Product Review
 

Denon AVR-5805 Sixteen Channel A/V Receiver

Part III

May, 2005

Piero Gabucci

 

System Set-up: Audio

Including set-up of the Audyssey EQ, the process takes a good 20 minutes, if all things go well. By that I mean, during the determination of the speaker type and configuration, the auto set-up may display error messages which must be corrected before measurements can be completed. In my case, it gave me a phase error for my main front speakers, which it turns out, were not correctly wired.

The manual does explain that in some speakers this error may occur even though the speakers are properly connected. A “skip” feature allows you to continue; however I wasn't happy until I found the problem. Needless to say, moving the speakers away from the back wall, side wall, re-attaching the speaker wires, replacing the speaker wires, all went to no avail, the error would not go away and I was forced to succumb to the fact I needed to use the skip function. Other errors can occur, including too much ambient noise, if it finds no speakers, or if you forget to attach the microphone.

One hour later I began again.

Finally accepting defeat and knowing I wired my speakers out of phase, to my shock, the error message disappeared.

Another setback occurs when you realize you need to skip down to number 7-1 on the main System Set-up Menu, where you tell it what configuration you want in the main and subsequent zones. Simply if you are running a 5.1, or 7.2, or 9.3, whatever your desire, you must make that decision before running the auto set-up. Why? Because the auto set-up will look for speakers that aren't there considering the 5805 is defaulted to a 9.1 system. Also decide whether you have 1 to 3 subs in the main zone and how you want the LFE signals sent. You must absolutely have pages 99 and 100 of the manual handy for this set-up. Page 99 displays the channel options and subwoofer output configurations, while page 100 gives you diagrams for using the pre-outs for multiple subwoofers. There is no way you'd figure this out on your own, it's just not labeled so.

Another 30 minutes and I'm back to set-up 1-1.

Believe me, this wasn't too painful, especially when you realize what's going on, and it then becomes productive.

Initially, I had a 5.1 setup in my room and the auto set-up began. After attaching the microphone, the Audyssey set-up takes over.

The Audyssey results are then shown in a series of screens. Unfortunately, and this is a big one, if you don't like any single setting, you cannot alter the Audyssey results. Your only recourse is to begin again, but unless you alter your method for calibration, i.e., lowering room noise, or changing the microphone position, your results will likely remain the same. For me, it set my front speakers as Large, not Small. That's important because Home THX recommends setting all speakers to Small, predominately for crossover settings. If any speaker is set to Large, no crossover option is allowed, but if set to Small, individual channel crossover setting is an option.

Once the speaker setup has been confirmed and you are happy with the configuration, you may skip the next menus (manual settings) for speaker selection, delay, and channel level.

Crossover Frequency is another matter and quite involved. There are three modes for setting the crossover: Advanced where all channels, front, center, surround and surround backs (if you have them selected) are set individually from a low 40 Hz to a high 150 Hz; Variable mode allows settings from 40 Hz to 250 Hz; and lastly, you can fix the crossover and rely on the THX-recommended 80 Hz.

The THX Audio set-up includes a Boundary Gain Compensation. If you have a subwoofer that will play down to 20 Hz, answering "Yes" allows you set Gain. For example, if your subwoofer is placed close to a wall, set the Boundary Gain to “On”. Answering "No" removes the option.

THX also requires proper set-up of the surround back speakers, especially considering their requirements for Ultra2 Cinema, THX Music, or THX Game modes. In fact, for these modes, it actually prefers placing those speakers behind you as close as possible. Regardless, you set the distance between these speakers accordingly.

The audio input set-up includes the digital-in assignment for all eleven inputs. Naturally, there is an array of options from the multiple optical/coaxial to Denon Link and even HDMI.

There are two External-In setups available. The mode you choose, analog, or the DSP, again allows additional options. Choosing Aanalog Only lets you set the subwoofer level (for subwoofer boost if you prefer for SACD playback, for example) up to an additional 15 dB. If you choose the DSP mode, in addition to the subwoofer level adjustment, it also offers an Input Attenuation on or off. The same is available for a second Ext. In.

