This reciever really blows m away when I watch my DVD movies. It does a great job. Has never given me any problems and is easy to set up and use. I love it.

Great Sound!!! Does everything you would ever want in a reciever. Kenwood has yet another good product.

This Kenwood vr-309 is great. I purchased it online from 800.com. Easy to set up. Its outstanding quality. definately a five star.

Cheap way to get into DD/DTS

Cheap way to get into DD/DTS

If you want to get into home theater at a good price, check out this receiver. I would caution anyone that likes to listen to music a lot. This unit is not the best sounding in stereo mode.

At the $300 I paid for this unit, I would say you get what you pay for. No more, no less. The 100 watt rating seems to be pushing it, but then again shopping by wattage rating is not a good idea anyway. It has enough to fill my 12'X 20' room with some good sound.

A powered sub made a big difference. Even with my speakers set on large, there wasn't much bass. This might be how they get it to run extremely cool while pushing five channels. This unit does not have all those surround effects like JVC and others, but I wasn't looking for that anyway.

Many people have commented on the remote. I think it is layed out really well and it makes sense. I did have a period of time where some weird things were happening like others have described. I couldn't select VCR from the remote and other funky things, but once I reprogramed the remote it worked fine.

All in all I like this receiver. I could have gotten a better receiver, but I would have spent a lot more money. The biggest test is would I buy it again and the answer is yes. I will eventually upgrade to something else, but for now I will enjoy my HT.

Equipment
Kenwood VR-309
Bose 2.2 mains
B&W CC3
B&W 302 surround
Definative Tech PF15TL sub
Philips hifi VCR
Pioneer DV525 dvd player

Inputs ... inputs .... inputs

SVideo signal distortion

After purchasing a DVD player, we decided it was time to upgrade our HT to Dolby Digital/DTS. The Kenwood 309 seemed to be a no-brainer, as it was $400 less than anything else that offered so much. Setup was a chore, but the remote DOES control the basic functions of all my components, so no complaint there.

The sound is very good. While watching a movie, all of us looked out the living room window during a rainy scene, because the surround speaker produced such realistic rain (I kid you not).

My only complaint is the SVideo switching. If we connect all the components through the 309, we get signal noise that resembles a vertical hold problem. So, I currently have all the SVideo cables connected directly to the TV. This requires that we take the extra step of changing the TV's input whenever we go from DVD to TAPE to etc...

After reading so many reviews of this unit, I have come to believe that I have a defective 309, and will be exchanging it soon (for another 309). If the SVideo problems I'm experiencing are 'normal' for this unit, I can't believe it would be so popular. Hence, I'm not going to lower my rating because of it, but if the replacement 309 has the same problem; I'll be back with a VERY low rating ;)

Our System
----------------
Denon CD
Toshiba DVD 2109
JVC SVHS
Energy speakers (5)
Klipsch powered subwoofer
Mitsubishi 40" tube
Monster cables throughout

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Denon AVC700 ProLogic

Easy to set up, complete features for upward compatibility over the next couple of years at least (DTS).

Reading the other reviews, I can see that audiophiles would have some problems with this unit that we who love music and movies for family life could oversee. The remote is poorly laid out, but we don't find we need it that much.

The unit has all the features we wanted for home theatre, music and radio AM/FM listening. It drives our DVD, megaCD and 5.1 Mirage FRx-Center, FRx-Rear dipole Surrounds, 8" FRx-S8 Subwoofer and FRx-Three bookshelf Fronts http://www.miragespeakers.com/ perfectly. The VR-309 has all the control over the system that I need, and then some. It was the best value for price that we could find in the Maritimes. Kenwood products are well supported in our small town. We bought locally for better prices than Future Shop in a nearby city. We're going to be very happy with it for many years to come.

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Had an old Yamaha receiver for 18 years that finally died. We're new to this modern generation.

Great sound output

annoying sound switching noise

bought this unit refurbish at a kenwood outlet for $289. Great reciever that runs really cool after hours and hours of dvd movies.

Remote is so, so , useable, yet not the best it could have been. Had to cycle through one button just to get to an certian menu option.

Setup is easy with numerous a/v inputs in the back to connect all your equipment. Has banana plugs for fronts and center speaker. Decodes DD an DTS with ease.

