crisp clean sound..
lots of inputs/outputs svideo/coax/optica etc..

none

i just want to say this receiver KIX ASS!!

nuff said ! :)

Clean sound and power at this price point. Tone Defeat is another plus. DTS

No major weaknesses.

24 bit DSP processor
5 equal power amplifier channels
60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, <.08%THD, 20Hz - 20 kHz
Discrete power amplifier stage
5 Channel Stereo
Personal Memory Plus
Virtual Surround (for use with 2 speakers)
24 bit, 96 kHz DACs
24 bit, 96 kHz digital interface receiver
24 bit, 96 kHz stereo PCM digital playback
Speaker A/B (front) selector
6 Channel External Input (for DVD-Audio) with wideband (100 kHz) frequency response
Addressable digital inputs, 1 optical, 1 coaxial
"S" & composite video switching
Banana plug compatible speaker terminals (L, R, C)
Preprogrammed remote control features TV, VCR, DVD codes from other manufacturers.
One hell of a receiver! Click Here to get yours for only $299!

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Kenwood vr-410 $359.99!

Value, Value, Value. Tone defeat button.

Remote is pathetic. Would appreciate more optical/coaxial inputs.

This is my first DD receiver, and I am very pleased with the overall quality, and craftsmanship af the machine. Those considering purchasing this machine should understand that not all watts are created equal, and Denon's 60 watts are equivalent to 100 sony, kenwood, or pioneer watts. There is plenty of punch in this reciever to drive larger speakers.

I was pleased to find a tone defeat button on this machine, something reserved for higher end products. Tone defeat allows the processor to bypass treble/bass controls, so that the listener can hear the music the way it is produced. By bypassing the treble/bass controls distortion is minimized. (However when I demo my theater I'm guilty of turning up the bass, just to impress.)

athough the 1601 is not blessed with a slew of bells and whistles, like similarly priced mass-produced models, Denon excels in Quality craftsmanship and durability. You probably won't find a better sounding receiver in this price range anywhere. So if you are on a budget, and want the best for your money, consider the Denon first, and listen to the quality.

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Sony pro-logic.

Plenty of power, inputs and outputs. Good sound. Memory feature neat.

Poor remote. Inadequate manual. Poor midnite mode. DVD movies will burst your eardrums if volume is turned up loud enough to understand the conversations.

I am still having to tinker with every setting trying to get DVD movies to sound right, that is, understanding conversations and explosions painful. My wife won't stay in the room with a DVD going. I am also hard of hearing. Music CD's sound great. Plain old TV in matrix mode sounds great. Very poor radio reception.
Using: Phillips Dual source DVD player w/optical in.
Hitachi 31" TV with s-video in
AudioSource 200W self powered 15" sub woofer
Wharfedale Valdus 400 L-R with huge oxy free copper cables
Merak dual 7" + 1" tweeter Center
Wharfedale Diamond 7.1 surround

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Old hi fi amps. Akai mini system that just died.

5 channel stereo, ability to chose subwoofer + mains

none so far

Being on a tight budget I was concerned that the A/V receiver I was going to buy would sound as good as the HK 2 channel receiver it would replace. I ruled out buying an HK A/V receiver due to negative reviews and lack of options I was looking for. I found exactly what I needed in the Denon AVR-1601. First, let me say the sound is impressive in both stereo and DD/DTS. Although it is rated at 60 wpc it is more than enough power for my living room. With efficient front and center speakers the sound is open, clean, and volume is more than sufficient. I am now hearing my CD collection all over again. Being new to the world of DD/DTS this receiver has shown me just how good these surround formats can sound, and setting up the receiver is easy. The instruction manual is not too bad, but could be a little clearer in some areas. Overall this receiver is an excellent value for the budget minded enthusiast.

I would just like to say thanks to everyone who contributes reviews and technical information here at AR. With your help I was able to rule out certain receivers as possibilities and concentrate on those that suit my needs. I would also like to say that I have purchased several pieces of audio gear from uBid and so far have not had any problems. Some of us with large families (4 kids) cannot afford to pay alot of money for this hobby.