Considering the variable volume levels from different sources, each input can then be adjusted up or down, so you're not reaching for the main volume constantly as you switch inputs. The Input Function Level can be adjusted from a +12 to -12 dB for each of the 13 inputs. Likewise, each input function can be renamed and will be displayed as such on the OSD. Nice feature if you have more than one DVD player for example.

The AVR-5805 also features a configurable volume control during power up and also limiting the maximum volume for all zones. Even the mute level for each zone can be adjusted to reduce the sound levels to either: full, no sound, or dropping it 20 or 40 dB from the current listening level.

When I attached an IEEE1394 cable (make sure that component is powered up when you assign it) to a Denon DVD-3910 player, the 5805 recognized and displayed “DVD-3910” on the OSD. Cool!!

Lastly in this series of menus is the tuner presets. It will go through, finding the stations available, and store them. If you are like me and you don't listen to all the stations that the 5805 finds, you can then go through and delete those stations. You may also choose to rename them as you want. My favorite jazz station is 88.3 out of Newark and I relabeled it from 88.3 to “Jazz 88” just for the fun of it. As I mentioned, the OSD will also display RDS, additional information becoming more popular with FM stations these days. Usually it's the call letters of the station and the song/artist playing. Other times, it's advertisement.

With the newer HD Radio format now taking on momentum, I hope Denon addresses this with an upgrade.

System Set-up: Video

The Video set-up begins with component-in assignment, and has nine possible video sources to program. If you're using the pass-through video processing, you can set the video scaler aspect to Full or Normal. Setting to Full will maintain the aspect ratio of the input video, say 16:9, while setting it to Normal places a black band to the left and right for 4:3 video. Here is also where you set the resolution of 1080i, 480p/576p, 480i/576i, and 720p, all based on the native resolution of your display.

This is also the time to set your HDMI- or DVI-in assignment. For the 3910 I had on hand, I used a DVI cable. When using an HDMI cable, be sure to set the audio playback on “Amp” not “TV”, so it knows to use the 5805 speaker setup, not the monitors.

Set your audio delay (as a rule of thumb) to about 1ms for every foot between you and the monitor or screen.

Advanced Playback

The 5805 allows you to modify the speaker settings when the surround mode is set to 2-channel Direct or Stereo mode. Two settings, Basic and Custom allow you to select the size of speakers and whether you want a subwoofer to be in the system.

If you're not using the center channel, you can modify the Dolby Digital down-mixing option to On or Off for dynamic range. Setting it to On re-directs those sounds to the left and right speakers.

The other significant setting in the Advanced Playback menu is the Manual EQ for all channels (except the sub) for music playback. From a low 63 Hz to a high 16 kHz, you can adjust each band from -20 dB to +6 dB at 0.5 dB increments. If you hate what you hear, just restore with a default option. As I mentioned earlier, the Audyssey base curve can be copied and used for your own manual settings, and this is where it's done.

Now you go back and do most of what I've already described for Zone 2.

Extras

How often have you attached a set of speaker cables on the wrong posts, frustrating you to pull the receiver out and make the corrections? Well, with this many speaker binding posts, it can easily happen, and it did to me. With the 5805, there is no need for the strenuous exercise, simply go into the speaker assignment menu and switch it internally, saving your knuckles and back. This is basically known on the 5805 as power amp assignment.

Bi-amping is easily done on the 5805. Simply select bi-amping under the power amp assignment menu and use a second set of posts for the bi-amped speakers.

If you're like me, and you enjoy a different speaker configuration for movie watching and multi-channel music, the 5805 allows different selections for the surround speakers either direct or radiating speakers (dipole or bipole). It also remembers each independent configuration.

Like many new surround receivers, the 5805 also features a number of DSP surround modes, specifically ten. I'll list them, as you surely will find them self explanatory: Wide Screen, Super Stadium, Rock Arena, Jazz Club, Classic Concert, Mono Movie, Video Games, Matrix, Virtual (also for Zone 2), and 9CH Stereo. Going further, the 5805 can also set surround parameter effect level from low to high and also for the size of your room. Lastly, it does allow tone control, bass and treble, for any DSP surround modes except for Direct or THX modes. Remember, these settings can be stored in the macro function (User mode function) as you so desire.

