|
|
Sponsored in part by:
Forget your old way of thinking about home audio.
During the 1960's, consoles were all the rage. Huge, bulky pieces of furniture in which everything was integrated, including typically, the speakers. My parents were quite proud of the Harmon Karden console they scrimped and saved up enough money to buy. It was of course, tube-driven, but featured some sort of neat and eclectic features like phase-shifting, which I thought was pretty cool. I've got great memories of pretending to be a DJ while playing records on that thing. The speakers were huge and it made a big sound.
Then, in the 1970's, everything became "transistorized". Tubes were no longer in fashion and solid-state components became all the rage. Separate tuners, amps and turntables dominated the scene and unless you wanted to be considered a part of the aurel stone-age, you loaded up with those separate components. I know I certainly did.
A funny thing happened in the mid-70's though. Audiophiles began to rail against the solid state stuff in favor of the "warmer" tube sound and that debate has raged on past the 80's, 90's and now into the new millennium. One thing that has arguably changed, however, is the disdain leveled towards receivers. As the technology has improve, many of us that were hooked on separates have found ourselves arching our eyebrows at some of the new receivers that not only feature more power than any sensible human being fond of his or her hearing will tolerate, but also impressive is the plethora of convenience features that make these packages almost irresistable.
The Kenwood VR-4900 is one such package.
When Dolby Digital and then DTS became more important to the home theater experience, there was a bit of confusion in the beginning. The separate component zealots may not have minded the extra decoder boxes that were required to deliver awesome, multi-channel sound to our room full of speakers, but many consumers found that approach, well, downright unfriendly.
Happily, all current model DVD players and receivers have the Dolby Digital and DTS decoding circuitry built-in (they way it should have been from the beginning) and typically, there is no longer the need to purchase separate decoders.
Many of us still have a "connectivity" problem, however. After all, the receiver may contain the amp, radio tuner, the Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, etc., but we still have to find a way to connect all our other stuff to it. Things like projectors, monitors, HDTV tuners, DVD players, CD players, turntables (yes, a few of us still own one), etc. Until now, I hadn't seen a receiver that could handle all the possible combinations of hardware you could possible throw at it and allow them all to work in harmony with one another.
Another major complaint with most home audio and video gear is the poor design and function of the remote controls. The VR-4900 addresses both of these issues with grace and aplomb. Just one look at the back panel of this beauty will show you that the Kenwood designers have been very busy.
Several banks of S-Video, component connections, speaker outputs, optical and coaxial digital connections and composite connections await. Moreover, the VR-4900 will allow you to switch between components, upconverting an S-Video output from your DVD player to use with the component inputs of your projector.
I've spent a couple of months getting to know (and greatly enjoying) the use of this receiver, connected to a set of outstanding speakers from Pinnacle. More on those speakers in a separate product review.
When Dennis Shepherd at Medical Video Systems first described the Kenwood to me, I was impressed, but one of my first questions was "does it come in black?". I'm one of those anal-retentive types that wants all of my comonents to match. The photograph of the pewter and dark gray receiver didn't send chills up my spine -- that would come a few days later after actually seeing this unit in person and absorbing the requisite learning curve of operating the thing. All I can say is that photos simply do not give this machine justice. The VR-4900 is almost a work of contemporary art, not intended to be hidden amongst the rest of your A/V clutter. This unit was designed to be seen and heard. For those that demand that their components all match visually, Kenwood is happy to accomodate you with other components like DVD players and changers that mimic this striking design.
The electronically activated door on the front bottom really doesn't reveal too much in the way of meaningful controls, especially when you have such a great remote to work with. I must admit, it took me a few days to "get up to speed" with that thing, but it's a real delight to work with. Sporting 4 "C" batteries, the remote gives you ample time from a charged set of batteries, and the touch screen can be activated with your fingertip or an integrated plastic pointer stick (which I preferred to use). The remote is already pre-programmed with the codes from most major electronics producers, which made the setup a lot less painful than I feared it might be. In addition, you can "teach" the remote and then happily throw all your other remotes out the window -- but only after you set this one down since you'll need two hands to operate it. Even Hoss Cartwright would have felt comfortable using this thing. I used to love my Marantz RC-2000, which has quickly been replaced with newer, better remote designs. This is one of them. Anyone want a used Marantz RC-2000 real cheap?
Consumers no longer have to choose between Dolby Digital and DTS. Both are included in the VR-4900 and switching is automatic via the source material.
There are also some great convenience features like two 12-volt relay outputs for the operation of motorized projection screens. For example, with the VR-4900, you could roll down the 16:9 screen, and then later when needed, unfurl seperately powered 4:3 masking panels if your screen is so equipped.
Every function can be carried out via the backlit remote, including channel balancing, bass management and switching between components. The VR-4900 makes for a most attractive "nerve center" for your home theater setup -- and with 130 watts RMS per channel -- offers more than enough power to generate permanent hearing damage if your speakers can handle the load.
