Kenwood VR-507 Surround Sound Receiver (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Description says it comes with a remote. It does not. Other than that, it works. No instruction manual either but I downloaded one.

The stereo unit came wrapped in bubble wrap, no box. Was delivered during a severe thunderstorm. Like a comment before, was advertised to come with universal remote. No remote was delivered. Unwrapped unjt, hooked it up, does not work. Imagine that..Probably banged around on a truck from south Carolina, all the way to brandon, Ms. Going to get a replacement, or money back.

Surrounded soundBut I need a remote for it

Tuner looks and works well.

I bought one of these second hand, later I found these models have remote sensor problems. Mine also has a heartbeat sound that goes off every few seconds.

Since the other review on this product is mostly about speakers that are not part of this product listing, let me copy here a description from Crutchfield that is about this receiver.Pro Logic II takes a giant step forward from Pro Logic's 4-channel format by creating a convincing 5.1-channel experience -- with stereo, full-bandwidth surround channels -- for Dolby Surround film soundtracks, and even stereo music sources. With over 12,000 Dolby-encoded movies, and limitless stereo music and TV broadcasts, there are lots of reasons to love Pro Logic II!Of course you also get built-in Dolby® Digital and DTS® decoding to enjoy the multichannel digital sound on thousands of DVD movie soundtracks. 100 watts x 5 channels of power (with a frequency bandwidth of 20-20,000 Hz) and 24-bit digital signal processing ensure powerful, dynamic surround performance. And to expand your opportunities for surround sound fun, Circle Surround mode produces 5.1-channel sound from 2-channel sources.This versatile receiver has plenty of inputs for all of your A/V gear: 4 digital inputs, 3 audio inputs (including one for a turntable), and 5 A/V inputs (including 5 S-video for high-resolution sources like DVD, S-VHS and DBS, plus a 5.1-channel input for formats like DVD-Audio). The VR-507 is ready to accommodate your home audio/video desires now and down the road!DETAILS:Pro Logic II is a new Dolby Laboratories technology that produces surround sound from any stereo source, including CDs, VHS tapes, TV shows, digital audio files like MP3 and AAC, cassette tapes, and FM radio broadcasts. Like Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II has stereo surround output, giving you a more realistic surround sound experience. Unlike Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II allows you to enjoy a "5.1-like" presentation using any analog stereo source. Pro Logic II includes a Movie mode, Music mode, and standard four-channel Pro Logic decoding mode.KAM-1 Power Amplifier Circuitry: This exclusive Kenwood modular amplifier circuit doubles electrical efficiency, producing more power while generating less heat. KAM-1 offers superior sound quality and reliability.96kHz/24-bit Audio D/A Conversion: This unit will accept and play 96kHz/24 bit linear PCM digital audio.5.1-Channel Input: In addition to the built-in Dolby Digital and DTS processing, this unit also has a 5.1-channel input for use with external multi-channel decoders.Surround Modes:*DTS*Dolby Digital*Dolby Pro Logic II*Dolby 3 Stereo: This mode is for systems without surround speakers. The surround information is redirected to the front left and right loudspeakers.*SRS Circle Surround: This mode provides a 5.1-channel surround sound experience with stereo sources*Arena (DSP): Simulates the acoustic environment of a large arena*Jazz Club (DSP): Simulates the acoustic environment of a jazz club*Theater (DSP): Simulates the acoustic environment of a movie theater*Stadium (DSP): Simulates the acoustic environment of a stadium*Disco (DSP): Simulates the acoustic environment of a disco clubMidnight Mode: This mode compresses the dynamic range of Dolby Digital sources for greater enjoyment of surround sound at low volume. Midnight mode is ideal for listening at night. Note: This mode is only available when specially encoded Dolby Digital signals are played.Panorama Mode (Pro Logic II Music mode only): When listening to music, you can enjoy the "wraparound" sound effect when you adjust the Panorama Mode.Dimension Mode (Pro Logic II Music mode only): When listening to music with certain recordings, you will be able to achieve a suitable balance from all the speakers by adjusting the Dimension Mode.Center Width Mode (Pro Logic II Music mode only): The Center Width Mode allows you to adjust the position of the center image.Cinema EQ: The Cinema EQ enhances bass response for films and smoothes the blend between the front speakers and the subwoofer.Speaker Settings:*Subwoofer: You can select ON or OFF. If OFF is selected, the front speakers are automatically set to LARGE.*Front Speakers: You can select NORMAL (small) or LARGE*Center Speaker: If you have selected LARGE as the front speaker size, you can select NORMAL (small), LARGE, or OFF for the center speaker. If NORMAL is selected for the front speakers, you can select ON or OFF for the center speaker.*Surround Speakers: If you have selected LARGE for the center speaker, you can select NORMAL (small), LARGE, or OFF for the surround speakers. If you have selected anything but LARGE for the center speaker, you can select On or OFF for the surround speakers.*Test Tone: The test tone feature allows you to independently adjust the volume level of each channel (front left, front right, center, surround left, surround right, and subwoofer)*Front Speaker Distance: May be adjusted from 1-30 feet in 1 foot increments*Center Speaker Distance: May be adjusted from 1-30 feet in 1 foot increments*Surround Speaker Distance: May be adjusted from 1-30 feet in 1 foot incrementsInput Level Adjustment (analog sources only): If the input level of an analog source signal is too high, the CLIP indicator will blink. To avoid this, you can adjust the input level independently for each analog source. You can select 0dB, -3dB, or -6dB.Source Direct Listening Mode: This mode allows you to bypass all digital processing and tone controls, yielding the purest sound possible for analog sources.Digital Signal Format Auto Detection/Auto Switching: When a digital input is set to D-Auto, the input detects the format of the incoming digital data stream, automatically activating the proper surround decoding mode. You can also adjust the inputs manually.Display Dimmer: The display brightness may be set to one of three levels.Inputs and OutputsFront Panel: *Phones: Standard gold-plated headphone output jack*AV Aux Input: Gold-plated stereo RCA jacks, RCA composite video jack and S-video jackBack Panel: *AM Loop Antenna Input: Two spring clip connections*FM 75-ohm Antenna Input: Slip-on F-Type connector*Phono Input: Stereo RCA jacks with ground screw*CD/DVD Input: Stereo RCA jacks, RCA composite video jack, and S-video jack*MD/Tape Input/Output: Stereo RCA jacks*Monitor Input/Output: Stereo RCA jacks*Video 1 Input/Output: Stereo RCA jacks, RCA composite video jacks and S-video jacks*Video 2 Input: Stereo RCA jacks, RCA composite video jack and S-video jack*Video 3 Input: Stereo RCA jacks, RCA composite video jack and S-video jack*DVD/6 Channel Input: 6 RCA jacks (front left, front right, surround left, surround right, center, and subwoofer)*DVD Coax Digital Input: Standard coaxial digital jack*Video 2 Coax Digital Input: Standard coaxial digital jack*CD/DVD Optical Digital Input: Standard Toslink digital input with a plastic protective cover*Video 3 Optical Digital Input: Standard Toslink digital input with a plastic protective cover*Subwoofer Preamp Output: Mono RCA jack*Monitor Output: RCA composite video jack and S-video jack*System Control Outputs (SL16): 2 Stereo mini-jack outputs that allow you to connect compatible Kenwood components*Speaker Outputs: Binding post outputs for front left (A), front right (A), and center speakers (posts are not 5-way binding posts, because each post has a plastic collar that prevents use with spade lugs and the posts are too far apart to use dual banana plugs). Spring clips for front left (B), front right (B), surround left, and surround right speakers*AC Outlets: 2 Switched AC outlets (150W/1.25A max)

