Denon DRA-375---look elsewhere
Written: Jun 13 '01 (Updated May 06 '09)
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Pros: I couldn't think of anything!
Cons: poor sound--confusing source switching
The Bottom Line: Not one of Denon's best. They have done better.
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| ghoering's Full Review: Denon DRA-375RD 2 Channels Receiver |
I'm going to start off by saying that I bought a Denon integrated amp and seperate tuner in 1984 (I still have them) and I have nothing but praise for their sound quality and ease of use. Last summer, I just got tired of the bulk, the amp barely fits my cabinet, and I went looking for a receiver. I'd been out of the hi-fi field for a while so I didn't really know who was in and who was out. I chose to buy another Denon component out of brand loyalty. I bought the DRA-375 from Tweeter over the internet. No fault service! The unit was delivered in two days. After installing the device into my system, it became quickly apparent that it had some serious flaws in the sound quality. Treble sounds had a harsh, grating quality; rather metallic sounding to my ears. To add to that, selecting the input source proved to be confusing. One of the indicator lights would stay on even though you'd switched to some other mode. You would have to stop to figure out whether you were in phono mode or if you were still in Tape 1 mode.
In all, the sound never improved over time and after two weeks I sent the device back to Tweeter for a refund.
Update: after eight years I have nothing to add save to alter some things for style. In those years I have also heard from other listeners in private communication who have said much the same thing about this receiver. The problem seems to be with manufacturers in general increasingly using integrated circuits in the audio signal path. The final analysis still says that analog circuitry works better for audio. If you want a used Denon receiver, I would suggest one built between the mid 80s to mid 90s. In any event, my experience with this receiver led me to explore more "vintage" equipment from eBay. At the time of writing I have a Yamaha receiver from the mid-80s and I'm quite happy with it.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 300
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Epinions.com ID:
ghoering
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Location: Washington, DC
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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