Kenwood KRF-V7020 AV-receiver
Subjectively Kenwood seems to be much more massive by weight and sizes. The reason is the display, shifted to the top of the front panel. Another characteristic feature is three rotated regulators: volume, input switcher and mysterious Multicontrol, being the commander of a variety of functions. On the back panel there are screw terminals for the connection of front loudspeakers and spring ones for the "rear".
The remote control of the receiver is very stylish. It is large, weighty, bent as a gun of Napoleonic times and that's why is well lied in hand. It is supplied by not two batteries as usual, but by four ones (AAA type). If judging by the set and placement of buttons, the remote control would better fit a DVD player not the receiver. However, it can control several sources. The most of the remote control buttons executes several functions; therefore, in order to change "posts" you need to press Shift, or Audio, or Video, so sometimes confusion appears. We decided not to rack our brains and set up the receiver from the front panel. And it became clear: the developers seriously though about how to reduce and simplify the initial configuration. In particular, "test" mode is combined with the mode of level channel regulation, and the delay of rear signal (it can be varied only in Dolby Pro Logic) is exposed indirectly, via the distance from audience to frontal and back speaker systems (the distance is entered discretely with a step of 1 ft, i.e. 0,3 m).
RDS-tuner works confidently: it is easy to catch most of FM-stations and save their coordinates in the memory.
The receiver sounds confidently, in a big way that is not surprising - output power is 5x100 W. The sound scene is significantly expanded primarily because of improving of the dynamics. The end of the eighth part of "Godzilla" - monster's appearance near American shores - impressed with sound pressure. We can't say that in the noise of rain the crackle of each deck, breaking away from the cover, was perceptible (remember how it was?), but the scale of events was transferred better. We believed that a hundred-meter beast would come out from the ocean exactly with such noise. The volume level of the central channel didn't need to be increased - the speech of the characters was heard clearly. The sound stage rested on a powerful bass foundation; however the lowest frequencies could hardly be controlled... Godzilla's steps - sinister seismic pulse - were better felt than heard. But, recorded in DTS "atmospheric" effects from the movie "Twelve monkeys" were transferred perfectly. When Bruce Willis, coming to the surface for the first time, opens the suitcase with the devices, the devices of 21st century are ticking lie real.
