great suround processing, tons of digital ins and everything else you could want except component video and a standard coax digital out

no coax dig out and no component vid switch

I think the best thing to say about the performance of this receiver is it kicks some serious ass other than a little heat its a perfect receiver. I have not had any of the problems that others have claimed but I think that this is because my avr-202 is a 2000 model.This receiver delivers great sound for a reasonable price (I picked mine up for 2 grand with tax:)) The highs are crisp but no where near bright and I thought I was listening to separates when I put this baby in 2 channel PCM. I highly recommend this Receiver to anyone, audiophile or not.

sound - 2 and 5 channel, on-screen menus, learning remote

volume dial

i was looking for a receiver that would perform well in stereo mode as well as home theater. After trying several other models, I found the b&k best equipped. The stereo sound is awesome, as well as multi-channel. There are many digital inputs, something lacking with the nad t770. It sounds MUCH better than the denon 4800. I'm very happy with the receiver overall.

It has a nice learning remote. I had 5 remotes, and it learned almost all of them. I had to keep one (dvd) because some buttons didn't translate well to the learning remote.

The volume dial isn't that great. You have to turn and hold it to get the volume to change. It is kind of slow.

It is certainly one of the more expensive receivers. However, I got a great deal at www.yawaaudio.com. Call and ask for Bill. He offers exceptional customer service, and some of the lowest prices (the lowest I could find on the b&K).

Here are some recommened tweaks, based on my toying around. Get a better power cord. Before trying them, I was a skeptic. But, I bought a synergistic research ac master coupler (retail $300, but talk with yawa). It opened up the performance of the receiver immediately, and improved even more as the cable broke-in. Imaging was better, great dynamic power, and lower bass. The Absolute Sound gave it a starling review, so don't just believe me.

I also tried a couple of power conditioners. The monster hts 5000 failed me. It "sucked" the sound out of my receiver. So, then I switched to the hts 2500, based on a very positive review by the Absolute Sound. It works much better, and is half the price. It improved the sound a bit, and certainly did not hurt it, and offers surge protection. The problem may be that the extra filters on the 5000 somehow starve the receiver for power.

Similar Products Used:

nad t770, denon 4800

Really Transparent! This receiver makes the speakers disappear.

Lack of component video switching, weak remote

Just about every review I've read, so far, accurately described the listening experience of this receiver. It is truely in a class by itself. All of the stereo stores where I auditioned this amp connected it speakers systems in the $2,000 to $5000 a pair dollar range. Essentially, it was the receiver of choice for selling speakers in the middle price range.

I compared the AVR 202 to both the Pioneer Elite and the Denon 4800, and the AVR 202 just sounds far superior. I didn't really trust my ears until I switched between different amplifiers, and then it was very apparent that AVR 202 was making a huge improvement in the sound.

Very subtle details recording only appear when listening to the AVR 202. I still suspect that the receiver is using an internal aural exciter alogrithm to restore the transient attacks to the sound, but even if this were the case the sound doesn't seem thin or overly bright. It's much more likely that the amp is just so powerful that it can reproduce these characteristics while most other amps can't. Thus, it's strong enough to deliver these sharp power increases without rounding the sound waves off.

Overall, everyone who is considering either a receiver or a system of seperates should listen to this unit before making a decision. For me, it was far ahead of the pack.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 4800, Pioneer Elite Series, Yamaha

excellent sound, made existing speakers sound much better

waek remote

For the money I could not find a receiver or seperate combo that touched this piece. It simply makes your speakers sound better. The remote needs work, and the volume knob can be difficult to work with, but the 202 sounds fantastic, and that is most important. I liked the Marantz SR18 and SR 19, they too are great receivers, and the remote that is included with them is wonderful, but I was shopping for a receiver, not a remote. I do not possess the technical knowledge that many of the others do who post here, but I think I know what quality sound is. And the 202 has that in spades. just my 2 cents

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR18, Dennon 5700

Spectacular Sound Quality That Far Exceeds Anything Else But MOST Expensive Separates

It took six days for Singer to deliver it!

OK, I snuck this in- this is actually a review for B&K's new model: the AVR 305/307. Since Audioreview has been slow to add those, I figured I would post this review here.

The most important thing, if you read no other part of this review: This unit has NOTICABLY better sound than ANYTHING else I listened to, including some mid-priced separates (Adcom, Parasound)-- hands down beats Denon's best. WHile I do not claim to have demo'd separates costing thousands more, which might arguably be equal or even slightly better than this unit, I cannot imagine buying anything else unless I were looking to spend at least twice as much -- and then I would still have to be absolutely blown away by the quality. Unlikely. I compared to several Denon models over the same wiring and with the same speakers using the same DVD. I could not believe the difference the receiver could make, after all the rhetoric about the speakers being all that mattered (although they are certainly important too!). Even my girlfriend, who thinks "home theater" is my fathers' old Super-8 projector, remarked at the difference. There is a preciseness about the sound. In Matrix, bullets feel like they are hitting the ground; in music, instruments can be visualized. Denon seemed muddled by comparison. Sounds much more blended in Denon -- although still sounded great. Just no comparison.

As for features, all of the problems complained of here seemed to be corrected. The remote is superior, although it does not have the LCD type window (except to tell you what device you control). It is a true learning remote that also has presets for every known existing piece of equipment. You can combine learned with preset functions. VOlume control has been fixed as well. Added THX Ultra certification and Surround EX processing. 307 has amp and speaker outs for the extra two channels. I opted for 305, at $500 less, which has same chasis and guts, but no amp or speaker out for the extra two channels. It does have processor outs, however, so you can add a cheap rear amp for the two extra speakers when ready. Also, no fan, so whisper quiet. Did I mention MADE IN USA? Not what I cared about when buying, but nice feature.

Bottom line: I am a neurotic, obsessive when I shop for this type of stuff. I would not even have learned of B&K but for my persistence in trying to find the best. I demo'd everything at its price and under, and a few a bit more. NOTHING COMES CLOSE. BEST SOUND YOU CAN BUY FOR EVEN CLOSE TO THE MONEY.

By the way, I use JM Labs speakers, having demo'd B&W, Alon, and some others. JM's had best characteristics for versatility between Movies and music. Really true sound -- not overly bright.

Similar Products Used:

Denon; marantz; adcom; parasound; others