Good sound, good features, great value
Written: Jan 06 '04
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Pros: Excellent sound from seven 90-watt amps
Plenty of inputs and outputs
Full Dolby support
Cons: No front-panel A/V inputs
Somewhat complex remote & setup
The Bottom Line: The Denon AVR-2803 is an outstanding value. It may not be for the hard-core audiophile, but its combination of features and great sound make it an excellent choice.
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| ralphgb's Full Review: Denon AVR-2803 7.1 Channels Receiver |
I bought the Denon AVR-2803 receiver to replace an 80's-vintage amp-receiver. I primarily wanted to take advantage of the sound features of DVDs, but I am also looking to the future and a replacement LCD or Plasma TV.
I may not be up on all the latest audio and video hardware, but I did my homework and this unit is an awesome value.
The front-panel controls are a joy to use. They feel solid and expensive, like the switchgear on an expensive luxury car. You can't do everything from the front panel, but most of the commonly used functions are there. One thing that is missing here is a set of A/V inputs, for connecting something like a camcorder.
See the front panel:
http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/photos/AVR%202803%20Front.jpg
The AVR-2803 is a complete audio and video control center. There are ample inputs to support all but the most hard-core electronics aficionado - 7 A/V (composite & S-Video), phono, a tape deck/mini-disk in/out, 2 input and one output Component Video, 4 Optical and 2 Coax digital audio input, and also a set of pre-amp outputs.
The unit supports a full 7.1 speaker setup: 2 front, 2 rear surround, 2 side surround, center, and subwoofer.
Have a look at the back panel:
http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/photos/AVR%202803%20Rear.jpg
A nice feature I will probably never use is a second "zone" - the ability to control another set of speakers and inputs. If you have equipment in another room, and you can run connections to the AVR-2803, it will give you control over them.
The Denon has 7 separate, identical 90-watt amplifiers, one for each channel, and it produced great, rich sound that had no audible hint of distortion. The AVR-2803 produces excellent sound through my Bose Acoustimass 5.1 speaker setup.
The receiver has a full array of Dolby, DTS, and other audio effects available, including Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic II & DTS ES Discrete 6.1; Dolby Digital Surround EX, Pro Logic II decoding with Cinema and Music Modes; DTS Extended Surround Discrete 6.1 decoding; DTS Extended Surround Matrix 6.1 decoding; DTS Neo:6 Cinema & Music Surround decoding; and DTS ES 96/24 5.1 decoding for DVD Video. It also has simulated 5-channel and 7-channel surround effects from ordinary stereo inputs.
Of course, the AVR-2803 has an AM/FM tuner, and setup could not be easier. You just connect the included AM and FM antenna, and the setup program will scan and store the 40 strongest stations it can find.
The unit setup is very intuitive, although I will not say it's easy. It will walk you through a series of setup screens controlled by the remote control. This is where you define the inputs and outputs you're using, your speaker configuration, and so on. There's even a test section that will play a white noise test signal through each of your speakers to make sure they are working properly. On-screen display is always available and makes things easier.
The remote is full-featured, but has a lot of buttons and it complex to use. It is a built-in universal remote, and will perform the basic functions of most of the devices you already own. You can either enter a code for the devices it already knows about, or it will key-for-key learn from any other IR remote.
Denon offers a full 2-year parts & labor warranty on this unit. The MSRP is $799. I got this unit for $550 shipped.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 550
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Epinions.com ID:
ralphgb
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Member: Ralph Becker
Location: Milford, MA
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
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