Denon - in a class of its own (Denon AVR-1907)

Member Name: agewills

Product:	Denon AVR-1907
Date:	05/11/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy to setup, oozes quality, well built

Disadvantages: newer models are a bit pricey (still worth it though)

Denons AVR-1907 is now discontinued. However, there are models that follow on from its greatness and improve as they go. The model numbers go up in size according to the model, funnily enough. So at this price point, this particular Denon AVR has gone from 1900 to 1910 (as the current model) thus the model before the 1907 was the 1906 and the one after was the 1908, well, you get the idea. Which each release the general product is improved. There are models both up and down, with Denon's flagship Audio-Visual Receiver the AVR-4810 leading the way with 9.1 channels and more inputs than you can shake a stick at. Of course, the price reflects the quality. The AVR-4810 is priced around £2,600. For those of us with less money to burn the models in the lower range of the spectrum are a more reasonable price yet still offer outstanding sound (and visual) quality. The 1600 series is the cheapest and only supports 5.1, where the 1907 is 7.1. So it's a nice mid-level unit.

Everyone that knows anything about AV equipment has heard of Denon. They are a smashing brand. With quality, solid products, built to last and look good. I had read good things about the AVR-1907 in What-Hi-Fi magazine. A good trusted source of information. The most recent model in this range (the 1910) has won an award with that same magazine. Previously I had bought myself an Onkyo 5.1 AVR (TXDS595) which was a bloody good unit. Smashing in fact. But I fancied a change and wanted to get my units to match. So with a set of new floor standing Mission speakers and a shiny new Denon upscaling dvd player, I opted for this AVR. At the time it cost me £350, though it seems prices have risen a little since. No surprise really as you now get HDMI input and output in the newer models including DTS HD and True Dolby Digital HD. My 1907 is lacking in this area, which I'm quite sad about now, as I've recently upgraded to a PS3 and full HD TV. If I had the money, I would buy the 1910. That's not to say I'm not happy with the 1907 though. It gets a lot of use in my lounge, in fact, we don't watch tv without it. I use it for everything, the Wii (my wifes), the PS3, DVD's, CD's and SKY HD. It handles it all with finesse and class that you would expect from Denon. As you can see from the spec below (for the full spec see www.denon.co.uk) the 1907 is jam packed with features. At 7x120 watts, it packs quite a punch and carries the range too. The sound is terrific. With a set of floorstanders and all the speakers in the right place, you get immersed in sound. Its truly fantastic. 2 Co-axial inputs and 2 Optical are just about enough to handle most home cinema systems. Including mine, which is literally bursting at the seems. It would be easier with the newer models as I could run my DVD player and PS3 into the receiver using HDMI and get better sound and picture.

One of my favourite features is related to the setup. The AVR-1907 comes with a handy little microphone that you plug into the unit. Once you have all your speakers wired up, plugged in, and in place in the room, the unit can then automatically calculate the relative distance of each speaker from the centre of the room and you sitting position and adjust the outputs to compensate for the size and layout of your room. This is something I had to do by hand on my previous AVR using guessitmation and a bit of luck. So it's a very nice feature indeed. Simple enough too. The AVR sends white noise to each speaker in turn and measures the outputs via the microphone, which you have placed in the room according to the instruction manual. I'd recommend getting any animals and pets you might have in the house out of the room. My cat was especially taken by surprise (to put it lightly) when I was setting all this up. Its quite loud too, be warned, but its an essential, yet relatively quick way of making your sound system work properly.

The Denon unit oozes quality. It's a nice metal design, coming in the standard silver or black and it's feels like its worth the money you paid when you get it out of the box. Unlike its DVD friend, who was remarkably light and cheap feeling. The display is clear and can be adjusted in brightness. You can also change so many things on the unit, I couldn't possibly mention them all here without boring you to death. I renamed "TV" to "Sky HD" and one other setting to "PS3" which is a very nice, yet simple feature. Especially if you do not want to confuse your wife.

There are many inputs on the back on the unit and bi-wiring the front speakers can be done with ease (if you are so inclined). The inputs are a reasonable distance apart, which can sometimes be a nightmarish problem on other AVR's, when you are trying to get your wires in and fiddling with the terminals, but its pretty easy on the Denon AVR.

The remote is bristling with buttons but simple to use. I have since ditched it in favour of an all-in-one remote, but it was a good thing and a praising point on its own.

The AVR handles music and films equally well. With a good set of speakers (and connecting wires) you can easily be immersed (and lost) in sound. I can't recommend it enough. I think it speaks volumes in itself, that next time I upgrade, it will be to another Denon. Forget Sony, Pioneer and Bose. Denon is where the best money goes. Denon is a Japanese company that apparently have been running since 1910. They know their stuff and it shows!



Discrete 7ch amplifier with 7 x 120 W (6 ohms).


Assignable Surround Back amplifier for Front Bi-Amping.


Auto Setup with high quality mold microphone (Audio Technica).


New easy to use remote controller (preset function).


32-Bit floating point DSP.


full 96 kHz processing.


192 kHz DACs.


Aluminium front panel, aluminium knobs


Audio Delay (0-200 ms).


Night Mode.


2 lines FL display.


User Mode Function.


Setup operation at front panel.


Large screw type speaker connector.


Front speaker A/B selectable.


Rec Selector.


8ch EXT in for future sound formats


7.1 ch Pre out.


S-Video inputs.


3 component inputs. (100 MHz)


Digital component video conversion.


2 coaxial digital inputs, 2 optical digital inputs, optical digital output.


Dock Control connector for ASD-1R.

Summary: Well worth the money, Denon know their stuff

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Features:
Installation: