Technics SA-DX930 Reviews

Technics SA-DX930 Reviews

Reviewed by: F.E., Audiophile, from KANSAS
Price Paid: $400 at BEST BUY
Product Model Year: 2000
Summary: *** TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940 OWNERS PLEASE READ, THIS MIGHT ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS!! ***

HELLO,

I'M BACK, I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANSWERS FOR THE SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940 RECEIVER OWNERS. I,VE BEEN AN ELECTRONICS TECH. FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN THE TWO MODELS ENOUGH TO KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL. I LIKED THE SA-DX930 ENOUGH TO USE SEVERAL AS TECH. BENCH RECEIVERS. I WILL TRY TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE. I READ IN ONE OF THE REVIEWS, THAT SOMEONE HAD HEARD OF A SA-DX930 (OR SA-DX940)THAT HAD "MELTED" FROM THE HEAT. I CAN'T SEE THAT HAPPENING (IT WAS EITHER STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, IN A FIRE, HAD THE VENTS BLOCKED, HAD MAJOR SHORTED OUT SPEAKERS, SOME OTHER "EXTREME" THING HAPPEN OR THE STORY WAS STRETCHED A LITTLE!). I WILL TRY TO SEPERATE "FACT" FROM "FICTION".

FAN TIPS: THESE UNITS ARE MADE SO THEY CAN RUN "HOT" AND BE TOTALLY RELIABLE AND SAFE. IF YOU GIVE THEM AN INCH OR TWO OF "BREATHING" ROOM ABOVE THEM, YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM. I LIKE TO PUT RECEIVERS ON THERE OWN SHELF, BECAUSE IF YOU STACK TWO OR THREE UNITS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IT BECOMES LIKE AN OVEN (DVD PLAYERS, CD RECORDERS, ETC.. CAN RUN A LITTLE "HOT" ALSO, THAT MAKES IT LIKE STACKING THREE "HOT" COALS TOGETHER). AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW, MOST TECHNICS AND PANASONIC RECEIVERS (AMPS, INTERGRATED AMPS, ETC..) HAVE FANS THAT ONLY COME "ON", WHEN THE MUSIC IS "LOUD" (THE VOLUME KNOB TURNED TO APPROX. THE 10 OCLOCK POSITION (THE EXACT POSITION DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF "BASS", SOURCE (CD, TUNER, ETC...), SPEAKER SIZE, ETC...)). AS I SAID IN MY FIRST "REVIEW", SINCE MY TECH. BENCH RECEIVERS AREN'T TURNED UP VERY LOUD FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND THEY ARE ON ALL DAY, I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO RUN "HOT". ANYHOW, I LIKE PLAYING WITH THINGS AND I STILL THINK A UNIT WILL LAST LONGER IF IT'S NOT "HOT" AT ALL, SO I ADDED FANS TO THEM.

RECEIVER# 1). I MOUNTED THE ORIGINAL FAN INSIDE THE RECEIVER ON THE "HEATSINK" (THERE IS A PLACE TO MOUNT THE FAN ONTO THE "HEATSINK", ON THE LOWER PRICED MODELS THE FAN IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE RECEIVER). I ORDERED ANOTHER FAN (WITH THE 2 SCREWS) FROM TECHNICS AND MOUNTED IT ONTO THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER. I WIRED IT INSIDE THE UNIT TO A 12 VOLT (9.2 VOLTS TO BE EXACT) SOURCE AND RAN IT TO A SWITCH THAT I MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT. RECEIVER 1 IS LOCATED CLOSE TO ME AND I CAN HARDLY HEAR THE FAN.

RECEIVER# 2). I MODIFIED A COMPUTER FAN BRACKET AND MOUNTED A RADIO SHACK 120 VOLT FAN ON IT. I PUT LITTLE FEET ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET AND I SAT IT ON TOP OF THE UNIT (THE FAN IS BLOWING DOWN). I PLUGGED THE POWER CORD INTO THE "OUTLET" ON THE BACK OF THE RECIVER (THAT WAY IT GOES "ON" AND "OFF" WITH THE RECEIVER). THIS WAS BY FAR THE EASIEST WAY TO COOL THE UNIT (IT ONLY TOOK 10 MINUTES TO DO ALL OF THE WORK, RECEIVER 1 TOOK ME TWO HOURS!). RECEIVER 2 IS SITTING HIGH UP ON A SHELF. A BAD THING ABOUT THE FAN BLOWING DOWN INTO THE RECEIVER IS THAT IT'S BLOWING DIRT INTO THE RECEIVER. THE 120 VOLT FAN KEEPS THE UNIT "COOL" TO SAY THE LEAST, HOWEVER IS WAY TO "LOUD" FOR A HOME SETTING!

