gen_y_kid

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $58.00 from my dad's attic, Quez

Summary:
I don't remember how much my old man bought it a long, long time ago, but I found it again in the attic. Once the living room centerpiece, we also used it in family occasions and school projects. I killed it somehow because I used the speaker wires that came with it, which I noticed too late had already terribly corroded due to storage. Apparently "PROTECT" did not kick in in time. Got it fixed by an authorized Denon Service center here in Manila for price shown above. Some blown caps and transistors. Maybe it was just stuck there too long. Now sounds just as good as when I watched one of my first Disney movie on Laserdisc when I was much younger. I needed something loud to play music with, and I'm glad I found it again. Being strictly analog, I'm surprised it holds up with dad's Yamaha RX-V540, but of course only in Stereo and some Pro Logic sources. good thing we didn't throw it away.

Strengths:
Relatively compact; sturdy chassis; simple remote

Weaknesses:
Quite old; dated surround processor

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha RX-V540

denonavrexpert

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $100.00 from ebay

Summary:
well iv had this stereo reciver for 2 months now bought jbls this stereo is sooooooooooooooo POWERFULL if you think it has no power you must want to blow out your ears and demolish your house this will literaly raise the roof... sounds very good i recommend this reciver to everyone u will be 100 satisfied especially for the price who needs hdmi for a reciver its a stereo not a television use the normal red and white inputs perfectly fine.

Strengths:
sounds great its a denon very powerful

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
to many to list

Price Paid:  $360.00 from Sounds Deluxe Westmo

Summary:
This receiver worked fine... until I purchased a set of surround speakers. Then I found out the surround processor was blown. Paid $80 to get it fixed. Worked for about 9 months, then same problem. I spoke to a repair tech at Denon and apparently they had a lot of problems with the DDSC-A processor in this receiver so I would stay away from it, especially if you buy used.

Strengths:
Good stereo sound.

Weaknesses:
Poor quality

Price Paid:  $110.00 from Friend

Summary:
Although this receiver is lacking in frills, it is a great entry-level audiophile receiver. I use is strictly for stereo listening, believe me it sounds great. I love the "Utilitarian" look of the receiver. It also seems to have a very clean amplification path. It is able to provide more than enough power for my Triangle Titus 202's (90dB/1W/1m). I love the sound.

Strengths:
Decent looks (Subj), clean power, 60W/Channel is It's a Denon. More than enough for any speaker with reasonable 88dB/1W/1m efficiency. Remote control is esthetically appealing (Subj)

Weaknesses:
No DTS, no DD, could use more configuration options, but how much can I ask for here??

Similar Products Used:
A large variety. Although I find this receiver to give the best sound for the dollar.

Price Paid:  $350.00 from High-end audio store in Daytona Beach, FL

Summary:
I find myself baffled by some of the reviews posted on this unit that decry its' low power, low "bottom end" (whatever that means, there's nothing wrong with this unit's frequency spectrum, get some new speakers!), and "scratchy sound".... This is simply a budget unit from one of the best-regarded brands in the business that does exactly what it is supposed to do, which is get you Denon quality and superior electronics at a reasonable price. What you give up is power and all the many effects modes that you could get for the same price (at the time, which was five or six years ago). To claim that the unit is underpowered is ridiculous, it's your fault if you don't want to spend more for a more powerful Denon unit... Or simply spend your bucks on the snazzy-looking Technics receiver with a million watts. 60wpc is what they tell you it will give, and 60wpc is what you get. With reasonably efficient speakers, 60wpc is PLENTY for most people's listening rooms, and this "anemic" receiver has garnered me more than my fair share of attention from irate neighbors... Almost came to blows with someone after a loud viewing of "Mission Impossible II". :)

Think of this as buying the entry-level Mercedes that doesn't have all the bells and whistles (and the more powerful engine), but costs roughly the same as the top-of-the-line Nissan. Ask yourself, which do you want? If you want the Mercedes, then get this receiver. If you judge a receiver on how many silly effects modes it has or the number of knobs on the front, then by all means, buy the "Nissan". At worst, you can say that it isn't the top value for the dollar... If you want more lights, that is.

Obviously this unit is no longer on the market, but I have had absolutely NO problems with it. The only thing I wish this unit had is a light on the volume knob so you can see at a glance, in a darkened room, what the setting is. That's it.

I am about to spring for a new unit with Dolby Digital, and I will most definitely be buying another Denon product.

If you see this unit pop up on eBay or something, I have no hesitations in recommending it.

Strengths:
High-quality chassis, electronics, and sound

Weaknesses:
Shy on features compared to comparably-priced units from Kenwood, JVC, et al.

Similar Products Used:
Even older Sony Pro-Logic unit