Entered CNET Catalog: 10/10/2003
SKU: 0081757505543
Manufacturer: Denon
Manufacturer description
For optimum Dolby Digital and DTS reproduction, the AVR-1804 features high quality, wideband audio amplification, providing 90 watts power output for each of the six main channels. A large capacity power supply includes a high current power transformer along with discrete power output devices on all six amplifier channels for highest dynamic range and superb reproduction clarity. The AVR-1804 is equipped with a total of 6 power amps including one for the Surround Back speaker to give you more clearly defined sound localization at the rear for 6.1-channel surround sources such as DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, Dolby Digital EX, and DTS-ES NEO: 6. The AVR-1804 also provides you with 2 speaker terminals for the Surround Back channels, allowing for the ultimate home theater experience in amazing 7.1-channel Surround. The AVR-1804 includes the Personal Memory Plus function that automatically remembers the surround mode you last used for each program source, so that you do not need to select the mode again for that program. The AVR-1804 lets you make system settings via displays on your TV screen from the comfort of your chair. As with all of DENON's high-grade A/V receiver, the AVR-1804 lets you adjust delay times and other parameters so that you can customize the performance of the AVR-1804 to suit your own home theater and enhance operating ease. The adjustments are easy to make via a dialog format on the fluorescent display on the front panel. These customized features are then stored, for each source input and surround mode, in Personal Memory Plus so constant readjustments are not required.Product summary
The good: Excellent sound and build quality; six 90-watt channels; Dolby EX/DTS ES/DTS 6.1 surround processing; SACD/DVD-Audio input; turntable input; component-video switching; two-zone operation, plus A/B speaker connectivity.
The bad: No bass or treble controls.
The bottom line: Denon's stellar six-channel receiver is the go-to choice for budget-minded audiophiles.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/09/2004
Denon receivers have consistently garnered raves from audiophiles, but they were always a little more expensive than the competition. Well, the times they are a-changin'. This fully loaded $499 Denon AVR-1804 is the most affordable 6.1-channel receiver we've ever tested from the company. The AVR-1804 presents a minor update to Denon's subdued, sleek styling. We found the gold labeling on the black faceplate nearly impossible to read under dim light, but the AVR-1804's large display kept us fully informed about source selection and surround processing in play. Weighing a solid 24 pounds and measuring 17.1 inches wide, 6.7 inches high, and 16.4 inches deep, the Denon AVR-1804 is of average size.
Starting a few years ago, Denon has made incremental improvements in its menu system and the overall user-friendliness of its receivers. The AVR-1804's menu not only offers a host of useful options, but every step of the setup procedure is numbered, so you'll never get lost or miss a crucial stage.
The preprogrammed remote also gets high marks for layout and ease of use. The variety of button shapes, colors, and sizes are a big help, and they're logically organized. And when you want to use the remote to control another component--your DVD player, for instance--you slide the centrally located switch to the appropriate detent. If this remote were backlit, it would be perfect. Custom installation features are the hot ticket now, and the AVR-1804's multisource operation allows you to play two separate sources (CD, DVD, tuner, and so on), at different volume levels, in two rooms. As for power, a discrete 90-watt power amplifier serves each of the receiver's six channels. The 90-watt rating applies to 8-ohm speakers, though Denon also supplies 125-watt-per-channel ratings for 6-ohm speakers.
Surround-processing modes include the usual 5.1- and 6.1-channel suspects: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 6.1, DTS-ES, and DTS-Neo:6, along with Dolby Pro Logic II. Bass-management flexibility is excellent: you can select among four subwoofer crossover frequencies--80, 100, 120, or 150 hertz--and a separate subwoofer level option for SACD/DVD-A players. That flexibility helps ensure a consistently more seamless blend between your subwoofer and your satellites.
