DOLBY DIGITAL, DTS, TAPE MONITOR AND COAXIAL AND OPTICAL DIGITAL INPUTS ** GREAT RECEIVER, FOR THIS PRICE RANGE! **

SEE SUMMARY!

*** TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940 OWNERS PLEASE READ, THIS MIGHT ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS!! ***

HELLO,

I'M BACK, I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANSWERS FOR THE SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940 RECEIVER OWNERS. I,VE BEEN AN ELECTRONICS TECH. FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN THE TWO MODELS ENOUGH TO KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL. I LIKED THE SA-DX930 ENOUGH TO USE SEVERAL AS TECH. BENCH RECEIVERS. I WILL TRY TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE. I READ IN ONE OF THE REVIEWS, THAT SOMEONE HAD HEARD OF A SA-DX930 (OR SA-DX940)THAT HAD "MELTED" FROM THE HEAT. I CAN'T SEE THAT HAPPENING (IT WAS EITHER STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, IN A FIRE, HAD THE VENTS BLOCKED, HAD MAJOR SHORTED OUT SPEAKERS, SOME OTHER "EXTREME" THING HAPPEN OR THE STORY WAS STRETCHED A LITTLE!). I WILL TRY TO SEPERATE "FACT" FROM "FICTION".

FAN TIPS: THESE UNITS ARE MADE SO THEY CAN RUN "HOT" AND BE TOTALLY RELIABLE AND SAFE. IF YOU GIVE THEM AN INCH OR TWO OF "BREATHING" ROOM ABOVE THEM, YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM. I LIKE TO PUT RECEIVERS ON THERE OWN SHELF, BECAUSE IF YOU STACK TWO OR THREE UNITS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IT BECOMES LIKE AN OVEN (DVD PLAYERS, CD RECORDERS, ETC.. CAN RUN A LITTLE "HOT" ALSO, THAT MAKES IT LIKE STACKING THREE "HOT" COALS TOGETHER). AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW, MOST TECHNICS AND PANASONIC RECEIVERS (AMPS, INTERGRATED AMPS, ETC..) HAVE FANS THAT ONLY COME "ON", WHEN THE MUSIC IS "LOUD" (THE VOLUME KNOB TURNED TO APPROX. THE 10 OCLOCK POSITION (THE EXACT POSITION DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF "BASS", SOURCE (CD, TUNER, ETC...), SPEAKER SIZE, ETC...)). AS I SAID IN MY FIRST "REVIEW", SINCE MY TECH. BENCH RECEIVERS AREN'T TURNED UP VERY LOUD FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND THEY ARE ON ALL DAY, I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO RUN "HOT". ANYHOW, I LIKE PLAYING WITH THINGS AND I STILL THINK A UNIT WILL LAST LONGER IF IT'S NOT "HOT" AT ALL, SO I ADDED FANS TO THEM.

RECEIVER# 1). I MOUNTED THE ORIGINAL FAN INSIDE THE RECEIVER ON THE "HEATSINK" (THERE IS A PLACE TO MOUNT THE FAN ONTO THE "HEATSINK", ON THE LOWER PRICED MODELS THE FAN IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE RECEIVER). I ORDERED ANOTHER FAN (WITH THE 2 SCREWS) FROM TECHNICS AND MOUNTED IT ONTO THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER. I WIRED IT INSIDE THE UNIT TO A 12 VOLT (9.2 VOLTS TO BE EXACT) SOURCE AND RAN IT TO A SWITCH THAT I MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT. RECEIVER 1 IS LOCATED CLOSE TO ME AND I CAN HARDLY HEAR THE FAN.

RECEIVER# 2). I MODIFIED A COMPUTER FAN BRACKET AND MOUNTED A RADIO SHACK 120 VOLT FAN ON IT. I PUT LITTLE FEET ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET AND I SAT IT ON TOP OF THE UNIT (THE FAN IS BLOWING DOWN). I PLUGGED THE POWER CORD INTO THE "OUTLET" ON THE BACK OF THE RECIVER (THAT WAY IT GOES "ON" AND "OFF" WITH THE RECEIVER). THIS WAS BY FAR THE EASIEST WAY TO COOL THE UNIT (IT ONLY TOOK 10 MINUTES TO DO ALL OF THE WORK, RECEIVER 1 TOOK ME TWO HOURS!). RECEIVER 2 IS SITTING HIGH UP ON A SHELF. A BAD THING ABOUT THE FAN BLOWING DOWN INTO THE RECEIVER IS THAT IT'S BLOWING DIRT INTO THE RECEIVER. THE 120 VOLT FAN KEEPS THE UNIT "COOL" TO SAY THE LEAST, HOWEVER IS WAY TO "LOUD" FOR A HOME SETTING!

RECEIVER# 3). I DID THE SAME THING I DID TO RECEIVER 1, ONLY I WIRED THE FAN ON THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER TO A ADJUSTABLE RADIO SHACK DC ADAPTOR (3 VOLTS, 9 VOLTS, 12 VOLTS) AND PUT THE DC ADAPTOR ON THE 9 VOLT SETTING (AS YOU ALL ARE FINDING OUT, THAT AT 12 VOLTS THE FANS ARE WAY TO "LOUD") I PLUGGED THE DC ADAPTOR INTO A POWER STRIP (THE FAN IS THE ONLY THING PLUGGED INTO THE POWER STRIP, SO I CAN TURN THE FAN "ON AND "OFF" WITH THE POWER STRIP). RECEIVER 3 IS LOCATED NEAR ME, AND I CAN HARDLY HEAR THE FAN.

FAN CONCLUSION: FOR EVERYONE "STACKING" A SECOND FAN ONTO THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER, JUST WIRE IT TO A 9 VOLT DC ADAPTOR(YOU CAN HURT SOME 12 VOLT FANS RUNNING THEM UNDER THE 9 VOLTS!) AND PLUG THE ADAPTOR INTO A POWER STRIP, AND YOUR DONE! MAKE SURE THE SECOND FAN IS BLOWING "OUT" OF THE UNIT, LIKE THE FACTORY FAN. YOU DON'T WANT THE FAN BLOWING IN FOR TWO REASONS (1. IT GET'S THE INSIDE OF THE UNIT DIRTY 2. YOU DON'T WANT THE FACTORY FAN TO COME ON AND THE TWO FAN'S TO BE BLOWING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS). PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK, "WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLOWING THE AIR "INTO" THE UNIT (FROM THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER) AND BLOWING THE AIR "OUT" OF THE UNIT (FROM THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER)". THE DIFFERENCE IS, IF THE UNIT IS IN A CABINET FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS MORE DIRT AT THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER THAN AT THE TOP OF THE RECEIVER WHERE THE VENTS ARE. IF THE RECEIVER IS ON A TABLE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP THE TOP OF THE RECEIVER CLEANER THAN YOU WOULD THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER (THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES!). MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE FAN "ON" AND THEN YOUR RECEIVER "ON" NEXT SO THAT YOU DON'T GET A LOUD "POP" OUT OF YOUR SPEAKERS (THAT COULD DAMAGE THEM!). WHEN YOU ARE DONE LISTENING TO YOUR RECEIVER, TURN THE RECEIVER "OFF" FIRST AND THEN TURN THE FAN "OFF" NEXT.

AS FAR AS THE DTS MODULE MODIFICATIONS, THE "NEWER" SA-DX930'S AND ALL OF THE SA-DX940'S SHOULD HAVE THEM DONE FROM THE FACTORY (INCLUDING THE 1.6 AMP FUSE). MOST OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE SAYING WERE CAUSED BY THE RECEIVERS "OVERHEATING" (LOW OUTPUT, "SOURCES" BLEEDING INTO EACH OTHER (FOR EXAMPLE: YOU CAN HERE THE RADIO WHILE LISTENING TO THE CD PLAYER, ETC...)), WERE THE RESULT OF THE 1 AMP FUSE BLOWING! THE RECEIVERS WERE DESIGNED WITH TOO SMALL OF A FUSE, THAT IS WHY THEY WENT TO THE 1.6 AMP FUSE.

