DTD, DD, Prologic II, Circle Surround, Video Switching, Remote

Owners Manual

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I have little complaints about the Kenwood (like the remote has macros and can learn, but you can't use a learned key in a macro, and you can't just push a button to select a source - you have to cycle through various sources, even ones you don't have connected), but the receiver itself IMO is just a piece of garbage.
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Yes you can use a learned key in a macro.

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You do have to cycle through everything in a category but only the devices you have. I.e. under MUSIC I have to cycle through Tuner, CD. Under MOVIE I have to cycle through VCR, Satellite, Video 3 (X-Box), DVD, and AUX. Under TV I have TV (Over the air). You can remove any sources you do not use except the front panel AUX.
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All this is in the Manual.

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When you play a DVD, for example, the receiver supposedly automatically selects the input type. You can hear this very annoying and worrying loud switching going on inside the receiver (the kind that indicates it may not be able to do it for a real long time) and the receiver selects some type of input (DD, DTS, PLII, whatever). The problem is that sometimes it takes a while to select the right type of input, so you actually miss some dialogue, sometimes it does not select the right type of input, so you get no sound at all, and you cannot turn off the bloody auto detect feature. Funnily enough, there is a manual setting for type of input, but the manual says that in some cases the receiver will override this setting and still automatically select the type of input.
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If it is a digital source it will first choose DTS (only if that signal is present), and then DD. It will only select Prologic II (or Prologic I, or Circle Surround) if you use an Analog source and then it will select whatever you last set that source to i.e. Prologic II, Prologic 1, Circle Surround ... etc. If you want a digital source to use Prologic II (my satellite broadcasts most channels in DD 2.0 therefore only uses two channels plus sub) you first have to set that Digital Source to Manual and then set it to Prologic II. You only have to do this once.

It will always select the proper sound field if set up properly. There are clicks when flipping around a DVD’s menus. This only occurs when setting up the DVD (Audio set-up, Subtitles, ... etc.)

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So literally, I would put a DVD in, it would play in DD or whatever, and the sound would be fine. I would advance it to the next track, the audio would cut out as the Kenwood tried to figure out the type of incoming signal, sooner or later I'd hear a loud "click", and maybe I'd get sound or maybe I wouldn't, or maybe it'd be DD or maybe it'd be PLII. All this on the same DVD without even taking it out of the player! Unbelievably frustrating.
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The VR509 does not lose the signal using chapter skip or fast forward

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Because the remote isn't able to control the input selection on my JVC TV without learning that function, and then I can't use that learned function in a macro, the result is a very confusing conglomeration of two remotes, whereas before I had only one. Now, in order to just turn on the TV and have the audio play, I have to go through a whole bunch of confusing key presses. If you have all Kenwood components, I would think the remote would be very nice, because it is actually a nice remote. But a universal remote that does not function well universally is just another remote.
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Yes you can use a learned key in a macro. This is covered in great detail in the Manual

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The manual is brutal. Really bad.
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The manual is severely lacking in detail.

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The sound of the Kenwood is fine, but not inspiring. At 0.7% THD, and considering all of its shortcomings, there are better choices.
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The THD is actually .07%. It may be possible that golden ear audiophiles can hear a difference of .01% THD but then why is an audiophile spending less than $300US and expecting perfect sound.

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I have returned the 509 for a refund. I think you get what you pay for. The Kenwood is all dressed up like a fancy receiver with component video switching, lots of inputs, learning remote with LCD screen, etc. etc. But it just doesn't deliver on what an amplifier is actually supposed to deliver - good clear amplification and the ability to set up and then forget about it.
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I am glad you were able to return this receiver. It does sound like the VR509 is too complicated for some people.

As for the complaint that the VR509 does not do Video switching between Component, Super Video, and Composite. This feature is called Universal Video HD and is found in the Kenwood Sovereign VR-5090 plus in the flagship units of Pioneer (VSX 49) and Denon (5802). These units cost much, much more than the VR509.
For the person having problems using the remote through walls I suggest installing the RF antenna above the receiver. This may help. Obviously your mileage may vary.
I strongly recommend this receiver to others. For between $250 and $285 US, this receiver cannot be beat but be prepared to be initially frustrated by the owners manual.

