I'm not good at describing these things yet, terms such as liquidity, crystal, and transparent (aka overall sound) don't really work for me. I can say it has power, it is clear (transparent?) and has many features. Price is hard to beat. Denon reputation for quality (built in Japan, I like that). Looks very cool, no nonsense kind of a look, sleek, clean, all business.

Remote is ok, mulit-zone feature is meaningless to me personally, light on volume knob would be nice (not essential but nice). Wish it were offered in the gold faced finish as some other denon products are cause I would have got it in gold.

Replaced 10yr old kenwood reciever and speakers with denon dra-685 and 4 polks rti 25's and 55's. The improvement has been dramatic to be sure and now I have the bug. I visit this site all the time and drool over equipment that I really cannot and in reality do not want to purchase, but this doesn't stop me. I would really like to get an integrated amp and tuner combo (preferrably the denon pma-2000 with a rotel or denon tuner). I ask my audio loving brethren how does one become versed in the world of audio, because I admit I am in way over my head. I should be (and am very much) and will be pleased with my current set up for a few years. Oh I have an inexpensive 25 cd pioneer cd player but I did somewhat upgrade the interconnects between reciever and cd player. All in all since I play cdr's and cd's I can say denon is an excellent product. I did research the brand, it has uniformly excellent reviews for quality and performance. Most likely my next upgrade will be a denon integrated amp + a tuner... But as I drool and become more versed in the audio world who knows????

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Nothing really just an old kenwood reciever I purchased from best-buy in 1992. I needed an eq to help it sound clear and I have no need or desire to use an eq with the denon as it will only make the s

Sounds great. Loud if you want it to be. Plenty of bass if you want it - I agree that that there's almost no difference between the bass at 9 o'clock and at 3 o'clock on the knob, but above 3'clock, you can get a fair amount of bass quicky.

I really can't think of any.

I've had this reveiver for almost three months. In conjunction with my Polk Rti38's, this is best system any college student could ask for. I listen to music for about... 4 hours a day. I have an iPod, among other things, hooked up to it, and as cool as they are, I don't think I can attribute the great sound to the iPod. I don't particularly understand why some people seem to think this thing isn't powerful enough. 100 wpc generally scales up in Yamahas; when I turn the volume up to about 9 o'clock, things get moderately loud. When I can, I really like my music LOUD, and I have no particular need for an external e.q. Finally, 327 dollars for a stereo receiver like this is pretty great. I'm glad some people managed to get it for 0 dollars on ebay, but the price was pretty right for someone as tightly-on-a-budget as me. I'm an avid movie watcher, but I don't particularly need a Dolby Digital receiver, especially when for far less I can get a receiver that probably sounds better - music is what this is meant for. Not that higher end receivers are bad; of course they're not - but you take a big hit for price for a 5.1 receiver that has lower wattage per channel than this. It's a great product, at a great price.

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Denon ten-year-old receiver Yamaha 20 year old receiver.

Quality, power, flexablity in the inputs and outputs, fm section, ease of setup.

REMOTE

I agree with all of the other reviewers that the remote is min. but will work all of the amp controls. THIS WILL PLEASE ANY OF THE AUDIO ENTHUSIAST OUT THERE! Not in the mega buck class, but at the price I paid ($175) a REAL STEAL! The retailer had a close out of the stock on hand and I got a new one in the box. My old amp would max out and shut down at high volume, but this baby will rock the house at keep going. If you can find one of these even at $300 or more, buy it!

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SONY STR-DE445

powerful, clean, tone reproduction of lows/mids/highs from low volume to higher volumes. Mechanical volume control from remote is a cool feature. Plenty of inputs to handle all my gear (especially the phono input) try finding one on 5.1 systems.

not really a weakness but...that 2nd room remote feature could have been eliminated and left this unit a pure "bare bones" old school receiver/amp

Trying to find a high quality 100w x 2 channel stereo receiver these days is very limited. I looked at the Marantz ( only 80w), the Nakamichi (100w). All 3 of these have high quality designated circuitry found in high end audio. I ended up buying the Denon DRA-685 for $327. I've only had this unit for 3 days now and have been using it constantly. I am totaly blown away by the sound quality and power this baby puts out. Even the cheap KLH speakers this unit is driving sound awesome. I've been listening to CD's, DVD's, and digital cable signal. This amp truly brings the sound alive in all 3 applications. Denon definately has a winner here!!! (note to buyers: If you buy online from an etailer who is not an authorized dealer, Denon will not honor the 2 yr warranty) Rather than spend the $500+ ship,etc. which most Denon authorized dealers are asking, I chose to take a chance and save $200 by not using an authorized rep. This is a choice "you" have to make. Based on Denon's reputation for quality, I'll put the $200 towards a better set of speakers.

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Technics (25 yr old), Pioneer, Kenwood.

Powers Bose 901s great, much better than those 6 speaker TV things also.