Controversy or Point-Counter-Point

So what's the point of a flagship receiver like this anyway? Opinions vary even amongst some of the senior staff at Secrets. Surely $6,000 for a receiver is pricey, nay expensive. Denon's people by the way do wince a bit when you refer to this unit as a receiver, and I can see why. The laden features are indisputable; there is simply no other product out there that compares. None. Some features you can do without, others are state-of-the-art, multi-EQ for one.

The 5805 fits the definition of a "Receiver" which just means the preamp, processing, and power amplifiers are all in one chassis. However, the 5805 is simply a high-end, high-performance receiver, like the new Lexicon RV-8, which is even more costly than the Denon. It appears that the word "Receiver" no longer implies something of modest quality and price. From now on, it certainly can mean something very nice indeed.

No doubt most will argue separates give you superior performance, as well as better and more powerful amplification. Receivers have always had more features than the separate processor, but now, the quality and power are there too, to wit, balanced 24/192 DACs and 170 watts x 10 channels, and Denon assures me this is with all channels driven.

And, yes this is a BIG heavy box, but heavy, where amplifiers are concerned, is good. Once you park it, however, you really don't want to move it. I'll give the “for separates” argument that one. The main advantage of separates is to be able to choose your power amplification and the ability to drive 2 ohm loads such as electrostatic speakers. The disadvantage however in separates for the same argument is the need for separates to have a good impedance match between processor and amplifier. The additional component is another source for ground loops that can produce hum. As to size, a separate processor and power amplifier are, together, about the same size as the 5805. You just need to put the 5805 on one shelf rather than splitting them onto two shelves.

I can't help but feel the 5805 has paved the way for the next generation of receivers from Denon, including the highly anticipated AVR-4806 due out shortly. Some of this fine technology is certain to filter down to other new receivers.

Multi-zone has become the norm in high end receivers, and why not? Home owners are integrating sound and video equipment and with the new music/video servers making a splash, receivers responding to those demands will be more commonplace. With the 5805 offering dual 5.1 or 7.1 surround possibilities, imagine the receiver working along with a server where, from your master bedroom, you can call up any movie and watch it. On the other hand, why not buy a modest receiver and place it with an independent DVD player in your bedroom? Well I'd argue it defeats the purpose of an integrated system. Granted, that's a lot of long speaker wires from one location though.

Consider also a single High Definition distribution source, which the 5805 is, with HDMI/DVI and analog component all coming from one central location. The high bandwidth pass-through the Denon offers to multiple zones is impressive on its own.

Lastly, although I think there are many other issues we could pose, upgradeability and remote service is paramount to the concept of the AVR-5805. This receiver will grow with your needs and demands far into the future. The $6,000 price tag buys you some peace of mind in terms of progressing technologies. I think that deserves merit.

My feelings are not why design such an animal, but why not? I'm never going to buy a $60,000 pair of speakers, but I'm glad they're out there. Consider the potential for the 5805, and you might come away from this review accepting that there is no product out there quite like this, with no equal, there is no point in comparison. The easiest statement I can make to you: to date everything you could possibly imagine a receiver including, the AVR-5805 actually has.

Listening

WOW! Hardly scientific, my apologies, let me start properly.

I auditioned the AVR-5805 in 2-channel, 2.1 channel, 5.1 channel (in two separate rooms), 5.2 channel, 7.1 channel, analog, using HDMI, DVI, IEEE 1394, Denon link, coaxial, and Toslink optical cables.

As mentioned earlier, I used the Denon DVD-3910 for all video and audio playback. For speakers, I predominately used the Canton Vento line (review forthcoming). All cabling, including interconnects, speaker wire, subwoofer cables, HDMI, and DVI were from Ethereal. For a monitor, I used both my 38” widescreen HDTV RCA, and also the Panasonic PT-AE500U projector on a 102” Da-Lite screen.