RECEIVER# 3). I DID THE SAME THING I DID TO RECEIVER 1, ONLY I WIRED THE FAN ON THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER TO A ADJUSTABLE RADIO SHACK DC ADAPTOR (3 VOLTS, 9 VOLTS, 12 VOLTS) AND PUT THE DC ADAPTOR ON THE 9 VOLT SETTING (AS YOU ALL ARE FINDING OUT, THAT AT 12 VOLTS THE FANS ARE WAY TO "LOUD") I PLUGGED THE DC ADAPTOR INTO A POWER STRIP (THE FAN IS THE ONLY THING PLUGGED INTO THE POWER STRIP, SO I CAN TURN THE FAN "ON AND "OFF" WITH THE POWER STRIP). RECEIVER 3 IS LOCATED NEAR ME, AND I CAN HARDLY HEAR THE FAN.

FAN CONCLUSION: FOR EVERYONE "STACKING" A SECOND FAN ONTO THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER, JUST WIRE IT TO A 9 VOLT DC ADAPTOR(YOU CAN HURT SOME 12 VOLT FANS RUNNING THEM UNDER THE 9 VOLTS!) AND PLUG THE ADAPTOR INTO A POWER STRIP, AND YOUR DONE! MAKE SURE THE SECOND FAN IS BLOWING "OUT" OF THE UNIT, LIKE THE FACTORY FAN. YOU DON'T WANT THE FAN BLOWING IN FOR TWO REASONS (1. IT GET'S THE INSIDE OF THE UNIT DIRTY 2. YOU DON'T WANT THE FACTORY FAN TO COME ON AND THE TWO FAN'S TO BE BLOWING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS). PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK, "WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLOWING THE AIR "INTO" THE UNIT (FROM THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER) AND BLOWING THE AIR "OUT" OF THE UNIT (FROM THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER)". THE DIFFERENCE IS, IF THE UNIT IS IN A CABINET FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS MORE DIRT AT THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER THAN AT THE TOP OF THE RECEIVER WHERE THE VENTS ARE. IF THE RECEIVER IS ON A TABLE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP THE TOP OF THE RECEIVER CLEANER THAN YOU WOULD THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER (THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES!). MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE FAN "ON" AND THEN YOUR RECEIVER "ON" NEXT SO THAT YOU DON'T GET A LOUD "POP" OUT OF YOUR SPEAKERS (THAT COULD DAMAGE THEM!). WHEN YOU ARE DONE LISTENING TO YOUR RECEIVER, TURN THE RECEIVER "OFF" FIRST AND THEN TURN THE FAN "OFF" NEXT.

AS FAR AS THE DTS MODULE MODIFICATIONS, THE "NEWER" SA-DX930'S AND ALL OF THE SA-DX940'S SHOULD HAVE THEM DONE FROM THE FACTORY (INCLUDING THE 1.6 AMP FUSE). MOST OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE SAYING WERE CAUSED BY THE RECEIVERS "OVERHEATING" (LOW OUTPUT, "SOURCES" BLEEDING INTO EACH OTHER (FOR EXAMPLE: YOU CAN HERE THE RADIO WHILE LISTENING TO THE CD PLAYER, ETC...)), WERE THE RESULT OF THE 1 AMP FUSE BLOWING! THE RECEIVERS WERE DESIGNED WITH TOO SMALL OF A FUSE, THAT IS WHY THEY WENT TO THE 1.6 AMP FUSE.

AS FAR AS THE UNITS GOING INTO "OVERLOAD". AS THE RECEIVER MANUAL SAYS, "IF EVEN ONE OF THE SPEAKERS BEING USED HAS AN IMPEDANCE UNDER 8 OHMS, PRESS AND HOLD DOWN EITHER (A) OR (B) FOR 4 SECONDS OR MORE TO SET THE IMPEDANCE ON THE MAIN UNIT TO "LOW" ". AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, SPEAKERS (A) AND (B) ARE BOTH "FRONTS". IF YOU USE (A) AND (B) WITH A TOTAL OF 4 (8 OHM) SPEAKERS, THAT IS A 4 OHM LOAD (PER CHANNEL)! IF WHILE USING (A) AND (B) ONE OF THE "PAIRS" OF SPEAKERS ARE 6 OHMS OR LESS, THE UNIT WILL GO INTO "OVERLOAD". SOME BRANDS OF SPEAKERS (CERWIN VEGA, BOSE, INFINITY, ETC..)USE RATINGS ON SOME OF THERE SPEAKERS THAT SAY "8 OHM COMPATABLE", SOME OF THESE SPEAKERS ARE 4 OHMS! YOU HOOK UP 4 CERWIN VEGA SPEAKERS THAT SAY THEY ARE "8 OHM COMPATABLE" AND THERE REALLY 4 OHM SPEAKERS, THAT'S A 2 OHM LOAD! IT IS POSSABLE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE EVERYTHING WIRED CORRECTLY THAT YOU HAVE A "BLOWN" OR "SHORTED" SPEAKER. IN SOME "RARE" CASES, THE RECEIVER COULD HAVE A "BLOWN" AMPLIFIER OR SOME OTHER PROBLEM.

