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For quite some time, AV receivers have occupied the position of leading home media center. This is not surprising, as these devices combine excellent video and audio performance. Now that receivers are becoming more popular, the market is becoming more competitive. In this review, we’ll take a look at each of the best Tenryu AV receivers.
This company has a history of more than 100 years. Throughout its activity, the company has not changed its principles, which are mainly quality and reliability. That is why I have reviewed the top Denon receivers in detail in order to choose an outstanding receiver.
The Difference Between Budget and Premium Skyrocket AV Receivers
Every home theater receiver manufacturer, and Tenryu is no exception, offers a wide variety of models that can find their buyers in every market price range, offering the best Tenryu receivers in their range.
This is why this model raises questions for many buyers. It is worthwhile to understand this in more detail by disassembling each component of a home theater receiver.
I should start with the Legion and the frame. Perhaps the first features people see when buying a new device. The more expensive the AVR, the more sophisticated it looks. This can be seen in the plastic of the front panel and other external details of the housing. The more expensive receivers also have a reinforced frame that serves as a stand for heavy transformers. It also suppresses component vibration.
In my opinion, the second item to check is the connection specification. In this regard, manufacturers equip high-end receivers with the latest audio and video features. These types always have more digital and analog interfaces. For example, only high-end models have HDMI 2.1 for 8K video streaming and have HDCP 2.3 protection. The same is true for wireless protocols, the more expensive the model, where newer technologies will be used: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, etc..
Receiver components also have a significant impact on their price. The more powerful the transformer, the more expensive the device itself, but at the same time, we have better audio specifications at the output. But let’s not forget capacitors, resistors, DACs – the quality of all these components also increases with the receiver grade.
The latest technology and great sound doesn’t come cheap. The quality and power of the DSP area and the number of channels are also responsible for this.
Best mid-price Denon AVR Reviews
Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel (105Watt X 9) AV Receiver 2020 Model – 3D Audio & Video with IMAX Enhanced, Built for Gaming, Music Streaming, Alexa + HEOS
Power output: 105W/8 Ohm, 135W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 7/3
Video functions: 8K/60 Hz, 4K/120 Hz pass-through, analog to HDMI video conversion, upscales video signals to HD and Ultra HD (up to 8K)
Streaming services: AirPlay2, Spotify, Pandora
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
Let’s start by reviewing Tenryu’s mid-range flagship AVR-X3700H, a unit that can handle 9.2 configurations directly (and up to 11.2 via an external amplifier) at 105 W at 8 ohms or 135 W at 6 ohms.
The X3700H handles the latest useful HDMI features. This includes 8K at 60Hz and 4K video bandwidth at 120Hz. In addition, I found HDR10+ and Dynamic HDR support here. An important option, called QMS, which allows the source to immediately change resolution or frame rate to eliminate screen overlays, is not implemented in the competing models. I also noted that this 8K receiver also allows existing HD and 4K content to be upgraded to 8K, allowing more people to experience the full power of 8K sources.
The model supports all modern audio files available through DTS and Dolby, including highly virtualized features. As a result, there is an opportunity to emulate the surrounding sound environment.
I calibrated the test system before testing. After about a quarter of an hour, the calibrated system did its job and this new Skyrocket was at its most powerful, drawing my attention to the solid sound quality of the movie during the test. I was also surprised by the high level of performance when I listened to the audio work. The sound was loud, yet clean and crisp. It combined a solid dynamic delivery that inspired every vocal part.
The presence of power and clarity allowed me to delve deeper into the soundtrack and capture each instrumental part. However, the receiver didn’t cope well with the streaming service. I could clearly hear stuttering during playback. The overall sound quality was poor – little detail and no distinct highs or lows.
Denon AVR-X4700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel (125 Watt X 9) AV Receiver 2020 Model – 3D Audio & Video with IMAX Enhanced, Built for Gaming, Music Streaming, Alexa + HEOS
Power output: 125W/8 Ohm, 165W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 8/3
Video functions: 8K/60 Hz, 4K/120 Hz pass-through, analog to HDMI video conversion, upscales video signals to HD and Ultra HD (up to 8K)
Streaming services: AirPlay2, Spotify, Pandora
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
The Denon AVR-X4700H is a mid-budget receiver with a sound that will satisfy even the most demanding music lovers. However, the X4700H is a transitional link between Denon’s high-end and mid-range receivers, and already has a killer sound and feature set.
The AVR-X4700H’s video path is based on the latest HDMI video features, such as 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through, but only for one input and 8K amplification. Like most similar models, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDCP 2.3 on all HDMI inputs.
The AVR-X4700H is equipped with nine power amplifiers (125 watts at 8 ohms or 165 watts at 6 ohms) and offers advanced productivity thanks to 11 channels of processing and surround decoders Dolby and DTS:X and Auro-3D.
