Great mix of price and performance with few compromises
Written: Feb 17 '02 (Updated Feb 17 '02)
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Pros: Good clean sound, Dolby PLII and DTS support, simple setup and operation
Cons: Only one optical and one digital coax input, No OSD, skimpy manual, poor remote ergonomics
The Bottom Line: For the dollar it's tough to beat the sound or build quality.
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| DavidChar's Full Review: Denon AVR-1602 5.1 Channels Receiver |
I like things to last - my college CD player and receiver had given up the ghost after 13 short years of hard use and multiple moves - how dare it! It was time to replace my system. I auditioned systems from Pioneer, JVC, Onkyo, B&W and Denon. I wanted a system that would last but also one that if my young childern accidentally messed it up wouldn't cause me to have heart failure - which ruled out the Onkyo and B&W. I then listened to the rest.
I mainly use my system to listen to music on CDs, catch NPR on the radio and watch DVD movies. For that reason I wanted an affordable system which could do Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS as well as having a good tuner and good reproduction of CDs. The JVC 8000 and 9000 tuners were both weak and to get a Pioneer that would do both DD and DTS was going to set me back about $550-600. Enter the Denon - for $250 I was going to have everything I wanted and as an added bonus Dolby ProLogic II (more on this below). The system also feels solid with a fairly simple if not always intuitive control panel.
The system is east to set up, in spite of the fact that all information provided by the system is through its LED display using the panel controls - no OSD capability to ease in the (fairly straightforward) setup. The setup consists of identifying the size and relative location of the speakers, whether or not you have a center channel and subwoofer, then you're set to begin listening.
Each source can have its own settings, Dolby ProLogic or DTS 5.1 or stereo 2 (channels) or one of six preset effects (i.e. rock or jazz club). Dolby ProLogic II pemits the simulation of 5.1 sound with sources which aren't ProLogic. This scheme works better for movies than with music. Music reproduction is really good using 5 channel stereo, Dolby PLII would want to feed vocals and instruments through the center channel - not a good feel. Movies recorded in DTS or Dolby PL reproduce accurately and the sound does help put you in the middle of the action. The tuner section locks in even on weak stations and even with the included antenna can pick up stations from 80 miles away.
There is one optical and one coax digital input which can be assigned to any source - one more optical input would allow the connection of a DVD, CD and satellite receiver to digital inputs for the most "pure" sound. There is a "shift" functionality which allows individual buttons to serve multiple functions - not always completely intuitive to use without aid of the manual. The addition of OSD would make this system complete. One other attribute, which no system at any price I've found (save a $19 Radio Shack adapter), is the ability to route composite video signals out to an SVideo output . . . still using the RS adapter to provide that functionality.
To conclude, this is a fine, low-priced receiver which should should serve long and well.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250
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Epinions.com ID:
DavidChar
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Member: David
Location: Charlotte, NC
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 3 members
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