I find the KC/KM smears the sounds together for the mid/high ranges. The combination of Nak and KEF on 2 channel stereo is hands above the KC/KM. This unit replaced a 6 year old Nakimichi DPL receiver with KEF and Def Tech speakers about 6 yo. Wasn't in the market for a pre/pro, but at that price I couldn't pass up.

Total price with 2 year warranty and tax: 645.00. This was the manager's special a remanufactured KC-Z1 with a new KM-Z1 amp. I purchased this unit from the Kenwood Factory Outlet. In some ways, I miss the simplicity and straightforward ease-of use of that unit, as well as the superior ease-of-use than the Kenwood. This unit replaced an Onkyo TXD-555 dolby digital receiver. I wouldn't pay much more for it than I did, however, and I will probably replace this unit with something that is more straight-forward and traditional in design (Carver, HK, Marantz, B&K, Adcom, or the like). This unit is probably the least expensive way to get into a quality dolby-digital home theater separates system. Overall, the sound is pretty darn good, although the unit takes several seconds to switch between different surround-sound modes. This requires several repeaters in addition to the one supplied (available after-market). It must transmit RF signals to the base unit, which translates these to IR, then sends the appropriate signal to your other components. This means that while it can learn all your other codes, it does not do so directly. Even worse, the remote is RF (radio frequency), not IR (infrared). The remote is the LCD type, which needs to light up every time you use it to push one of the 'virtual' buttons. This wouldn't be so bad if the remote didn't burn through a re-charge of one of these huge batteries every two days or so. Why? Because this unit uses special Duracell DR17 batteries that are not easy to find, and cost about $50! The Kenwood comes with two batteries, but you can bet that when it comes time to replace these, it's going to be expensive.

I have a problem with the remote unit, and although it is supposed to be the showcase feature of this preamp, I just wish that I could replace it with one of the standard, all-in-one IR remotes. The front panel is exceedingly sparse, however, and without the remote, most basic parameters and surround settings just cannot be set. This unit is THX-Ultra certified, with enough inputs and outputs to satisfy many an audiophile. Overall, that's supposed to be $2500 off the original list, but there are some reasons why. I got the KC-Z1 as a combination with the KM-Z1 6-channel, 130wpc power amp from the audioadvisor for $1500 for BOTH units.

Kenwood stereo control amplifier kc-106