I would like to add what has already been said. There are decoders based on IMAX Enhanced. Of course, all the audio decoders such as Dolby Surround, DTS Neural: X and Auro-Matic are also here.
When I started testing the device’s capabilities with the movie, a high-definition sound field combined with spatial effects immediately enveloped me. Every movement on the screen was accompanied by properly positioned sound. Unfortunately, I wasn’t left with the feeling that I was watching a video not at 60 Hz, but at a much lower frequency, around 30 Hz.
Denon handles the score confidently: impulse fidelity, excellent rough dynamics and high spatial density provide a high perception ratio. The 4700H is powerful enough to deliver detailed sound right across the range from high to low frequencies. This works well in listening rooms of nearly 30 square meters without compromise, and can even handle additional rooms in wired multi-room situations. Otherwise, to not burden your equipment, you can use the HEOS protocol and do a wireless multi-room.
Denon AVR-X2700H (2020 Model) 7.2ch 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio, Voice Control and HEOS Built-in (AVRX2700H)
Power output: 95W/8 Ohm, 125W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 6/2
Video functions: 4K/120 Hz, 8K/60 Hz pass-through, analog to HDMI video conversion, upscales video signals to HD and Ultra HD (up to 8K)
Streaming services: AirPlay2, Spotify, Pandora
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
The Denon AVR-X4700H is a mid-budget receiver with a sound that will satisfy even the most demanding music lovers. However, the X4700H is a transitional link between Denon’s high-end and mid-range receivers, and already has a killer sound and feature set.
The AVR-X4700H’s video path is based on the latest HDMI video features, such as 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through, but only for one input and 8K amplification. Like most similar models, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDCP 2.3 on all HDMI inputs.
The AVR-X4700H is equipped with nine power amplifiers (125 watts at 8 ohms or 165 watts at 6 ohms) and offers advanced productivity thanks to 11 channels of processing and surround decoders Dolby and DTS:X and Auro-3D.
I would like to add what has already been said. There are decoders based on IMAX Enhanced. Of course, all the audio decoders such as Dolby Surround, DTS Neural: X and Auro-Matic are also here.
When I started testing the device’s capabilities with the movie, a high-definition sound field combined with spatial effects immediately enveloped me. Every movement on the screen was accompanied by properly positioned sound. Unfortunately, I wasn’t left with the feeling that I was watching a video not at 60 Hz, but at a much lower frequency, around 30 Hz.
Denon handles the score confidently: impulse fidelity, excellent rough dynamics and high spatial density provide a high perception ratio. The 4700H is powerful enough to deliver detailed sound right across the range from high to low frequencies. This works well in listening rooms of nearly 30 square meters without compromise, and can even handle additional rooms in wired multi-room situations. Otherwise, to not burden your equipment, you can use the HEOS protocol and do a wireless multi-room.
Best Premium Denon AV Receiver Reviews
Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model – 3D Audio & Video with IMAX Enhanced, Built for Gaming, Music Streaming, Alexa + HEOS
Power output: 140W/8 Ohm, 175W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 8/3
Video functions: 4K/120 Hz, 8K/60 Hz pass-through, analog to HDMI video conversion, upscales video signals to HD and Ultra HD (up to 8K)
Streaming services: AirPlay2, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
The AVR-X6700H is Denon’s top quality 8K unit. The top-of-the-line AVR-X6700H features an 11.2-channel amplifier module. With 140 W/8 Ohm or 175 W/6 Ohm per channel, I think that’s impressive enough to make a big room sound completely loud. If you’re still using two different sets of speakers, then you can create a set of settings for each and switch between them.
Compared to the previous Skyrocket AVR-X6500H, the X6700H has eight HDMI input jacks and three output jacks, all certified to the HDMI 2.1 standard. Thanks to this, the AVR-X6700H supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz, complemented by the latest video technologies – Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and even DTS:X Pro. I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the unit can be used with IMAX Enhanced (in 9.1.2 I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the device can be used with IMAX Enhanced (up to 13 channels in 9.1.2 and 9.1.4 configurations).
As usual, I started my review by watching the movie. I should note that switching from Blu-ray player to TV causes unpleasant picture shake. The test unit produced a pleasant, clean, easy-to-understand sound with impeccable dynamics and detail. However, as far as I can tell, the bass could have been a bit more intense. Of course, the best Tenryu receivers don’t sound any worse.
With the tracks, I got similar results. The output is accurate and detailed sound, and I have a realistic perception of the soundstage. The bass range is also slightly underestimated here, but the subwoofer makes up for it.
