WARNING: Samsung AV-R720 Receiver/Amplifier

xrapidx

xrapidx

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I bought a home theater system with a Samsung AV-R720 Receiver/Amplifier - make sure you do not buy a system with this receiver if you are planning on using HDMI passthrough. It simply does not work properly.

90% of the time when the resolution changes (e.g. 720P/1080P), you get an error message on your TV saying "Mode not supported", and you have no picture or sound, this is fixed by powering on and off the receiver, after which everything runs fine until the next resolution change.

If you have a PS3/Xbox, you'd be suprised how often this is.

Some other issues are:
1.) No sub when playing a stereo source.
2.) Occasional audio loss, 1s every 5-20minutes during DVDs.

I reported the HDMI issue to Samsung on day 6 of owning this unit, since then they have promised to get their local shop here to contact me 3 times, it only happened yesterday - they wanted to repair the unit, even though there is no repair. It is a flaw with this model.

I have since found various sites discussing this problem, and there is no solution.

I am trying to get Samsung to refund me, and was promised a call from their audio vision specialist first thing this morning - still waiting. The audio vision specialist admitted that the problem is known, and offered to 'fix it by using optical instead of HDMI, which to me is unacceptable, I specifically bought this for HDMI, and HDMI passthrough. :mad: Running optical means no video passthrough, more cabling, etc... and if I oneday upgrade my media center to use a audio card with optical out, I can't run it to the receiver, as the port is already in use.
 
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I am so glad I write people's name's down - I was arranging with the store before hand to return this, cause I don't want to get there and have problems. Needless to say, the store called me back, and according to the Samsung sales rep., Nicola, the product 'specialist', "Atish" who thinks running an optical cable to the TV(????? ) is a solution, has never spoken to me before!!! WTF?!?!?!!?

Last Samsung product for me.

I now have to deal with another 'product specialist', because Atish is unavailable.... going through the whole process again.
 
That's why we recommened Marantz ;)
 
I'm just glad this thread shows up first when "AV-R720" is searched for in google.co.za for South Afircan sites.

These guys are amazing. They now said Atish doesn't know what he's talking about - and they will 'repair' the unit.
 
btw - just googled ...

Very good looking amplifier with decent specs on paper.
 
I have an old Teac AG-V4200 which works nicely, anyone know of it?
 
Dolby said:
btw - just googled ...

Very good looking amplifier with decent specs on paper.
Click to expand...

It is good when it works - but this handshaking issue with HDMI is a major flaw. What really gets to me is how bad Samsung SA are at service, I'm now trying to decide on whether I should let their repair center take it, or just live with it like everyone else overseas who decided it was ok.

I have offered to email Samsung SA the Samsung international response to the problem, saying they're aware of it, and won't be fixing it... Samsung SA's techical manager insists its a problem with my unit.

If you google "AV-R720" "mode not supported"

It returns a couple of threads on this problem - happens between 10-90% of the time.
 
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Anyone know where Samsung international is based? I'd like to send them an email about their South African counterparts.
 
bekdik said:
Did you buy this from HiFi Corp?
Click to expand...

House and Home. Wish it was Game or Makro...

Anyone else know places with a decent return policy? Want to start shopping there, and only there.

Abe said:
Did that with Acer once. Just watch how the local guys suddenly jump then.
Click to expand...

Yeh - Don't really expect them to jump though - just want a formal response from Samsung international that its a known problem.

Samsung SA are completely uninterested in customer service, they have yet to home me back.

What gets me is how little their 'product specialist knows, he said I must run an optical cable from the receiver to the TV to solve this? What the hell does it solve? They're also now refusing to admit its a known issue, they're saying its specific to my receiver, and they need to collect it for repairs, I don't think I'm going to go for that though, if they're this useless, imagine them opening it?
 
xrapidx said:
House and Home. Wish it was Game or Makro...
Click to expand...

YAMAHA!

You know other than making speedboat motors, motor bikes, pianos and AV/HT amps and SACD players, Yamaha has its own music label in Japan called Contemode. There is a cool group called Capsule which do really great electronic music
through this label :).

Anyway YAMAHA are the suppliers YOU want to use for your AMP next time.

Next time choose a Japanese product :) (but not SONY).
 
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PeterCH - I actually thinks the route I might go - sell this amp for R2000 odd, and get a Yamaha amp, or have a look at what Marantz has to offer.
 
PeterCH said:
Yamaha. :)
Click to expand...

Yeh - Its a name I know at least.

I feel like kicking myself, a Yamaha 7.1 receiver was demo'd to me, and it sounded great, but the receiver was R2,000 more than the entire Samsung kit, guess you pay for quality.

If I sell the Samsung receiver, I can still use the speakers with the Yamaha receiver, and take it from their.
 
Or try Onkyo ... Onkyo are excellent. Better than Yamaha IMO ;)
 
I see thats a popular choice overseas - I'll look into it.

I suppose if someone isn't going to use the Samsung receiver with PS3, its not a bad buy - so I'll have to try and sell it - I'm not going to let Samsung SA open it up, they obviously don't know their own product.
 
I'm running a Yamaha RVX420 HT DTS/DD amp at home since 2001. No issues at all. Excellent quality. My previous NAD amp went dead after 3 years. I went with NAD before because the sound quality was better than Marantz and Rotel models of even slighly higher price ranges,
but both the CD player and NAD amp had issues after 2-3 years. I'm sure Onkyo is a good brand. Pioneer also made decent amps.

I've never had issues with Japanese equipment though. Hence I swear by it. My HD plasma is 'Made in Japan' by Hitachi and still strong since
2004. My first VCR - lived for 20 years = National (Matsushi-ta). I've had my Sharp cell phone for only 3 months but it looks great and hasn't dropped a call anywhere yet while my older Nokia would sometimes do it. Only the Sony DVD player let me down, but Pioneer make great
DVD players too. My laptop is Japanese made too, my Acer's display died recently (out of the blue). My camera - Panasonic AGDVX100
has gone through hell and it still hasn't malfunctioned after 3 years of abuse.
 
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Agreed.

We bought two Yamaha DSP A590 receivers in 1998 and I told one last year in perfect working order - the other we still having and it's never given a day hassles.

I then received an Onkyo in 2001 and again - had no issues with it to date. Awesome sound - better than the Yamaha IMO.

I then bought a Marantz SR5600 7.1 about 3 years ago and sold it now. It had all the features, but wasn't quite the same sound as the Onkyo. About 2 months ago I got another Marantz which I'm quite happy with.

But personally I'd stick to one those brands - and my #1 would be the Onkyo. Do yourself a favour and read the reviews and awards that these monsters have recieved!
 
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