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Sonly DB830

Outstanding learning remote with RF and IR emitters

Difficult to follow user's manual until you "get it".

My previous HT system was a hodgepodge of a Hafler DH120 60wpc amp, a home-built 50wpc tube amp, a Hafler DH100 stereo pre-amp, and a Carver DPL-20 outboard Pro Logic processer running via the tape loop on the preamp. My motivation for buying the VR-509 was to simplify my HT setup and make operation more "one step". Plus, I wanted to experience DD5.1 and the new Pro Logic 2 circuit which generates 5.1 sound from 2-channel Dolby sources. In addition to the Kenwood VR-509, I was also looking seriously at the Denon AVR-1602. The Kenwood, on paper, seemed to offer much more for the money: RF learning remote and component video switching.

I was not prepared for the complexity of this unit. Although I'm an elecrical engineer by training and a technophile, this unit is intimidating if you've never before owned a highly configurable, microprocessor controller piece of consumer electronics gear. I believe the main problem with "getting started" on the VR-509 is the sparse and poorly written user's manual. It explains the all the basic functions, but it doesn't do a good job of answering the "hows" and "whys" that might lend context to some of the operations. I had to read it several times and take it bit by bit before I felt I had any mastery of all at what was going on. It was a challenge just to understand how to get the inputs set up to watch a DVD the first time. However, once you start to grasp the methodology of the input programming and selection, and the operation of the remote, it gets very fun to play with.

As I mentioned, my objective in buying the unit was to simplify, which certainly hasn't been the case. Mainly, I thought the video switching would mean I'd have one video feed to the TV monitor, so that the receiver would automatically correlate the video display to the audio-video source. However, I found that the composite feed from my VCR on VIDEO1 would not appear at the S-VIDEO monitor out going to the TV. I suppose that the video switching only occurs between like sources: composite to composite, S-video to S-video, component to component. To me this defeats a lot of the advantage of having an A/V receiver, because now I have my DVD S-Video going to my TV VIDEO1 and my VCR composite going to my TV VIDEO2. On my TV, S-VIDEO is only available on the TV's VIDEO1 so the VCR must go to the TV VIDEO2. So now it is a little confusing that, to watch a VCR tape, I put the TV on VIDEO2 and the VR-509 receiver on VIDEO1. Not simpler!

I eliminated the broadcast ANTENNA feed to my TV, sending it only to the VCR. If I had decided to route the TV audio outputs to the VR-509, it would have been through the receiver's VIDEO2, causing more confusion. Also, it was not possible to match the audio input levels from the TV variable level outputs and the VCR line level outputs. The input level adjustment for analog audio sources is limited: 0 dB, -3 dB, and -6 dB.

I have also noted that the level of analog sources (VCR, the internal tuner) is higher than the DD5.1 input. So when watching DVDs you have to raise the volume, when watching VHS tapes reduce it.

There is a delay in the receiver recognizing a valid DD5.1 signal that causes the loss of the first moment of sound when you skip to a chapter or navigate through a DVD menu. For example, on Shrek, the Gingerbread Man says "Dog-Gone!" in the Special Features area but with the VR-509 all you hear is "-Gone!"

I was using the Video Essentials DVD audio test signals to adjust the speaker levels, but when you access the speaker level adjustments on the VR-509 it generates its own test signals that override the DVD audio. These internal test signals should only come on if there is no DD5.1 signal coming in, or you should be allowed to turn them off.

Like another reviewer, I was not able to remove the front AUX input from the list of input sources. It seems Kenwood doesn't want you to "lose" or forget that you can input signals from the front of the unit.

Whew, now that my nitpicks are through, I can tell you that the DD5.1 performance once you are up a running is astounding! The opening scene of Toy Story 2 just blew me off the couch. Much more impact and detail than I was accustomed to with Pro Logic. The subwoofer LFE channel really delivers the punch and made my Paradigm PS-1000 roar liek I'd never heard with an accuracy I didn't know it had. The clarity of the presentation on my Paradigm Mini Mk III L-R fronts and Paradigm CC-300 center, and my Klipsch kg1 L-R surrounds was very involving and impactful.

I am still undecided on the merits of Pro Logic 2. I felt that the L-C-R imaging was not as good as standard Pro Logic, and there was very little subwoofer action. My test sequence was the VHS tape of Apollo 13 during the liftoff. On my old Pro Logic system the subwoofer was very active during this scene.

