volume control. Good AM tuner. Sound selections to fit the audio genre.

Weaknesses:
Not intuitive to turn on and off (tricky). MOSFET failure in first year. Got hot. Low humming noise over the audio. Poor center channel performance. Difficult to find local authorized repair center.

Similar Products Used:
Considering replcing the unit with Onkyo 501.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Mix Electronics Krak

Summary:
Sorry, for my English, I'm from Poland :)This receiver makes great sound, have enough power, and enough audio and video inputs, also digital (coax and 2 optical), has SVideo inputs/output, but signal from SVideo can't be lead out by Video Output and "viceversa". Also supports RDS system, blue "MOS-FET" light is great :),

Strengths:
Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, 5 x 100 W, great sound, DSP modes, enough inputs, outputs

Weaknesses:
Receiver is making hot in short time, fan works only on large power, can't record from front VCR2 to VCR1, volume handwheel shold be I think powered by engine.

Similar Products Used:
Old polish Unitra Tosca 303

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
This receiver is undoubtedly the best receiver for under 750. It does 20Hz-20Khz and has superb clarity that will blow your mind away. One test* proved that it could put out 120watts RMS at 8 ohms and 130 RMS at 6 ohms. (*consumer report, they actually use wattage meters, not their ears)also can do 4 ohm stable (you may only use A or B but not both at 4 ohms). Does not run hot! It runs at a decent temperature for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFET). This receiver also hosts Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic for surround modes and 5 multi-speaker soundfields (Hall, Club, Live, Theater and simulated surround).

Strengths:
20Hz-20Khz, DTS, Banana plugs for the A channels + B channel for stereo, MOSFET amp design, TA-KE capacitors, tight bass response and 5.1 channel inputs

Weaknesses:
For best sound needs equalizer........... Pretty blue light lights up room (can be turned off)

Similar Products Used:
Kenwood, SONY Pro Logic, Aiwa, Vintage Marantz and ONKYO

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Stereo Sound, Philad

Summary:
This is my first reciever for home audio, I have a decent one in my car. My first impression was clarity and great bass. I do have a Rockford Audionics 12" Subwoofer, which I highly recommend and probably adds to the experience. This system works very well with a satellite/sub system. Even though the amp isn''t very powerful for large speakers, satellites sing with this reciever. I am overpowering my satellites by a few watts, which I talked to a certified audio expert about. He said I will actually get better sound quality this way, but the speakers won''t last as long. It''s a sacrifice I''m willing to make. What makes the reciever sound quality so great is the MOS-FET and the TA-KE capacitors (actually made out of bamboo). What you get in return is natural sounding, powerful sound. I love it, and I think that I got exactly what I need to listen to music, watch DVD''s, and hook up to an XBOX whish has in-game 5.1 surround sound.

Strengths:
Natural, clear sound, great bass. Works great with a satellite/sub setup. Is better than any reciever you''ll get in a home theater-in-a-box.

Weaknesses:
Causes people to drool on it, not waterproof.

Similar Products Used:
none.