It has such smooth response soft clipping and all the toys I need.

programming the remote for other units not denon seems limited

Overall I am quite impressed i bought it on boxing day as a christmas gift to myself ,no complaints here the sound is ,very clean and the sub output is great .

Clear Design - will look good all time. dot-matrix-display. Clear + crisp sound, good bass. VERY easy handling, remote is complex, but for the few receiver's functions controlled by the remote it's ok.

none so far.

As i go to school at the moment i don't have that much money to spend on audio equipment. I use this denon with a pair of Infinity Alpha 40 floorspeakers, which have a 120W-RMS. The Receiver is only powering 70W per channel @8Ohm, but I can't turn up the volume anyway :D. It's so easy to set up your Home-Theatre system, i'm just using stereo, but maybe I upgrade to a complete 5-channel System. After I had read the manual one time, i had no problem to set the dB's for every single channel. A friend of mine owns a Technics Receiver - somethin with SA930 in it ;) - this scary thing even has a silent ! fan ! - same power as the 1602 - you can see, Denon did a great job here. With every Volume-Declarations in dB it even has a little "pro-touch" :) The various surround-modes (DTS, DPL2, AC3) couldn`t be tested cuz i just have a stereo setup. With a button for every single function it is very easy to get things done, not a single button for every function as many other receivers have :) So I'm totally excited about the receivers performance - not that it only looks good, you wouldn't expect these technical features in a receiver at this price range.

Very good sound quality for the price.

No metallic front panel

Before I buy my Denon AVR 1602, I have checked a large amount of similar products and test reports available on the market. I already had listening some similar products and this one seems to be the best choice for the price. Concerning the receiver it self, all what I can say is that I'm very happy and completely satisfied with it - easily understanding instructions manual, good speakers connection terminals and well grouped and labeled ports. I bought it mainly for home cinema but I also want that it was able to replace my old stereo amplifier for audio listening and it was able to do it (5 channel stereo). Clear sound and enough power at all frequencies at all channels - even at almost full power, what is more them enough to incommode the neighbors, there is no distortion.
I have a pair of Celestion DL 8 as main speakers, F series also from Celestion as surround and center speakers and a E 6 SUB from Jamo as subwoofer, not expensive speakers, and the hole system sounds very well both for home cinema, classic or rock music. The possibilities of surround modes are more than enough to play with whatever source of sound and tanks a lot that it is not possible to change it when playing Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS DVD's ! aren't they surround modes it self ?
Regarding the remote control it doesn't look very robust / sophisticated and it "likes" to be pointed to the receiver but it has all the needed functions to setup the system and it is easy to program it to work with other equipment (DVD, CD or TV).

In two words - buy one.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 930; Yamaha 620

Affordable, great sound quality, adequate power

Confusing remote, incomplete manual

I'm using this receiver with Mirage speakers all around: OM-C3 center channel, 590iS main speakers and AVS-200 surrounds. The receiver has adequate power for a small apartment and had no difficulty driving my speakers.

For the price, the AVR-1602 delivered a great soundstage.
Chapter 32 - Under Fire from Heat made my apartment sound like a war zone. The AVR-1602 handled the switches between shots effortlessly with the sounds matching the environment on screen. Dialogue was natural and intelligible.

With my main volume at 0 DB it was so loud that I now listen to my receiver at -10 DB. Because I have a live room, this cut down on the reflections. This made dialogue a little less intelligible in Heat, but for other movies it seemed about right.

For Toy Story II, Chapter 2 - Buzz's Mission, it seemed as if I were in a theatre. The music, effects and dialogue were so balanced that I could just enjoy the movie.

Chapter 1 - Earth 2058 on Lost In Space was very impressive. The soundtrack is very agressive and I could feel the energy. And like Toy Story II, there was that balance. Big EFX, stirring music and intelligible dialogue. So-so movie, I know. But great soundtrack.

The only problem I had with the AVR-1602 was with the remote and the manual. It was straightforward setting up the speaker size and distance but I had a hard time looking for the individual speaker DB levels. I kept looking at the manual thinking they left a page out.

Now that I have everything set. All I do is use the remote to turn the power on and adjust the main volume. I would still recommend the AVR-1602 because its quality can't be beat at the price. However, I can't guarantee that it will sound good in your room. You'll need to do a little tweaking.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V590

A real 70Wsin/ch , very good sound quality ...

