Kenwood VR6050 receiver(refurb) for $99 @eCost

[MIDIman]

Link to manual

Tempted to get on this, but I dont know...sounds iffy.

 

[BigSmooth]

Just a side note to those getting in on this deal - try and make sure this receiver has proper ventilation. It's best to leave some space around it if possible, particularly the top where the large vents are. It's not a great idea to run it in a totally enclosed space, either.

I have the 6060 and it gets pretty warm when it's running. I've never had any problems, but most high powered receivers will shut down if they get too hot, and these are no exception. Just an FYI.

 

[cejay]

haha on the gullible stuff.. i only know what i saw with test equipment hooked up via the wiring..

anyway.. Does anyone have the shipping #'s for e-cost? On the shipping label?
Ecost.com MASKS the ups tracking #, making you HAVE to go thru their site for shipping info.

IF I have the date of departure and their address/shipper's #, I can look this info
up myself via ups 800#..
can anyone help?
cj

 

[isoflavone]

Sometimes you just luck out! Got my VR-6050 today......not a refrurb but brand spanking new.....just the silver paint was not perfect on the KENWOOD in raised letters on upper left. Wow! and for $102.95 delivered. Thanks, JHawk.

 

[cejay]

Got mine a few days ago.. looks flawless to me.. i cant tell its ever been used.
Remote perfect.. all accesories in box.

I bought a fiber optic cable to use the DTS.. apparently COXIAL cable
won't suffice for the DTS signal, at least according to the manual.

My sound card has coax and fiber optic out, not sure if I want to hook
it up to my stereo (20ft away) and besides I think that ONLY if i send a
5.1 signal out my sound card (movie,etc) will i hear anything thru that port
on the sound card.. stereo or not.

cj

 

[lzpoof]

Originally posted by: cejay
Got mine a few days ago.. looks flawless to me.. i cant tell its ever been used.
Remote perfect.. all accesories in box.

I bought a fiber optic cable to use the DTS.. apparently COXIAL cable
won't suffice for the DTS signal, at least according to the manual.

My sound card has coax and fiber optic out, not sure if I want to hook
it up to my stereo (20ft away) and besides I think that ONLY if i send a
5.1 signal out my sound card (movie,etc) will i hear anything thru that port
on the sound card.. stereo or not.

cj

MY soundcard outputs 5.1 or 2.0 through optical. selectable in driver I believe Doesn't have to be a dts or dolby signal

 

[pulse8]

I just got mine the other day. I haven't set it up yet (I think I'm going to wait for my Fluance speakers for that), but it looks brand new.

 

[acebathound]

Just thought I'd give you guys an update (I had bought one of these and it had a cracke in the front right speaker channel). I contacted their support and about 4 days later got a response saying they do not handle returns and that I'd have to contact Kenwood and they apologized. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was worth a try. I did something most of you probably wouldn't have even considered.. I ordered another one, because either way I looked at it, it just seemed like the best thing to do considering the low cost (and free shipping). I'm happy to say that I received the 2nd unit yesterday, hooked it up, and everything seems to be working great with it =) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the defective unit, but I'm just thankful I have a working one.. even at $200 it has still saved me money (not to mention research time looking for a deal). My subwoofer is coming shortly, and I have to run out and get a fiber optic cable and subwoofer cable, but hopefully that won't set me back too much further =P

My opinion on eCost's service is somewhat lessened due to their slow response time and lack of help on this issue.. if I had received a working unit the first time I would have no problem recommending them, but the only thing positive I can say for them now is the free shipping is great and everything came packed well.

It really is a great receiver.. unbelievable amount of configurations, which is why I had such a tough time resisting the urge to buy another one, even after receiving one that was defective. The fluance speakers sound great as well....I can't wait to get the subwoofer and see how it all sounds together

 

[pulse8]

The fluance speakers sound great as well

I can't wait for mine to come in.

They should be quite the upgrade from my 6 year old Sherwoods.