Connectivity options should satisfy all but the most advanced home-theater buyers. Highlights include component-video switching for two HDTV or DVD sources, four digital audio inputs (three optical, one coaxial), and one optical output. You also get a 5.1-channel input for the aforementioned DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD players, along with analog connectors for CD recorders. And Denon earns some extra gold stars for the turntable inputs, the receiver's ability to convert composite to S-Video (and vice versa), and the full set of front-panel A/V inputs.
While this is labeled a 6.1-channel receiver, it can actually accommodate five, six, or seven main speakers. On top of the two rear-surround speakers, you can hook up one (or two) surround-back speakers, which brings the total to seven main speakers. (We know, the receiver's six-channel designation is a little confusing, but trust us, you can do seven.)
If you stick with the standard five-speaker array--front left/center/right, plus two side surround speakers--you can reassign the surround-back speaker outputs to drive a pair of speakers in a second room. However, the second room's speakers' sound will be in mono, not stereo. Don't worry, though: the Denon AVR-1804 does have separate B speaker outputs that enable you to run an additional set of stereo speakers to another room. In other words, with these versatile speaker-connectivity options, you can actually put sound in up to three rooms.
Denon also makes the very similar $399 AVR-1604, which is missing the composite/S-Video conversion and advanced bass-management options of its big brother. Meanwhile, the entry-level AVR-484 is a 5.1-channel A/V receiver that goes for $299. DVDs, ranging from special effects-driven extravaganzas to straight-ahead dramas and comedies, were all well served by the Denon AVR-1804's richly balanced sound. Detail resolution and separation were excellent. Dynamic DVDs, such as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines never came close to straining the AVR-1804's amplifiers, even when we hooked up our power-hungry Dynaudio Contour speakers. But the most revealing test of the AVR-1804 came when we played a stack of SACDs and DVD-Audio discs with a matching Denon universal player, the DVD-2900. Oh boy, the Sinatra at the Sands DVD-A put us in the best seat in the house at the legendary Las Vegas hotel. The disc made huge demands on the AVR-1804, but the sound was always vividly alive and present. Even as we pushed the volume to nearly realistic levels, the Denon never fumbled a beat.
And finally, we put the AVR-1804's digital converters to good use when we hooked up a Kenwood/Sirius satellite DT-7000S radio tuner. The sound via the digital connection was cleaner and clearer, with significantly improved bass definition compared to the sound from the DT-7000's analog outputs.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17out of 17 user reviews
Good sound, but not HDTV friendly
Pros: Solid 6.1 Reciever with many options
Cons: Lack of on screen display above 480i, HDTV
out of 17 user reviews
sounds great
Pros: does everthing i need in a AVR
Cons: needs a better remote otherwise its perfect
out of 17 user reviews
great for the price
Pros: price, quality, inputs
Cons: recording, remote
out of 17 user reviews
High quality for the budget-minded.
Pros: Sound quality, usability, construction, feature set.
Cons: Poor tuner, could have two coax inputs.
I have my AVR-1804 hooked to a humble set of JBLs Northridge speakers (E50 as front/main, EC25, E10 as surround and E250P sub - no SBack so far) and I must say that this little thing rocks.
For DVDs, it has a very good sound consistency and will not disappoint even on the most dynamic action-explosion-carcrash movie you could possibly select.
The bass management options really help when you have relatively efficient main speakers and want to take advantage of their bass response and not throw everything under 150Hz to the subwoofer instead.
Although mentioned somewhere here on CNET, there is tone control (bass + treble) for each mode, except for "direct", that (thanks God!) skips all the "make-up circuitry" and delivers the signal straight to the amplifier section of the receiver. You can also use the "tone defeat" feature on each mode.
If you are serious about listening to stereo music and do not have a top-of-the-line CD player, then hook your CD optical output to the AVR-1804, take advantage of its high-quality D-to-A converter, select the "direct" mode, hook a pair of good-quality speakers and enjoy.
All on-screen menus are well-organized and really easy to understand. I am not using component video connections right now but I heard that OSD is not available when your monitor is connected via component video...
