Unbeatable performance/price ratio

Need more digit inputs than the current 2 coaxial/1 optical

You can't find any other 7-piece home theatre package with DD/DTS under $600. That's all the reason to go for this future-ready unit. Expert complaints about the speaker's over-brightness, but I, as an audio enthusiast, can't hear any difference. I have to admit the slow response of the remote volume control and I would be happier if there're more digital inputs than the current 3. But hey, $600 for a complete home theatre sound, stop complaining!

Adaptability

None

Ok, so I was a little skeptical when I read all of the former reviews here. However, thanks to all of you, I now have what I feel is a very pleasant sounding HT system.

I bought my wife a DVD player for Christmas with the idea to pull double duty as CD/DVD player. I was running it through an old Pioneer and my AR-5 Speakers and the distortion was horrible (the receiver lost channel separation etc.). I then trashed the Pioneer and inserted my SAE (made in L.A. CA.) Amp & Pre-Amp and it sounded great until I rented a movie. Do not misunderstand, it sounds, well, like SAE and AR's should but something was missing.

I read the reviews here and decided it was time for new equipment. Needles to say I am very impressed. The remote is a pain but for $ 545.00 at RC Willie who cares.

My next move is to upgrade the speakers. I just purchased a pair of Klipsch KSP-2.1 on UBID for $160.00 and will add the 3.1 front and either a C1 or C5 for the center (I may keep the Sub, it sounds good with a decent cable). I have read about the Energy speakers mentioned in other postings but I have loved the Klipsch line of speakers for 20 years. I regret having to sell my system (ebony wood K-horns, twin Dynaco 400's, and Mac tube pre-amp) to finish college (I do not want to talk about it).

All-in all, the Kenwood is a "best buy".

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer

value

for the money, NONE!

I helped my brother find and set up this system because he wanted to get into home theater at a low cost. This is without a doubt THE best VALUE in HT today. For 599(CC wouldn't budge on price),you won't find anything more complete and satisfying! For those of you looking to upgrading to better speakers(as some say), don't bother to puchase this system. Just buy something else to start with. I myself have a very high end(and expensive)system, and there is no comparison. We are talking 599 compared to 15 grand, though. Nobody should compare the HTB 502 to anything but a system in this price range. My one odd quirk was the sub. I found it to clip if driving it at high levels. Anybody else have this problem? Didn't have the chance to try different locations for the sub, so maybe that would help. That aside, anyone looking to get into the wonderful world of home theater for dirt cheap should not hesitate. A HOT TICKET indeed.

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon, Cinepro, Def Tech

Very GOOD sound, Price

Remote not backlit.

I love it. For the price it is unbelievable. With my DVD player and a audio intensive movie (i.e. Matrix, etc) you can absolutly crank it. The sound is not the very best you will ever hear, but man, it is really really good

Similar Products Used:

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Everything

Center Channel, and connections (cable,wires,etc

If you are on a budget go and get it. I have nothing else to say no body else even comes close.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-458

Smooth receiver, great bang for the buck value. Dolby Digital & DTS.

Speaker construction a little on the cheap side. Yet, it still sounds good. Short speaker wires.

I've had this rig for about 4 months now. I've grown to like and respect it even more than when I first bought it. I bought it based mostly on user reviews and Home Theatre Magazine's review. They were all right. This is a great entry level home theatre setup. I wanted to get it all in "one box" but wanted to have some measure of quality. It seemed impossible, then I read the HTM review. This started my research on the unit. Everything I read said this was what I was looking for. Well I now fully agree. It was easy to set up, I did have to buy my own wire as the included wire wasn't long enough to mount the surround speakers. Not a big deal as the included wire is on the thin side. I used Radio Shack 16 guage wire which worked well with this set. I've hooked a Toshiba 3109 DVD player to it and have fully tested the Dolby Digital and DTS capabilities. The sound is rich and full. The opening of Saving Private Ryan is just incredible (DD version) and enough to make you duck under your couch.
In summary, if you're looking to build a home theatre, the Kenwood 502 is a great way to get all your sound set up in one neat package. For the record, I paid $515 delivered, at Shop4.com. GREAT VALUE.

Similar Products Used:

none

I too got the 502 from Shop4.com based on all the positve reviews I've read hear/on the web/ and Home Theatre Magazine. Well, I join the crowd to sing the Kenwood praises. This is quite a rig for the money. My only problem was simmilar to the previous writer, the wire is too short for the surround speakers. So after I tested everthing with the included wire, I made a little side trip to the shack of radios and picked up a couple of 50' spools of 16 guage premium speaker wire, (Not Monster, but a lot better than the included and more in sync with the overall pricing) some banana plugs and a little soldering and viola, problem solved. Replaced all the wire with this stuff and it sounds great. The rest of the system cosists of a Toshiba 3109 DVD player and Sony 53XBR200 TV. This combo rocks, and I got to test the DTS part of the 502 with The Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD. It's worth the price of admition just for the DTS intro to the CD. Yikes! Being on the West Coast it cost $515 delivered for the 502. It's a keeper.

Great sound and tons of features for >$600.

The remote volume response extremely slow.

I bought it after reading the reviews here and from Home Theater. I was a little leary about the sound quality for $550. I set it up and think it sounds excellent, especially considering my next option was Sony STRDB830 w/ Energy Take Fives. I don't think my ears will notice any difference, but my wallet will. Also I replace the wires w/ generic 16 gauge. I would highly recommend this system to anyone. I am very very pleased with it(and not quite as broke.)

Price, subwoofer, price.

Front speakers,lack of inputs, too bright

This is a pretty damned good system, if you've just gotten into the audio game, or you just want a system cause you don't wanna spend money, but anyways... my friend got it about a month ago and wow I was amazed by the sound for around $450. I figured if it sounded good enough I would buy it for myself but the digital inputs were lacking only 3.. I wanted a digital output (minidisc). And I wasn't a big fan of the frount speakers or the center, so I decided on the STR-DB830 from Sony, and the Klipsch Quintets, this is was little more expensive compared to the HTB-502 so I decided to get a cheaper subwoofer (Audiosource SWtwo) which isn't a bad subwoofer in itself fits my needs for now, some might argue that the quintets are a little bright, but much less than the htb-502, if you do decide to purchuse this package make sure you replace a few speakers then it'll be complete. all in all great system. 4 1/2 stars

Price/Remote/Sound

For the money- absolutely none

I'm very knew to the whole HT game, but after purchasing a Pioneer Elite DV-05 DVD player (THX certified) I obviously needed an HT with DTS to go with it. Blowing most of my budget on the DVD player I was cramped for cash on the HT system. Reading the reviews here, I shopped all over the net, Shop4 was complete out as was everyone else- the system is THAT popular. I finally gave up the net and went to Circuit City where it was on sale for $579. After playing the "saw it cheaper on the net" game with the sales guy for over an hour, and then with ANOTHER sales guy, it was obvious they weren't going to budge on the price. I don't know if this Circuit City is an unusual case, of the hype on the 502 has gotten so big that they KNOW it's worth that much. Regardless, I compared it to several Sony's on the floor and other systems, not within $300 price-wise that even had the DTS- and though the speakers aren't small and fancy like Sony's, the 502 cranks in comparison. I just got into the manual- the remote impresses me, but I'm saving THAT manual for this weekend when I have a few hours. I get the impression that 502's are getting harder to buy online, and harder to bargain for price with- if you want one, buy it now.