Kenwood VRS-N8100 Audio/Video Control Center with Network Function

by Kenwood

Product Details

• Item Weight: 13 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000278RZ6
• Item model number: VRS-N8100
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,861 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 15, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description The digital age has brought new forms of entertainment to your computer screen, but it certainly has not overshadowed the surround sound home theater experience. The Kenwood VRS-N8100 Audio/Video Control Center with Network Function seamlessly merges your entertainment system with your home computer. The rear-panel Ethernet connector lets you stream audio and video files from your computer to your home theater system. With the VRS-N8100, your entire family can enjoy the multimedia digital files stored on your computer through the sound quality of your home entertainment system.

The VRS-N8100 Control Center channels gaming, music, movies, and online digital multimedia files through your home theater system. View larger.

Kenwood has thought of all the possibilities with this control center. Plug a game console into the front-panel game audio/video input (complete with a digital audio connection) and the VRS-N8100 will detect when you turn on the game console, and automatically select that input and the proper surround sound processing. The Single Zone Dual Source function lets you listen to your game's sound through headphones, while the rest of the family can enjoy music through speakers. Plus, this function features Dolby headphone processing that creates a totally out-of-the-box 5.1-channel surround sound effect through any pair of ordinary stereo headphones, so you won't have to sacrifice sound quality to play your favorite games. And the included universal pre-programmed remote control is ready to go with Xbox and PlayStation2 codes. With the Kenwood Control Center, your family can quit fighting over the home theater, and everyone can enjoy the system at the same time.

Loaded with inputs and outputs, this control center accepts a wide array of components. View larger.

Of course, the control center is also a great general receiver with plenty of inputs for a wide array of components. When you watch movies, the VRS-N8100 puts you right in the middle of the action with Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES 96/24 surround sound, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx transforms ordinary two-channel stereo music sources -- CDs, cassette tapes, and radio -- into a 6.1-channel surround sound experience. The PurePath digital power amplifier delivers 130 watts to each of six channels, so your games, movies, and music will really rock the house. And with the ADI SHARC 32-bit DSP processor, high-resolution digital volume control, and rigid chassis construction rounding out the VRS-N8100's features, you can rest assured that this control center will deliver accurate performance at all signal levels.

What's in the Box
VRS-N8100 control center, remote control, and user's manual

Product Description

The VRS-N8100 is the flagship model of the Kenwood Fineline product. The VRS-N8100 is a networked Audio Video receiver. It 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. 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kenwood VRS-N8100 - Great Performance!, December 2, 2004

By 

M. Thomas "mthom" (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kenwood VRS-N8100 Audio/Video Control Center with Network Function (Electronics)

After 7 years with my old Kenwood 1080VR, I was in the market for a new receiver to take me through the next several years of technology. This VRS-N8100 Networked receiver does just that. Its all digital processing delivers amazing sound and the ability to stream media files from your PC or home network is a great addition.

PROS:
- Sound performance is great, while auto-detecting all the major surround audio signals
- Network capabilities ... allows you to take advantage of your PC media files without the need for a media hub
- Extremely easy on-screen setup process!!!
- 4 digital audio inputs (2 opt, 2 coax) are completely assignable via the on-screen setup
- Composite, S-video, and component video ins and outs ... HDTV ready
- Fully 7.1 compatible with LB and RB pre-outs (Surr Back speaker outs)
- Slim attractive design
- Many gaming and headphone options to enhance game play

CONS:
- Could always have more inputs, but the slim design limits space. I had plenty for my setup, but it is fewer than other high end models.
- I didn't see this one coming ... but the remote now controls both the old 1080VR (which is powering speakers in other rooms) and the VRS-N8100 simultaneously. I don't know if there is a way around this.

In all, you will be happy with this receiver. Just with my 5.1 setup and Dolby Digital movie, I could tell a substantial difference in sound quality over the 1080VR Dolby Digital. Maybe it's the ease that you can adjust the speaker settings or the state of the art digital processing. But what is for sure is that this little receiver packs a lot into its small frame.

I highly recommend the VRS-N8100 as a truly future-ready receiver, already!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfull Receiver, January 18, 2005

By 

Eddie Bowers "eddie_bowers" (Irving, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kenwood VRS-N8100 Audio/Video Control Center with Network Function (Electronics)

I did a lot of research when looking for a new low profile receiver for my home theater. Being small was important, but I wanted something that sounded great too.
I read great reviews on the Panasonic SA-XR50S and Onkyo TXLR-552S which fit the bill, but I was really enticed by the Kenwood VRS-N8100 networking features. I didn't see many reviews on it, so it had me a little nervous and I was afraid I was going to compromise sound quality by going with something gadgety. Well I went for it anyway, and I'm so happy I did.

Just judging it as a low profile home theater receiver it more than justifies the investment. It sounds great with my S300 and MC300 speakers and subwoofer. I love the feedback of seeing the autodetect indicators on the front telling you if the incoming signal is DTS, Dolby Digital, or whatever.

It was also super easy to setup and get going with the onscreen configuration.

I highly recommend this unit.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very satisfied customer, December 7, 2005

By 

J. Dodge (Palatine, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kenwood VRS-N8100 Audio/Video Control Center with Network Function (Electronics)

I bought this unit in November. It replaced an older multicomponent Kenwood system. It was very easy to install and the overall performance has been great, both audio and video. I got a new 7.1 speaker system and have a 52" TV. Also have XM radio connected to it. The remote is taking a little getting use to, but even my non tech wife gets around with it. The NETWORK capability is working fine. I show video, pictures, and play music off my computer. Am using a ethernet set up to be sure I have the speed for the video's. I highly recommend it.