Yamaha Home Theater
Entered CNET Catalog: 06/09/2004
SKU: 0081757506076
Manufacturer: Denon
Manufacturer description
The AVR-2805 is Denon's addition of versatile A/V Receivers, which incorporate all current surround formats and enhanced installation flexibility, all with great simplicity of setup and operation. AVR-2805 features latest generation 32bit floating point DSP to decode all current surround formats, 96kHz signals and also processing room equalization. This DSP's processing power allows even the analogue input signals in all surround modes to be handled at 96kHz, which undoubtedly assures never-before-experienced high quality. The AVR-2805 is equipped with an Auto Setup and Room Equalization function, to achieve the most ideal sound field for your room. With the accompanying microphone placed at your listening position, the powerful new 32bit floating point DSP automatically and accurately analyzes, adjusts and sets the speaker configurations of your system. Also, the AVR-2805 analyzes and adjusts the frequency response of the speakers to the room with an 8 band parametric equalizer. The microphone (DM-S305) is especially designed, high performance unit with a heavy duty base to suppress vibrations for accurate analyzing.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 08/31/2004
Editors' note: Denon Electronics will not honor the warranty on Denon components that have been purchased from unauthorized dealers or have had the original factory serial number removed, defaced, or replaced. If in doubt about a particular online or brick-and-mortar retailer, call Denon at 973/396-0810. There's no denying that the Denon AVR-2805 is a full-size component. It measures 17.25 inches wide, 6.75 inches high, and 16.75 inches deep. The owner's manual claims that it weighs 29.75 pounds, but it felt heavier to us. We think Denon's refreshed cosmetics provide a more contemporary flair than last year's models did, and you can now get the 2805 in either black or silver. The remote is beautifully laid out, with a variety of differently colored and shaped buttons. We'd like it even more if it were backlit, but otherwise it's pretty good.
We're happy to see Denon offering Auto Setup on its midline and higher-end receivers. Denon includes the DM-S305 setup microphone, which is all the more surprising because Denon doesn't supply the mic with its $1,199 AVR-3805 receiver. The 2805's Auto Setup routine fills three pages in the owner's manual, but they are mostly devoted to the numerous onscreen prompts. We do wish setup were a one- or two-button exercise, but it's certainly a lot easier than manually navigating through the standard setup. Auto Setup checks speaker phase on each channel, adjusts volume levels for the speakers and the subwoofer, and measures the distances from the speakers to the listener. Compared to no setup at all, it can make a dramatic improvement in your home-theater sound quality; most folks are so intimidated, they never make it to first base of the standard setup ordeal.
The 2805's automatic equalization is another cool feature, but in this case we can't guarantee that the results will always be an improvement. We tried Auto EQ with our NHT and Dynaudio Contour speakers, and it added treble detail and firmed up the speakers' bass. Try it; you may like it. As we noted in the introduction to this review, the Denon AVR-2805 offers an adjustable delay (up to 200ms) to establish lip sync between your speakers and video sources or displays that lag behind the audio signals. Some of today's digital TVs, DVD players, video processors, and even satellite or cable TV systems can introduce this kind of delay, which we can't stand; it's incredibly distracting to see actors' lips move before you hear them speak. You can assign separate delays for different sources, such as DVD players or satellite set-top boxes.
With 100 watts for each of its seven channels, the 2805 receiver has the guts to rock your world. (Denon quotes 135 watts per channel for 6-ohm speakers.) Digital processing gets the deluxe treatment, running through a high-end Analog Devices Hammerhead SHARC processor. The receiver's surround modes include Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS ES Discrete 6.1, and DTS ES 96/24.
We can't imagine a home theater that would exceed the 2805's vast connectivity capabilities, unless you require DVI or HDMI switching, which is restricted to megabuck receivers at the moment. The 2805 can switch up to three component-video sources and also includes six A/V inputs and two outputs; an SACD/DVD-Audio input set; two stereo inputs, including one turntable in; and preamplifier outputs that you can use to hook up a separate multichannel power amplifier. The 2805 has extensive multiroom provisions: speaker A/B switching, Zone 2 and 3 stereo outputs, an RS-232C port, and two 12-volt trigger controls for use with AMX and Crestron home automation systems. The Sinatra at the Sands DVD-A worked its magic over the Denon AVR-2805. We were in the best seats in the legendary Las Vegas venue, the year was 1966, and Frank was grooving with the Count Basie Orchestra. The big band sound was so wonderfully vivid, we could hear the music's effect on the booze-soaked crowd. The DVD-A was like a virtual time machine.
Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road SACD sounded awesome in its own right. The drums on "Bennie and the Jets" were dynamically alive, though the artificiality of the canned audience cheers were that much more obvious over the 2805. In some cases, resolution has its downsides.
The Hellboy DVD was a lot of fun, thanks in part to the way the 2805 unleashed the disc's monstrous low-frequency effects. Come to think of it, all of our favorite DVDs sounded weightier, richer, and generally better than we're used to hearing.
