Denon AVR-2807
The Denon AVR-2807 was first announced at CES 2006 in early January. Check out CNET editors' early impressions of this product.
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John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
Expertise Over 20 years experience in electronics and gadget reviews and analysis, and consumer shopping advice Credentials
- Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
2 min read
Denon has consistently produced A/V receivers that sit at or near the top of CNET's top products list, but the company's better models often command a considerable price premium. That's why Denon's new receiver is particularly newsworthy: the AVR-2807 is priced at an affordable $1,100, but it's slated to deliver the same sort of HDMI switching and 480p upconversion of analog video sources found on higher-priced Denon models such as the $2,000 AVR-4306.
In addition to the HDMI niceties, the AVR-2807 is jam-packed with the sort of features we've come to expect from Denon, including 110 watts of power per channel, an enhanced version of the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto setup/calibration and support for the addition of any XM Connect-and-Play antenna module for integrated satellite radio reception. Also, Denon is pledging that the AVR-2807 will be able to pass 1080p high-def signals via HDMI, meaning it's as future-proof as one can expect in the current HD era. And while the AVR-2807 lacks the direct iPod/MP3 connector found on its more expensive sibling, the AVR-4306, the AVR-2807 will be compatible with a new iPod dock that Denon is planning to release later in 2006. When paired with the AVR-2807, the dock is expected to provide audio, photo, and video playback control via the 2807's remote (by contrast, the 4306 can't display iPod-based video).
So why all the excitement over the AVR-2807? Consider Denon's $1,300 AVR-3806. It's a great receiver, but the somewhat half-baked HDMI capabilities--analog video sources and the onscreen display are limited to 480i resolution via the HDMI output--limits usefulness on many HDTVs and monitors. For $200 less, the AVR-2807 looks to deliver a lot more for the home-theater enthusiast. The AVR-2807 is scheduled to be available in March 2006, in black or silver.
In addition to the HDMI niceties, the AVR-2807 is jam-packed with the sort of features we've come to expect from Denon, including 110 watts of power per channel, an enhanced version of the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto setup/calibration and support for the addition of any XM Connect-and-Play antenna module for integrated satellite radio reception. Also, Denon is pledging that the AVR-2807 will be able to pass 1080p high-def signals via HDMI, meaning it's as future-proof as one can expect in the current HD era. And while the AVR-2807 lacks the direct iPod/MP3 connector found on its more expensive sibling, the AVR-4306, the AVR-2807 will be compatible with a new iPod dock that Denon is planning to release later in 2006. When paired with the AVR-2807, the dock is expected to provide audio, photo, and video playback control via the 2807's remote (by contrast, the 4306 can't display iPod-based video).
So why all the excitement over the AVR-2807? Consider Denon's $1,300 AVR-3806. It's a great receiver, but the somewhat half-baked HDMI capabilities--analog video sources and the onscreen display are limited to 480i resolution via the HDMI output--limits usefulness on many HDTVs and monitors. For $200 less, the AVR-2807 looks to deliver a lot more for the home-theater enthusiast. The AVR-2807 is scheduled to be available in March 2006, in black or silver.