For me , the remote control is too coloured and funny

I bought my NAD C370 amplifier ( 2x120 Wsin , the best sound I have heard in that price - just lokk my rewiew in the sections - Integrated amplifiers ) to control my main stereo speakers B&W 603 S2 ( just listen them ) and I wanted a good A/V receiver to control other chanels ( speakers ) and to connect with my DVD and my Echostar 3000 digital satellite receiver. And I found it - its a Denon AVR-1602 - with very good sound quality and built.
Those who say that the built isnt a stronger side od a Denon products - they are funny ! ( just look him inside ). RECOMMENDED !!! ( better than Yamaha 620 - million times , because Yamaha lies that their receivers have a 5x130Wsin/ch , because its a idiot lie ( maximum 55-60wsin/ch).

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RXV-620 , Harman Kardon Avr2000(210)

Audio performance top notch, sound attenuation on input and listening mode switches, 5 ch.stereo

ergonomics, remote and manual

If clean ,full, distortion free sound matters most, this is a v. good product. Sound is attenuated on input or listening mode switches, you can safely do it at high volumes without damage to tweeters. Five stars here.
Problems are only ergonomoical and cosmetical:
1.remote control, agree with previous reviewers, major faults:
- counter-intuitive, must be used battery compartment (thick part)up, you will always grab it upside-down
- master volume keys same as all others, hidden on the side,difficult to find without manual, radio presets in another area, poorly grouped
2. Receiver front panel must be in good light, otherwise labelling of buttons hardly legible
3. Display rather small with volume level display impossibly small in the right top corner
4. Manual is not well written, either translation problem or bad proof-reading. Pre-setting FM stations a challenge if attempted according to manual.

All in all, if you are looking for a top performer at a lower end of price scale, this is it. If you are a casual listener, looking for ease of use, there are less frustrating products. Once you master this one, though, you will appreciate the sound

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V890, Kenwood v205

Fairly priced

weak amplifiers, cheap remote

Not a bad reciever for the money, but I would seriously look around and compare. The amplifiers might be inadequate depending on how large a room you are filling. The sales rep qouted me that although it is only 70 watts per channel denon doesn't "lie" about their actual power and that it is comparable to most 100 watt per channel recievers. Well mister sales rep I got rid of my Technics reciever (100 watts X 5)to buy this thing hoping there would be a big difference in sound and guess what - there is. The technics would play much louder without distorting like the Denon.
If you have a med to large room do yourself a favor and upgrade to a Denon that is listed as 100 watts per channel no matter what the sales rep tells you.
The reciever does have a lot of cool features though, like DD, DTS, DP II, etc.
The remote is pretty weak, it learns other components via codes but don't expect it to perform every function. Need to point the remote right at the reciever to make it work.
Music playback is even worse than ht and doesn't even compare to the older technics reciever. Bass is lacking and the highs are pretty tame.
I didn't expect miracles from a reciever but I at least thought it would out perform my old reciever.
Now I wish I had actually listened to more recievers before buying this on recommendations alone. Sorry, maybe it's the room size but I think there is better deals out there for the money.

Great sterwo seperation, good controls to work, pretty good remote (Need Star Trek type voice command!)Wonderful power for room size. Love the crispness of the sound from every music source and surround mode.

Hmmmm....didn't cost 29.95 with a steak knife set that came with it. (I know that is a bit unreasonable.) seriously, no drawbacks that I've discovered.

Well I have this great brother who sent me a great DVD player and a center channel speaker. Problem was that I had four spaeakers of good quality but no receiver to hook everything up with. My front speakers are Boston Accoustic
bookshelf speakers and my rears are RCA/Radioshack. (Hey, don't laugh, for rear speakers, they are pretty good.) My center channel is Boston accoustic too. So I was putting off this purchase until Christmas ans then I went to the store and purchased the Denon 1602 over similar Yamaha choices in the 400.00 field. As you acan see I'm not a audiophile but I love good music and clean sound and this Denon 1602 delivers everything I want and then some. So this review is for the guy who is shopping with his wife or girlfriend and she really wants to get the Bose Lifestyle system because 'the speakers are small and won't show.' This receiver with good speakers will be less money than the other stuff and blow away everything in your livingroom with clarity, crispness, and power. So try this out and you will see that Denon puts out a remarkable mid priced receiver that will set you in the middle of all the action your DVD can deliver!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Sony

Linear frequency response, low distortion, musical stereo performance with good imaging, ample power output all channels, high quality build.