For the budget-minded, this is definitely a receiver to be considered.
out of 17 user reviews
A better remote and rgb switching would make it ideal
Pros: Great amount of inputs and outputs. A lot of features. reasonably ergonomic. solid feeling to most of the knobs and buttons
Cons: No rgb switching! Remember europe guys? Weak remote signal that needs an almost straight angle to the amplifier. That is very annoying. Long power on to sound on delay time.
out of 17 user reviews
good enough for movies, pleasant with music
Pros: plenty of power, build like a tank
Cons: If only it had a more sensitive tuner...
out of 17 user reviews
Very good all-around receiver
Pros: High quality at a reasonable price. This receiver is all aluminum, no plastic knobs here, and it has phono inputs! And, about the bass response, the previous reviewers - including CNET - should realize that there ARE bass and treble controls built into
Cons: Set up is more complicated than it need be. The universal remote is not quite universal - especially on older models and, honestly, some Sony products. The manual, as mentioned earlier, is overly complicated.
out of 17 user reviews
Great for "First-timers."
Pros: With other components added, ie; dvd, cd, vcr and tv, this is great. I have great stereo sound and will eventually add the things to make surround sound part of the system
Cons:
out of 17 user reviews
One of the Best for the Proce
Pros: Great sound for both Movies and Music. Can be setup as a 7.1 channel if your not using the secound zone.
Cons: None at this price
out of 17 user reviews
pound for pound champ
Pros: Great sound, easy setup if you can set the clock on your VCR... Massive. Allows for seven speaker configuration
Cons: No bass control, very smart, I should not be trusted with so much control over my audio.
out of 17 user reviews
This receiver's stellar sound will appeal to demanding listeners.
Pros: Terrific features result in extremely precise placement of sounds for real movie excitement. The 1804 is an extremely versatile system that met and exceeded my requirements.
Cons: Like all receivers, Remotes can be confusing.
out of 17 user reviews
Good enouch for me
Pros: Fairly easy to set up. This is my first "home audio/theater" system. i got it all figured out.
Cons: Manual super Complicated.
out of 17 user reviews
The sound is the key...
Pros: Truly wonderful sound. Easy connections (Banana plugs for speakers). Front panel inputs (Easy for Xbox in Dolby 5.1). Has a very powerful amp even though rated at 90x6. I ran 4 speakers full bandwidth (no sub), and got enough bass to move my pants' leg. D
Cons: Remote is somewhat confusing, but no prohibitive. No "ON/OFF" for Dolby "Dialogue Normalization" -- DTS movies sound better. No multiple crossover settings for different speakers (i.e.-- Front: 80Hz, Center: 100Hz, Surround: 120Hz...All the same crossover
out of 17 user reviews
Denon AVR-1804
Pros: I thought the set up was easy! The sound is also good for music but we have a subwoofer that is wonderful!!!
Cons: The remote gets a little confusing at times but other wise this product is great!!!
out of 17 user reviews
Great for music & movies
Pros: Cheap, powerful, sounds fantastic, just need to tie it to the right speakers (sounds awesome with my Krix)
Cons: Manual sux, balancing the output from the speakers is tricky, can't switch it on from standby unless you use the remote
out of 17 user reviews
Recommended for movies... not music
Pros: Very clean, clear distortion free sound. Great 5/6 channel stereo. Great build and runs much cooler than my last Sony receiver. I want to like it...
Cons: Bass? What bass? Unless you have a subwoofer, forget it. Great for movies, but music is way too bright... and seriously lacking low-end. I'm debating returning it. Though my Sony was a bit flat for music... at least it felt full-bodied. And yeah, the manu
out of 17 user reviews
very nice 5.1 receiver
Pros: plenty of power, fantastic sound, well constructed
Cons: Very poor owner's manual makes set up a chore. The manual spends most of its time on exotic features and not enough time on basic features and set up. We don't all have Phds in electrical engineering.
