I purchased this receiver because my beloved Yamaha 590 was fried by lighting. Shame on me for not protecting my system. I bought this Kenwood for $350 and it was a rushed purchase. Overall, this receiver has been ok. It is not even close to my Yamaha unit.
While listening to music the KR-X1000 has plenty of power to drive my Klipsh CF1 towers and 15 sub. However, overall fidelity is a notch below Yamaha. The listening experience during movies is less than exciting. As a matter of fact, I rather watch movies in my sunroom where I have a low budget system with a no frills Technics SA-EX310 as the heart.

Bottom line: Thumbs up for inputs, price and power. Thumbs down for remote, tuner (terrible), Pro-logic, set-up complexity, user friendliness, and sub output level.

Ken

Great price, descent sound

Remote drinks my batteries, a bit clunky, tuner really sucks but I don't use it anyway

Overall not bad a piece of equipment. The sound dynamics aren't all that impressive, but for the price I paid (400 bucks) I can't complain. Its got processor jumps on the back, which are very usefull. Just plug in your dolby digital/DST processor and Bob's your uncle. Anywho, you can't really complain to much about this THX certified piece.

I have had my KRX-1000 for a little over a year. I purchased it new for $299 in NJ. An incredible value. Stereo Review rated this unit very highly. (If you are an AOL subscriber, you can access the review at keyword Stereo Review.) Excellent, clean, effortless power. Good logical controls with a very complete remote. Only gripe: tuner section is weak. This is the last and the best of the non-Dolby Digital units.

THX ULTRA Certification, reliability, cooling fan.

Tuner

I cant believe some of the stuff I read about this fine receiver! Not only does this baby carry THX certification, but it carries the full ULTRA certification that only the very best componets carry!
Check the THX web page, sports fans!
This is the real deal!
I am not sure I agree with All the THX theories, but I SURE agree with their amplifier specs!
No Wimps here!
This receiver has Balls!
It is very neutral, not euphonic, sort of like my Levinsons.
Of course, it doesnt have the current of a Levinson or Krell, but for a receiver, its great!]
The tuner sucks, really sucks.
An outside antenna is a MUST.
But thats it!
If you can find one of these, BUY IT !!!
Dont believe that dolby digital crap.
Pro-logic is good enough in the REAL WORLD.
The two main "advantages " of dolby digital are, Full range surround channels, and stereo rear channels.
Who is going to hang a full range surround speaker on their rear wall? How bloody stupid!
If one were so foolish to hang a full range speaker on the rear or side wall, the dispersion of such a large driver would render it inefective as a surround speaker!
Maybe in a movie theatre, where there are multiple surround speakers, and dispersion isnt a problem, dolby digital is superior, but in a home, one has to question its so called superiority!
I run A DVD player into it, and it sounds great.
In my opinion, Dolby digital, DTS, etc, are a scam, to make you think your stuff is obsolete!!
The discrete rear channel capability, who really cares?
94% of movies dont even use the rear channels at all over 10% of the time!]
This receiver has THX, wich makes much more real difference on bright movie sountracks than the difference between pro logic and dolby digital.
My advice, FIND one of these,enjoy for many years, until a REAL breakthrough comes along!
Absolutely, the best receiver of its kind. The ONLY receiver that EVER carried the THX ULTRA CERTIFICATION!!!
Be smart, find one, buy it, enjoy it, and sit back and laugh at all the nonesense!
Go SEE just what it means to carry the ULTRA certification, and you will see there is none better!
If there were, they would be ULTRA certified!
But guess what, they cant pass the test!
Most separate amps cant pass THX ULTRA specs.
I have compared the sound of this piece to my Krells, and in its direct mode, bypassing all the tone controls, etc, it is Amazing how little difference there is.
I listen on Celestion SL-600 speakers.
They are REAL hard to drive, low sensitivity, and a hairy crossover!
They image real well too.
No. the Kenwood isnt as good as the Krells, but you would be suprised at how close the two are.
Actually, the Krells are warm, and the kenwood isnt, but its not cold like the adcom amps, or the Haflers.
It is very similar to the sound of the Levinson amps I own.
Very neutral.
If you own Warm sounding speakers, such as Vandersteens, JBL HLS series, Paradigm, PSB, The Kenwood will sound great.
If you own thin, bright, speakers, such as THIEL, NHT ZERO,KLipsch, AR, it will sound bad!
For the life of me, I cant think of a better receiver.
If you can live with the tuner, its great.
I have a friend who was fortunate to find one of these, and is using JBL HLS 810 speakers, and he has a sound to die for!
We compared the sound of the Kenwood-Jbl combo. to the sound of Adcom Seperates with thiel speakers, and guess who won????
I have another friend using this piece with vansersteen 1B speakers, and he just got a center channel for his system.
Thats after 2 years!
The point is, The KRX-1000 is good enough to stand on its own.
It can hold its own with ANY company, as a stereo only piece.
It is quiet,neutral, transparent, and it will allow the image to develop.
It is non irritating, powerful, and controlled.
It is not euphonic or colored.
It has few, if any peers.
If you are lucky, you can find one.
Grab it, and enjoy!

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Levinson, Mcintosh,Mesa, Elite,SONY ES