Australian version has no S-video switching

You will notice from the other products that I trialled that I chose the Denon AVR-1602 in preference to products that cost up to twice the 'budget' price that Denon asks for its entry level receiver. If you are looking for a well engineered, well built receiver with real HiFi sound and ample features then look no further. You will have to pay more than twice the price of the 1602 to get superior sound, and most people won't need any more features.

On the subject of features, the only limitations that the 1602 has are a lack of S-video switching in some versions (the US version has S-video switching) and only 1 coax and 1 optical digital input. It has all the sound decoding that you can practically use, the few DSP setting that are useful, and all of the configuration settings that you need unless you have a very strange home theater setup. An important point to note that is left out of many reviews is that the 1602 and many other receivers do not have phono inputs for a low output turntable. Low cost, quality phono preamps are available should you wish to attach a turntable.

Some negative comment has been made about the modest 70 watt power output. If you have reasonably efficient speakers, this receiver has more than enough power to achieve loud theater sound levels in a large living room. The 70 watt output is at all frequencies, all channels driven and at low distortion. I have the excellent VAF DC-X speakers as main speakers and the 1602 can easily drive the DC-Xs to floor-shaking levels without raising a sweat. Who needs a sub-woofer!!

Much has been said about the remote. Yes, it is very basic looking, but I use it to easily control my TV, VCR, DVD and the 1602, all of which are different brands!

I will mention that, if you are used to top quality stereo HiFi, you will find the 1602 (and any other receiver under $US1500) will have a subtle but perceptible lack of bass attack on stereo music sources. Of course, you will only notice this small limitation with speakers that have very extended, perfectly controlled low frequencies (like my VAF DC-Xs). Most home theater systems will not be affected.

A final word of advice. It is essential that you listen to any receiver with your speakers and quality CDs & DVDs. The Denon 1602 suits good quality speakers with flat, full range frequency response and average to good sensitivity. The 1602 is good enough to expose the limitations of many CDs and DVDs that I once thought were excellent. Teamed up with VAF's superb DC series speakers, the 1602 delivers awesome home theatre at a price that your friends won't believe.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V620, Marantz 5200, NAD751

Low Price. Great Sound.

Remote can be hard to use in the dark.

I love home theater. In my college days, I worked at Best Buy and got a really good deal on decent retail hometheater goods. Best of them all were my Cerwin Vega RE-38 floor speakrs with 15" subs. The parties at my place were well um....loud. Anyway, I recently got married and the wife wanted those giant speakers OUT of her living room! Of course, I couldn't just replace the main speakers...this was going to require a whole new home theater system! Yahoo!!! Anyway...to the point.

After looking and listening to a multitude of different receivers, I was fairly convinced that Denon was the way to go. Especially with the amount of money I wanted to spend. (as little as possible.) Since our living room isn't that large, I didn't need that much power. That being the case, I finally decided on the Denon AVR-1602. It has just as much power as the previous years 1801, but has the additional Dolby Digital Pro Logic II decoder. Yay!

After kicking my old analog, no DTS having, Dolby Pro Logic Technics receiver down there stairs, I proceeded to hookup the Denon. Manual is clear and well written. Not bad. Ports on the back of system are clearly labels and spaced just about right. Cool. I get all of my speakers/components hooked up and I'm ready to test!... So I hit the power button and.....NOTHING. Doh. Volume check. Presto! Ok, so I'm a little excited and not thinking clearly. I go through the manual and begin the system setup which goes along just as it says it should. No problems.

DEMO time. The next few hours are a haze as I test DVD after DVD. Some with DTS, others just Dolby Digital. ALL of them sound SUPER. Great channel seperation...Crisp Highs and mids (sub not purchased yet). The unit auto senses what audio signal is being used. This is a very nice feature. As far as music goes, all is well. The new Pro Logic II really does do a good job of turning stereo CD's into surround sound experiences.

Overall, for the price, you just can't go wrong with this receiver. Go Denon!

Similar Products Used:

Is there anything out there but Denon in this price range?