Cheapest Dolby Digital at the time. 120 Watts in the front were rare as most systems were still like 50 to 75 watts.

No DTS, No DTS, No DTS.

lThis was the best for the price at the time. You couldn't touch AC-3 Recievers for under 900.00. I love the system when I first bought it. when I got it home, and you could hear the separations of sound in the rear and the movement of the sound from the movies.. everyone was like... wow.. this is awesome. I haven't experienced the hum like everyone else. Maybe its because I have been using the TOS optical cable? I never got a true CD player, I played them from the DVD player. it seemed fine to me. I bought the system when it first came out in 1997. I am still using it today. I haven't updated since and its about time. I know the equipment is so much better and cheaper today.I may junk it now as all recievers are DTS and DD now. The great thing at the time was this receiver was 120 Watts up front and 60 watts in the surround

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none.. still using this one, though I am in the middle of setting up a new system now.

Has so many hook ups for speakers,two vcrs,tv,dvd pretty much everything which was the biggest selling point fot me since the next cheapest model was a sony for 350.

The buzz,hummm,or crackling when played at a higher volume. ill try to fix it.By now its pretty outdated and ill be selling mine.Remote control waste batteries like crazy since the lights go on every time you use it and stay on for 5 seconds.Only two set up codes for dvd players which means its pretty dated although customer service can help you.

This was my first step into the surround sound world by buying this reciever and it is definately easy to use and figure out but the remote control isn't very sensitive or normal.The buzz sound is the only real problem with this reciever and i definately reccomend this for someone just getting started with their home theater for the price.

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A cheaper model kenwood but suprisingly, it had better sound reproduction when recording.

Unbelievable AC-3 reproduction. Excellent channel seperation

Switching sound sources defaults back to your A channel speakers. You have to reselect the B channel.

I got on an online auction for a little over 130.00. I saw it in the store recntly for over 500.00. I use the AC-3 connection running to a PC driven DVD player from Creative Labs and it is much better than My Panasonic to AIWA combo in the living room. Im also using an RCA DSS system and the sound reproduction is incredible especially stadium modes with a good football game. The Matrix is extremly phenom on this unit. For those people with a humm on their system they are probably getting it from another device in their rack. I have no Humm and the unit is remarkable with more than enough connections. In several movies it was enough to make me look around a few times and my girlfriend once got up to answer the front door even while watching the movie. Thats excellent sound reproduction if it can fool you. I also pump MP3 audio from the PC into the unit and it is excellent now that I upgraded the sound card in the PC.

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AIWA 200?, BLAUPLAUNKT, SONY, PANASONIC.

I recently bought the kenwood 1080avr dolby digital receiver. I had read a good review regarding it in stereo reveiw.

specs: 120watts x 2, or 100 x 3 & 60 x 2(surround)
multibrand learning remote.

IMHO the best bargain DD receiver in this young market. when i bought this receiver, the only choices in DD were the pioner 606, 906, pioneer elite. the sony ES hadn't come out yet, marantz and yamaha were making DD ready receivers only. Most mags, considered the kenwood a better receiver, but considered the pioneer to have a better remote. Personlly, once you get used to the remote, it is quite easy. the remote lights up whenever you use it. This helps when i am using the remote in the dark while in HT mode. I bought this receiver mail order for $200 less than the list price at circuit city. Personally, It has ample amperage or wattage. I have it connected to ProAC tabelette 50's and a pioneer 101 disc changer. Being a audiophile, their was a noticable difference b/w the kenwood and pioneer 606 regarding THD(when truly cranking the receiver). I can't give the details regarding DD b/c I haven't bought a DVD player yet. I am waiting for the DTS DD players to come out in spring before i indulge myself.

Kenwood has significantly upgraded the components in their receivers in an attempt to get back to their glory days. I digress: in the 80's kenwood decided to "lower" the standards in a futile attempt to match sony and pioneer's mass selling mediocore, entry level receivers. When kenwood figured out that they failed(early 90's), they redirected their efforts to making mid Hi-Fi receivers. Kenwood is not a krell or marantz but it is definetily better than most entry level receivers, and better than pioneer 606 IMHO. Sony ES has gotten good reviews but it costs significantly more than my little puppy, with minor improvements that MOST people will not be able to appreciate.

Was pretty good for the price. Great Dolby Digital.

hum/buzz

Purchased at Circuit City, open box. Someone had just returned it the previous day and they put it out on display.

