Home :: Audio :: Receivers & Amplifiers  

Amplifiers & Preamplifiers
Receivers
Denon AVR-985S 7.1 Channel Audio / Video Surround Receiver

Denon AVR-985S 7.1 Channel Audio / Video Surround Receiver

List Price: $899.99
Your Price: $899.99
Product Info Reviews

Features:
  • 7.1-channel audio/video receiver with high-bandwidth A/V inputs and switching; includes microphone for automatic room configuration
  • 100 watts per channel x 7 (into 8 ohms, 20 to 20,000 Hz); 135 wpc x 7 (into 6 ohms at 1 kHz)
  • Processes all major surround formats, including Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and DTS ES Discrete 6.1, DTS Neo:6, more
  • True 2-source, 2-zone functionality with discrete power, source select, and volume control for each zone; offers RS-232C and 12V trigger controls
  • Measures 17.1 x 6.7 x 16.9 inches (W x H x D)


Description:

Simplify your home theater as you boost its processing abilities and audio power with Denon's AVR-985S. The audio/video receiver provides 7 channels of amplification to drive all the primary speakers in a 7.1 surround sound system (front left, center, and right speakers, left/right side speakers, and left/right surround speakers, along with a ".1" low-frequency effects channel for a subwoofer). It's perfectly compatible with 5.1 and 6.1 speaker configurations. Use it as a surround-processing preamplifier with stand-alone power amps or enjoy the receiver's 100 watts per channel amplifier (into 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz with no more than .05 percent THD), which features high-current, discrete output devices for all channels.

You'll never be at a loss for creative surround algorithms, irrespective of your listening source. The receiver's onboard 7.1-channel surround processing includes Dolby Digital Surround EX, DTS, DTS 96/24 5.1 for DVD-Video, DTS ES Discrete 6/1, ES Matrix 6.1 and Neo: 6 Cinema and Music modes, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx (for cinema, music, and games). Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing is the first technology to offer a choice of processing traditional stereo music and movie content into room-filling 6.1 or 7.1 channels.

The AVR-985S's auto setup and room equalization functions help you achieve ideal sound for your room. With the accompanying microphone placed at your listening position, powerful 32-bit floating-point DSP automatically and accurately analyzes, adjusts and sets the speaker configurations for your system. Also, the AVR-985S analyzes and adjusts the real-world frequency response of your speakers in the room with an 8-band parametric equalizer. The microphone is a specially designed, high-performance omnidirectional mic with a heavy-duty base to suppress vibrations for accurate analyses.

Denon's Power Amp Assigned function heightens the AVR-985S's flexibility, letting you enjoy music or video in a fully-powered, discrete 2-channel second zone. You'll wonder how you ever lived without true 2-source, 2-zone functionality with discrete power, source select, and volume control for each zone. IR remote in/out terminals offer integrated system control, and the receiver also includes serial ports for RS-232C protocol control as well as assignable 12V trigger controls for use with system automation.

The AVR-985S owes its superlative sound quality to premium digital-audio technologies like SHARC 32-bit floating-point DSP processing from Analog Devices. For simplicity of video connectivity and switching, the AVR-985S includes video up-conversion for composite and/or S-video sources to high-bandwidth component-video with no compromise in video quality.

The receiver performs 24 bit, 96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion on all stereo analog inputs except the multichannel analog jacks, while Analog Devices 24 bit/192 kHz high-resolution DACs on all 8 channels ensures premium playback sound. Adjustable high- and low-pass crossovers (40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 250 Hz) let you tailor the sound to suit your speakers and your listening space.

The AVR-985S features 3 assignable sets of component-video inputs and 1 set of monitor outputs (all with 100 MHz bandwidth). You get 7 sets each of composite- and S-video inputs, a set of 7.1 external wide-bandwidth (100 kHz) inputs for multichannel formats such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD, 7 assignable digital inputs (5 optical, 2 coaxial), 2 optical digital outputs, and a total of 11 analog inputs, including a phono input for your turntable.

The receiver uses a digitally regulated volume control with .5 dB increment adjustments and a step range of -80 to +15.

What's in the Box
Receiver, remote control (RC-974), remote batteries, an AM loop antenna, an indoor FM antenna, an omnidirectional microphone, an AC power cord, a warranty card, a service-center list, and a user's manual.

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates