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Entered CNET Catalog: 09/08/2004
SKU: 0081757506212
Manufacturer: Denon
Manufacturer description
PRODUCT FEATURES: Dolby Digital Surround EX, Pro Logic IIx decoding with Cinema, Music and Game Modes; dts ES Discrete 6.1 and Matrix 6.1 decoding; dts Neo: 6 Stereo to Surround decoding; dts ES 96/24 5.1 decoding for DVD Video; Analog Devices HammerHead SHARC 32 bit floating point DSP processor; 6 Channels equal power amplifier section; Analog Devices, 24 bit, 192 kHz high resolution DACs on all eight channels; True 24 bit, 96 kHz Digital Interface Receiver; 24 bit, 96 kHz A/D conversion on all Stereo analog inputs (Not EXT. Inputs); Adjustable High and Low Pass Crossover (40/60/80/100/120/150/200/250Hz); 3 Assignable Component Video inputs (100MHz Bandwidth), with On-Screen Display; Video Conversion of Composite to S-Video and/or to Component, with on-screen display; 4 sets composite and 3 "S" video inputs; 5.1 external wide bandwidth (100 kHz) inputs for multi-channel formats, such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD; 5/6/7 Channel Stereo; Digitally regulated volume control with .5dB increment adjustments and step range of -80 to +15; Personal Memory Plus; 3 assignable digital inputs (2 Optical, 1 Coaxial); 8 analog inputs including built-in AM/FM tuner; Direct Access Tuner presets by remote; Glo-Key pre-programmed remote control.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/11/2005
Editors' note: Denon Electronics will not honor the warranty on Denon components purchased from unauthorized dealers or if the original factory serial number has been removed, defaced, or replaced. If in doubt about a particular online or brick-and-mortar retailer, call Denon at 973/396-0810. We're generally fans of Denon's chunky styling, but we think the Denon AVR-1705 looks a little generic. And while we're nitpicking, the row of teensy buttons and even teensier labeling under the display wasn't much fun to use in our dimly lit "theater." On the other hand, we like the AVR-1705's fairly compact overall dimensions. It measures a trim 16.5 inches deep and weighs a nimble 23.8 pounds.
Despite the fact that the AVR-1705 doesn't have onscreen displays, setup hassles were few. The receiver offers a choice of eight satellite-subwoofer crossover frequencies, ranging from 40Hz to 250Hz. That flexibility made it easy to achieve the best possible subwoofer blend with large or small satellite speakers. We like another particularly useful feature Denon calls Personal Memory Plus, which recalls the mode setting last used for each source. For example, we enjoy listening to the radio in stereo and CDs in Dolby Pro Logic II, and with the Denon AVR-1705, we didn't have to futz around with the mode switches every time we changed sources. Bass and treble controls are conveniently located on the front panel. The big remote control isn't backlit, but a large selection of differently colored and shaped buttons makes it easy to use. Each of the Denon AVR-1705's six channels delivers 75 watts of power. As with Denon's pricier models, it features a generously sized power transformer and large, extruded aluminum heat sinks to cool the power transistors. Surround modes include all of the usual Dolby and DTS suspects, plus a few of Denon's proprietary processing modes. Denon's Cinema EQ feature may be used to tame some of the harsh sound you get with some older movies; it worked wonders when we played our favorite classic DVDs.
The receiver's jack set isn't the most comprehensive we've seen, but it will be fine for smaller home theaters. A/V inputs number four, a whopping three of which accept component-video sources--and yes, the receiver will upconvert composite and S-Video sources such as VCRs to S-Video or component video. Audio connections include two stereo inputs, a set of SACD/DVD-Audio ins, two optical and one coaxial digital inputs, and A/B speaker switching. We would have liked to see a fourth digital audio input as well as S-Video on the front panel, but those are minor omissions. We used The House of Flying Daggers DVD to put the Denon AVR-1705 through its paces. There's an amazing fight scene in the bamboo forest that starts with very natural ambience and rustling leaves, so the whoosh of the catapulting men swooping down on Zhang Ziyi caught us by surprise. The crunching sounds of shattering bamboo rods added immensely to the visceral quality of the scene. When we did a quick face-off with Onkyo's TX-SR602 receiver ($500), we thought the two receivers sounded pretty much the same--both were excellent on DVD. When we played jazz diva Cassandra Wilson's CDs, we noted that the 1705 sounded a little richer, while the SR602 had a bit more resolution of fine details and grooved harder.
Returning to the AVR-1705, we turned up the heat with the Queens of the Stone Age's new Lullabies to Paralyze CD. The band's crunchy guitars are balanced with surprisingly deep melodic tunecraft. The turbocharged music is best enjoyed at maximum volume, and that made big demands on the AVR-1705's reserves, so it didn't exactly cruise over the rough spots like Denon's mighty AVR-3805 would. But that brute is three times as expensive as the AVR-1705. If you want to feel da noise, you have to pay to play.
We finished our auditions with Frank Zappa's Quaudiophiliac DVD-Audio disc, which features surround mixes that FZ perfected in the late 1970s. "Lumpy Gravy" dramatically opens up in surround, and we got a sense of being in Royce Hall at UCLA, and "Chunga Basement" was literally recorded in a basement, so it sounds more confined and maybe even a little damp! Since you can dial in a separate subwoofer level for the AVR-1705's SACD/DVD-A inputs, you'll get to hear all of the bass on your SACD or DVD-A discs, and that's rare with most A/V receivers. If you're a DVD-A or SACD fan, Denon's receivers are the way to go.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 User Rating: 
8/10
Works for me!
Pros: Great sound, easy to use, lot's of connectivity
Cons: It's a big boy, tiny lettering on remote
Review: I bought this receiver as part of a package at Sound Advice with the Mirage Nanosat II speakers. It is a great combination. The reciever remembers the last setting for each input an defaults to that, so if you like to listen to your CD player in 5 channel stereo, it reverts to that everytime you switch. For the money you get a whole lot of sound and a whole lot of features. A real step up from your typical HTIB.
User Rating: 8/10
For an entry level AVR this rocks...
Pros: 3 component ins... great sound and lots of inputs...
Cons: only 2 optical ins and no HDMI out...
Review: This is a great entry level AVR unit. For someone on a budget and one that wants good component and optical ins, this unit is for you. i suggest buying banana clips for the speaker in wires as the black on the bottom kinda sux for inputing speaker wire...
User Rating: 
9/10
Best receiver for the price.
Pros: easy to use and great look.
Cons: Sharp aquos interfered with the volume weird. Had to return TV.
Review: Would buy again have it for home theater use mostly some music. Using it with Definitive technology Pro Cinema 80 it is great for a small space, and first timers.
User Rating: 
7/10
Great features and value
Pros: All the latest Dolby, DTS and proprietary sound processors. Component video upconversion, with 3 component video inputs. DVD/A, SACD external 5.1 inputs.
Cons: Product manual could be a little better written. Remote, though functional and well laid-out, could have been smaller and sleeker.
Review:
User Rating: 
5/10
O.K. for basic sound.
Pros: Good for the price. Easy set up.
Cons: Sound quality is a bit lacking. My old optimus with the same watts sounds much better!
Review:
User Rating: 9/10
Simply the best buy in lower-mid priced receivers
Pros: Component video upconversion means you can run one cable from the receiver to your TV. Connect a cable box, video game, VCR, DVD, etc. to the receiver and never have to change the inputs on your TV! Also the first low-priced receiver I've seen with *three
Cons: One minor complaint is that inputs can't be renamed. Another optical digital input would be nice, as would six-channel pre-outs. But these are minor, and it's still a great buy.
Review:
