Denon AVR-1905 7.1 Channels Receiver
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- Surround Sound: DTS ES® THX EX® Dolby Pro Logic II
- THX Certification: No
- Number of Channels: 7.1 Channels
- Type: Receiver
- Surround Mode Power: 80 Watt @ 8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD: 0.08%
- Stereo Mode Power: 75 Watt @ 8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD: 0.08%
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1322
Bang in the Bedroom on a Budget
Pros
Sound Quality and build are excellent. Many functions for a low priced receiver.
Cons
Only two optical digital inputs in the back. Takes time to learn the functions.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Although it takes time to learn to operate all the functions, this is an excellent quality receiver, especially for the price!
I love music and movies. I love sound in every room in my house. I had a cheap Kenwood receiver in my bedroom and it just wasn't giving my Cambridge Soundworks M-60 speakers the sound I felt they were capable. It needed to be replaced, so I went to the new Magnolia store in Best Buy and found a Denon 1905. This Unit has now been replaced by the 1906 which is a nearly identical unit in every respect. I have always heard good things about the Denon name, and this looked like a good solid unit that had all the features I wanted.
Installation
Installation was a pain, only because there are so many things I needed to hook up.
Digital InputsThe Denon does have 4 digital inputs, but I was disappointed to find only 2 digital optical inputs in the rear of the unit. The other digital input in the back is a coaxial digital input, the third opitical digital input is on the front. I have plugged into my Denon, my DVD player, my DVR cable box, and my computer, which stores my CD collection in MP3 format. I hook up each via the best signal, which is digital optical, so I had to hook one unit up through the front optical input. You also need to read the instructions to select the digital inputs, they are NOT automatically assigned, they must be assigned by you.
Analog inputs The Denon also has six analog inputs in the back for hooking up the SACD/DVD-Audio signal from my Universal Pioneer 45A DVD player.
Video Inputs It also has 3 component video inputs (as well as 3 composite and 3 S video inputs). I tend to plug my Video sources directly into the Monitor, but for those who want it centralized, the Denon can act as the hub of your video system as well.
Speaker Connections Speaker clips are of the post variety which can either have wires threaded through them, or banana plugs inserted. Banana plugs are by far much easier. The system is set up for either 5.1 sound and an extra pair of speakers in another room, or for 7.1 sound. It takes time to hook all of these inputs up. You will need to read the instructions to set these up, it's not intuitive. I did have to do some careful reading to set the levels on my speakers, but once I figured it out, I was fine. It allows selection of large or small or no speakers, and allows individual adjustment of each set of speakers volume. I use a home theater test DVD to aid in set up. If you follow the instructions you should be just fine.
Outputs The unit has one optical digital out which is ideal if you use the unit as a hub for recording in digital formats from any of the digital inputs. It also has 2 composite video outs, 2 S video outs, but only one component video out.
Background on Input and Output types For the uninitiated, Component Video is the best way to conduct video signals short of HDMI or DVI inputs. It uses 3 cables to conduct the video signal. Be sure to hook them up to the proper colors, or your signal will be off. You may use 3 RCA cords to do this, and don't need to let the sales person sell you very expensive component video cable. Digital cable (optical or coaxial) is the best for audio. However, only 6 analog cables will allow you to play SACD and DVD-Audio, these signals will not be carried digitally (at least not on this unit, some very high priced Receiver DVD players do have that option)
Basic Info on the Unit
This is a 7.1 surround sound receiver that is rated at 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms across the frequency spectrum, and it has total harmonic distortion of only .08%. In English, that means that Denon power is good clean power, and it will sound better and louder than inferior systems with higher watts per channel. Watts per channel can be deceiving because companies measure it in different ways. Denon measures watts per channel as they should be measured, so it is a true indication of the units power, and not an inflated misinformed selling point. Look at the THD or total harmonic distortion on some units at the same price, some go as high as 10%! That will sound like NOISE!
7.1 channels means the unit will send sound signals to speakers for front, left, center, rear left and right, and surround left and right. The .1 is the subwoofer out. You need a powered subwoofer (i.e. with its own power supply) to use with this unit. The unit supports Dolby, DTS-ES and THX EX and Dolby pro Logic II, although it isn't THX certified. The unit also has several surround sound modes.
