Kenwood HTB-N815DV Networked Home Theater System with Progressive-Scan DVD Player

by Kenwood

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 93 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002GVG6Y
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,956 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Kenwood's HTB-N815DV home theater system features a 6.1-channel audio/video receiver equipped with a rear-panel Ethernet jack, a front-panel PCMCIA card slot, and special features for video gamers. Besides the high-tech, aluminum-paneled receiver, the system comes with a single-disc DVD player, 6 slim-design Kenwood speakers (including tower speakers for front left/right), and a 100-watt powered subwoofer. Throw in color-coded speaker cables and easy-to-follow instructions and you've got everything you need to integrate your PC with your home theater along with everything you need to enjoy your movies, music, and digital photos to the fullest.

The HTB-N815DV includes front-panel game system inputs, dual-source/single-zone audio, and Dolby Headphone processing for simulating 5.1-channel surround sound in standard stereo headphones (not supplied). The stand-alone DVD player offers progressive-scan video outputs for high-definition and HD-ready TVs and compatibility with MP3/WMA audio files and JPEG photo CD playback.

The core of Kenwood's sleek, Fineline receiver is its Ethernet connection, which allows it to stream audio and video media files in real time from a PC via a wired network. Compatible streaming audio and video files include MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and XviD. The receiver will also display still images that are stored on a PC (in JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP formats) or on flash-memory cards inserted in the system's PCMCIA card slot. The front-panel PCMCIA card slot accepts media card adapters, too, so you can even display pictures from digital cameras over your home theater. Onscreen GUI operation makes it easy to find and play all your digital media.

Pumping out 780 watts maximum (130 watts x 6) from its PurePath digital amplifier, the system delivers efficient, stable power while generating minimal heat. The system is equipped with cutting-edge features such as 6.1-channel Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES decoding and 7.1-channel processing via Dolby Pro Logic IIx. The receiver's large, bright, 4-line fluorescent display is easily readable in bright or dim lighting.

The included universal preprogrammed remote is ready to go with Xbox and PlayStation2 codes. The receiver sports easy-access gaming inputs (including a digital-audio input) on its front panel and a dual-source listening mode that allows someone on headphones to listen to one source--a video game, for example--while others are listening to, say, music over the system's speakers. The ADI SHARC 32-bit DSP processor and high-resolution digital volume control give the HTB-N815DV incredible accuracy at all signal levels, from the loudest explosions to the most delicate musical passages.

Dolby Headphone technology simulates 5-channel surround sound through any stereo headphones, giving you the sense that the sounds you hear are originating around you rather than inside your head, a common effect of standard headphone listening.

The full-featured single-disc DVD player spins the latest media formats, including DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. In addition it plays conventional CDs and CD-R/RWs brimming with MP3/WMA music files or JPEG photos.

Seven speakers, including 6 new slim-design speakers and a 100-watt, 6.5-inch powered subwoofer, are provided. The front left and right channel tower speakers use four 2.75-inch woofers and .75-inch tweeters, while the center speaker and 3 surround speakers each use a pair of 2.75-inch woofers and a .75-inch tweeter.

All components and speakers are finished in a metallic silver, matching the styling of most TV monitors, including the increasingly popular flat panel video displays.

What's in the Box
Receiver/amplifier, DVD player, 5 satellite speakers, a center speaker, 2 speaker floor stands (for front left/right), a powered subwoofer, a universal preprogrammed receiver remote control, a full-function DVD remote control, remote batteries, a CD-ROM with Kenwood PC Server Software, all requisite speaker cabling, a user's manual, and warranty information.

Product Description

The NHT-815DV unites the flagship model Kenwood Fineline Networked receiver VRS-N8100 with 6 New-Design Lifestyle speakers, a 100W powered subwoofer and a single disc Progressive Scan DVD player. Delivering out of the box a 6.1 surround sound environment. The front Left and Right speakers contain 4 2-3/4" drivers and a 3/4 tweeter, the Center and Surrounds (LS, RS, SB) feature 2 2-3/4" drivers and a 3/4 tweeter. The receiver features everything you could expect in a high performance, high quality A/V receiver. An advanced digital amplifier, 100W x 6 and the latest in surround technologies including ProLogic IIx. The VRS-N8100 includes a feature that seperates itself from the rest, it has the ability to stream audio, video and photo content from the PC to the home theater. The VRS-N8100 can connect to a network through wireless or wired means (ethernet/RJ45). Once connected the VRS-N8100 allows you to navigate the contents of your My Pictures, My Music or My Movies folder on your PC. This is not limited to one PC on the network but up to 12 PC's on the network. Navigation is available through a simple to use GUI feature of the VRS-N8100. The Networked A/V receiver also has 2 PCMCIA slots on the front of the unit. These can be used for wireless 802.11b connectivity or for viewing the contents of a host of memory cards (SD, Memory Stick, Smart Card, etc.). Additional features include Plug and Play with Auto Detect, Dual Source Single Zone, Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Speaker. The single disc progressive scan DVD player is compatible with DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW, SVCD, CD-R/RW. It can also play discs encoded with MP3, WMA, and JPEG Photo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing but trouble, March 31, 2006

By 

R. Bhatti (Calgary) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kenwood HTB-N815DV Networked Home Theater System with Progressive-Scan DVD Player (Electronics)

I bought this unit on Boxing day and have had nothing but trouble and Kenwood support is just uselss, the white images on a black background displayed a pink beeding stream. I had the first unit replaced only to find the new unit had the same problem. I contacted Kenwood and took it into a local repar center who took a couple of weeks to get back to me. I had to go into the repair center to show them the exact problem and then a week after that it was corrected by adding a capacitor. Now the DVD player is suppose to be compatible with all formats but it is not. The DVD player plays DVD-RW intermitently if at all and sometimes cannot read Disney discs. The repair center replaced the optical reader to no effect, and Kenwood is now asking for me to ship the DVD player to them for testing. Now it is late March and so essentially I've purchased a system that has spent more time in the repair center than at home and now I'll be without a DVD player for god know how long.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good bargain, delivered quickly, March 22, 2007

By 

anon (anon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kenwood HTB-N815DV Networked Home Theater System with Progressive-Scan DVD Player (Electronics)

This arrived quickly and was easy to set up. It sounds great. We haven't tried connecting it to a computer yet, but if it appears to be straight forward. Hopefully a wireless connection will be possible as well, the documentation suggests it is, but isn't clear how to achieve this.