Kenwood Receiver Quit. Onkyo maybe???

I bought a Kenwood 750 watt in box Home Theater System. After about 1 1/2 years, the sensor for my remote quits. So, I had to start getting up and down to adjust my volume. NOW, my video connections have gone out. I had to re-run all of my video cables to my TV. So I now have to change video settings on TV, Receiver, AND STILL get up to adjust the volume. Kenwood used to be good but I think they are fading out..... I was thinking of an Onkyo receiver. My Kenwood speakers seem to sound fine to me, but if I would buy just an Onkyo Receiver, I could later go back and replace my speakers with something like Polk Audio. ANY suggestions welcome.

 

its always a better investment to buy individual components versus a HTIB (home theater in a box)
whats your budget like, we can take it from there......

what are you willing to spend for your receiver?

 

I've seen a Onkyo receiver for $495 alone at a local video store, but at Crutchfield, I can get the HTIB for about the same price. I was thinking that the receivers should be the same quality, but I know that the speakers aren't going to be that could. But what the heck, if they come with the system I might as well get the with the HTIB.

 

its your choice, but the HTIB value is usually a bottom end receiver as well, not to mention cheap speakers. for a small room, they are ok, but not as a home theater set up. sure, it costs more to buy seperates, but well worth it, because for one, it will last longer and, two, you have better quality, sounds, and functions.

 

Personally I prefer Sony, Onkyo, or Yamaha receivers. Kenwood used to be really the top of the line but I think they have slipped somewhat lately. Oh well just my 10 cents worth.

 

Yea, I think I am going to buy an Onkyo receiver alone. Maybe next year I can start replacing my speakers. Do you think Polk Audio would be a nice selection?

 

yes they do, onkyo and polk's go hand in hand. but alot of it depends on your budget. i have a yamaha with polks all around except for my towers, which are paradigm's. awesome towers by the way.
look at circuit city's onkyo txsr 702
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onky...99813/catOid/-12851/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
$505 bucks, not too bad, considering its options....7.1 surround sound, THX select, high current, 2 zone, has tons of inputs and outputs, all decoders built in, learning backlit remote, low THD @ .08

here is onkyo's link (it's the 703, difference is XM Radio and 25 watts more per channel) but unless you want/need more power or satellite radio, try that one, but its a bit more pricey.
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR703&class=Receiver&p=i


the 702 was what i was going to buy, but i got my yamaha for a 100 bucks less, due to new model updates..

but lets start with your budget first and we can look deeper... plus, a good idea to know, what are your listening preferences, room size, speakers if any or plan to get... and i can help you further.

 

Thanks for the link gear79. How much difference is it between the 702 and the 603. I know the 702 has a huge discount price which makes it a great DEAL, but quality and sound, is there much differnce? I have a 24 x 20 living room. I love to watch movies and play the xbox in surround. Like I said, for now I am going to still use my Kenwood speakers and maybe later go with Polks. I can't get tower speakers because I have a cabinet around my 52" tv.

 

I have had many onkyo receivers for years, and they are fantastic. The only brand a little better (and much more expensive) would be Denon. But even the lower-priced Onkyos deliver excellent quality and performance

 

I have an Onkyo 702 and love it, using with 6.1 surround, all Bose speakers.

 

good shopping sights.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/index.jsp

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-BzoB9dMSYq6/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&I=580TXS703B

 

gear79

I think I am going to go with the 603 model from crutchfield. Circuit City doesn't have the 702 availiable in my area. There isn't alot of difference in the two besides a hundred bucks. After I get it, I will start looking at some speakers, $400-$500 range. Crutchfield has a deal on getting a free Polk Audio PSW10 with a $499 polk purchase. Sound Good???

What do you think of the Onkyo 5 disc DVD player?

 

@ neckbone
try circuit city online, they ship for free from time to time..
the difference is more power, larger amps, better overall design from the learlier model.
either one is good, i almost bought the 702 but i found my RX-V1500 for a better deal at the time, now the 703 has come out, so it put the 702 at a lesser price... i think 500 bucks @ c/c

i don't like a dvd changer, as i only watch 1 movie at a time, so i cant give you much input there on that player. but from the specs, it looks ok.

 

I have to agree, not much use for a DVD changer for me either. If you listen to alot of CD and want to use your dvd changer to play cd's then I could see a application but just remember as things get older and have more moving parts, they tend to break.

 

gear79

I done some research and this is what I came up with. Onkyo 603 receiver, Denon single disc dvd player, CS1 for the center channel, Monitor 30s for the front and surround, and the PSW505 for the sub. I love bass and figured it would be better to go big, because I can always turn it down and not up.


I do have a couple of questions. Am I better off getting the Monitor 30s for surround like I mentioned above, or getting the cheaper R15s. I can get 4 R15s for the price of just 2 Monitor 30s. Also is there much difference in the CS1 center and the csi3 besides money. Thanks for your help.

 

i personally would not mix and match speakers............ for the simple fact that they are all not matching speakers. all waht you did mention however are good speakers, but depending on your room size and musical/theatrical likes....... its kinda hard to actually say what speaker will sound best for you.
look at this place, they sell them for good prices, and have good reveiws.
http://www.fluance.com/index.html

you can get a whole package minus the sub
and as far as your sub goes, look into the klipsch line of subs or mirage....... i have a polk sub, (the 404) and it does not hit as low as i'd like.

 

Hi, I have a pair of Polk monitor 50's which sound awesome with my Yamaha HTR-5750. I need some help picking out a subwoofer?? What would be a good budget sub?? Thanks

 

define budget???

 

$300-$500 I was checking out a Velodyne 12" (DPS-12) sub at Circuit City and it absolutely blew me away, would anyone recommend Velodyne?? Thanks

 

velodyne is very good... thats the one with controls (push buttons) built on top of it right??

also, look into some klipsch and mirage subs, along with a good sub cable...