Product Review
 

Denon AVR-2807 7.1 A/V Receiver

Part III

October, 2006

Piero Gabucci



Remote Control

The RC-1030 supplied with the receiver is a learning universal remote capable of operating eight devices. Preset codes are included in the owner's manual.

The remote is a nice size, fairly ergonomic and intuitively arranged.

Setup

Once you've placed your speakers and have hooked up all your components, you may begin your setup, either through the remote or from the flip-down panel. Denon was kind enough to send along the DVD-2910 for me to play with the HDMI compatibility, and simply because I asked for one. Further, I used a DVI equipped projector with an HDMI to DVI cable from the 2807. So keep in mind all descriptions for setup are based on this configuration. I do wish I had asked for an iPod docking station just to try it out.

Denon does include the DM-S205 multi-directional microphone for the auto-setup - not as weighty as the one I have for my 3805, the DM-S305 microphone.

The system setup menu for the 2807 is basically six chapters; the first is the auto setup and room EQ menu. The auto setup takes you through speaker setup for both A and B speaker configurations. Before you run the auto setup, however, decide if you want to assign surround backs or actually boost the fronts with those idle amps, or assign them to zone 2.

Attaching your microphone and a series of test tones will determine polarity, speaker size distance, channel level, and crossover frequency. Once displayed, you have the option of accepting the results for the unit to move on and complete its calculations to be stored.

Once the Room EQ curves are stored, you may select three correction modes: the impressive Audyssey, Flat, and Fronts. Audyssey compensates for room acoustics with multiple location readings. Flat, recommended for multi-channel audio, sets all channels equally, and the Front EQ curve sets all surrounds to adjust to the front mains.

A parameter check will allow you to view the analyzed speaker configuration, distance, channel, crossover, and EQ. The EQ is shown from a low 63 Hz to a high 16 kHz for all channels for each of the three curve settings.

For those who prefer to do things their own way, a speaker setup menu allows you to manually do basically all those things the auto setup just completed: speaker size, distance, channel level, and crossover frequency.

Typically, you choose one crossover setting, but an advanced menu will allow setting individually for each front center and surround speaker from a low 40 Hz to a high 250 Hz.

For stereo playback, Direct and Pure Direct passes through from your source, such as CD or DVD, without audio processing. You may also set speaker size and subwoofer playback specifically for two-channel audio.

A Dolby Digital Downmix option allows you to turn the audio compression on and off. If for example you sense distortion during playback, turning the option to On will compress the dynamic range. Typically you would not activate this feature.

You may also copy the Auto EQ settings and play with them in the Manual EQ setup. So if you decide to forgo the Audyssey, Flat or Front Frequency curve settings, you may borrow them and use the manual setting. If you make no adjustments, then the manual setting is left flat.

The Audio Input setup menu will take you through digital assignment, including HDMI for all nine sources. You can have up to 15 dB subwoofer boost for EXT. IN playback such as SACD. The new menu here is the iPod function and which input source you assign such as Aux.

An input function level adjustment menu allows trim level to be set for all sources from -12 dB to +12 dB. A very cool feature is to rename all functions: i.e., instead of Aux. for iPod, simply rename it iPod, or in my case I renamed my DVD to "DVD-2910". And finally in the audio setup is the tuner presets menu which can find, skip, and store FM stations automatically, as you wish.

Video setup is relatively self-explanatory; HDMI and Component In are assigned. Keep in mind if in the audio setup you chose HDMI for your DVD, it will show up already assigned in the video menu. Configuring the HDMI Out setting will take some experimenting; it allows you to convert analog video signals into HDMI signals. If you select Yes, then another set of menus will pop up. An i/p conversion option which takes 480i/576i from an S-Video source and converts it to 480p/576p through your HDMI monitor. Secondly, you may also select a Color Space output from either YCbCr format or RGB. This mostly has to do with the type of display you're using and how you want it to perform.

An Audio Delay can be set from 0 ms – 200 ms, obviously depending on your room size and speaker distance.

As much as I like the Denon display, you can actually alter how it looks. You can turn off Function or Master Volume status. Why you'd do that, I'm not sure.

The Option menu allows you to assign the unused surround back channels to the fronts A or B, a second zone, or to Back Surround speakers if you have a 7.1 setup. A volume control will allow you to set maximum playback levels and mute options. A Trigger Out menu and a Setup Lock are the final choices you make before you enjoy the 2807.

Surround modes are plentiful, naturally. Besides the obvious Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II and IIx, the DTS Surround and DTS Neo:6, there are the usual DSP modes: Stadium, Rock Arena, Jazz Club, and Classical Concert.

I've mentioned stereo in both Direct and Pure Direct, also included are Ext. In and Multi-Channel In. You also get Mono for those old movies, Video Game, Matrix, and Virtual.

And All This Means?

I've said a mouthful and I did leave off some other issues and features that would take simply forever to describe. But how it performs and how it sounds are most important, of course.

This little receiver rocked! My room is on the smallish side, but the 2807 delivered a punch in spades. The audio playback is worth the purchase itself, but the HDMI (as I've mentioned over and over) is what puts this unit over the top. The audio passing from the Denon DVD-2910 (a very nice player I might add) through the HDMI connection to the AVR-2807 was uncompromised.

The images on my projector never looked better, passed through the 2807, as they were outstanding – crisp and smooth.

Some Minor Shortcomings to Consider

Receivers in this range are now beginning to have THX certification, just look at Brian Florian's review of the Onkyo TX-SR803 back in June. Personally experiencing and appreciating Denon's proprietary Link 3 which can now pass SACD signals would have been a nice addition to the 2807. I'm sure Denon would argue the sophisticated Auto Setup and Room EQ, including Audyssey, more than make up the difference, however, and I'm not sure I could argue the point.

Conclusions

Trickle-down from the likes of the 5805 benefits us by offering what has been developed for these flagship units in modestly priced receivers that most of us can afford. The AVR-2807 is such a receiver, and if I'm taking wild guesses there is no reason why it couldn't supplant the AVR-3805 as Denon's all-time most popular A/V receiver.


- Piero Gabucci -

Related to the article above, we recommend the following:

Miscellaneous Ramblings on Subwoofer Crossover Frequencies

Misunderstood 0.1 LFE Channel

Nature of Equipment Reviews

Dialogue Normalization: Friend or Foe

What we Hear

Why Time Alignment is Important

High Fidelity

Cinema Sound and EQ Curves

Accuracy, Distortion, and the Audiophile

© Copyright 2006 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity

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