The remote is fabulous. It fits the hand well, is intuitive, flexible, and has good ergonomics regarding the button size and placement. I have replaced four remotes (VCR, TV, DVD, DPL processor) with one. So in that regard I did achieve greater simplicity. And the ability to program macros and learn individual keys further enhanced the utility of the remote.

In conclusion, for the price, I am more than satisfied with the VR-509. It is not what I expected, and it doesn't do exactly what I want it to do, but the great sound and the great remote have exceeded my expectations.

Similar Products Used:

Carver DPL-20 stand-alone Pro Logic decoder

Phono Input. Tape Monitor. Good Remote.

I'm not going to go on about the sound of this receiver because every system sounds different depending on your speakers, room size, speaker location, etc. etc. I bought this because it has a phono input for my millions of records and a tape monitor loop so I can run my ten band EQ to tweak the sound. I recommend an EQ to anyone with a desire to go beyond the receivers basic Bass and Treble settings. They are relatively cheap and work wonders. Some receivers I looked at in this price had no phono input or tape monitor and some had neither! I am finding out as I listen to music from various sources that my records and VCR tapes sound more dynamic than my CD's but I think I've always leaned towards analog recordings. For movies the Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II are fantastic and do exactly what they are supposed to. I also think the amps are pretty strong for a bargain receiver. If you are looking to buy a receiver at Circuit City give the VR-509 a try, it's loaded with the same options as the more expensive models and will leave you with money to buy some music.

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low end Aiwa Dolby Digital receiver.

Great remote (not usually seen on receivers this cheap) plus Prologic II and Circle Surround.

Tough setting up remote. Agree that the owners manual has much to be desired.

Prologic II is as good as all the hype. If you watch much TV or old VHS tapes, Prologic II is almost as good as DD 5.1. Circle surround seems to be good for music but I do not listen to many CD's to be a fair judge.

There are five video connections so this receiver can do all the video switching for you including component. Dolby Digital and DTS sound great. The remote does everything one could want (it might eat batteries with that LCD display but I have only had this unit for two weeks). I initially was irritated to find that I had to rotate through the sound fields to select DD, DTS, Prologic II, Circle Surround ... etc. (you cannot go directly)but I later discovered (?) that it remembers your selections. i.e. when I use my satelite dish it automatically goes to Prologic II, the DVD goes to DD (do have to switch to DTS when that is available), the VCR goes to Prologic II.

I am very happy with this receiver. To get Prologic II at this price with all the other features is a no brainer. There are obviously better receivers out there but right now all those recievers cost over $1000 CDN.

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Sony DB930 - with the dreaded hiss that all Sony receivers seem to have (and the lousy Sony service to back it up)

Great Sound.
Nice Features.
Plenty of in/out puts.
More bang for your buck.

Difficult to have separate CD player and DVD player.
Remote is nice but complex.

This is the best reciever on the market under $1000. Great sound, good power, nice features, just an all around outstanding receiver.

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Technic SA-DX1050.

RF Remote, lots of power, DTS, Dolby Digital, Pro logic II

Remote not the easiest to figure out. No binding posts for surround speakers.

For the price range the sound quality is pretty much par for the course. Sounds pretty good when used for ht use. I'm still breaking in new speakers so I'll wait before I comment on musical quality (but so far so good). The RF remote is a nice touch especially when I need to adjust the volume from another room. Remote also lets you enter macro functions so the wife just has to hit two buttons on the remote to turn everything on and ready for the movie to start playing. The remote is definetly better than what you get with most recievers in this price range. Lots of features that are generally on higher priced recievers such as pro logic II, midnight mode, DTS, rf remote, binding posts for main & centre speakers. Over all I'm very happy with the performance so far. Maybe in the future I will upgrade to something high end but this one is doing the job right now. I put most of my budget into speakers this time around but I needed the digital reciever for movies. After much research of recievers in the price range the kenwood stood out at me. If i'm still happy after so more critical listening I will hold off on the upgrade for qiute awhile. To sum it up I don't think you will find a better reciever in the price range. All recievers in this price range aren't perfect, it's a trade off of features in this category, but overall the kenwood comes up with less trade offs in the end.

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Technics, sony