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Denon AVR 1909 review

Last post Aug 21, 2008, 11:19 AM by Andrew Everard. (42 replies)
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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 9:48 AM

Denon AVR 1909 review

An excellent review but for me a flaw in it as with the Onkyo 606 review. Now I've gone on about this before but I really don't understand the reluctance to mention the LACK OF PRE OUTS!! We've had the award winning Onkyo 605 - fair enough it had HD audio and no other receiver in it's price range did. However now, most of the £350 - £500 receivers have HD audio and surely pre outs or lack of should be mentioned. What is particularly annoying with the 1909 is that the 1908 it superceded has got pre outs (just no HD decoding). Is it now down to the Sony 2400 to give us HD audio, upscaling, upconverting and pre outs - all for under £500. Will it get 6 stars??
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 1:03 PM

106953

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Hi Clare.

I've just seen that you have entered the forum. Any views/responses to this? Please note I am not trying to start an argument and I understand that AV receivers are supposed to be for home cinema.
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 7:58 PM

107087

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Sorry, just seen this.

In the current, sub£500 HD-capable receiver market, pre-outs (sadly) simply aren't a reality - manufacturers have to give up something to come in at that price point, and it seems that while @£400 receivers of yore had pre-outs, these models have HD and HDMI.

I agree, however, that this should have been more clearly explained. I've asked that it's flagged up more explicitly from here on in...
 

Clare Newsome is Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 10:16 PM

107365

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Gutted, was just starting to think the denon was my next purchase. I was pretty set on the denon after your glowing review and just assumed it had pre-outs. You wouldnt think it would cost that much to add preouts during production.


I need hd decoding and preouts but not really fussed about loads of hdmi or upscaling. Looks like the onkyo 705 is the only receiver on my sub £500 shortlist and maybe the next model up from the yamaha you tested (the ax 763, i think) now.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 10:16 PM

107365

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Clare Newsome:

Sorry, just seen this.

In the current, sub£500 HD-capable receiver market, pre-outs (sadly) simply aren't a reality - manufacturers have to give up something to come in at that price point, and it seems that while @£400 receivers of yore had pre-outs, these models have HD and HDMI.

I agree, however, that this should have been more clearly explained. I've asked that it's flagged up more explicitly from here on in...
 



The upcoming Sony 2400 has pre outs, upconversion, upscaling 1080p from analogue and four hdmi all for sub £500 (albeit a £1 or so)!
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 10:18 PM

107365

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Clare Newsome:

Sorry, just seen this.

In the current, sub£500 HD-capable receiver market, pre-outs (sadly) simply aren't a reality - manufacturers have to give up something to come in at that price point, and it seems that while @£400 receivers of yore had pre-outs, these models have HD and HDMI.

I agree, however, that this should have been more clearly explained. I've asked that it's flagged up more explicitly from here on in...
 



By the way Clare, no need to apologise, I know you are busy sorting out the fantasy football league prize!!
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 10:52 PM

107432

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Gerrardasnails:
The upcoming Sony 2400 has pre outs, upconversion, upscaling 1080p from analogue and four hdmi all for sub £500 (albeit a £1 or so)!

But we hadn't tested the Sony 2400ES - or even got a confirmed price - when we did the Group Test the Denon won.

We still haven't had it in our hands (though it's on its way) and are not going to pre-judge its performance based on tech-specs.... 

Clare Newsome is Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 3:49 AM

107458

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Exactly. I remember fr0g having the same argument, but, at the time, no AV receiver at the price offered all the things required from a great AV receiver and pre-outs. You don't dock a star for something that some people might want, you rate it at other receivers from the same level. Thus the 606 got 5 stars initially and then the Denon 1909 did. As I've said before, once WHF have reviewed an AV amp with the same movie performance as these two amps, and which also includes the same functionality as they do (e.g. HD audio, video upconversion / upscaling etc) and then on top also has pre-outs, then I'm sure the Onkyo and the Denon will drop a star. Until they do, then why should they?

Put away those fiery biscuits...

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Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 8:42 AM

107458

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Has the AVR2309 got Pre outs?

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 9:13 AM

107533

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Does any one know how the AVR 1909 would compare to say the AVR 3808? I ask because the Denon higher end models are not being updated this year.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 10:22 AM

107551

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

le_vicar:
Does any one know how the AVR 1909 would compare to say the AVR 3808? I ask because the Denon higher end models are not being updated this year.


I doubt it very much but I couldn't be sure. The 3808 cost over a grand and definitely has pre outs and HD audio and all the 1909 has. The 2808 also has more on offer apart from a measly 2 hdmi out.
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 10:24 AM

107458

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Clare Newsome:

Gerrardasnails:
The upcoming Sony 2400 has pre outs, upconversion, upscaling 1080p from analogue and four hdmi all for sub £500 (albeit a £1 or so)!

But we hadn't tested the Sony 2400ES - or even got a confirmed price - when we did the Group Test the Denon won.

We still haven't had it in our hands (though it's on its way) and are not going to pre-judge its performance based on tech-specs.... 



Fair enough. I understand what you are saying and what the prof said.
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 10:25 AM

107533

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Hems:
Has the AVR2309 got Pre outs?


It does indeed.
Cambridge Audio 840A; Arcam FMJ DV27A cd/dvd player; Monitor Audio RS6AV with Radius R90 rear speakers; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnect; Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wire speaker cable; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA1200ES; Gotham GAC-1 interconnect; Sky HD.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 11:39 AM

107458

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Clare Newsome:

Gerrardasnails:
The upcoming Sony 2400 has pre outs, upconversion, upscaling 1080p from analogue and four hdmi all for sub £500 (albeit a £1 or so)!

But we hadn't tested the Sony 2400ES - or even got a confirmed price - when we did the Group Test the Denon won.

We still haven't had it in our hands (though it's on its way) and are not going to pre-judge its performance based on tech-specs.... 



I was all set for the 2400ES (pending favourable reviews, of course) but found out yesterday night it doesn't have any zone 2 facilities. I guess I'm now taking a 200 quid hike and looking at the 3400ES as my potential receiver now.

Posted on Jul 25, 2008, 1:11 PM

107551

Re: Denon AVR 1909 review

Sorry, new to the site, but I can't seem to find the review everyone is referring to.  Also, any thoughts on how the AVR 1909 compares with the Sony DG920?
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