AS FAR AS THE UNITS GOING INTO "OVERLOAD". AS THE RECEIVER MANUAL SAYS, "IF EVEN ONE OF THE SPEAKERS BEING USED HAS AN IMPEDANCE UNDER 8 OHMS, PRESS AND HOLD DOWN EITHER (A) OR (B) FOR 4 SECONDS OR MORE TO SET THE IMPEDANCE ON THE MAIN UNIT TO "LOW" ". AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, SPEAKERS (A) AND (B) ARE BOTH "FRONTS". IF YOU USE (A) AND (B) WITH A TOTAL OF 4 (8 OHM) SPEAKERS, THAT IS A 4 OHM LOAD (PER CHANNEL)! IF WHILE USING (A) AND (B) ONE OF THE "PAIRS" OF SPEAKERS ARE 6 OHMS OR LESS, THE UNIT WILL GO INTO "OVERLOAD". SOME BRANDS OF SPEAKERS (CERWIN VEGA, BOSE, INFINITY, ETC..)USE RATINGS ON SOME OF THERE SPEAKERS THAT SAY "8 OHM COMPATABLE", SOME OF THESE SPEAKERS ARE 4 OHMS! YOU HOOK UP 4 CERWIN VEGA SPEAKERS THAT SAY THEY ARE "8 OHM COMPATABLE" AND THERE REALLY 4 OHM SPEAKERS, THAT'S A 2 OHM LOAD! IT IS POSSABLE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE EVERYTHING WIRED CORRECTLY THAT YOU HAVE A "BLOWN" OR "SHORTED" SPEAKER. IN SOME "RARE" CASES, THE RECEIVER COULD HAVE A "BLOWN" AMPLIFIER OR SOME OTHER PROBLEM.

SPEAKER IMPEDANCE RATINGS PER THE MANUAL:
FRONT A OR B 4 - 8 OHMS
A AND B 8 OHMS
CENTER 8 OHMS
SURROUND 8 OHMS

IN CONCLUSION, THE TWO RECEIVERS ARE'T BAD FOR THE MONEY. I LIKE THAT THE RECEIVERS STILL HAVE A "TAPE" MONITOR BUTTON ON THEM (THIS CAN BE USED TO HOOK UP AN EQUALIZER, DYNAMIC RANGE EXPANDER, ETC...). WITH THE EQUALIZER YOU CAN "EQUALIZE" ANY NON DIGITAL SOURCE (CD PLAYER (IF YOU HOOK IT UP THROUGH THE "ANALOG" RCA INPUTS INSTEAD OF THE "DIGITAL" INPUT), VCR, PHONO, ETC... WHEN USING THE RECEIVER IN THE MULTI CHANNEL (DOLBY DIGITAL OR DTS) MODES, THE EQUALIZER WON'T BE BEING USED (FOR THIS PURPOSE, YOU DON'T NEED AN EQUALIZER). WHEN USING THE CD PLAYER FOR EXAMPLE, THE MUSIC SOUNDS MUCH BETTER (ANALOG)THROUGH AN EQUALIZER, THAN JUST STRAIGHT DIGITAL!!! THIS IS WHY IF YOU USE A DVD PLAYER TO PLAY AUDIO CD'S, YOU HOOK UP THE "DIGITAL" CONNECTIONS (FOR "DIGITAL" AND MULTI CHANNEL FUNCTIONS LIKE A DVD MOVIE, "DIGITAL" CABLE, ETC..) AND THE "ANALOG" CONNECTIONS (FOR "STEREO" PLAYBACK OF A CD THROUGH AN EQUALIZER). FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT "DIGITAL" RECEIVERS ARE SO "CLEAN" SOUNDING THAT THEY DON'T NEED AN EQUALIZER TO SOUND GOOD WHILE PLAYING A CD, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT AN EQUALIZER DOES AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT! IF YOU DON'T USE A EQUALIZER, THEN LISTEN TO THE CD THROUGH THE "DIGITAL" INPUTS. I LIKE THE SA-DX930 HAVING BOTH "OPTICAL" AND "COAXIAL" DIGITAL INPUTS ALSO...

PANASONIC MAKES A RECEIVER MODEL# SC-HT280 THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940. AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, TECHNICS AND PANASONIC ARE OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY. THE TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND THE SA-DX940 HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM (THE SA-DX930 HAS THE "COAXIAL" AND "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, THE SA-DX940 ONLY HAS "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, FOR EXAMPLE). THE PANASONIC SC-HT280 IS SIMILAR TO BOTH OF THE TECHNICS RECEIVERS. WHILE THE TECHNICS RECEIVERS ARE BOTH 100 WATTS X 5, THE PANASONIC SC-HT280 IS 100 WATTS X 6 (IT HAS 1 EXTRA OUTPUT (AMPLIFIER) FOR POWERING A "NON" POWERED SUBWOOFER (IT ALSO HAS THE RCA OUTPUT FOR A "POWERED" SUBWOOFER)). LIKE THE SA-DX940, THE PANASONIC DOESN'T HAVE "COAXIAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, IT ONLY HAS "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE "REVIEWS" ON THE SA-DX930 AND THE SA-DX 940 ARE ASKING FOR A RECEIVER THAT THEY PAYED BETWEEN $100.00 - $400.00 FOR, TO SOUND AND HAVE FEATURE'S OF A $600.00 - $1,000.00 RECEIVER. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT OTHER BRANDS RECEIVERS IN THE $100.00 - $400.00 RANGE. FOR THIS PRICE RANGE, I WOULD PICK THE TECHNICS AND PANASONIC RECEIVERS IN A HEARTBEAT!

