First Glimpse Article - Kenwood VR-7060


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Kenwood VR-7060

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Hardware Reviews
March 1, 2004 • Vol.2 Issue 3
Kenwood VR-7060

If you're interested in six-channel surround sound, Kenwood has a receiver you should consider. The VR-7060 supports a variety of sound modes, including the 6.1-channel Dolby EX and DTS-ES standards. The sixth channel, in case you were wondering, adds a rear surround speaker to the common 5.1-channel setup (with center, left, right, left surround, and right surround speakers). Delivering 100 watts per channel to all six of those channels, this A/V receiver has the right combination of features, power, and price.

The VR-7060 handles up to nine input sources: DVD/6CH, CD/DVD, Phono, Tuner, Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, MD/Tape, and AV Auxiliary (on the front panel). Among those are two component video inputs and four digital audio inputs (two optical and two coaxial). The two component video inputs are key—the VR-7060 sports component video switching, letting you pass multiple high-quality video signals (from a DVD or HDTV source) through the receiver to a single television input. You also get five S-Video and composite video inputs, plus six composite audio inputs. For video output, choose among component, S-Video, and composite connectors. The front panel offers S-Video and composite audio jacks for an extra auxiliary input. The impressive feature set is tied together with an onscreen setup menu and a multifunction programmable remote control. The remote also lets you select input sources directly, without the annoyance of scrolling through a menu to change inputs.

Kenwood VR-7060
$400
www.kenwoodusa.com

The VR-7060's front panel is very user-friendly. The unit is medium-sized and has a sturdy construction. Its buttons and dials have a solid feel and are intuitively organized. You can switch among the receiver's inputs using its dedicated buttons (which are much easier to use than scroll wheels), and dial through surround modes. SRS Circle Surround II supplements the VR-7060's listening modes with technology that separates any mono, stereo, or matrix-encoded signal into 6.1-channel surround sound. About the only missing audio technology is THX, which is included in the next model up, Kenwood's VR-7070 model. You can easily configure the unit and manage its settings thanks to its well-lit display, and the setup utility helps configure the system for your speaker size and alignment. A small speaker diagram helps you figure out which channels are active in each configuration, a useful feature for those who aren't intimately familiar with the alphabet soup of surround modes. On the back panel, our only complaint is that labels are printed beneath their respective connectors. With components connected, it's nearly impossible to tell which input is which from above. Speaker posts are well spaced, leaving plenty of room to connect pin or wire connectors if necessary (though you're better off with banana plugs).

The VR-7060 sounds good. It has plenty of power and delivers a clear strong sound overall. Its 100 watt-per-channel power rating is measured at eight ohms across 20Hz-20KHz, with .09% total harmonic distortion, for a reasonably reliable measurement. We spent some time testing our unit with movies (both DVD and VHS), high-definition and analog television transmissions, CDs, and FM broadcasts. It performed well across all media, sound modes, and volumes. The unit delivered plenty of power for our medium-sized listening room, without showing noticeable distortion at high volume or at peaks. Switching among inputs involves a noticeable delay in audio delivery and creates a very audible click, which isn't an issue most of the time but was distracting when flipping through alternating analog and digital television channels. Acoustically, the model compares well to other receivers in its class. A few models deliver more power, a few others deliver stronger clarity, but on the whole, the Kenwood sounds better than most competitors in its price range.

The VR-7060 boasts an extensive set of features, strong performance, and a price point that's hard to beat in the quality home theater receiver market. This model is an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their surround system or for who want something above an entry-level system.

by Greg Anderson

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