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none, first A/V receiver. Used an HK3250 prior to this

Power, Clarity, Many S-video inputs for a good video source manager, Control over surround system

Controller, and the rear 2 channels are not binding posts

This is a great receiver to own if you are on a budget (like me being a college student). Its 60 x 5 power rating is rated throughout the sound range (20hz - 20khz) which is equivalent to the kenwood, pioneer, and sony rating of 100 x 5 (at 1khz), which is the most commonly used method of rating a receiver since it makes a receiver look bigger and tougher than this denon, but truthfully, they are "pretty much" equivalent. (Sony, Pioneer, and Kenwood do tend to use the full sound spectrum rating on their HIGH END units like Sony ES or Pioneer Elite). I'm running Acoustic Research's Performance Series speakers, these are brand spanking new, they've only been produced for about 9 months now I think. This is an upgrade from the old Performance Series speakers. All may speakers are pushed amply by this receiver, and my surround is just seamless, I'm hearing sounds from where I don't have any speakers (you know your system is good when it can fool your ears into thinking you have speakers you don't have). My system isn't up to full audiophile standards, but I can't afford electrostatic speakers. This receiver has plenty of power to drive a home Dolby D or DTS system. I really like the DTS on this receiver, it feels just like the cinema, but at the comfort of home. For the price I paid, its totally unbeatable.

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Kenwood, Sony, Pioneer

Features. DD digital DTS excellent sound quality and value for money.

remote control is cheap and nasty. needs to be bigger and back lit . buttons are to small.

After months of research and running from one Hi Fi store to another in search of my ideal Amp I finally found it.
My needs were few.My budget is under $1000 It must be D/Digital, Dts, Have excellent sound qualities for use in home entertainment system. It did not have to be extreme hi wattage, but sound had to be crisp and accurate (60 watts per channel ideal for lounge room). Most of these features only come in $1000 Australian plus av amps. At $650 it has to be the best amp buy on the Aust. market. The 1601 delivers it all.The 1601 is hooked up to Vaf Research dc7 speakers,and Toshiba sd1200 DVD. Yhe end result is excellent sound value for money. Thank you Denon.

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sony

very easy operation, great power, clean sound, and all at a great price

none found

With the very conservative power rating of 60 watts per channel, I don't even have to turn it up past -10 on the volume and the house is rock'n. Dolby Digital and DTS really sound great with this receiver, and with the auto detect it is all the easier to use. I am not using the receiver for video switching so I can't comment on that end of it....but as far as the audio end goes this is a top notch receiver that is only rivaled by models costing much much more. The remote control could be a little bigger and easier to use, but after a little use of it you get to know where all the buttons you need are and can use it without even looking at it. I am really pleased with this receiver and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entry level HT receiver at a great price.

Cambridge Soundworks Movieworks 308 speaker system
Philips 711 DVD player
JVC HR-S3600U S-video VCR
along with this receiver makes up my HT setup

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none

Fantastic product, very impressive. DTS might come in useful.

No major weaknesses.

I recently purchased the AVR-1601 for $699 Australian and I have found it to be a much more impressive product than the 1600. Value for money is extremely good, as is the performance in stereo mode for music listening. The Tone Defeat can be left on all the time, eliminating the need to run the signal through the tone controls when using surround decoding.

Being a tertiary student on a limited budget, I had been planning to buy this as a starting point for a home theatre system. Since buying this product I have been enjoying my entire music collection all over again.

This product outperforms the similarly priced Onkyo 484 receiver, with a more uncoloured sound and true discreet power stages. The 5 channel stereo mode is also free from destructive DSP processing allowing the same clean sound to come from the surrounds and mixing into the centre.

Although it is not extremely important, I dislike the remote. The buttons are small and hard to find, especially the much used ones such as the input selection buttons and the volume. It takes too long to change the volume on the remote. Also cannot change A/B/headphone from the remote.

AUTO input mode is good for DVD players where the source could be DTS, PCM or DD on any given disc. Speaker setup is straightforward and the Australian version even measures distances in metres, which is a nice touch.

Binding posts support banana plugs and I'd recommend them against trying to shove the wire in there, it doesn't hold onto it well.

The power cord was very light and flimsy, almost as if it was from a foreign country, and the switched outlet is a useless european style socket.

I rate this five stars because it is the best receiver available for under $1000. I'd also recommend the 1800, 1801, 2800 or 2801 for those on a larger budget.

locks onto digital/analog signals with great speed and reliability, sounds great with music, tone defeat, easy setup, FM radio sounds great, 5 channel stereo

not a thing

Just like one of the below reviewers I was looking to replace a Harman Kardon amp with an A/V receiver and didn't want to spend alot of money (in case HT was not for me). Well, the Denon receiver made a believer out of me. IMO the most important feature of an A/V receiver is that it sound good for music (70% music, 30% HT). This receiver has that feature. It also sounds great with movies in either DD or DTS. The sound has a warmth to it that does not sound like distortion or coloration. I also enjoy listening to FM radio and this receiver sounds great in that area also, and 5 channel stereo makes it sound even better. I know that all A/V receivers have this option, but I enjoy being able to switch between a CD players DAC and the DAC in the AVR 1601. If you are on a budget or are just getting into HT, give this receiver a try.

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first A/V receiver