Easy of Use, setup and sound quality.
Fiber Optic Audio inputs.
Lots of inputs and outputs to choose from.

Tiny Remote

No complaints here - this receiver delivers the goods,
nice clean hi fidelity surround sound for Dolby 5.1 movies.
Definetly a BIG FIVE for economy receivers.
Have mine paired with Energy Take 5 Speakers and 8" subwoofer, $550 from www.sounddistributors.com.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 1700

Price, Good set of inputs.

Lack of Simulated Surround modes

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seams that there are no simulated surround modes on the vr407.

I want to listen to stereo CD's and DVD's using all 5 speakers and the sub.
"Terminator" is MONO. I have the choice of listening to it only on the Center channel, or "downmixing" to stereo(Left, Right, NO Center).

Sometimes I assume incorrectly, that they will implement obvious features.

Other than that, It's a good system, with good sound, good controls and a good set of inputs.

Offtopic, but,
NEVER buy anything from AAA Camera.

Being cheap, I saw that AAA Camera had HTB503 for $399.
I called them to order.
After "Bob Jones" had my credit card number, he asked me if I wanted the extra wire kit and remote for $50 more.
At this point it's fishy, and I didn't want it.
"Bob" tells me that the order is already place, and I have to call another toll number to cancel. I call that number and they tell me that they will charge 15% to cancel.

It looks like these guys have been screwing people for years.
http://www.photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory?id=2

I ended up just buying it from buy.com for $450, no shipping costs, and Visa and I will dispute any charges by AAA Camera Crooks.

I think there is a lesson to be learned here :)

Huge amount of inputs (have my DVD, CD, Dreamcast, and MD all plugged into this unit) Optical out w/ DVD sounds great with those DTS DVD titles. Easy to setup and operate.

Remote is too small and does not work with some of my components. (Also, the price you have to pay to replace the picture frames hanging on the wall from falling down from the immense power it gives to the sub ;)

I bought the 407 with the HTB503 home theater system and this has to be the deal of year 2000. First, not only do you get a Dolby Digital, Pro Logic, and DTS compliant receiver (407) (which normally retails for around $300), but also 2 front speakers, 2 rear speakers, 1 center speaker, and 1 sub (all generating around 100 watts of power each = 600 total) for $499. I had the Bose Acoustimass 5 system and was very displeased with the (or lack of) bass sound and no digital support. (I bought into the Bose hype and boy did I pay the price). I was looking for a relatively cheap home theater system (no way I was going to pay for an overpriced system again *ahem Bose Lifestyle systems*) with DTS and optical connections and when I saw the system at my local Circuit City and with that price I picked it up. Every movie and even VideoCDs (which the 407 plays in Pro Logic mode) sound incredible - from Saving Private Ryan to Macross Plus. This receiver (and the HTB503 system) rocks -- you can not find a better deal than this! (Now to put that bose system on ebay :)

Similar Products Used:

Bose Acoustimass 5

Great sound, Price,Feature.

Remote and Manual.

That the best receiver for the price.With the Paradigm Titan speaker the sound is clear and natural.Great sound good feature for low price.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha,Onkyo.

none that I see so far

many many many

Fed Ex just delivered my new super duper, wonderful, $169 Kenwood VR-407 Digital DTS reciever. I was all excited about upgrading to digital as I started to hook it up. The excitment soon turned to frustration. After about 30 minutes I was finally able to get some sound to come from my cornwalls. I plugged my RCA cables from my CD player into the reciever but the input was not set to "analog" so no sound. Each set of rca plugs (phono, tape, dvd, cd etc etc) on the reciever have three different options for input ...automatic, analog and digital. Each one has to be set according to what the component you're connecting is. It's rediculously confusing or I'm getting way to old. The manual sucks as does the tiny remote.

I like a lot of BASS! Why else would I have cornwalls? My 10 year old Sony STR-D611 would push my cornwalls so well that the bass (when on full with the "loud" switch on) would "punch me in the chest" and rattle my internal organs. With the bass all the way up on the new POS Kenwood I get minimum bass. The only way I can get all the bass I like is to crank it way up but then the mids and highs are far too loud.

There is no "SIMULATE" mode for non digital movie viewing or CD playing.

It's true you do get what you pay for. I think I will send this thing back and take a huge restocking fee hit to buy something different.

Similar Products Used:

This Kenwood was purchased to replace my 10 year old Sony STR-D611

EASY TO INSTALL, SOUNDS REALLY REALLY GOOD, LOOKS COOL

For my purpose...none noted. I am not a SERIOUS audiophile, but I do appriciate good sound and this unit delivers.

I am happy and excited. I have Pioneer DVD player and Pioneer speakers (which I hope to upgrade soon) hooked up to it and it sounds really great.

The manual could pack more info, but it suffices. It's not as bad as other reviews might make it sound. I was able to go from the box to fully set up in about 15 minutes. (Of course, my speakers were already in place.)

The remote is tiny, but it works on all my componants (RECEIVER, TV, DVD, CABLE, (DSS if you have that). VERY COOL. No more juggling remotes.

I cannot compare this unit to many others, I just don't have the experience. But I can say that it sounds great and has the all features that I wanted. That combined with about a million inputs makes it a bargain at the price I paid.