This is more of a question than a review. I can't seem to get the OSD working. After downloading the manual and reconnecting all my connections, pressing Setup on the remote doesn't bring up the OSD. Otherwise everything else works fine. - KTV/DVD/LD/VCD player is connected via optical cable into 1080VR. S-video of the DVD player is connected directly into my Sharp 32" TV. monitor out on the 1080VR is connected to TV. Even when I'm in VCR mode, no OSD pops up when I press Setup on the remote. Email me at dizzydj@aol.com if you have an answer...Thanks!!!!

Movie's are great on this unit. Good Surround sound. As far as music is concerned...fairly decent. I've played everything from DMX to Amber to Phantom of the Opera w/o any complaints.

I'll be getting my Energy Take 5 system w/ 10" sub next week so I'll see how it handles the upgraded speakers.

Current system:
10 yr old Yamaha tower speakers 200w RMS
Sony Surround sound system (Center w/ 2 trapazoid surrounds)..yeah..yeah...cheap..but it was all I could afford at the time.
Pioneer CD/LD/DVD/VCD Karaoke Player
PS2

very loud even at -30dbs so I'm pretty lucky I have a unit that hasn't weakend over the past 2 years.

Buzz/hum has just started. So I'll try to screw the back trick before opening it up to solder it.

I'm rating the value a 4 because at the time, it had everything I had needed for a decent price. As far as the overall, I'd have to give it a 3 due to the hum and the OSD problem.

I have had this receiver now for 2 months. It is driving JBL L-5's for the front channel and a JBL PSW-1000 sub with two JBL MR 26's for the surrounds.Overall, it is a nice powerful receiver but cannot be upgraded with an outboard amp for the fronts. It dreives the L-5's (6 ohm 350 watt 4 way speakers) without heating up although I do use a sub.
There are preouts for all other channels. The November issue of Video Magazine incorrectly states that all channels have preouts. The sound is "warm" compared to HK receivers in a listening room.
The tone controls adjust only in 2 db intervals which is limiting. The onscreen setup is a nice feature. It is fairly "quiet and clean" in DPL and DD. However, for DD I would prefer more power for the surrounds.
I really would prefer to upgrade to an amp with more "headroom" for all channels. In closing, it is a budget DD receiver with limited upgrade potential. Also, there is no way to add
a DTS decoder to this unit unlike the Denon which has 6 inputs for another decoder as well as built in Dd.
It does have a nice backlit remote. Overall rate a 3 star but move it up for the money paid.

I've had this receiver for around 2 months, was deciding between this one and Pioneer 606 model. I chose this bec. of the smaller price tag. Its a pretty decent Receiver, its got ample power for stereo, although hinders a bit when in DPL & DD. It has limited upgrade capability, providing pre-outs for the surrounds and subwoofer. It has a nice clean sound to it, the GUI is thought out pretty well. I used to have Bose AM-10's (HT) connected to it, and it did pretty well, although I'd wish it had more power. Currently, I have B&W 602's connected to it in stereo. Overall a great value for this price range ($599)

I purchased the 1080 primarily due to it's price point. I couldn't find another DD receiver for this price ($549.00) I looked at Pioneer and Sonybut everyone I talked to suggested the Kenwood instead. I must say I am very pleased with the choice! It has a full, warm bass and adequate power. My only rap would be tht the highs often sound a little "tinny" mostly within spoken word i.e. movie dialogue. NOT a big problem ... As a price/quality/performance combination...... 5 stars

I have been eyeing the Kenwood 1080VR for a while because it is the only DD receiver I can afford. When I saw it on sale at Circuit City, I snatched it up. After about a month working with it, I am very impress with them. Excellent GUI setup and clear, clean sound. It is an impossible deal to beat especial at the price. ($350 for I bought it w/spks) Strongly recommanded if you can still find one. Kenwood is coming out with new models... the 2080, etc. So any that you find should be really bargain priced.

Excellent value for an entry level receiver.Very ergonomic and it has gobs of power.
AC-3 is clean and crisp, but it does not
have DTS upgradability.

Has both a coax and optical digital input,
which is missing on many lesser machines.

The remote learns over the phone!

No S-video though, and the 120 Watts in
the front are misleading, since the quoted
value refers to 6 Ohm speakers. Anyways,
it's 120x3 and 60x2, plus a B speaker
set of outputs.

The best in its price range, but if you
have even more money you get more
flexibility with S-video.

Eug