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On the other hand, you conservative-with-a-small-"c" types have waited until now to buy a modern A/V receiver. You patiently suppressed your desire for a receiver with 6.1-channel Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES decoding, Dolby Pro Logic IIx (DPL IIx) processing for 6.1/7.1-channel playback of stereo and Dolby Surround sources, and fully flexible component-video facilities until you were really, really, really sure they weren't going to spring some new, "must-have" wrinkle on you next month. (Sadly, we can't guarantee that they won't.) Well, good for you - you're smarter than most of us. And Denon's got your reward right over here: the new AVR-2805.
From the front, it looks very similar to other recent Denon receivers: same big central display, same big and small knobs and scattering of small buttons, all with the same tiny, black-on-silver (or dark-gold-on-black) label-ing.
SETUP I like the rear panel. There are lots of digital audio inputs (only two are coaxial, unfortunately) and three component-video inputs. The new Denon has two more welcome features:
image: https://www.soundandvision.com/files/_images/200412/1228200414181327.jpg
First, its onscreen displays (OSDs) go to all its video outputs, including component - though only in standard 480i (interlaced) format. That means that if you call up an OSD while watching HDTV or using a DVD player's progressive-scan (480p) output, you'll have to wait for your TV to blank and resync. But better that than having to toggle TV inputs just to read a sufferin' receiver display - hoo-rah!
Second, the AVR-2805 upconverts every composite- or S-video input source to
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BOTTOM LINE The Denon AVR-2805 receiver is virtually fault-free. It performed its job with high honors. Power from all channels? Check. Dynamic clarity on music and movies? Check. Stability and imaging from various surround modes? Check. Ease of use and overall ergonomic design? Check with minor reservations - the remote's tiny labels and lack of backlighting.
If you've got plenty of coin, by all means buy a flagship (or cruiser-class) receiver from Denon or one of its esteemed competitors. But if you're looking for serious quality in every key function and honest performance value for the money, check out the AVR-2805.