Denon AVR-X8500H Flagship Receiver – 8 HDMI In /3 Out, Powerful 13.2 Channel (150 W/Ch) Amplifier
Power output: 150W/8 Ohm, 190W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 8/3
Video functions: 4K/120 Hz pass-through, analog to HDMI video conversion, upscales video signals to HD and Ultra HD (up to 4K)
Streaming services: AirPlay2, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.2, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
The Denon AVR-X8500H is a particularly good model because it features 13 power levels. The unit can produce 150 W/8 Ohm or 190 W/6 Ohm per channel. Also, I must say in single channel mode. This is excellent when the unit produces an impressive 260 W and has an impedance of 6 ohms. It works with major immersive audio standards such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D. Finally, you can configure the 7.1.6 or 9.1.4 surround speaker set by adding up to six additional portrait speakers.
With HDMI connectivity and HDCP 2.2 protection, I was able to extract the most from the available 4K sources. In addition, I noticed that it supports HDR, Dolby Vision, and HLG, providing the highest image quality not only from modern digital video sources, but also from older analog sources.
During the movie test, I heard detailed, light and spacious sound. The audio for the battle scenes looked so realistic that I almost became a spectator to the story. I felt a truly immersive experience. In terms of Hi-Fi listening, I also got a satisfying result. I was able to clearly separate the instruments from the vocals. The frequencies from high to low sounded good and clear. I was surrounded by soft and captivating music. I can conclude that the Tenryu is also excellent in music.
Best Budget Denon Receiver Reviews
Denon AVR-X1600H 4K UHD AV Receiver | 2019 Model | 7.2 Channel, 80W Each | 3D Audio | New Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | 6 HDMI Inputs and 1 Output with eARC Support | AirPlay 2, Alexa & HEOS
Power output: 80W/8 Ohm, 120W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 6/1
Video functions: 4K/60 Hz pass-through
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: yes/yes
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Surround sound: DTS:X, Dolby Atmos
The Denon AVR-X1600H is an affordable, classic 7.2 receiver with surround sound capability. It has all the valuable features and connections, and offers enough power (80 W with 8 Ohm impedance or 120 W with 6 Ohm impedance) to meet modern standards. In addition, a powerful amplifier unit offers another feature that some budget receivers don’t have – and that’s bi-amplification. On top of that, the receiver can be used with a vinyl player.
Let’s start with the video features. On the back of the Denon AVR-X1600H, there are five more HDMI ports (only six in total) and an ARC output. All HDMI inputs accept 4K/60 Hz, HDCP 2.2, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG. thanks to this set, I had no problems with compatibility with UHD TVs and Blu-ray players that already support higher resolutions compared to classic Full HD.
On the music side, the functionality was excellent – listening to Hi-Fi and streaming music on the Denon AVR-X1600H worked well. However, once I raised the volume above average, there was distortion and loss of detail. The sound was as nice and crisp as before, but with less low frequency loading. The vocal parts sounded clear, and the high frequencies of the strings sounded natural. All of this gave me the impression that I had a rich soundstage around me.
To get excellent results from the test, I adjusted the entire audio system using the auto-calibration system. As I expected, the sound was pleasing, with clear reproduction of the movie soundtrack and amazing detail. The sound is expressive and agile, with good bass reproduction.
Denon DRA-800H 2-Channel Stereo Network Receiver for Home Theater | Hi-Fi Amplification | Connects to All Audio Sources | Latest HDCP 2.3 Processing with ARC Support
Power output: 100W/8 Ohm, 120W/6 Ohm
HDMI inputs/outputs: 5/1
Phono Input: yes
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: yes/yes
Supports HDMI ARC, HDMI CEC, HDCP2.3, HDR10, Dolby Vision
The Denon DRA-800H is designed for stereo music lovers. With FM and DAB+ radio tuners, dedicated headphone terminals, Wi-Fi and multiple digital inputs including HDMI, I get great stereo sound, preamp support and home theater capabilities.
The DRA-800H offers five HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, supports 60Hz full 4K Ultra HD video resolution, and all the latest video technologies. There is also HDMI ARC, which ensures that sound is transmitted directly from the Smart TV to the receiver via a single HDMI cable.
I can note that this model develops Denon’s stated power – 100 W/8 ohms or 120 W/6 ohms per channel – using proprietary audiophile-grade resistors and capacitors. It also uses the AKM AK4458 DAC. i checked it out and can say that the DRA-800H can decode HD signals in various lossless file formats including ALAC, FLAC and WAV up to 24 bit/192 kHz.
I started my Denon DRA-800H test by playing a movie on my 4K TV. Only the receiver had to be set up manually. Despite the stereo configuration, the sound was smooth and low-frequency driven, with an excellent and well-rounded soundstage. Dialogue was naturally separated from the background
Where it really stops, however, is listening to Hi-Fi music. I was impressed with the naturalness of the sound. The soundstage was quite wide and the instruments sounded “authentic”.
Despite the compressed audio stream, I wasn’t disappointed when listening to the wireless audio from the streaming service. The sound lacked clarity and nuance at times, but remained relatively smooth and pleasing to the ear. The Japanese receivers did not seem to highlight the compression flaws.
Buyer’s guide
The key point of a home theater receiver is amplification power. In other words, it is the number of watts provided to a channel. This is a subtle point that we must pay special attention to, as the lack of power is one of the key factors that most affects the final perceived sound quality.
The amount of amplification power a receiver can provide to each channel is an important point when choosing. This is because the lack of energy is one of the most important factors affecting the final sound quality.
The power of a receiver must always be considered along with the impedance at which it operates. For example, the Denon AVR-X8500H has 150 W/channel at 8 Ohm or 190 W/channel per channel at 6 Ohm. This means it works with 8 Ohm or 6 Ohm impedance speakers. However, if you connect a speaker with higher impedance, the receiver will no longer have enough power and you will get terrible noise.
The power given in the example is enough to sound for a large room (40 cubic meters or more). Therefore, you need to check the impedance of the speaker and the size of the room when choosing a receiver as a power source.
When choosing a receiver, you should fully understand the installation location of your home theater system, the room, the size, the space available for speakers, etc.
Based on this, it will be easier for users to determine how many channels they need to use (usually 5.1 or 7.1). Currently, most of the mid- to high-end receivers you find on the market are compatible with 7.1 or higher, with 5.1 devices falling within the budget range. And you should understand that the more channels a receiver has, the more sound it can produce.
If you don’t have a budget problem, I recommend you go with at least a 7.1 receiver, because while you’ll have to use all the channels now, you’ll have those extra channels for future home theater upgrades.
Communication with external devices makes the receiver the home media center. You need to look carefully at this direction.
Wired
speaker terminals and HDMI I/O are critical to any receiver. The number of connectors used to connect speakers depends directly on the power of the unit. The number of HDMI ports varies from model to model. You must be careful to check the version of these ports – HDMI 2.0 is now the most common and allows you to transmit 4K content.
If the signal is to be transmitted digitally, look out for optical and coaxial ports.
I’d also like to point out that many of the newer models still feature analog RCA kits for connecting various devices to the receiver. This is especially important for vinyl enthusiasts, as the Pre Out output is only achieved via analog RCA.
Wireless
Also, don’t forget about wireless technology. In today’s reality, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are absolutely essential. The first will allow us to use streaming services directly from our media devices. The second will allow you to transfer music from your mobile device directly to the receiver.
Apple users should be aware of the existence of AirPlay or AirPlay 2. This is also used for streaming music.
If you want to create a multi-room space, then you will need a feature such as HEOS or Music Cast.
A number of features are implemented in most receiver models.
4K, 8K
4K is now the universally accepted standard for HD video. Almost all models of modern receivers, from budget to expensive, support this format. The only difference is the refresh rate. The 60Hz frequency is ubiquitous in models, but you can only find 120Hz in models that support HDMI 2.1. However, the 8K format is only growing in popularity. This resolution offers four times the image clarity of 4K. It requires high HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to run at 60Hz.
HDR and HDR 10+
HDR technology dramatically expands contrast and color! Bright areas of the picture can become more colorful than on a regular TV, so the picture looks “deeper” and more realistic. The color palette expands with deeper reds, greens and blues and all possible combinations.
With the advent of HDR, there is also a new standard for Rec. 2020, which contains so many shades that it is simply impossible to reproduce them on a regular TV. However, it is critical to understand the following – HDR video allows you to see the picture exactly as the manufacturer (the studio) intended. Video with HDR should accurately reproduce the atmosphere as intended by the author.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Both technologies offer total immersion in the sound system, but are implemented in different ways.
Dolby Atmos does not allow capturing audio tracks channel by channel, but places the sound objects in the room’s speakers as intended by the sound engineer. Dolby Atmos processors reconstruct the recorded surround sound picture in real time, depending on the number of speakers used in the system.
DTS X audio is the next generation of open source audio formats. Compared to traditional surround sound technology, DTS: X can cover an entire room with sound like its competitor Dolby Atmos.
The multi-room feature helps to listen to music or watch movies in multiple rooms at the same time. You can organize the simplest multi-room (for example, a two-room apartment) according to the multi-zone receiver you decide to purchase for your living room home theater system. In this case, it is necessary to choose the model of the receiver, taking into account the availability of special audio and, for some models, video output to other areas.
In addition, there is an alternative. Multi-room systems can be based on separate sound devices, consisting of several active components (speakers, amplifiers, switches) that can receive and distribute multi-room audio in both wired and wireless modes. Some models of receivers support one or the other technology – HEOS, Sonos, Music Cast.