Real World Use
The front of the Unit can be confusing at first, the buttons aren't intuitive. The first month I used this Receiver, I would have to hit a few buttons before acheiving my desired result, because I hit the wrong set of buttons. On the front of the unit are very smalll buttons for selecting the input mode, or choosing analog or extension in. Input mode selects auto, DTS or dolby, Analog selects well, analog, and extension in selects the six analog inputs for SACD and DVD-Audio. Directly below those three buttons are buttons for the speaker sets A & B and surround back. It's very easy to hit the wrong set of buttons. Another small set of buttons allows you to select stereo, 5ch/7ch or processor direct. Again, until I had used the unit for a while, it took me a while to get used to.
System selection can be done with one large knob to the left, that is easy. Just turn the knob and read the digital display on the front, or listen until you hear your source. To the right is a large easy to use Volume knob. Under the volume knob is a set of buttons for adjusting and setting up the unit. I used the remote control to do this.
Remote Control
The remote is a big bulky affair that will be hard to lose in any event. All functions including programing can be done via the remote. Input selection is done by hitting the right button out of a series of 10 yellow buttons. You will need to stare at them for a while before figuring out which is which. Some of the buttons glow in the dark, but not all of them. The writing is tiny. Functions like choosing from direct input, stereo or surround sounds must be looked at before figuring out where they are, same goes for input mode buttons. It is easy to accidently hit one, and then try to figure out why you are not hearing anything. The volume buttons in any event, are offset in such a way that they are easy to locate to turn the unit up or down. The remote is also set up to be able to be used as a universal remote. I have not done that as of yet.
Quality
A surround sound receiver with all the bells and whistles in the world doesn't mean anything if it doesn't sound good. (are ya listening Bose?) For the uninitiated, YES the quality of the power source has a LOT to do with the quality of the sound, almost as much as the speakers. I say almost, because once you have reached a certain quality level it is very difficult to detect differences between one quality amplifier and another, however speakers all have their own characteristics, and differences may be heard from one brand to the next even in expensive audiophile systems. It is NOT difficult to detect the sound difference between a poor quality receiver and a quality receiver. I heard the difference my new Denon made over my old bargain basement Kenwood immediately upon listening to my first CD. (which by the way was The Clash - London Calling) I have to rewrite my review of the Cambridge Soundworks M-60s at one point, I really haven't done them justice with my current review, but lets say speakers that sounded decent with the Kenwood sound excellent with the Denon. Bass was richer louder and clearer, Midrange and treble sang! It was like I was listening to a whole new set of speakers, but it was really just my same speakers saying "please give us good clean power so we can sing!" Now when I watch a movie in my bedroom, or listen to a CD, SACD or DVD-Audio it sounds terrific! I also enjoy the ease of switching from stereo to 7 channel stereo. The extra two channels also add dimension on certain DVDs which are encoded with DTS ES or Dolby Digital EX. (like Lord of the Rings Special Extended Edition) It creates a fuller surround sound. The same signal is sent to the two rear speakers, so its actually 6.1 sound using 7.1 channels. For SACD and DVD-Audio it does nothing, those formats either deliver to 2 channels or 5.1 channels, they cannot and will not be altered. Other sources such as CDs or MP3s may be played in a variety of surround sound modes. I typically don't use any except the 7.1 surround so that the music fills my room.
My Biggest Complaint
I do have to say that this is NOT the Surround Sound Receiver to use if you have a lot of sources to input. I use this in my bedroom, in which I have only 3 inputs, which this unit handles. I could add one more digital source. After that, I would be stuck using the analog inputs which would be fine for a VCR or tape deck, but not good for video games, DVD recorders or other digital sources. My home theater system for example has Cable, DVD, PC, PS2, X-Box, Turntable, and Tape Deck (yeah I have some old school stuff) hooked up and sometimes GameCube or Samsung MP3 player to be input. My Yamaha 5280 has a plethora of digital inputs. You need a good size Receiver with LOTS of inputs to handle all of that. More and more people are hooking their game systems to their surround sound theaters, so you want to make sure you have enough inputs. That is my biggest complaint, but then again, this particular model is a lower end model. Higher priced models will have more inputs, and more watts per channel.
