I have owned this receiver since new, and paid about $4000 for it. I play it loud and often and have no complaints other than the the radio tuning (very user unfriendly).... but everything else is awesome. super strong amp, and wonderful sound (i have bipolar "P-Reference" speakers). 5 speakers cost $6000 when i bought them. This Receiver truly is awesome!

VERY well built.
Mono block amplifier design
Very Powerful
Lower Frequency Control and Response
Preamplifier Section
Reliable Workhorse
Fairly easy to use
5.1 Theatre
Bright Volume Display (compared to later series)
Runs fairly cool
Great bargain overall

Power Cord (non detachable)
Not very musical
Harsh and shallow
Not a good match for serious hi end loudspeakers

The Denon AVR-5600 is a very strong performer and is a great bargain in the used market. It truly is a heavyweight with tons power, but is that all it is? Not really, but sometimes I do find myself disappointed with the musical detail this amplifier produces with certain speakers. I've never really had any complaints with it during a good 5.1 movie or theatre setup, it's only during stereo music listening where it seems to be shallow and rather harsh sounding. It really did well with my Klipsch RS3's in a stereo musical setup, but it sounded pretty bad with a pair of my NS-1000M's. While It's hard for me to justify calling this amplifier unmusical just because it didn't make the famous Yamaha NS-1000M's sing like they should, but it's not just them that sounded disappointing. Out of about 20 pairs of mid to high end loudspeakers I've ran through this receiver only about half of them performed well. When using very high end speakers they showed every weakness the AVR-5600 had, but using an average pair of $500-$1000 speakers such as Pioneer HPM-40/60/100's, Klipsch RF3/3.5's, NHT Super Two's, Infinity SM125's to name a few, they really sounded nice. I had a full Klipsch 5.1 Reference 3 setup with it and it sounded great overall. Only when I started playing with different speakers and setup's in 2.1 music listening scenarios did I notice all the 5600's weaknesses. Overall I still rate it a 4 out of 5 since It really performed flawlessly during 5.1 applications and is a work horse. I've beat and beat this thing driving serious speakers hard and it's hold up like a $2800 amplifier should. I once drove a pair of 2 ohm 500 watt continuous each speakers with it! It struggled, but managed to do it without skipping a beat. This was the first Denon I've owned with a disappointing stereo setup so don't try and blame it on my setup. I've had the Denon hooked up in about every possible configuration and currently am using it just as a pre-amplifier with Carver/Sunfire amplifiers. Not bad for my back up system. Soon I will be returning it to 5.1 use where it belongs.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Onkyo

CANNOT BE BEAT

NONE!

i purchased this receiver refurbished for 800.00! it is the best receiver i have ever owned or heard! i have 5 snell model 500 thx speakers connected to it,2 of which are di-poles!with a 500 watt sunfire powered 15" subwoofer.the complete system is thx ultra certified including the marantz dvd player.this system is set-up in a very large room.i entertain often and everyone that hears this system are amazed. they state that it sounds better than any movie theater they have ever been in. the 5 channel stereo sound is to die for. why would anyone want to listen to music in 2 channel.my family refuses to .maybe these people that have complaints about this receiver should purchase thx rated speakers and complete their system correctly. music or movies this baby rocks.i also have a denon remote amp pre/pro connected in another area of my house fed from this receiver.and it feeds speakers throughout the house ,including outdoor speakers. all with the same denon remote!i could care less that it does not have dts. dts is in less than 5% of movies out there and all tests have proven that they are equal. in my opinion dts is a bunch of johnny come lately''s! the bass response is excellent and the highs are never tiring or too bright!and the power output is incredible! it actually vibrates my home! WHY WOULD ANYONE PURCHASE AN EXTREMELY HIGH-END THX ULTRA HOME THEATER RECEIVER TO LISTEN TO 2 CHANNEL STEREO?THIS DENON ROCKS..

