Reliable Good sound for the money. Dolby Digital/DTS

Top of casing gets hot (small heat vents)

This was a good receiver for me. I used the Technics for home theater applications as well as music and it never let me down. The top of the casing would get pretty hot after extended use, but it never overheated. I had 2 Technics receivers prior to this one and all were very reliable. The only reason I got rid of this one is because I decided to upgrade my entire system. If you want a nice receiver for a little bit of money definitely by the Technics.

sa gx 390

features, price, clean sound

remote

I''m co-owner of a theathre (live music) in town and my 15 year old technics su-v98 amp just blew the amp chip. $94 to replace that or find a new one. Found this at a pawn shop but the surround didn''t work so I got it for $45 including remote and manual. Took it home, found a blown fuse replaced it and wala, beautiful sound. Bass not as strong as my old amp (no loudness button), but very clean. Now I find that I should have upgraded to a 1.6 amp fuse, oh well, only 6 screews. What a deal, bad remote but nothing else wrong with it. Thankfully I didn''t buy a QSC or Crown professional power amp. Oh ya THEY RUN HOT ALSO!

Similar Products Used:

technics, sony, crown, QSC

I was a bit wary messing around with the innards of my stereo equipment (no problem in tearing apart a computer, but I''m always worried I won''t be able to get the audio stuff working again). But, 5-10 minutes - literally - and the fuse was fixed, the extra fan was on, and the unit ran like it was new. Plus it runs COLD. Thanks for the solution!

Sound, Power, Features

Doesn't get public TV 87.5FM, bad reputation

I wanted to post an opinion and some advice for those who own this unit, regarding the heat problem.
I've been running this thing for a few hours, so I can't say I've lived with it. The sound is really clean, and the power is definitely there. I'm driving a pair of old Bose 901 II's. These things need lots of power (that's just ONE reason people hate the 901's). The 930 can drive them as hard as they need to be driven, so power is not the problem. I'll likely return the unit for 3 reasons - (1) I wanted 87.5FM and it doesn't go that low (most people wouldn't care), (2) I'm concerned about the reliability (although I could buy an extended warranty), and (3) there's a Denon I'm looking at which may be the same price for the features I need.
The main reasons for my posting is that I was curious about the heat problem. Being an engineer, I opened up the box to take a look. Firstly, you may be interested to know that the power is delivered by large hybrid circuits, not discrete transistors. So much for those who tout "discrete outputs". Listeners should give a damn how companies get good sound. It's the result that counts, and hybrids are used in some of the most demanding situations of reliability and performance. Anyway, I was interested to see that they were getting all that power out of the hybrids. (They might be IC's, but I doubt it).
The one problem with the power modules, however, is that the heat is generated from two sources, and is harder to dissipate than a bunch of transistors spread across a heatsink. The heatsink is also pisspoor. Finally, the air flow isn't directed as well as it could be, not to mention that the fan should be running all the time - they've got the turn-on threshold way too high, based on volume setting and power output, not temperature, as far as I could tell.
Anyway, the point is, if someone wants to tinker, here are some ideas for improving the insides for very little money:
(1) get some more heatsinks, and attach them to the existing ones. This is a mechanical, not an electrical job. Heatsinks are cheap, and you use heatsink compund and screws to attach them. This is a homebrew project for the mechanically-minded with no electronics knowledge required. Point is, there's space to add some more surface area to the heatsinks.
(2) Get some very high temperature plastic film. GE makes such a product called Ultem, and they'll send you samples free. DO NOT USE anything that is NOT high temp. Use the plastic to create a better air path for the fan. Currently, the air isn't directed where it should go - through the heatsink assembly.
(3) This is for the electronically-minded. Find a way to keep the fan running all the time. This may take finding where the sensor is, and shorting it, or connecting the fan directly to the power source that it uses. If I were keeping the unit, I'd try and get the schematic from Technics service center.
In short, the heatsinking is inadequate, as has been pointed out. This most likely accounts for all the other problems - electronics reliability plummets at high temperatures, and the high temp in the box affects a lot of other components, not just the power stage - it's an oven in there. The point is, if someone loves this unit, but wants it to live a long time, and you have time to kill (I don't), for $25 you can most likely fix the heat problem yourself.
Another approach, which I'd probably take, is to buy the extended warranty. It all depends if time or money is your contraint, and if you're interested in playing a bit. If anyone has more questions, post them here, and I'll look in.
I'll give it 4 stars for the sound and features. Since mine is hours old, I really don't know about reliability, but the saleperson warned me - so it's probably a real problem.

POWER, PRICE, DIGITAL!!!

