Kenwood AR-1080 Receivers
Kenwood AR-1080 Receivers
USER REVIEWS
[Jul 19, 2007]
Alex Hurley
Casual Listener
Strength:
Cheap.
Weakness:
Buzz...Buzz...Buzz baby!!!! I am so glad I googled this Kenwood Model 1080vr and stumbled onto this web site. I have been using this reciever for the last 7 years and had a buzzing sound when I turned up the volume to -27 db. I put up with it for 7 years because I could not figure if it was a hardware issue or from my own installation that was causing the problem. Well I have moved 3 times in the last 7 years and I was beginning to think it was the reciever and not me. Just recently I got the new Verizon Fios cable installed and I hooked up the AC-3 sound to the reciever. To my horror I was getting the awful buzz everyone knows about except now I was getting it even when the volume was lower than -27db. Now this was a problem!!!
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[Jan 10, 2000]
Ronald
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
value
Weakness:
features this is a great receiver for it's value when I first got it. Everything else was at least $200 more expensive. Of course if you have the money to burn, you should look at something else, like Yamaha or Denon. But for a small room and you are on a budget this is A-1. |
[Mar 29, 2000]
J. Paul Brearey
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Value for money
Weakness:
No S-video inputs, quality, lesser rear channel amplifier power. I enjoy this receiver for the most part, but I did have a problem with the humming that everyone talks about, especially at -29db. |
[Nov 26, 2001]
Wayne Grube
Casual Listener
Strength:
Decent Remote
Weakness:
Buzzing - Poor Quality Construction After owning a quality Kenwood product in the 1970's, I was expecting a nice unit. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the AR-1080. I bought mine new, and the buzz started about 6 months later. Now my left rear surround speaker has quit working. I am so disappointed with this piece of crap. I will never buy Kenwood again. Shame on them for selling such junk - they have permanently lost a customer. Similar Products Used: Denon, Yamaha, Marantz |
[Nov 09, 1999]
Gregory Juviler
Casual Listener
Strength:
Styling is nice, power OK, setup fairly easy with remote balance control and ability to turn down individual inputs. Remembers audio mode for each input
Weakness:
Build quality is BAD... Mine has a very bad hum all the time. No S-Video inputs. Not enough inputs for a modern HI-FI system. Sound Is fair to OK. I have Klipsch speakers and they just do not sound as alive hooked up to this amp as they did in the store (In the store they were not in a listening room, they were in a halway when I tested them). I will never buy another Kenwood receiver Don't bother. Buy a Harmon Kardon, or a Denon or a Yamaha.. Or better yet, buy seperates. When I had the bucks I should have done somthing different. Similar Products Used: Old Sanyo Stereo receiver from the 70's. AWESOME powerful 120 Watts / channel...0.08% THD It kicked out serious volume until all the pots finally wore out. I am going to get it fixed |
[Nov 18, 1999]
Sean
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
None
Weakness:
Hideous buzzing sound. Low power. I bought this unit refurbished for about $200 a little over a year ago. I thought it was a good deal at the time. It seemed to work ok for about the first 6 months I had it but ever since this constant buzzing noise has continued to get louder in all listening modes. I guess you get what you pay for. I'm looking at a Yamaha. No more Kenwood for me. Similar Products Used: Sony Prologic Receiver |
[Nov 23, 1999]
Glenn Miller
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Decent (not great) sound for the money.
Weakness:
Terrible quality. Let me start off by saying that I would never recommend this (or any other Kenwood receiver) to anyone. Like most other reviewers, I also have experienced the bad hum at -29db. I can tell you the problem...there is a screw on the back of the unit that is losing its ground contact with a signal processing card in the unit. However, it can be fixed. I know, because mine has been "fixed" about 6 times in the past year. Once I finally got it fixed, something in the power supply fried on me (a capacitor, according to the repair person). According to them, this was the result of a power surge, so was not covered under my warranty. Interesting, since this supposed surge happened on a totally clear day. And, I had this unit, my DSS, a CD player, a TV, and a VCR all plugged into the same surge protector, and nothing else was affected. Everything on the unit works, except no sound comes out of the speakers. I have had it in the repair shop (again!!!) for the past 6 weeks, and after a lot of hassle, they agreed to fix it. I guess the fact that It has been in the shop almost 3 months out of the first 12 I owned it contributed to their decision. Frankly, I would just as soon have my money back (so I could go buy a Denon 3300). But, that isn't going to happen. |
[Sep 19, 1999]
peter lee
an Audio Enthusiast
i paid 290 for this dolby digital receiver at ebay.msrp=700 |
[Dec 12, 1999]
Nathan Grossman
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Cheap, nice remote control, two year warranty
Weakness:
Bad buzzing (like everyone else). A few minor problems I bought this reciever about a year and a half ago and everything seemed to be fine for just under a year. After that I started to notice buzzing at higher volumes. This could be "corrected" if I just hit my hand in the center of the reciever. I also noticed that it was producing more heat than it originally did. All of those problems seemed minor until something inside started to shoot out sparks. Luckily the warranty was still in effect. Apparently some kind of capacitor blew and took all the left channels with it. I would hesitate buying any new Kenwood recievers until they get their act together. |
[Nov 05, 2000]
Glenn VanKannel
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Good Sound, Dolbt 5.1 Kicks In This Unit
Weakness:
Hum in AC-3 around -27db, read other reviews and fixed problem I am very pleased with my 1080-VR. Similar Products Used: pioneer (pro logic) this is my first 5.1 |