I purchased this audio-video receiver as part of a home-theater set which included 5 speakers and a subwoofer. After reading many reviews I saw that it was one of the highest rated systems, as well as being readily available at many electronics stores.I'm a perfectionist, so perhaps my mediocre rating for this item is biased. From the reviews I expected perfect clarity in the sound. For the most part everything sounds fine. The big flaw has to do with the center speaker. That speaker is responsible for speech in movies, so it's pretty important. The problem is I can hear a high-pitched distortion during brief moments in some movies. The distortion occurs when certain characters or creatures talk and roar. Take Jurassic Park, for example. When John Hammond has his little discussion with Alan Grant and Ellie Satler in the trailer, you can hear a faint whine in his voice that becomes more annoying the higher the volume is set. And the scene where a Brachiosaurus appears for the first time and let's out a bellow before sitting down sounds horrible.To most people it's barely audible. To me, it's irritating. So irritating, in fact, that I bought a whole new center speaker to replace the original. It was a Bose. After that I had no problems.Well, except one minor difficulty which involves the subwoofer included with the set. The bass cannot be adjusted by remote, one must get up and physically turn the knob in the back. I hate having to do that. Maybe that's because the subwoofer is 'powered', I don't know.Other than all that I have no complaints. There are plenty of S-video and composite inputs but no component inputs. There's two coaxial and two optical digital audio inputs. At 100 watts per channel the overall sound output is impressive. The bass can shake your room sufficiently when that next monster comes stomping around on the screen. Make sure your video/audio cables have some separate reach at the ends because not all the jacks are very close together. There might be better home theater systems out there for the money, but who knows if they also have that high-pitched distortion problem? It may be a common factor in mid-ranged systems.I give 4 stars for the receiver, 2 for the speakers.