Similar Products Used:

YAMAHA,B&K,ROTEL,MARANTZ,PIONEER,KENWOOD,SONY,KRELL,AUDIO-SOURCE,MERIDAN,BOSE,HARMON-KARDON

Lets be honest--- This 'thing' is a 50 pound monster that carries an equally burdensome price tag of a couple thousand (maybe with the 5700 it will go down), but nonetheless it IS pricey.
What you do get (used in conjunction with Atlantic Technologies 450 THX speakers) is an INCREDIBLY powerful reciever---at 140x5 wpc, this machine puts out some serious energy. The reciever is wonderful and for home theater, you won't be disappointed. I have watch hundred of DVDs and LDs with the 5600 and have consistently been amazed---not to mention, i've awed more than a few friends. The saddest thing about being in college is not having my Denon anymore.
The remote is also wonderful and _easy_ to use--however, the volume button is a little annoying in that the volume changes at a constant linear speed. That is really my only gripe with it, I love this machine!

Great Home Theatre Receiver

One of the worst music receivers I've ever owned

If your bag is home theatre this receiver is BAD ASS. But unfortunately I'm bored with the whole home theatre deal. I am going to get back into good old fashioned stereo music. That is where the 5600 fails music through my Def-Tech 2000 sounds to high even with 500 watt subs in each. But if your looking for excellent home theatre dynamics and punch look no further this baby delivers the goods. Excellent channel seperation and oodles of power and a 1st rate pre-amp section. If you want a great home theatre system this is the way to go if you can find them. If not E-Mail me and I'll sell you mine.

Similar Products Used:

Harman Kardon Mc Intosh Krell Rotel

To effectively power and run my speaker set up to the maximum efficiency and its greatest potential I have a Denon AVR 5600. The speakers are B&W Matrix 803s, a B&W Matrix HTM center, M&K Tripoles for surround and a B&W ASW 3000 subwoofer. As was the case for my speakers, money played a very small role as I bdgeted about $7,000 to $10,000 for separates.
I did a lot of research and listened to many amps, preamps and high end receivers. For some reason I find that I love the Denon product line. I realll found the Denon Separates to be my favorite combination, and at $6,500 or so, I was glad that is was well within my range. Then, I took a listen to the Denon AVR 5600 Dolby Digital receiver that the store owner told me puts out a total of 700 Watts of power when using all 5.1 channels.

WOW! I could not believe it. The receiver sounded about identical to the Denon Separates and significantly better than most receivers. The only receivers or separates other than the Denon that I found were on the level of Denon -- anyone who says they can tell the difference is lying -- were Yamaha, NAD, and Meridian.

I found Meridian to be way overpriced for what the separates offered. The NAD and Yamaha were good sounding but I found the power of the Denon to be too much to pass up. Along with the ASW 3000, the AVR 5600 makes the Matrix 803s sound every bit as good as the legendary Matrix 801 ( if you get the ASW 3000 on the exact level that it needs at about 9:00).

For DVDs, laserdiscs and everything else I owned there were jacks. There are 2 VCR, 2 cassette tape/minidisc, CD, TV, DVD/LD, DSS, V.AUX, PHONO and a few S-connectors for improved picture. I have a Mitsubishi Diamond 40 inch and the S-cable makes a difference while watching something as visually appealling as Terminator 2 or Daylight.

In addition, it has bi-wiring capabilities for fronts and rears, an A/B switch to run a speaker switcher and controller like my Rotel, and very easy to use romote. I bought a Magnavox Universal Remote that is even better. It learns the Denon as well as ANY remote that exists.

If you're ready for POWERFUL Dolby Digital, FANTASTIC Stereo sound when playing CDs, and are willing to spend about $2,500 -- some mail orders sell it for $1,400 -- this is the one to make sure you include on your list of must listen pieces. EVERYONE hears music and components differently and it is therefore a VERY, VERY subjective thing. However, one thing we all will agree on is that the Denon AVR 5600 at least sound decent, if not awesome!

Bought it for $1,900, which I thought was a good deal. After owning it for 5 weeks I returned it for separate B&K components. I was completely disappointed with the sound quality the AVR-5600 gave me. Everything sounded too bright.
The only thing that was nice about the unit was it had AC-3 (dolby digital), THX certification, etc.