Only thing annoying is the reciever's switching from prologic to dd/dts when the signal from the dvd is cut or changed. a very small minor nuisance for a great receiver

Not too Heavy to return to postoffice and that the comp paid for its return after 3 0r 4 really mean-spirited e-mails

not turnning on

yeah, i bought this at ubid.com refurbished and got there in a week and plugged it in and nothing knowing that most recievers get after useage this one didnt. ABSOLUTE GARBAGE

Incredible price, course I bought the whole home theater package system and should have just purchased the receiver alone, since I have dramatically invested big time in the upgrading the quality of the speakers, which I am sure makes a big difference.

The remote is kinda difficult to learn and I am not sure I am a master at it even today. Oh, the Center speaker that came with the home theater package was kinda weak and had gave me problems while trying to hearing the voices(not in my head), went away when I spent $500 on a better one and it made a big diff.

I am a salesman worst nightmare...although I am not as technical savy as most die-hard audiophiles, I will spend hours and weeks researching reviews before I buy. I purchased this based on the audio reviews by the supposed experts and I am very glad I did. I agree that using the best cables are the key to getting the most out of any system and have done so. Maybe that is why I have never experienced any of the problems that I have read on this receiver. It is quite surpising to me I would suggest that anyone having problems should start from scratch in hooking it up. Don't assume you know how to do it, just read the manual, suggestions from other owners and of course don't skimp when it comes to the cables. Small note, my 5 stars are based on value and what what I got in return. I am sure that the $1000 plus receivers would sound better, but I don't own one so I guess ignorance is bliss.

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Sony, JVC

Features,sound,reliability

none

Had this system for over 2 years.Bought theater package 5 Kenwood speakers and a powered subwoofer.This thing has been totally reliable and I crank the heck out of it.For example I usually listen to the crash scene in PitchBlack at around -17.Needs better speakers though...Just bought a Pioneer DV-440 (my Sony DVP-360 crapped out at just over 1 year)and all I can say is WOW this setup sounds incredible I can`t imagine what it would sound like with "real" speakers...

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Rolecore amp...not

Has been a workhorse. No issues whatsoever.

Remote documention not accurate.

Was one of the first HT components purchased. Purchase was based on budget receiver face-off victory and rock bottom price via ebay [new item with warranty].

Received the system and connected to Bose AM-15 speakers, Sony 35" XBR TV and cheap DVD player. Took some time to learn the ins and outs of the receiver. Everything worked right. Note that the digital input [toslink vs. coax] are dependant on the device input. If you don't get sound from digital connections change the device input connection order on the Kenwood. Tried to program the remote to control other devices and had problems. Eventually figured out that the documentation left out the last missing button to complete the process. Controlling my other devices and setting up macros hasn't been a problem since.

Became very involved in learning the HT technology. Replaced my Sony TV with a Pioneer 53" HDTV widescreen. Replaced my cheap DVD player with a good progressive scan DVD audio capable player [RP91k]. Decided to upgrade my speakers since I learned the Bose AM-15s were now the weakest link in my system. Bought Def-tech speakers which included their 500w 15in. sub and a powered center channel.

Calibrated my system to ensure even sound from each channel [with sound meter], adjusted the sub crossover to match my fronts and tweaked my TV. People are so impressed with my layout. Friends with more expensive speakers have asked for my advice since my system "sounds" considerably better than theirs to them.

The kenwood is my cheapest component by far [$225] but they are not my weak link. I have had no problems with power or sound quality issues whatsover. I run Terminator2, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, Saving private Ryan, etc. as high as -24db. That is extremely loud for a room that is 20'x18'.

I haven't experienced sound dropoff or cut outs. I ran Gladiator at -20db to test for the cut out. No problem, even at that level [which could lead to partial hearing loss].

I have listened to DTS and DD movies as well as DTS audio disks. I also listen to DVD music discs as well. What a pleasure. DTS music makes standard DVD music sound primative. Chances are your speakers will be the weak link in your system. Most people that have opted for the VR-309 probably opted for budget speakers as well. That being the case, the VR-309's bang for the buck more than gurantees that upgrading your receiver will not help.

I will eventually upgrade the receiver only to take advantage of newer features that aren't supported on the kenwood such as 5.1 inputs for DVD audio or 6.1 DD/DTS. But probably not anytime soon.

I am very satisfied with my system and proud of the price/performance of all my components. If I had to pick one component as my Bang for the Buck winner, it would be the Kenwood VR-309 hands down. If your Kenwood VR-309 cuts out on you get it checked/repaired.

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