SPEAKER IMPEDANCE RATINGS PER THE MANUAL:
FRONT A OR B 4 - 8 OHMS
A AND B 8 OHMS
CENTER 8 OHMS
SURROUND 8 OHMS

IN CONCLUSION, THE TWO RECEIVERS ARE'T BAD FOR THE MONEY. I LIKE THAT THE RECEIVERS STILL HAVE A "TAPE" MONITOR BUTTON ON THEM (THIS CAN BE USED TO HOOK UP AN EQUALIZER, DYNAMIC RANGE EXPANDER, ETC...). WITH THE EQUALIZER YOU CAN "EQUALIZE" ANY NON DIGITAL SOURCE (CD PLAYER (IF YOU HOOK IT UP THROUGH THE "ANALOG" RCA INPUTS INSTEAD OF THE "DIGITAL" INPUT), VCR, PHONO, ETC... WHEN USING THE RECEIVER IN THE MULTI CHANNEL (DOLBY DIGITAL OR DTS) MODES, THE EQUALIZER WON'T BE BEING USED (FOR THIS PURPOSE, YOU DON'T NEED AN EQUALIZER). WHEN USING THE CD PLAYER FOR EXAMPLE, THE MUSIC SOUNDS MUCH BETTER (ANALOG)THROUGH AN EQUALIZER, THAN JUST STRAIGHT DIGITAL!!! THIS IS WHY IF YOU USE A DVD PLAYER TO PLAY AUDIO CD'S, YOU HOOK UP THE "DIGITAL" CONNECTIONS (FOR "DIGITAL" AND MULTI CHANNEL FUNCTIONS LIKE A DVD MOVIE, "DIGITAL" CABLE, ETC..) AND THE "ANALOG" CONNECTIONS (FOR "STEREO" PLAYBACK OF A CD THROUGH AN EQUALIZER). FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT "DIGITAL" RECEIVERS ARE SO "CLEAN" SOUNDING THAT THEY DON'T NEED AN EQUALIZER TO SOUND GOOD WHILE PLAYING A CD, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT AN EQUALIZER DOES AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT! IF YOU DON'T USE A EQUALIZER, THEN LISTEN TO THE CD THROUGH THE "DIGITAL" INPUTS. I LIKE THE SA-DX930 HAVING BOTH "OPTICAL" AND "COAXIAL" DIGITAL INPUTS ALSO...

PANASONIC MAKES A RECEIVER MODEL# SC-HT280 THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND SA-DX940. AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, TECHNICS AND PANASONIC ARE OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY. THE TECHNICS SA-DX930 AND THE SA-DX940 HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM (THE SA-DX930 HAS THE "COAXIAL" AND "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, THE SA-DX940 ONLY HAS "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, FOR EXAMPLE). THE PANASONIC SC-HT280 IS SIMILAR TO BOTH OF THE TECHNICS RECEIVERS. WHILE THE TECHNICS RECEIVERS ARE BOTH 100 WATTS X 5, THE PANASONIC SC-HT280 IS 100 WATTS X 6 (IT HAS 1 EXTRA OUTPUT (AMPLIFIER) FOR POWERING A "NON" POWERED SUBWOOFER (IT ALSO HAS THE RCA OUTPUT FOR A "POWERED" SUBWOOFER)). LIKE THE SA-DX940, THE PANASONIC DOESN'T HAVE "COAXIAL" DIGITAL INPUTS, IT ONLY HAS "OPTICAL" DIGITAL INPUTS.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE "REVIEWS" ON THE SA-DX930 AND THE SA-DX 940 ARE ASKING FOR A RECEIVER THAT THEY PAYED BETWEEN $100.00 - $400.00 FOR, TO SOUND AND HAVE FEATURE'S OF A $600.00 - $1,000.00 RECEIVER. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT OTHER BRANDS RECEIVERS IN THE $100.00 - $400.00 RANGE. FOR THIS PRICE RANGE, I WOULD PICK THE TECHNICS AND PANASONIC RECEIVERS IN A HEARTBEAT!

GOOD LUCK,

J.E.

Strengths:
DOLBY DIGITAL, DTS, TAPE MONITOR AND COAXIAL AND OPTICAL DIGITAL INPUTS ** GREAT RECEIVER, FOR THIS PRICE RANGE! **


Weaknesses:
SEE SUMMARY!


Similar Products Used:
PANASONIC, SONY, PIONEER, KENWOOD, JVC