I found the sound of the VR-4900 to be very pleasing and balanced in conjunction with the Pinnacle Gold Series reference speakers that I was using, but never got the sound cranked up more than about a third of the way before I started becoming uncomfortable with the thundering sound level. I've always been a firm believer that you can never have enough amplifier power, because if the amp can withstand that sort of stress, normal listening levels typically sound cleaner and more efficient as well. I could be wrong about this, but that's always been my theory. Better too much power than not enough. This receiver offers plenty.
I couldn't discern any "coloring" of the sound or any trace of noise or distortion while going through the gamut of frequencies with my Denon test CD. Music sounded spacious and natural, with tight, punchy lows and shimmering, transparent highs.
Kenwood's flagship receiver is solidly built, weighing in at 40 pounds and provides one of the greatest, if not the greatest level of interconnectivity I've ever seen in a home theater receiver. No matter what kind of A/V setup you have, odds are that the Kenwood VR-4900 can get all your components to work together without you having to unplug and replug connectors in on a semi-regular basis. Your ears should also be very pleased by the audio that this unit delivers. At a the suggested retail price of $2,000 to $2,300 it had better sound good -- and it does. Check the specs below for the particulars, but call MVS for the best price.
Key Features
Preouts: L/C/R/LS/RS/Sub
Surround Sound DSP ICs: 32-Bit 2nd-Generation ADI SHARC
Power Ratings
Stereo Power: 130 Watts per Channel (Left/Right), 20Hz - 20kHz, 6 ohms, >0.03% THD
Amplifier Features
A/B Speaker Output
Cooling Fan
Speaker Connectors: Banana Plug-Compatible (All Channels)
Audio Features
Audio DSP Listening Modes: 5
Audio Inputs/Outputs: 8 / 2
Balance Control
Bass and Treble Controls
Bass Management: Full Digital, Dual-Precision
Channel Level Control: 5.1 Channel Independent
Digital Audio Input: 14
Digital Signal Format Auto Detection/Auto Switching: DTS, Dolby Digital, MPEG 5.1, and PCM
Dolby 3 Stereo: Full Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Pro Logic: Full Digital
DTS Digital Surround
Headphone Jack
Last Sound Mode Memory
Midnight Theater Mode: 2-Stage
Pink Noise Generator for Speaker Balancing
Preouts: L/C/R/LS/RS/Sub
Room B Preouts: Gold-Plated
Source Direct Listening Mode
Surround Sound DSP ICs: 32-Bit 2nd-Generation ADI SHARC
Variable Input Sensitivity: with Individual Source Memory
Video Features
Front Panel AV/Aux Input: with S-Video
Video Inputs: 2 Component, 5 S-Video, 5 Composite
Video Monitor Outputs: 1 Component, 1 S-Video, 2 Composite
Video Outputs: 1 Composite, 1 S-Video
Remote Control Features
Auto Input Naming
Auto Input Recognition
Button Renaming Capability
CD Disc and Track Title Display: with Compatible Changer
CD Title Storage: 200 Discs (with Compatible Changer)
Direct Component Control
Direct Input Source Selection
EL Backlight
Hardwire Installation Capability
Learning Capability: 133 Key
Macro Capability: 6 per Source Component
PowerTouch 3-D/2-D Graphic User Interface with Icon-Driven Controls
Pre-Programmed to Control Most Brands of Audio and Video Source Components
Touchscreen Navigation
Tuner Features
Automatic and Manual Tuning
Direct Access Tuning: with Remote
Preset Call
Quartz PLL Synthesized Digital Tuning
Radio Data System (RDS)
Station Presets: 40 (FM/AM)
General Features
2-Way IR Receiver/Transmitter Compatible: with Optional IR-9991 Transceiver
AC Accessory Outlets: 2 Switched
Audio Muting: using Remote
Auto Function One-Touch Operation
Auto Input Naming
Auto Input Recognition
CD Disc and Track Title Display: with Compatible Changer
CD Title Storage: 200 Discs (with Compatible Changer)
Direct Component Control
Direct Input Source Selection
Display Dimmer
Dot Matrix Display with Volume Indication
Dual-Room/Dual-Source Operation: Audio and Video
Dynamic Rotary Encoder Volume Control
Macro Capability: 6 per Source Component
Perfect Macro Capability
System Control Connections for Kenwood Components: SL16 Format
Custom Installation Features
12-Volt Relay Outputs: 2
2-Way IR Receiver/Transmitter Compatible: with Optional IR-9991 Transceiver
IR Repeater Outputs: 2
TV Power Sensor Input
For more questions about system integration and configurations, or for the best pricing of the Kenwood VR-4999, contact the company we trust to take care of our readers: Medical Video Systems.
Be sure to tell them that The BIG Picture sent you.