Finishing up, we compared the 2805 to Denon's step-up AVR-3805. Although the two receivers sounded similar, the 3805 had more gravitas, and when we pushed the volume way up, the 3805's power advantages became apparent. That said, in everyday use, we were never less than thrilled by the 2805's capabilities.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 User Rating: 
3/10
Surprisingly dissapointing
Pros: Seems to be a good value, but...
Cons: It broke after one week
User Rating: 
9/10
Great higher-end receiver
Pros: all around quality; sound; performance; functions; inputs and outputs; looks
Cons: remote could be better; and cant rename the inputs (aka XBox vs. DVD)
It is also very nice because it comes with the setup mic included. (Very cool) The remote has alot of buttons for sure - but you will get used to it in time. Honestly I was going to buy the 3805 originally, but I chose the 2805 because it didnt have that touch screen remote. I have had one before, and trust me - THEY ARENT WORTH IT!!! You may think it is cool at first, but they are a pain. So that is why I went with this one vs. the more expensive 3805. And I have been more than satisfied since. This unit have plenty of power and features and is very user friendly with the on screen display.
I plan on using the zone 2 speakers for some patio sound soon. (7.1 surround isnt really worth it untill more movies are recorded like that). But that brings me to another point about this unit - the designers were very forward thinking because of the technology they put in the receiver. You wont be left behind in a few years like can happen if you settle for a lower end model.
I would look no further than at Denon for your receiver needs.
User Rating: 9/10
The perfect choice for entry-level or budget-conscience autophiles
Pros: Solid power & performance; great connectivity options; video up-converting and component switching; "Must have" Lip-Sync; and microphone setup features
Cons: Viewing onscreen display requires using a S-video connection and could use a higher definition mode for components; some options are harder to set up than they should be; needs HDMI or DVI switching.
User Rating: 9/10
Just what you expect from a reciever in this Price Range
Pros: Video upconverting, programmable inputs
Cons: Price, lack of HDMI Support, limited Sound Fields
Downside is that it is on the high end of the price range for receivers of this class. The ability to at least pass through HDMI would be great but quaulity from the Component Video is still outstanding.
User Rating: 9/10
The sound is amazing
Pros: Great sound and flexiblity
Cons: The manual and remote suck
User Rating: 9/10
A solid performer with a lot of technology.
Pros: The best soundstage, Easy setup, enough inputs to satisfy, power holds on to any demands, great layout and user interface.
Cons: Denon remotes are not the easiest to use, but you should be using a universal remote in your home theater anyway.
User Rating: 9/10
Denon is rocking my house
Pros: EASY setup, video up-conversion, easy to use remote
Cons: Slow changes to audio and video modes; makes changing surfing difficult
User Rating: 
8/10
Very impressed with this denon
Pros: Sleek looking design & available in silver or black. 3 component vid inputs, 5 optical and 2 coax digital inputs & all are assignable. Excellent sound quality and the included mic makes setup much simpler. The video switching works flawlessly. Als
Cons: No ability to change the source input names, for example from "Vid 1" to "X Box"
User Rating: 
7/10
Excellent sound and features
Pros: Music sounds so good via Ascend/SVS 5.1 speaker system that it has spoiled me. The Bose system in my car sounds flat and lifeless next to my home system. The Pure Direct mode is amazing- the imaging is so good, I couldn't tell the center speaker wasn't
Cons: Although the auto setup was easy, the manual leaves a lot to be desired. It takes some experimentation with the remote to learn how to work the TV, receiver, and DVD player without buggering something up. My kids have figured it out. Denon, Pioneer, Ya
User Rating: 
10/10
Awesome sound and functionality
Pros: Ease of Installation, Surround Modes, Inputs/Outputs, Fantastic sound from CD, DVD
Cons: The Manual - it's huge, but using the quick set makes it easy to get up & going
User Rating: 9/10
Worth the upgrade from Denon 2802
Pros: +Auto set-up +Auto EQ +The 100mhz wideband component switching +100 watts per channel x 7 +Crossover from 40, 60, 80, 100hz +Overall, I am overwhelmed with additional mid-bass that my previous model(2802) was lacking.
Cons: -Auto setup was off about 2 decibels from my SPL readings(made the adjustments later) -Not much.....
User Rating: 9/10
Worth the "Up"grade from Denon 2802
Pros: +Pro-logic IIx +Auto Set-UP, Auto-EQ +Increments of .5db +Noticeable increase in power +Component upconversion and 3 component switching(100mhz) +Included ($65 value) omni-directionl mic +Nice front panel display +Set-up is for movies only, I am very pl
Cons: -Auto Set-UP was off about 3db(on all 6 speakers) compared from my RCA SPL setup at 80db C-weighted, slow response, master volume at 0... -Other than my personal preference, nothing else negative to report.
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