2nd room remote?

I recently bought one of those wide screen projection TVs, and after 15 years, wanted to replace my Luxman R-117 which drive my Bose 901s (stereo and TV). After looking for my Luxman replacement ( now around $2500, (160 watts /channel, .03 THD , 20 to 20k), I looked into other amps that will work with the Bose 901s. The Denon DRA-685 was it!. The thing sounds great, whether it be just music, or cranking up the Monsters Inc. DVD. It can almost loosen the nails from my house frame like my Luxman can with the Bose 901s, and at less than than $500, I love it. oh... the second room remote thing that come with the Denon...it will stay in the bag that it came in.

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Denon DRV-900

Neutral sonics. Massive power.

Too many useless buttons.

What makes this product superb is that it offers high-quality sound and incredible power at a very, very affordable price. I purchased it because I listen to music at the end of each day, but I can not afford to spend massive amounts of money on more expensive units. The sound is very neutral and the power reserve is fantastic. Music sounds full and well, musical, even at low volumes. The only drawback to this unit is that there are many gimmicky buttons and features. For example, the unit has multi-room capablities and DVD and Video inputs. Denon should have done away with those insipid features and basically manufactured the unit as an integrated amp. It is a wonderful unit, though.

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NAD C541 CD/HDCD player Sennheiser HD 600 headphones Custom-made speakers Salamander 5.0 audio rack Acoustic Research interconnects

impressive build, fantastic sound. Good tuner, I guess the remote could be better I don''t mind it, I am used to something similar.

some other review said not having a sub out was a weakness but I have been told that the pre in/main out on the 685 is the proper and better way to hook up a sub. I have found none yet it just plays.

I have decided after viewing others comments for hour after hour to post my own review. Well I described myself as an audio enthusiast and I think that''s fair. I have several hundred cds and prefer the stereo to the tv any day. Well this aside my previous 2-channel set up was a kenwood reciever from 1992 and some pioneer (large) and sony (bookshelf) speakers the same age and topped off with an eq (audiosource). Well after a decade I wanted to revamp my setup but initally wanted an a/v reciever even though for the time being I wasn''t gonna use the video aspect of it. I looked at several brands via audioreview (kenwood,onkyo, yamaha,denon,nad) yea I spent some time and almost went a bit loopy in the process. My brother has a yamaha and so I was gonna go for the newest a/v from them but kept thinking about denon (the name kinda makes me think the same things that hearing bmw does). Well after talking to several stereo store employees I decided that for myself a 2 channel stereo would serve my needs. So I was gonna go for the 395 and save a bit but I went all out I suppose. I picked up some new speakers as well (polk rt-55i''s and a pair of r-10''s--the most expensive polk bookshelf and the least expensive bookshelf). Well saw an ad for reliable audiovideo.com and took a chance, I never really ordered anything expensive online. Yet, within a week it arrived and it is larger than my kenwood and the sound is fantastic (the new speakers help to be sure) I feel the eq is unnecessary, though others seem to disagree. I don''t listen at insane volumes but I barely have to move the volume at all to have adequate sound, and I just have the loudness effect on at all times. Well I feel I have made quite the improvement and saved 130 on the reciever (the company honors denons warranty so I''m covered for the 2 years though the reciever is built like a mack truck). Well I spent 1000 for four speakers and an excellent 2 channel reciever. I realize that I am an audio plebian and the audio patricians spend more for one speaker but I honestly don''t care (although I do appreciate their keeping the economy going). I have taken a significant leap forward and recommend the denon dra-685 it''s sound is clean, clear, and as smooth as an ice cold guinness.

Solidly built unit, good sound quality. Very loud and clean.

As everyone else said, the remote sucks. Also I''ve noticed that the bass dial is virtually useless. You can''t hear a difference in sound when anywhere between the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. Might want to buy an external EQ for this thing...

A solidly built unit, decent sound quality. I''d say it''s worth the price I paid.

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None

Unbelievable power, sound quality.

Remote sucks (but it is really shame to demand anything beoynd sound at this price).

I found this receiver dirty cheap on the Internet site. All I wanted is to get an upgrade from my 5-years old Kenwood 7080. I felt that I can get most of my new Axiom M60 speakers before I buy separates later this year. What can I say? After I turned this baby on, I could not stop listening. I put Eagles, Pink Floyd, Dave Brubeck, Sting ... everything was perfectly clean and real. The bass is unbelievable (I finally undertood why people complain about lack of bass in Kenwood 7080). The bottom line, I will find it difficult to convince myself to spend $2000 on separates for the time being.

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Kenwood 7080

Simple layout, price,

none so far

This is my second Denon product. First impression is very pleased. It fites my needs real well I like to listen to regular stereo. The Denon is very well layed out and simple to use I don''t seem to the same problem with the remote as the other readers I like the layout.

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Pioneer,JVC,Denon,