GOOD LUCK,

J.E.

Similar Products Used:

PANASONIC, SONY, PIONEER, KENWOOD, JVC

Great Sound. Best Features for Price. DTS decoder. Coaxial & Optical Inputs. Powerful!

Blown Fuse Problem. Runs Hot! Confusing remote control(many buttons jammed close together).

THanks You for the "Blown Fuse" fix. It worked Perfectly!!! Easy to fix and cheap. I didn't have to wait for the unit to go out to the fix-it shop and back. Took less than 5 minutes. I also installed an additional fan on the back of the unit and now it runs cold. The radio Shack fan others mention to use does run a little loud. It's a 12 volt fan and I'm running it at 9 volts, but it's still noisy. At least I can plug it in or leave it unplugged (On or Off). This is a sweet stereo. Don't throw it away if you've ot the fuse problem. Fix it yourself!! Only 4 stars and not 5 for the overall rating, but only because of the blown fuse issue! Absolutely the best stereo in the price class! Super powerful!

Easy Setup - Good controls, solid construction

Speaker terminals

After reading 75% of the comments, considering both positive and negative, I decided to purchase this refurbished unit. I found a blowen fuse in the unit from Sears just as many others have had. I replaced it following the directions, and it works GREAT! An easy setup and used fiber connection between my Panasonic RV-30 DVD player and audio unit work well. The two talk fine to each other and run DTS once the fuse was replaced. I am well pleased with the constuction and quality of this reciever. The heat sinks are massive and designed to dispate heat well. That is why the unit seems to be warm. If it was running cool, I would wonder about the real work it is doing. Some units say they are running 100 Watts per channel, but I really wonder if they are. This one I have no doubt it is giving the true advertised power!

Don't worry about the heat! It's designed to take a licken and keep on ticken.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Realistic, Panasonic

Reasonably priced

Static (see summary) from output

I bought my receiver new in 12/99 from BestBuy. I had no problems from this receiver for exactly two years other than it getting hot. However, I bought two BOSE 161's to use as rear channels to complete my system and when I hooked them up and played any media type, I got severe static out of the right surround channel. I switched speakers and wires to eliminate those as culprits and know for sure the static is from the receiver. I called Panasonic/Technics and all they could offer was a number for a local service center. This could be a symptom of heat or just a bad output. And after reading the numerous bad reviews of this product, I would not recommend anyone buy this receiver.

heat dissipation, 1A fuse, remote control unit

This review is intended to serve as testimony to the reviewers who have posted solutions to the notorious "heat" problem of the SA-DX930, and to encourage other non-techs to implement the fix and return their unit to proper operation.

Symptoms of failure on my unit started after the first year of use, and included output power loss, distortion and signal bleed between audio sources.

I purchased at RadioShack the following parts: 270-1051 four-pack 1.6A fuse, 273-0243 12V DC 3" fan, 273-1631 AT&T 9-12V AC adapter, for a total cost of $29.97 plus tax. I chose the AT&T adapter as it was the smallest size and cheapest unit which would provide a 9V DC source (12V runs too loud).

Step 1: Unplug and open unit cover by removing six screws. Locate blown 1A fuse, one of three fuses hanging from circuit board on transformer. Fuse is closest to outside of unit. Replace with 1.6A fuse. Replace unit cover.

Step 2: Remove two philips screws which attach existing fan to back of unit. Remove 1/8" thick plastic fan cover plate, leave fan connected and in place. New fan has two flanges (front & back) with small holes for mounting screws. Expand two of these holes on the back flange with a 1/4" dia. drill, which permits the two screws to push all the way through to the front flange. Piggy back the new fan onto the existing fan and reattach the two screws through both fans and into the unit back.