I felt it was over proced compared to other products in the market. Before buying this unit listen carefully.

Also, make sure you are aware your sub woofer will NOT work with your tuner. That is a commen FEATURE with high end receivers.

And yet another purchase to cap off the weekend. Yesterday I finished all of my research and pricing haggling with dealers on the subject of the Denon AVR 5600 THX DD and 5600THX DD/DTS. While many were selling the left over DD version at the same $$ as the DTS version, some were discounting a lot. One for cost,at $1550. This gave me some leverage, and considering I wanted to buy a pair of Matrix 805s to replace my seconday speakers and I was selling 2 other receivers and two pairs of Kef speakers (Reference and C75), I had a shot at great pricing.
I was right. To make a long story short,at the end of Saturday, I had purchased
a pair of B&W Matrix 805s for $900 while it normally sold for $1600. Then, while telling the dealer that I would trade ALL of my stuff in and buy the Matrix 805s from him and considering that I just 2 days ago bought the Denon D-5000 DVD THX DD/DTS Player, he was ready to deal. The Denon DTS is selling for $2799-$2899, depending on the store. He sold it to my for $2000. For $3250, in fact, I walked away with a Denon AVR 5600THX DD/DTS, B&W Matrix 805s (NEW IN THE BOX), a Panamax 8 curcuit surge protector, 5 Monster Cable optical digital wires, 4 Monster S-Video cables and 8 pair of Monster RCA Jacks. I do not know how this guy did it but he said he'd practically give the wiring to me if I bought this stuff now and made a gentleman's agreement for me to come back and buy whatever high ticket items I would get in the future.

The other Denon AVR 5600 is in the basement pumping out the Denon DCD 560 CD player and Sony Minidisc through the Matrix 805s.

All I need to do now is get 2 more pieces to complete the upgrade: Sony Minidisc, an ES Version and a Pioneer Elite Laserdisc/DVD for top notch Laserdisc play. The Pioneer C505 I have is already hooked up in the bedroom with the Denon AVR 1500 that was in the basement before the 5600.

Which is more enjoyable, playing the system or doing research and shopping all day for a variety of things?

Plently of power (curent and amp),nice design,very adjustable,good manual.

"PROTECTION"- circuit doesn't work fast enough for the current it gives, I've burnt out a couple of units way too easy. Better doulbe,triple check all spker wires,vol level before using..

A little too easy to blow circuit with need for repair too often. I'd never get it again unless this protective circuit is improved.

Similar Products Used:

Krell KMA-160 mon blocks--- no there's a "PROTECTION" circuit, after 10+ yrs never had a burn-out when it kicked in.

I have been an audio/ video nut since it first hit the market,I have had a Yamaha DSP A1000, Denon AVR 2500, Denon Avr3600, now Denon AVR5600.When I switched to the AVR 2500 I noticed a great difference in the amount of the movie soundtrack that I did not hear with the yamaha had seven channels I had more effects with the Denon,a smaller less expensive processer. Then comes the Digital reveloution,so I bought the Denon AVR 3600,it was a fantistic processer,but I needed more optical inputs,to run TV/DBS,DVD. That was lacking in the 3600, I could rename inputs but to me that was a pain,so I got the 5600. This Processer is awsome, I have all the optical inputs I could ever need,the seperation in movie soundtracks,via DVD, Video, TV/DBS is very accurte. The power from the amp section is plentyful,I mean this thing has balls...The rest of my system consist of a Denon DVD 2000,a Sony SAT-A2 DSS, Mitsubishi HSU-550 VCR, Panamax 1000 Power conditioner/ Protecter. My speaker of choice are KEF Reference Model 3 main channels KEF 200c Reference center KEF Model 1 Reference rears,M&K MX150 subs. I use Kimber interconnects, and Kimber speaker wire. I am very content with the brain of my Home Theatre System The Denon AVR 5600