Summary
The unit is a bit of a pain to set up, but thats going to be true of any hub of an audio video center. It also took a while to sort through setting up digital optical assignments and speaker levels, but it is explained in the manual, you just have to follow step by step and be patient. It took me some time to get used to the small buttons on the unit itself and the numerous buttons on the remote, but I did eventually get used to them after a few weeks of regular use, and I now only occasionally hit the wrong button. However, the quality of even this entry level receiver is excellent, and shows why Denon has such a respected name in Audio. You could do a lot worse for the same price (a lot worse). I do not believe that you could find a receiver that is notably better at the same price point though. If you just have a few quality sources you want to input, the Denon 1905 7.1 Surround Sound Receiver sounds absolutely great!
Installation
Installation was a pain, only because there are so many things I needed to hook up.
Digital InputsThe Denon does have 4 digital inputs, but I was disappointed to find only 2 digital optical inputs in the rear of the unit. The other digital input in the back is a coaxial digital input, the third opitical digital input is on the front. I have plugged into my Denon, my DVD player, my DVR cable box, and my computer, which stores my CD collection in MP3 format. I hook up each via the best signal, which is digital optical, so I had to hook one unit up through the front optical input. You also need to read the instructions to select the digital inputs, they are NOT automatically assigned, they must be assigned by you.
Analog inputs The Denon also has six analog inputs in the back for hooking up the SACD/DVD-Audio signal from my Universal Pioneer 45A DVD player.
Video Inputs It also has 3 component video inputs (as well as 3 composite and 3 S video inputs). I tend to plug my Video sources directly into the Monitor, but for those who want it centralized, the Denon can act as the hub of your video system as well.
Speaker Connections Speaker clips are of the post variety which can either have wires threaded through them, or banana plugs inserted. Banana plugs are by far much easier. The system is set up for either 5.1 sound and an extra pair of speakers in another room, or for 7.1 sound. It takes time to hook all of these inputs up. You will need to read the instructions to set these up, it's not intuitive. I did have to do some careful reading to set the levels on my speakers, but once I figured it out, I was fine. It allows selection of large or small or no speakers, and allows individual adjustment of each set of speakers volume. I use a home theater test DVD to aid in set up. If you follow the instructions you should be just fine.
Outputs The unit has one optical digital out which is ideal if you use the unit as a hub for recording in digital formats from any of the digital inputs. It also has 2 composite video outs, 2 S video outs, but only one component video out.
Background on Input and Output types For the uninitiated, Component Video is the best way to conduct video signals short of HDMI or DVI inputs. It uses 3 cables to conduct the video signal. Be sure to hook them up to the proper colors, or your signal will be off. You may use 3 RCA cords to do this, and don't need to let the sales person sell you very expensive component video cable. Digital cable (optical or coaxial) is the best for audio. However, only 6 analog cables will allow you to play SACD and DVD-Audio, these signals will not be carried digitally (at least not on this unit, some very high priced Receiver DVD players do have that option)
Basic Info on the Unit
This is a 7.1 surround sound receiver that is rated at 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms across the frequency spectrum, and it has total harmonic distortion of only .08%. In English, that means that Denon power is good clean power, and it will sound better and louder than inferior systems with higher watts per channel. Watts per channel can be deceiving because companies measure it in different ways. Denon measures watts per channel as they should be measured, so it is a true indication of the units power, and not an inflated misinformed selling point. Look at the THD or total harmonic distortion on some units at the same price, some go as high as 10%! That will sound like NOISE!
7.1 channels means the unit will send sound signals to speakers for front, left, center, rear left and right, and surround left and right. The .1 is the subwoofer out. You need a powered subwoofer (i.e. with its own power supply) to use with this unit. The unit supports Dolby, DTS-ES and THX EX and Dolby pro Logic II, although it isn't THX certified. The unit also has several surround sound modes.
Real World Use
The front of the Unit can be confusing at first, the buttons aren't intuitive. The first month I used this Receiver, I would have to hit a few buttons before acheiving my desired result, because I hit the wrong set of buttons. On the front of the unit are very smalll buttons for selecting the input mode, or choosing analog or extension in. Input mode selects auto, DTS or dolby, Analog selects well, analog, and extension in selects the six analog inputs for SACD and DVD-Audio. Directly below those three buttons are buttons for the speaker sets A & B and surround back. It's very easy to hit the wrong set of buttons. Another small set of buttons allows you to select stereo, 5ch/7ch or processor direct. Again, until I had used the unit for a while, it took me a while to get used to.
