Denon AVR 2105 Home Theater Receiver with Dolby Digital EX DTS ES ProLogicIIx
Denon’s amazingly affordable AVR-2105 7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver combines the superb sound quality for which Denon is revered with all-format surround decoding and expanded AV control capabilities. The receiver’s high-power amplifier is assignable for either 7.1-channel surround operation or 5.1 surround with amplified stereo listening in another room.
The AVR-2105 includes many of the high-end features that distinguish Denon’s higher-priced components, like its 7 discrete channels of amplification to drive all the main loudspeakers in a 7.1 home theater surround system (front left, center, right, mid left/right, and surround left/right): 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz with less than 0.05 percent THD.
For compatibility with all of today’s advanced surround-sound formats, the AVR-2105 features multichannel-channel decoding of Dolby Digital EX, DTS, DTS 96/24 (5.1 for DVD-Video), DTS ES Discrete 6/1, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, and DTS NEO:6 (Cinema and Music modes), as well as processing for Dolby Pro Logic IIx (for cinema, music, and games). Dolby Pro Logic IIx generates multichannel surround from any stereo (2-channel source), offering a choice of processing for your music and movie content: either a room-filling 6.1 or 7.1 channels. (The “.1″ channel in all cases is a dedicated low-frequency effects channel, a passive signal intended for a stand-alone powered subwoofer.)
The AVR-2105 also includes Denon’s Auto Set-Up calibration, which simplifies the process of tailoring the receiver’s performance for your home theater or listening room. Auto Set-Up analyzes and calibrates 6 critically important speaker settings: connections, phase, size, and frequency response. It also adjusts channel level and time delay. The calibration feature uses high-performance DSP processors and the finest available digital-to-analog converters (DACs). For best results, the company offers an optional, specially designed calibration microphone for use in calibration (model DM-S305). Of course, you can disable Auto Set-Up if you’d prefer to calibrate the receiver in the traditional manner.
Since the majority of home theater speaker systems are built for 5.1, you may find yourself, in the short term, at least, with more amplifier power than your home theater requires. A function called Power Amp Assigned lets you use 2 of the amp’s 7 channels to power a second zone so you can enjoy music, for instance, in the kitchen or bedroom.
The AVR-2105′s derives much of its high sound quality from its premium Analog Devices Hammerhead SHARC 32-bit floating point DSP processing. For exceptional resolution and dynamic range, the receiver uses premium Analog Devices AD-1837 24-bit, 192 kHz audio DACs on all channels.
The AVR-2105 also includes a full complement of audio and video connections, including 3 assignable, high-bandwidth (100 MHz) component-video inputs. Video up-conversion radically simplifies connections to your TV, converting composite- and/or S-video sources to component-video without compromising video quality. If you’re using a component-video-capable TV, you won’t need separate composite- and S-video inputs in order to view composite- and S-video devices. Other versatile features include a high-quality AM/FM tuner with preset memory tuning and a newly designed, multi-line front-panel display that’s easier to read and provides more information than the displays on earlier models.
What’s in the Box
Receiver, remote control, remote batteries, an AM loop antenna, an indoor FM antenna, an AC power cord, a warranty card, a service-center list, and a user’s manual.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Behold the holy grail of receivers!
My friend (a total audio & video ignoramus) gave me a budget to do his first home theater system. The solution: spend the biggest bucks on the Denon AVR-2105. Why?
1) It has an auto setup facility that does more than just set up the speaker levels. It actually adjusts for flaws in the room and the weaknesses of the speakers. Whatever speakers you connect will sound like they are a few levels better in quality thanks to the kick ass audio setup technology from Audyssey Labs that Denon uses.
2) It does video conversion. This means I hook up his High Def TV to the Denon using component video cables (the best quality hookups available at this point). Then I hook up his VCR, DVD & cable box using their best hookups (S-Video, Component, Component respectively) & the Denon automatically converts the cheesy S-Video to component. Now the TV just always stays on component input & I never have to adjust it again, ever.
3) Because of 1) I can buy the best speakers the lowest bidder can provide. US$350 for a 5.1 package in this case.
4) I hook it all up & attach the auto setup microphone & let the auto setup rip. One minute later the speakers are dialed in for the room, it detected the fact that they are small speakers & there is a subwoofer attached. Distances to the sweet spot are exact to the foot.
5) “Ronin” is popped into the DVD & we skip chapters to the beginning of the big chase & fight. Holy cow, does De Niro ever have a sweet sounding machine gun! In the small living room, the sound is awesome. Next up, in goes Andrea Botticelli’s “Romanza” & he lets rip some operatic arias (my friend is Italian). Sweet, sweet sound.
Finally, there is just one thing to do: girlfriend proof this setup. After a long struggle it is close but no cigar. The TV’s video input is no problem, but switching devices on the Denon remote is ugly using those sliders. The button layout on the Denon remote sure is nice though. The Panasonic TV remote is pretty nice but it is still confusing switching around and it stupidly tries to adjust the TV’s volume at times & who knows what devices are on or off at any time or what mode it is in. Ack.
A lucky trip to the dealer introduces us to the Harmony remote. I am surprised other remotes have not been outlawed yet. This sucker downloads exact codes for your exact components off of the web (via USB cable to your computer) & then just controls everything, easily.
Mission accomplished. His low budget system sounds better than my high budget system, since it is dialed in better than mine + the speakers are compensated for, which I can’t even do on my system. (Sigh.) Soon I will have to demote my Denon AVR 5700 to the bedroom and get a shiny new Denon receiver with the Audyssey Labs tech for the living room. (Oh Poor wallet!) Thanks to the Harmony remote it all is easily & intuitively controlled from just one remote. (Yippee!) I am now another proud owner of a Harmony H688 remote.
5 Stars Best value receiver < $800
Wonderful “brains” behind your home theater/stereo, whether you’re just getting started out or looking for a receiver upgrade for an existing setup. This is the type of receiver you can grow with. Start with it and an inexpensive set of 5 speakers, then gradually swap out the speakers as the budget allows. Point is, the clean, efficient ouput of this receiver will shine driving low-end Infinity HTIB satellites or powering a set of B&W bookshelves.
Operation is as easy as you can get. Discrete input codes, discrete off/on codes make programming a universal remote much easier. Auto-setup is great, auto-detection of input signals mean you don’t have to know whether the input is DTS or PLIIx or whatever – it figures it out itself.
Lastly, it’s the little Denon touches that will ultimately justify this purchase. For just a hair more than a Sony, Pioneer, or Yamaha you get a rock-solid build quality, 3 component inputs (vs. the usual 2), full 7.1, 5 way posts on all speaker outputs, Auto-EQ including the microphone (costs extra $ on most others) and configurable inputs.
Spend the money to get this receiver, and you’ll be able to grow your home theater around it.
Enjoy!
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