Step 3: Cut the output cable of the AC adapter to about a 12" length. Strip insulation from this cable and the new fan cable. Test polarity of adapter/fan leads (white stripe on adapter cable matched red fan lead on mine) to ensure fan operates. Join fan and adapter leads with technique of your preference. Ensure the adapter is set to 9V DC and plug into the switched AC outlet on unit back. The adapter sitcks out sideways about 1-2".

I returned the unit and peripherals to their original configuration, and tested the fix with both DVD and CD players. All symptoms listed above were corrected and the unit case is cool to touch. Family is elated with restored sound quality.

Many thanks to several reviewers who have posted various solutions to this defect.

It is a budget Dolby Digital and DTS capable receiver that works fine for home theater,tuner section is clean.

None really. It is a budget Dolby Digital Receiver. User cannot reassign the digital inputs.

I am a frequent visitor to this website. I have read many of the reviews concerning this product. I have not had any problem with this unit at all. I purchased it used (which I rarely do) but in mint condition for $230.00 in early February 2000. I called the Panasonic Customer Service 800 number and ordered a manual for $15.00 that they shipped to me. After playing back to back DVD movies at loud levels, driving large heavy floor standing 153 lb 4 Ohm towers for fronts in my system, the receiver is warm, but never hot. It has never done anything but play music and movies well. I set the front speakers for large and set the low impedance switch to 4 ohm on the front panel. BTW, the center channel I use is 4 ohm as well--still no problem with this unit. After reading all the negative reviews, I have been very critical of my unit's performance, checking it for any malfunction--there are none. I have an open rack for my equipment, with the Technics sitting on the top shelf completely open for air circulation. It is playing music now as I write this. I checked the fan, and it is stone cold. The unit works really well with movies. I have played the heavies including the Matrix (lobby fight sceen), Airforce One,and a special DTS demo disc I received as a gift, and many other rentals and movies we own. No problem even with sustained high levels driving those large towers. I know a bit sound after more that 20 years as an audiophile and working in retail audio sales. I purchased the Technics as a receiver to use for home theater until I set up a true home theater system at a later date, and I have not been disappointed. The sound playing music is not as detailed or defined in the bass as when I use my power amps, but I would not expect it to compete with a $10000 front end. Perhaps there are some bad Technics DX930 units out there, but mine works just fine. This unit is for a person who is looking to get into budget home theater. It is a very good first home theater receiver with enough inputs (including a phono)and an input for a satellite hookup to get someone started. Connect up one of the many 5.1 speaker systems such as an Energy take 5.2 or something of that nature and you will be enjoying movies just fine.

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This is my first home theater receiver

DD DTS at low price. Power.

Bad stereo soud.

It's perfect for good HT in a small room.

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Marantz SR 5000

DTS and DD at a great price 500x5

Overheats, no digital output.

This is a great entry or even mid level home theather system. I have had it fo almost two years now. It delivers crital clearsound and has lot of input conections. The only problem with this reciver is that it tends to overheat. Although it has a rear fan it only gets on when the volume is a turn a little more than have of the way. In oreder to solve this i bought an extenal fan fron radio shack with a ac adapter and put it in the top of the reciver where the vents are. I have had no problem of overheating since then and i have used for long hours some times i even forget to turn it of and it is still woking like new. This is s great budget equipment for watching DVD and digital cable o Sat.

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Sony and Aiwa

Lots of features (DTS, etc.) for a good price at the time. Simple controls

OVERHEATS.

I bought this receiver because I wanted the features and DTS capability at a fair price. Also, I've had a Technics CD player for 10 years, and it has been fabulous. Finally, Consumer Reports rated this receiver highly. And, at first, this all seemed justified.

HOWEVER, Consumer Reports doesn't test these products over a long period of time. This receiver gets hotter than a firecracker. Don't give me this garbage about not stacking other things on top of it, or how using it at high volume etc. causes any system to overheat. I'm talking about when it is just idle. It is on, but nothing is playing. It heats up like crazy, and I had nothing stacked on top of it. Finally, last week, the heat got the best of it, and it no longer works. Sorry, but this CAN'T be they way ALL systems are.

Because of this, I would say you should avoid Technics receivers at all cost. Maybe the newer models have solved this problem, but why take the chance?

don't know yet

isn't working

Does anyone have any info on the DTS board modification. I currently have a unit that isn't working and I suspect this is the problem. J.E. mentioned the modification, but didn't go into any details for obvious reasons, but I was hoping someone could tell me what needs to be fixed. The email function doesn't seem to work in this. ffej@email.com