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: acebathound
Just thought I'd give you guys an update (I had bought one of these and it had a cracke in the front right speaker channel). I contacted their support and about 4 days later got a response saying they do not handle returns and that I'd have to contact Kenwood and they apologized. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was worth a try. I did something most of you probably wouldn't have even considered.. I ordered another one, because either way I looked at it, it just seemed like the best thing to do considering the low cost (and free shipping). I'm happy to say that I received the 2nd unit yesterday, hooked it up, and everything seems to be working great with it =) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the defective unit, but I'm just thankful I have a working one.. even at $200 it has still saved me money (not to mention research time looking for a deal). My subwoofer is coming shortly, and I have to run out and get a fiber optic cable and subwoofer cable, but hopefully that won't set me back too much further =P

Looks like there's no point fleaBaying it, unless you get really lucky. Why didn't you just get the broke one fixed by Kenwood? Couldn't wait?

 

[Razorguts]

Originally posted by: acebathound
Just thought I'd give you guys an update (I had bought one of these and it had a cracke in the front right speaker channel). I contacted their support and about 4 days later got a response saying they do not handle returns and that I'd have to contact Kenwood and they apologized. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was worth a try. I did something most of you probably wouldn't have even considered.. I ordered another one, because either way I looked at it, it just seemed like the best thing to do considering the low cost (and free shipping). I'm happy to say that I received the 2nd unit yesterday, hooked it up, and everything seems to be working great with it =) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the defective unit, but I'm just thankful I have a working one.. even at $200 it has still saved me money (not to mention research time looking for a deal). My subwoofer is coming shortly, and I have to run out and get a fiber optic cable and subwoofer cable, but hopefully that won't set me back too much further =P

I can't wait to get the subwoofer and see how it all sounds together

sorry about your cracking sound on the speaker input. I was going to suggest that you just use your 1st kenwood as a secodnary stereo amp (bedroom maybe? *shrug*), but then I read that it was cracking on both channels (A and B).

Say, to which subwoofer are you referring? I did a quick scan and only saw people reference the Fluance speakers (which do look darn good for the price)...

thanks for reading,

Herff College of Engineering

 

[acebathound]

Originally posted by: huesmann

Looks like there's no point fleaBaying it, unless you get really lucky. Why didn't you just get the broke one fixed by Kenwood? Couldn't wait?

Well I think I'll contact Kenwood and see if it's possible to have them pay for the repair.. but I had contacted a local electronic shop and their minimum cost on the repair was going to be $30 (you pay that upfront).. if I ship it anywhere it's $30... either way I'm without a unit for at least 2 weeks, if not more. I figured why put more money into it if I could just get another and either sell it as broken or try to fix it myself =)

 

[acebathound]

Originally posted by: Razorguts

sorry about your cracking sound on the speaker input. I was going to suggest that you just use your 1st kenwood as a secodnary stereo amp (bedroom maybe? *shrug*), but then I read that it was cracking on both channels (A and B).

Say, to which subwoofer are you referring? I did a quick scan and only saw people reference the Fluance speakers (which do look darn good for the price)...

Yeah, I had hooked both front speakers up to the front left channel... no crackle, but obviously had a dramatic hit on the surround sound =P ... if nothing else, I can always use this in another room (or garage for that matter), at least it's not totally out of commission.

As for the subwoofer, I was looking on Anandtech and also Google for anyone with a subwoofer recommendation (especially anyone that had the Fluance Speakers). I ended up purchasing a Velodyne VX-10 from jandr.com for $150 (they have free shipping on this unit). I had been looking at a cheap 12" woofer, but after thinking about it more and seeing reviews from people saying a decent 10" woofer can actually be better than a cheap 12" woofer, I decided to go with the 10". Velodyne is a name-brand subwoofer manufacturer and all of the reviews I've read about them have been great.. whereas some subwoofers drown out music if you're just playing cds or whatnot. It was OOS for about 2 weeks, but they just got them in and mine just shipped =) I don't think it's exactly a "deal", but the free shipping saved me some cash and I'm still going to be blown away by its power.. especially since I'll be an apartment or townhouse dweller for at least another couple of years I'll let you know how it turns out..

 

[torrid]

Originally posted by: acebathound

Originally posted by: huesmann

Looks like there's no point fleaBaying it, unless you get really lucky. Why didn't you just get the broke one fixed by Kenwood? Couldn't wait?

Well I think I'll contact Kenwood and see if it's possible to have them pay for the repair.. but I had contacted a local electronic shop and their minimum cost on the repair was going to be $30 (you pay that upfront).. if I ship it anywhere it's $30... either way I'm without a unit for at least 2 weeks, if not more. I figured why put more money into it if I could just get another and either sell it as broken or try to fix it myself =)

Isn't it a 90-day warranty? Kenwood should repair for free. You can also try calling eCost again. I called and VERIFIED with them that they would handle any shipping damage or non-working units if they arrived in that shape, even though they are refurbs. Granted, you'd have to pay shipping, but they told me they would handle it. This makes me want to get a phone recorder to play these messages back to them. Maybe try e-mail to get the same, documentable answer.

 

[huesmann]

The Velodyne looks like a nice sub.

 

[Mallaur]

I got my VR 6050 the other day, no shotgun holes =) and looks brand new. Set it up and it sounds great, but now I am also getting a annoying static tick from my right front channel speaker and my Powered Sub will not kick in unless I go up and pump the volume control.

Called ECost, they said I have to call Kenwood to get a Service # saying the unit is defective and then set up a RA with Ecost. But have to do it fast, only have 15 days from time of purchase to send it back.

Aside from the Tick and Sub bug it is a great buy, I just got unlucky to get a bad one.
Will RMA it and cross my fingers.

 

[xoque]

Doh!!!!!!! This morning just a few minutes ago they raised the price to $150. I was looking at getting this last night, but said to call to see when they'll get more (aka they were out of stock). So I was contacting them today, checked the price earlier and it was $99... now its $150. Oh wells.

 

[geoffct]

Buyer beware

I purchased one of these receivers, it arrived last week, but the power button was broken... still works from remote.

So the hassle, call ecost - we cannot accept any returns. take it to an authorized kenwood service center.

take the receiver to local service center, they cannot provide warrantee service since ecost is not a kenwood authorized reseller.

call kenwood, they confirm what the service center said.

calling ecost back right now...

If this fails there is some more recourse... although they have now updated the website, the original web page listed a 90 day warrantee, If they do not provide me this warrantee they are not providing the product I ordered.


UPDATE:
I have spoken with Linda Potter @ EXT 4127

After less than 5 mins I had an RMA #, However they are out of stock and I want one of these amplifiers. So I brought up the warrantee issue, and ~15minutes Her manager is contacting the warrantee center and insuring everything is provided for...(we'll see) Also I was provided with a name of a sale person at Kenwood who actually sold the amplifers to ecost.

Also since I am a very nice guy... I have asked her permission to post her here as the contact, but as she requests, please try going to a service center first....(I believe however the service center will tell you they cannot provide service).

So if you have troubles, be calm, and call ecost and talk to her, atleast then we have one point of contact and if she get nothing but calls all day from us complaining about the amps...maybe the management will hear about it.

Geoff

 

[acebathound]

Originally posted by: huesmann
The Velodyne looks like a nice sub.

Just hooked it up, I can vouch for it =) Very nice.. I never had a true subwoofer before (I had 30w subwoofer with the Altec Lansing speakers for my computer).. but christ, I have to turn the Velodyne down almost fully.. otherwise I'm really chancing a call from the landlord :-/ hehe.. well moving into a townhouse soon enough, so should be able to pump it a bit more then.. but very cool.

 

[jzodda]

Just got mine today and hooked it up. Looks and plays like brand new. This was a great deal.

 

[huesmann]

Looks like Russian roulette as far as getting a good unit.

 

[DurocShark]

Price is $149.99 now.

 

[NotAnIssue]

Price is irrelevant now as the a$$holes are cancelling orders.

Dear Valued customer
Thank you for your recent order with eCOST.com. Unfortunately, the
manufacturer has informed us that an item you have ordered has been
temporarily/permanently unavailable and has been cancelled from your order. We apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused you.
For a full description of our backorder and cancellation policies, please
check our site at <http://www.eCOST.com <http://www.ecost.com/> > and click on the "help" link. Please keep in mind that we never charge your account until the order ships!

 

[arnesr]

Just ordered one @ $103 Shipped. Hoping for a good unit!

 

[zeca]

Just adding to what others have said. This is a great deal (if you get one without any problems that is).
The one I received appears to be brand spanking new. No signs of any wear on any of the connectors on the rear, and the packaging as well shows no sign of having anyone playing with it.

My Fluance speakers should be in this Thursday and if they are what they are what they are cracked up to be, this will be a great sorround system for the money.

Hope everyone has the same luck as I had on this.