DD/DTS and enough power

What everybody else has been saying: Runs HOT-- but makes a great hand warmer if just in from the cold.

Wow...the power of a review! Based on the potential burning up problem, I'm returning it and getting a Kenwood VR-409. I purchased this HT receiver THEN did some investigating and read some reviews. My fault. Now, aside from the temperature problem, the fan not turning on, et al, this is a good receiver (a very basic opinion). I’ve had no problems with it. There is some hissing noise in Dolby Pro-logic mode, but that’s my speaker connection problem, I’m sure...working on it. My wife likes it because it’s very easy to use. I don’t care about the remote since I’m using the Cinema 7 ONE For All remote—handles everything great. So, if you can solve the heat problem, like a good challenge in electronics or have your own in-house technician, get it. I think it’s listing at good closeout prices. I understand that Technics is discontinuing this model. Maybe the next one will come with refrigeration coils or something. Once again, I’ve had no problems with this receiver. It sounds good. It ‘s enough power for my children to enjoy Tarzan, etc. ("Put it on all the speakers Daddy!!!"). But, I am returning it, based on all of your reviews, my own intuition and, of course, the extra furnace we don’t need in our house.

Similar Products Used:

Technics SA-GX470, Pioneer VSX-D457

Very Good Overall Sound, Built In Dolby Digital & DTS Decoding

HEAT, HEAT, AND MORE HEAT

I did a review of this receiver almost 1 year ago and gave it a 5 star rating but that was before i knew or experienced the HEAT issue that comes along with this receiver! I have been a big beleiver in the Technics product for awhile now but after owning this receiver i am starting to question their customer lotalty! This receiver HEATS up like a HOT-PLATE! The top of this receiver gets so HOT that you can literally cook an egg on it! I'm not joking one bit! If you spray a little PAM on the top of this receiver and crack an egg on it the egg will cook! It gets that HOT! The only reason it hasn't burnt out on me yet was because i started using an external fan on top of the receiver to suck out the HOT air. After i did this the receiver now runs very cool to the touch. Otherwise, i'm certain this receiver would not have lasted as long as it has. Reason being, one day the receiver went bonkers on me while in "Surround Mode". The volume went out on me for about 1/2 hour and would shutdown the receiver everytime i tried to play a DVD? Playing a CD or the Radio was fine. I then noticed the top of the reciever was burning HOT! I let it cool down and didn't use it again until i got the external fan and since using the external fan i havn't had any problems! Anyone out there who has this receiver, you better start using another fan besides the one that's already on the reciever because the one on the receiver doesn't do crap! Even when it's running! The fan that comes with the receiver is mounted on the back of the receiver and that is nowhere near the HEAT source! All the HEAT is on the top of this unit coming from the gigantic/useless HEAT-sink. Therefore, if you don't suck out that HOT air from the top of the unit this unit is definately going to fry on you for sure! You can take this to the bank! I will never buy another Technics receiver after this! There are a few people who have submitted reviews requesting we all stop crying about the HEAT and do something about it! Well, these people obviously have no common sense because no way in hell should someone have to make any modifications to a product in order to keep it from burning out! Period! I am going to stick with the receiver until it dies but i will never buy another Technics product again! I think most people who purchased this receiver feel the same way!

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Technics

price

the damn 1.6 amp fuse i need installed cuz i have low volume and a cd plays with whichever source i have selected, ie dvd, tuner, phono etc etc!!!

THANK YOU REVIEWR J.E.! I WAS ABOUT TO GO NUTSO ON THE PANASONIC PEOPLE CUZ MY WARRANTY OF COURSE HAS EXPIRED AND ALL THEY WOULD TELL ME IS I NEED TO TAKE IT TO A TECH AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM B4!!!!!! AT LEAST NOW I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO BECUZ OF YOUR REVIEW...THANX AGAIN!

Great price, great sound, easy to use

hmm... no s-video switching but not a huge deal.

A wonderful buy. The people who complain about the fan being dead likely don't realize the fan is not supposed to work until you hit certain power output levels. The unit gets warm on top, nothing a 1/2" of space on top can't fix. You should have space around any receiver.

I've also had this for months, I'm not judging out of the box.

Anyway, kickass movie and music sound and future-proof with DD, DTS, and subwoofer pre-out, all for a minimum price. I reccomend whole-heartedly.