ALL CAPS NOTE: I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH IT. IF YOU'RE LIKE ME (NOT AN AUDIO GEEK, JUST LOOKING FOR QUALITY AND FUN) IT'S HECKUVA DEAL!!!

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PIONEER

Has almost all the inputs and outputs with the exception of Pre-outs.

Not enough power. Remote. Sub control. Award

I auditioned this receiver based on the reviews here, HOPING that this would be a tolerable cheap solution. It looked promising, had more Svideo inputs than I needed, lots of audio inputs, good video switching, front Svideo and RCA jacks..

But bottom line, It probably sounds good for a 200-400 dollar DTS receiver, but my ears couldn't stand it any longer. In its defense, my speakers probably need more current than others, so a pure bookshelf system might be well served by this receiver.

I just needed something stronger/ bigger and I guess more expensive.


I thought the Sony actually sounded more musical, and was easier to use, but sony did cheap out on the inputs. My old Yamaha prologic has way more current than either the kenwood or the sony. The technics is in the next tier of receivers, both in price, (600-800) and in power, so a direct comparision is unfair.

Dollar for feature, Kenwood is probably the best buy down there, but it just needs more power. But it is a great way to get into DTS at a cheap price. Probably the best in its class. If it had Pre-outs I'd probably have kept it, as I could hook my 2 ch amp to the L/R fronts. I did look the 410, which does have the pre-outs, but at that price, the next tier of receivers came into play.

If it's all your budget can afford, then buy it, but if you can spend more, I'd move up and maybe compromise on the budget elsewhere. By the way.. the manual and the remote sucked!

It has the features of a more expensive receiver, but not the SOUND of a more expensive receiver. And don't even think of using it without a sub.

4 stars for value, (Kenwood didn't skimp on features) would have given it 5 stars if it had pre outs for all speakers

2 stars for overall, hate to do this, but I have to weigh the sound heavily.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 445, Technics SA-DA10, Yamaha

none

none

This review is just to offset my previous (and preliminary) review. I have rewired the speakers and repositioned the subwoofer and it helped alot. The settings on the back of the subwoofer remains at maximum but it still makes really audible output with the receiver settings at default. That;s one problem fixed.

Two, for surround sound, I found out by disabling speaker system "B" and enabling only "A" I can play all sources in surround sound. I don't even know why they made "B" since "A" can handle all of the different modes (pro logic, stereo, DD 5.1, dts, etc...)

The only thing I dont like is the size of the front speakers. They're a bit small to leave standing as Tower speakers but too big to mount on walls (like cube speakers). If you want good visual presentation you have to buy speaker stands.

Similar Products Used:

none

Hrm...I dont know

SUB, SUB, SUB, no surround for CD

This is a review of the receiver AND the speaker package (HT? 503)

Ok I have the same problem as some of the other reviewers here. if ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT PLEASE EMAIL ME.

The first time I hooked everything up the sub wouldn't work. I mean I could barely hear any bass emitting from the subwoofer. I hooked it up to the CD player and it seemed like only the front speakers were firing. Anyways the volume was at a moderate level and I still couldn't hear it. I disconnected the wires to all the speakers except the subwoofer and I finally could hear it--barely. The sound was so low it was negligible. Keep in mind I had the bass setting to max. Changing the switch-over frequency didnt seem to make a difference, so I left it in the middle. I set the subVolume all accross the dial and it didn't help much.

Anyways it's pitiful how I finally got it to work. I had to set the crossover at 120HZ (MAX) and the subwoofer volume to MAX. In the systems setup I had to set the front speakers to Normal. I had to crank the bass to the MAX. I had to set the front speakers loudness to -4. So I pretty much squeezed evrything out of the system to get it to play--and it didnt play that well. I was VERY disappointed.

And there's no SIMULATED Surround Sound! I wanted to listen to CD and RADIO through ALL the speakers but it wouldn't allow me. Atleast when I played a VHS movie it allowed for Dolby Pro Logic. I have yet to try a DVD (5.1 or DTS)

During the movie (Saving Private Ryan) the woofer finally started doing its job, but keep in mind I had all the settings for MAXIMUM performance from the subwoofer. Maybe I got a defect?!?!?!?

If you're considering buying this sytem try testing it out at the store, because it might be good I dont know I might have had a defect

Ease of set up, value and price, great sound

The remote is a little small and feels flemsy and cheap. No tone control with Dolby Digital or DTS

If you don't have a lot of extra cash or don't wnat to go into MORE debt on your credit cards, then this is a great system to break into the home theater market with. I think the reciever is great and the Kenwood speakers (in the HTB503 package) do a great job. I haven't found anything that contradicts the strengths that I researched through these reviews and others. This is THE BEST in this price range. Upon advice from another review, I bought local at a Sears (they deal and have a generous return policy), who actually priced matched the best internet price I could find! Sales tax was a lot less than shipping on this package and if there is a problem with the system in the short term I can just drive it right back over and get a new one. Not bad. (They also price matched the Panasonic DVD player I bought.) I am very pleased, But the remote is a little small and "cheap" feeling. It really does need to be backlit to see it well. Also, I do plan to change all the wiring to Monster cable