I absolutely loved being able to bi-amp, assign speakers' amplification, and rename inputs and radio stations. I loved the macro functions of the user mode. It allowed me to switch DVD-Audio playback from analog to digital on multiple DVD players.

Bi-amping the Canton front left and right speakers only, the 5805 dramatically altered the soundstage of this setup. There was a sensation of the speakers covering more of the frequency range from top to bottom, with greater detail. For example, although mediocre, the movie Flight of the Phoenix does challenge amplifiers during the main crash scene. The 5805 delivers so much thrust and power, I could sense cleanly the crushing metal around me.

The auto surround mode picked up the DTS soundtrack in Hero a film extremely demanding on many levels. Voices, sword play, flying arrows, thunderous bass, and delicate nuances (snapping wires in the Blue room scene) were easily executed by the 5805. The Denon hardly strained.

The 5805's ability as a powerhouse comes through in the DVD Diana Krall, Live in Paris in both Dolby and DTS. As many times as I've watched this performance, never has it been presented with the dimension and stage presence than I experienced with the Denon. This is one fine product.

Briefly I will say it took some time setting up two subs, from a room node standpoint. The hook-up was easy. Once accomplished, the sensation was jaw-dropping.

I particularly enjoyed watching in THX 5.1. With the Audyssey engaged, the listening room was more seamless with the 5805 than I have ever heard before. Placing two subs, one in each front corner in a 5.2 setup, I spent some time with Star Wars – The Phantom Menace.  Besides the pod race scene, the entire film was once again presented with strength and energy. The 5805 hardly flinched.

With music, 2-channel audio in both Direct and Pure Direct modes yielded warmth and depth I've become accustomed to with Denon receivers. For example, I listened to a 24 bit super analog CD from JVC, Ruggiero Ricci with the London Symphony Orchestra, originally recorded in 1959. Conducted by Pierino Gamba, Ricci's violin sounds clear and warm. The backing orchestra was full and dimensional, while the dynamic range was nicely realized by the 5805. Gone are the old days of mass market receiver harshness. High performance is a term that now applies to this product category.

I particularly like listening to stereo CDs in 5-channel, or in this case 7-channel surround mode. This is in no way an attempt to simulate surround sound, but merely creating a playback that, especially with a number of people sitting in a room, allows the music to be enjoyed non-directionally. Even modestly priced receivers can accomplish this feat; the 5805 was that much more convincing. The very elegant recording of yo yo Ma playing Vivaldi's Cello was warm and inviting in this baroque recording.

The DTS surround Jashua Judges Ruth from Lyle Lovett is a standard for vocals and backup harmonized singers. Rich, textural tones, combined with sharp, deep edges make this playback exemplary and simply stunning.

For female vocals, I pulled out Rene Marie's Live at Jazz Standard, a CD very much like the Diana Krall DVD. Marie's voice was soft at times, full and large other times.

Via the remote control, you can easily scroll through the EQ options while you are listening. Remember there are 4 settings besides Off, Front, Flat, Manual, and Audyssey. I did find the Audyssey a bit bright, not to be confused with highly detailed. This is probably just a tendency for the Audyssey settings to boost the treble a little too much for my tastes. It did very well in distributing the sweet spot around my listening room, clearly meeting its objective.

I also found the Audyssey set-up frustrating, specifically in the speaker size and subsequent crossover settings. But overall, once properly configured, the Audyssey multi EQ can make a remarkable difference in your space. It simply must be experienced.

Conclusions

Configurability, configurability, configurability. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this concept. I know when I switch back to my other receiver, I'll sincerely miss the options afforded to me on the 5805. My only consolation is knowing that the AVR-4806 is not far behind and I hope the lessons learned in designing the 5805 will trickle down to the line of other Denon products.

The Denon AVR-5805 lacks nothing. In fact, any conceivable shortcomings can easily be handled with future upgrades. Indisputably, the AVR-5805 is a powerful first rate receiver/home theater center that is unique and uncompromised. I wholeheartedly stand behind the 5805 for its innovation, its flexibility, and most importantly for its stellar performance.


- Piero Gabucci -

© Copyright 2005 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity

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