Kenwood HTB-503.... wow!
Written: Apr 17 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Subwoofer is amazing, receiver top notch
Cons: No virtual surround, it's true, the remote does really suck!
The Bottom Line: Go for it. For the money, this system blows away the competition.
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| sgroer's Full Review: Kenwood HTB-502 |
Alright, the reason it get's only 4 stars is simple. The remote is a disgrace, it makes the entire package seem crappy. I can't even get it to control my Kenwood DVD player. I ordered a crisp solutions Ucommand 515 to replace it. it will be arriving in a few days, and it's bound to be night and day from this flimsy piece of crap. I ended up using the speaker wire to sew some buttons on one of my shirts. Not really, but the thought crossed my mind. It really is that thin and flimsy. 100 watts of power on this wire? I think not. I replaced it before installation with Monster Cable and RCA flatwire. Its much thicker and easy to route underneath the carpet, etc.
Okay, enough of the bad... on to the good! I set the system up, it took me close to an entire day. Not because of the system, but because I was routing wires through the attic, into walls, etc. I really wanted the system to appear custom. It looks great, the speakers are in perfect locations, and it was worth the time.
So I have the system set up and I turn on my kenwood DVD player. I watched chapter 2 of gladiator in DTS sound where they "unleash the hell." I must have been unleashing some of my own hell... I missed two phone calls beacause I did not hear the phone ring. The sound is awe inspiring, the bass is thuderous, the clarity is phenominal. I got chills sitting on the couch watching this movie.
I had seen gladiator before, and I loved it. I find it very hard to sit and watch a 2.5 hour movie without moving. Let me tell you.. I din't move an inch. The sound was so engaging, I couldn't believe it.
The setup is fairly tricky. There are many connections on the back, and the manual helps very little. Just take your time and map everything out. I have it hooked up to the following with no problems at all:
Kenwood Dv-403
Echostar dish network 4922
RCA Stereo VCR
Sony 27 inch stereo TV.
All the components function perfectly, and the fiber optic digital connections between the DVD player and the receiver as well as between the satelite box and the reciever made installation easier. Since the cable is so thin, it also cuts down on cable clutter somwhat.
I'm new to home theater. Some say.. .you get what you pay for. I beg to differ. I picked this baby up at the Kenwood outlet here in Atlanta for $299. This is more than I ever wanted for a home theater system.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sgroer
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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