NEWS: Denon UK confirms five new AV receivers - due from August
Further to the recent US release news - reported here - Denon UK has confirmed its 2008 line-up of AV receivers, with five new models due between now and September.
The company says its new multichannel models will excel for sound-quality, technology/features and ease of use.
The release line-up and pricing is as follows:
August
- Denon AVR-1509 - £280
- Denon AVR-1709 - £350
- Denon AVR-1909 - £450
- Denon AVR-2309 - £600 (pictured above)
September
- Denon AVR-2809 - £800
Denon's existing, higher-end models - the AVR-3808 and AVR-4308, plus its flagship Denon AVC-A1HD- carry on into 2009.
The entry-level, AVR-1509 and AVR-1709 models are steps up from the equivalent models in Denon's '08 range - adding more channels, power and HDMI inputs (up to three in the case of the '1709) - but buyers looking for HD Audio decoding will be most tempted by the Denon AVR-1909 upwards.
The AVR-1909 handles all the HD Audio formats, plus offers 1080p Faroudja video upscaling, component video conversion, three HDMI inputs, HDMI Auto Lip Sync, Pure Direct audio option (for stereo amplification) and on-screen display set-up. It's a 7.1 channel design, with 90W per channel power output.
The AVR-2309 and AVR-2809, meanwhile, both add a fourth HDMI input, plus an extra power transformer (making three in total; the rest of the '09 range boast two).
The AVR-2309 offers 100W per channel, whereas the AVR-2809 offers 115W, plus a range of custom-install-friendly features - including support for up to three zones, plus a learning remote control.
All the '09 models feature Audyssey audio optimisation, including Audyssey Dynamic Volume - which aims to end you having to reach for the volume button every time you change channels (or the noisy adverts come on) in order to listen at a consistent, comfortable level.
Audyssey Dynamic Volume can be used in a range of levels (or not at all, if you like your sound ultra-dynamic), such as midnight mode for late-night listening.
Denon also claims its use of advanced DSP chipsets within its new receiver range has allowed it to take advantage of the more advanced versions of Audyssey's MultEQ technology, which is designed - via your receiver's set-up process - to adjust the sound to suit your room.
Many Audyssey-equipped receivers use the company's earlier 2EQ system, which bases its room optimisation on two measurements. Denon's AVR-2809 - like the existing AVR-3808 and AVR-4308 - uses Audyssey MultEQ XT, which makes up to eight separate room measurements, while the rest of the '09 range use MultEQ, which makes up to six.
All the new receivers are available in black or silver, and we'll be testing every new models as it becomes available - and yes, we've asked for the AVR-1909 first!
Technorati Tags: AV receiver, Denon, HD Audio, Audyssey, Upscaling
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The 875 ( & 876) is the cheapest way to get the image upscaling power of the HQV chip. Dont think Faroudja DDCI can quite match up. The HQV " turns all things rotten into pristine 1080p" as a reviewer said. Can any of the new Denons match up? I dont think so.They only use the HQV chip in their far-too-fancy-for-my-wallet AVC A1-HD.
Hi Andy - probably not, I was thinking it may become available on the 2809 receiver, but I guess it will possibly come when the more expensive 3808 is updated next year.
Guess I'm looking at an Onkyo 606 and a splitter once I get my basement ready for a HD projector.
Thanks profhat.
Does the Denon 2809 decode DSD directly to analogue without internally converting to LPCM ? If not do you know of a receiver apart from the Pioneer Susano (overweight etc) that does ? How does the Denon 2809 compare with your Award 2008 winning Yamaha DSP-863SE ?
When I asked Arcam if the new FMJ AVR600 receiver decodes DSD via HDMI I.3a directly to analogue without internally converting to LPCM they said it was illegal ? If so how does Pioneer manage it with the Susano ? Arcam said they were investigating.
Do we have any confirmed dates for release in the UK yet?
have been hoping someone will find out how amazing this samsung av receiver is.
The whole web is filled with onkyo's,pioneers etc. if anyone is thinking about purchasing this
product..it is defintinelty worth the money..its beautifully styled as you'd expect from samsung,
has got all the top spec that are found in all latest av receivers today.the only thing i find it not do
is hidef upscaling from analogue sources.
thanks
I posted this in the relevant forum thread, but I thought I'd also post it here:
It has been rumored (though Denon Canada) that Denon will offer Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ -via a paid upgrade- to the 3808CI and 4308CI owners sometime in the fall. Since you are in contact with Denon UK, could you ask them if there are any such plans for us european users?
There's another Denon UK announcement due at the CEDIA Show later this month - that could possibly involve the upgrades?
None with 2 HDMI outs? Since a projector is a real hope for the next year or so, this is now a must on my list - looks like the Onkyo 876 is still in the lead in which case...
ProfHat - I thought that at first, too, but then remembered that these new models are all sub-£1000....Not the traditional territory for two-HDMI-out spec machines.
Prof, couldn't you use something like this to get around your issue?
www.lambda-tek.com/.../index.pl
But that splitter costs £200 - for that money you might as well go for the higher-end receivers that offer 2 HDMI outs as standard?
A very fair point Clare, but the 876 is not out at the moment is it? And as far as I'm aware only the 905 offers two HDMI outs, which is a bit more than £600.
You guys certainly know your market! The £450 model is certainly going to be where the volume is! I can't wait for the review - anything that offers an alternative to Onkyo!!!
Apologies, just seen the news <a href="whathifi.co.uk/.../a> relating to the 876. I guess this was what you were referring to at £600.
Well, I'm guessing the 876 will be around £1,000 (same as 875 if 606 is anything to go by). I thought that, given the 876 announcement by Onkyo, the others might follow suit but I guess they probably have not had time to react to that news...
At the end of the day, if the Denon's are clearly superior, I'll probably go with one of them and get the spitter, but if there's not much in it, the Onkyo will be top of the list.
Will have to wait and see what the likes of Pioneer, Yamaha et al come up with as well!
OK, getting a bit confused now. Is there a £600 receiver available or due to be released with 2 hdmi outs?
Fantastic! A HD Audi decoding receiver for under £500 that doesn't have a front that looks like a body panel from the batmobile.
My list to Father Christmas is about to be written!