Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsNatural Sound, as Promised
Reviewed in Canada on July 24, 2022
I knew that setting up the receiver would be hard for me, because of a neurological condition in my hands, but I managed about three quarters, and then was grateful for an offer of help to finish it. Unfortunately, he refused to listen when I told him he was attaching the left speaker to the right channel and vice versa. Listening to all the orchestras backwards is quite peculiar, but I'm managing to pretend that I am performing with the ensemble rather than listening out front. Eventually I'll be able to manage to turn it back around and change the speaker attachments!
The fact that I can easily hear the reversal helps to demonstrate the high quality of the stereo imaging with this unit. I don't like any kind of manipulation in reproduction, and this amplifier/receiver provides the natural sound contained in its name. For people who want to change the balance of bass and treble there are options provided.
It doesn't produce excessive heat, which is a relief after a previous receiver that became too hot to touch even though it was never played at a high volume.
The FM/AM tuner works well with the aerials provided. I haven't had a chance yet to see how it handles distant stations that are more difficult to bring in, but it has the option to switch the FM from stereo to mono which should help with that.
It works well with my CD player and cassette tape deck, and paired easily with my Bluetooth enabled computer. There was a variety of audio quality in the various sources on the computer, and this was made clearer when played on the receiver, again showing its exact response to the media it is offered. The instructions say it can be paired with up to eight devices, which should be enough in most cases.
The remote control works well, and although the buttons are very small most of them are placed far enough apart that the risk of pressing the wrong one is not too great.
The one thing that bothers me about this unit is the same thing that's bothered me about almost all electronics made since the distressingly persistent fad of making them in unrelieved black took over. With white or plain metal fronts it is easy to find the controls and identify them. This one is perhaps the worst I have ever seen in that respect. They boast about it looking sophisticated, and if you are never going to use it up close it is pleasant looking, but the black on black controls identified only with pale grey letters do not make operating it easy. Thankfully, the remote control, although also black, is labelled in bright white letters and is much easier to use. The information displayed in a window on the front is more or less helpful but can sometimes be confusing.
It is not designed to work with the older turntables that require a preamplifier. I had been thinking about getting mine repaired, but now I'll have to consider buying a new one when I have some more money saved up. I assume that repairs on the older one might run to a similar price anyway.
Overall, I am very satisfied.
