After about two months of looking, reviewing and auditioning various receivers around the $350.00 price range; it came down to the technics AX6 and couldn't be happier. The sound is very natural and smooth and for a first time buy for me I couldn't find a better piece of audio equipment.
I have a pair of bw's 302 off the receiver and it does beautiful. It produces the sould for the center channel (phantom mode I believe) better than expected.

One thing that is not determinded yet in my mind. It is the deal with the blue neon lights across the front. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. At least you can turn them off.

Over all, for the price, you can't go wrong with this receiver.

Hope this helps.

Oh come on, don't think that this Dolby Digital crap is going to make your system sound better!

TEAC all the way, baby!

I bought the SA-AX6 bundle that I mentioned below. I've been very pleased, the sound is warm and the features useful. One criticism: the remote has limited capabilities to control other Technics components; I have the 110 disc multi-changer, and the receiver's remote can do little more than play, stop, and search forward.
As a sidenote, the comments I posted on December 4 did not refer to Dolby Digital as benefiting the system's sound quality. DD is, clearly, a technology meant to facilitate true multi-channel sound reproduction from DVDs, LDs, etc. I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but I expect that it will do just that, and nothing more.

I KNOW ...this isn't a review, BUT....Question:The SH-AC500D Decoder...what's up with it being unable to handle 96kHz digital input??? Help! This, to me, seems like a big hindrance. In what faculty does it not accept/...coax?optical? For 96kHz DVD, do I have to use analog outs???



For what it does, for the price, it is a great unit. This just scares me.

I had been looking for quite a while to replace my Yamaha pro-logic receiver but everything I looked at to upgrade to Dolby Digital/DVD was either lacking in inputs, Svideo switching or too expensive. I looked initially at Technics, JVC, Pioneer and Yamaha. I have always been happy with Yamaha but this Technics made me change my mind. The Yamaha DD receivers are nice but the Technics has too much to offer. The Sa-ax6 solved two dilemmas for me: 1)S-video switching at this price is unheard of, I have a s-vhs vcr and dvd and it makes life easier, and 2) The sub amp in this unit,low pass filter and sub volume allow me to turn my Paradigm passive sub into a powered sub and what a difference, especially in dolby digital. The sound on this unit is fine, the Yamaha is a little cleaner on the bottom end but for $300 difference I took the Technics. I have it hooked up with RCA 5510p dvd with built in dd decoder ($200 less than Panasonic A310) and was able to upgrade for $950 cdn. I figure I also saved myself $400 on a powered sub with this unit as well. Well worth a look and listen.

I've had the SA-AX6/SH500D reciever combo for a little over a month. Although I was willing to spend a few hundred more, $399 at Uncle's was too good a price to pass up. Although the combination of the decoder and receiver is a little cumbersome, buying the aftermarket Producer 8 remote solved this problem. Set-up was easy, though the supplied manual was lacking, and the amount of inputs and extra features are unmatched in this price range. Sound quality is excellent and the hiss from the surround speakers is only noticeable if one puts their ear within six inches of the speaker. Additionally, the SA-AX6 seems to be built well and looks smart. I agree with the below evaluation, if you have DSS that is capable of transmitting a DD/DTS signal this receiver/decoder might not be able to handle it. 4 for quality 5 for value

An excellent product. Good bass with ASC, bi-amp and bi-wire, banana plug, subwoofer output for passive/active subwoofer. Only problem are missing "Tape Monitor", the rest are fine.

Excellent receiver, powerful and strong sounds

Complete receiver by an unexpensive price. More functions than other models. Very well.

I have the SA-AX6 and Model 500 Processor that I have been using for almost a year now in my second listening room. I use them in conjunction with Sound Dynamics 300T speaker systems for main left and right channels and Sound Dynamics center and rear surround speakers. I feel that for the price, in real world listening, this combination sounds great and cannot be beat and I am extremely satisfied with it. The ergonomics of the system could be a little easier but as for hiss that some people report from the center and rear channels, yes I can hear some slight hiss but only if I put my ear almost against the grill cloth and it really does not intrude in actual use. I read a review of these Technics recently in Stereophile Guide to Home Theater (May, 1999) by Michael Fremor who usually reviews much higher cost high end equipment and I must say my feelings about these units and his are about identical. That is, for the price or any price it is harder to get in real world listening terms more satisfying results. This was his feeling after just having reviewed a $27,000.00 high end theater system. He said these units while of course not as good as the high end system did not embarrass themselves either.