Similar Products Used:

several other HT receivers

High wattage (if it truly is 100W x 5), low price, digital inputs

the fuse replacement problem

I bought this receiver in the summer of '99 and the only problem i've had with it happened about 6 months later. I could hear multiple sources at a time. So i took it to best buy and had it serviced (since i worked there i got the service plan on discount for like $8). About 2 wks later i had it back and it hasn't had any problems since then. The only thing i really find myself wishing this thing has is 5 channel stereo.... Oh, well.. within the next year i'm going to upgrade to a denon.

Similar Products Used:

none

SEE BELOW...

SEE BELOW...

Yes this is J.E. again,

The DTS module modification I am not going to get into, however the problems you are all having is do to the 1 amp fuse blowing. There is a person that recently described how and which fuse to change. The NEW fuse needs to be a 1.6 amp fuse, that is the same value the factory put into the newer versions of the SA-DX930's and SA-DX940's. This should be done by a qualified tech.

Good Luck,

J.E.

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SEE BELOW...

Good sound and power, DD and DTS

Runs wayyyy too hot. Fan doesn't run full time.

I submitted a review about 8 months ago. I liked the receiver then but this time the review will not be as good. I've had the machine for about 9 months now, and the heat has finally fried the machine. No digital sound and problems with sound from all other sources. I took it in for repair, but with the heat the receiver gives off, I will probably be taking it in sometime in the next year again. So, I guess I will start saving now for a new receiver, maybe a Marantz.

None

All

I can't believe that people are seriously writing in to stifle the folks who complain about this pile of junk and then have the audacity to say "just buy the fan and quit whining". Since when, for some simple piece of electronic gear like a stereo receiver, do you have to add aftermarket workarounds? This unit was designed by idiots and is not even close to being fit for release to the public. My unit sat on top of a table in open air and had a fan running next to it for ventilation and it still crapped out. Eventually, all of those happy customers who gave five stars, whether or not they added the fan, will have theirs crap out too. If somebody has had a good experience with their unit, then more power to-'em, but where is the sense in try to promote a defective garbage heap and offer workarounds when light needs to be made of the error in the ways of Panasonic/Technics? Wouldn't you rather get a refund, buy the JVC that sounds and works better for the same price, and see Technics swallow their own stupid mistake than know that eventually, inevitably, invariably, despite your best radio shack jury-rigs, your sadx930 will without a doubt fail and your money will be wasted, your 1 year warranty will be expired, and Technics will be laughing all the way to the bank??????? And oh by the way. . .What will the Technics service technician say about units that have extra fans and wires when the warranty is still valid (and rest assured they will need to see it before the puny warranty expires)??? Most of all, I can't believe that people are reading these reviews and still buying the unit. All you have to do is read the reviews of the returning reviewer who intially gave the five star and writes one again for the one star.

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JVC RX6000VBK

PRICE, PRICE, PRICE, for a DTS/DD receiver with 5x100 power the price was incrediblexd

Runs warm, refurb model has extra fan on back doesn't seem to get as hot as the ones I have seen in the stores.

I purchased from an online auction for $139 what a steal, new costs $389 locally. Sound fields work great and are useful. Set up was a snap, remote is so so. But how can I complain for the money, you can't buy a good stereo receiver for that cheap. If you can buy for $139 or even $239 you will not be disappointed.

Built in Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC-3) & DTS decoders. Powerful sound! Havn't seen a receiver yet with this many features for the same price!

Runs pretty hot to the touch!

All i can say is that for the money you won't find anything near the quality and value your gonna get with this receiver! I've yet to see one anywhere for the price of this receiver! It sounds great in either DD 5.1 or DTS cranks out an amazing 100 watts per channel giving you a total of 500 watts of raw power! I've noticed the unit does run pretty hot and so far i've been using it pretty steady now for the last 4 months without a problem. I have it in my wall unit's stereo rack where there is very little room for air and so far so good! If your looking for a good home theatre receiver with a tremdous bang for the buck then the Technics SA-DX930 is the receiver for you! 2 thumbs up to Technics for making such a feature rich, great sounding, nice looking home theatre receiver for such an affordable price! Thank You Technics!

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Technics SA-GX670 A/V Receiver
Kenwood & JVC Receivers