Remote, no sleep timer, would like an on screen display

I LOVE THIS REVEIVER!!! How can any one put it down?? what the heck do u want for $200 (well thats what i paid for it...hehehe)I love the power, compared to a 40x2 aiwa mini-stereo with 20x3 for the surround speakers.
I had only had the Aiwa a few months, and would not have bought this had i not found it for $200 and the fact that its Dolby Digital and DTS, so i could hook it up to my DVD in my computer.
It does get a bit hot, but if u stack on top of everything else that takes care of that and turning it up all the time keeps the fan on.
The remote is a little disappointing, but i live with it.
There is no way this receiver is not clear, that is BS! i bought a pair of JBL HLS 610 right after buying the receiver, and made this revceiver kick a$$ even more, the stereo sound is better then any other receiver i have had or could ever afford, my cd player is only a Pioneer PD-M552 that i bought off a friend for $20!! and the sound of that through the receiver is INCREDABLE!! Perfectly clear and i love the stereo sound.
If your looking at all the Cons to this receiver, IGNORE THEM!!! The Pros outnumber the Cons EASILY!!! I have had this receiver almost 6 months and not one problem, I also leave this on EVERY NIGHT and has not "Burned Out" on me at all, the quality is the same as when i first got it!!!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer stereo receiver, Aiwa mini-surround stereo

For the money it seems like a lot and it is but will not last long. I am now waiting for the third repair on my SA-DX930.
I felt like I got a great deal until after about five months when it cooked inside. You will find most of the positive reviews on this receiver are in the first 1-3 months and I felt the same until the day it died. I was never hard on this receiver and maybe thats part of the problem, the fan does not come on until the load gets high. I recomend lots of air space around so air can flow and if possible override the fan switch

When it works not bad, Great for heating up cold soup but be careful might be too hot.

Runs much too HOT, poor remote, No S-Video

Guess I've said enough from my short life with the 930. If one is to hope for long life from this receiver I'd try to figure out how to keep the fan running constantly. Too much heat means too much resistance. It really is sad to see such short life from an investment such as this. I have my old HK 430 Twin from around 1980 and it works great, should I not expect a modern unit to last half as long?

Similar Products Used:

Go for the Yamaha 5150, only about $60 more and runs cool with no fan plus S-Video switching.

Inexpensive, DTS, 100W/channel

No DVD Optical connection

Have not used the unit long enough to notice any real problem but so far everything works fine. I am using Wharfedale Saphire 87 front (bi-wired,120W 8 ohm), AR 12" sub (250W), Valdus 400 surround (150W 8ohm) , Wharfedale Saphire Center (100w 8 ohm), and monster 16g wire. To complete the HT, I use a SMC DVD, and S-VHS from JVC.

Controls are ok to use. If you are like me, you probably has 4 remotes for everything. (One remote never does all) Have to admit, the panel controls are bit cheap but I never touche them anyways. Basic surround controls are there.

Power seems to be fine in stereo mode, but in surround it has some distortion driving high end in the Valdus. (But not in the Saphire) According to Wharfedale it is caused by lack of power from the amp. Other wise, the sound is clean and clear, no hissing sound noticed at silent moments of any movie (DVD and S-VHS). As it should be with digital. Music are bit hard to listen to for extended period compare to a fully analog disgreet amp.

Because of my very cheap DVD, I only have optical connection. So every time I used the DVD, I switch to TV mode (DSS). Every time I watch TV, I switch to DVD. Bit of draw back. Unit only provid Co-ax for DVD, but co-ax is prefered over optical anyways.

Never really turned up the volume pass 10:30, as it already provide plenty of air movement for my 20x16x8 room. Out of all the same price range recievers I reviewed, Yamaha, Kenwood, HK, Denon it has probably the best price to feature ratio. No other reciever offer the DTS and 100Wx5 in its retail price range. Besides, it is probably wiser to invest more money in the speakers than reciever anyways.

It sits in a open shelf below my TV. With all the burn out reviews, I'll probably try to add a fan.

I paid $329 from Best Buy. From reading other reviews, it seems to be on the mid-high range. This unit was recommended to me by a high end shop as the only reciever that has DTS and 100W that will not "lose face" to demo his $10,000+ speakers. (He uses other HT units in $2000 to $5000 range) At retail, it is probably a good buy.

(thats for Jc, Audiophile from Washington State (10/12/00 5:58:24 PM and SA-DX940 too!))

Hah... The power button works very well, just has a logic... Always select first the input and THEN the power button (tuner+power turns on the 930). If you have another remotable Technics unit(s), then you can turn on these with this remote too! (I have an excellent AZ7 Technics deck, so TAPE, then red Power button turns the deck on...:)) ...and works the play, rew, fwd, stop button too!) AND: the AUDIO ON/OFF button of the remote control (top right...) turns all the remotable Technics units off simultaneously! That is very-very coool...

So, some words: i have the european version of the 930 (no lame sound field control, but no overheat too! no coax digital input, but optical for the dvd too!). And sorry for my bad english, i have never learned this language...:)))

And my dear guys: the owner's manual of 930 begins so:

CAUTION!
DO NOT INSTALL OR PLACE THIS UNIT IN A BOOKCASE, BUILT IN CABINET OR IN ANOTHER CONFINED SPACE IN ORDER TO KEEP WELL VENTILATED CONDITION. ENSURE THAT CURTAINS AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE VENTILATION CONDITION...
DO NOT PLACE A TAPE DECK, CD, OR DVD PLAYER ON TOP OF THIS UNIT.
Hmm, what about low speaker impedance? (But the protection circuitry functions very well, so...)

And: Technics has two very-very good, nice-looking (european) web-sites at www.technics.co.uk and www.technics.de, see it! There are some high-end products, that do not sold in America and not have an american version...

Bye!!!