System selection can be done with one large knob to the left, that is easy. Just turn the knob and read the digital display on the front, or listen until you hear your source. To the right is a large easy to use Volume knob. Under the volume knob is a set of buttons for adjusting and setting up the unit. I used the remote control to do this.
Remote Control
The remote is a big bulky affair that will be hard to lose in any event. All functions including programing can be done via the remote. Input selection is done by hitting the right button out of a series of 10 yellow buttons. You will need to stare at them for a while before figuring out which is which. Some of the buttons glow in the dark, but not all of them. The writing is tiny. Functions like choosing from direct input, stereo or surround sounds must be looked at before figuring out where they are, same goes for input mode buttons. It is easy to accidently hit one, and then try to figure out why you are not hearing anything. The volume buttons in any event, are offset in such a way that they are easy to locate to turn the unit up or down. The remote is also set up to be able to be used as a universal remote. I have not done that as of yet.
Quality
A surround sound receiver with all the bells and whistles in the world doesn't mean anything if it doesn't sound good. (are ya listening Bose?) For the uninitiated, YES the quality of the power source has a LOT to do with the quality of the sound, almost as much as the speakers. I say almost, because once you have reached a certain quality level it is very difficult to detect differences between one quality amplifier and another, however speakers all have their own characteristics, and differences may be heard from one brand to the next even in expensive audiophile systems. It is NOT difficult to detect the sound difference between a poor quality receiver and a quality receiver. I heard the difference my new Denon made over my old bargain basement Kenwood immediately upon listening to my first CD. (which by the way was The Clash - London Calling) I have to rewrite my review of the Cambridge Soundworks M-60s at one point, I really haven't done them justice with my current review, but lets say speakers that sounded decent with the Kenwood sound excellent with the Denon. Bass was richer louder and clearer, Midrange and treble sang! It was like I was listening to a whole new set of speakers, but it was really just my same speakers saying "please give us good clean power so we can sing!" Now when I watch a movie in my bedroom, or listen to a CD, SACD or DVD-Audio it sounds terrific! I also enjoy the ease of switching from stereo to 7 channel stereo. The extra two channels also add dimension on certain DVDs which are encoded with DTS ES or Dolby Digital EX. (like Lord of the Rings Special Extended Edition) It creates a fuller surround sound. The same signal is sent to the two rear speakers, so its actually 6.1 sound using 7.1 channels. For SACD and DVD-Audio it does nothing, those formats either deliver to 2 channels or 5.1 channels, they cannot and will not be altered. Other sources such as CDs or MP3s may be played in a variety of surround sound modes. I typically don't use any except the 7.1 surround so that the music fills my room.
My Biggest Complaint
I do have to say that this is NOT the Surround Sound Receiver to use if you have a lot of sources to input. I use this in my bedroom, in which I have only 3 inputs, which this unit handles. I could add one more digital source. After that, I would be stuck using the analog inputs which would be fine for a VCR or tape deck, but not good for video games, DVD recorders or other digital sources. My home theater system for example has Cable, DVD, PC, PS2, X-Box, Turntable, and Tape Deck (yeah I have some old school stuff) hooked up and sometimes GameCube or Samsung MP3 player to be input. My Yamaha 5280 has a plethora of digital inputs. You need a good size Receiver with LOTS of inputs to handle all of that. More and more people are hooking their game systems to their surround sound theaters, so you want to make sure you have enough inputs. That is my biggest complaint, but then again, this particular model is a lower end model. Higher priced models will have more inputs, and more watts per channel.
Summary
The unit is a bit of a pain to set up, but thats going to be true of any hub of an audio video center. It also took a while to sort through setting up digital optical assignments and speaker levels, but it is explained in the manual, you just have to follow step by step and be patient. It took me some time to get used to the small buttons on the unit itself and the numerous buttons on the remote, but I did eventually get used to them after a few weeks of regular use, and I now only occasionally hit the wrong button. However, the quality of even this entry level receiver is excellent, and shows why Denon has such a respected name in Audio. You could do a lot worse for the same price (a lot worse). I do not believe that you could find a receiver that is notably better at the same price point though. If you just have a few quality sources you want to input, the Denon 1905 7.1 Surround Sound Receiver sounds absolutely great!
