Great Sound. Lots of functions. A lot of in and outputs. Nice Design (gold).

Volume and select knob are in plastic wich gives it a little cheaper look than the avr-2802 model, but concidering the price difference you dont want to get the avr-2802 just because of the knobs =)

If dont need more that 5x80 watts of power, wich most people dont unless they want to show off infront of their friends, i would really recommend the avr-1802. Not only does it sound great, but it really looks great to (gold version).

I really didnt think that a receiver could make such a difference in sound as this one did. With my other receiver, wich really was not very good, the base lost a lot of its effect when i turned up the volume a bit. But now i have only gone to about the -15 mark (it goes from -60 to +18) and things in my room litteraly start to shake and the base still sounds fine.

It has loads of functions allso, for example 5 channel stereo that is very good if you want to listen to music or whatever on all of your speakers at once. You can set the balance individually for all 5 speakers. Many different Sourround modes including Pro Logic II wich is still not available on many other manufacturers. All the in / outputs you could need.

The radio part on it is very good allso. I live in the city and i allways have good reception, so i cant really tell you how good that bit is. But the RDS is real cool =) I had a Yamaha with RDS before that was unable to inturprate the swedish letters ÅÄÖ and simply displayed a "_" instead wich i really did not like. A lot of people would not really care about a small thing like that, but it is worth knowing about. Another little thing that is worth taking a note to, is the extra electrical plug on the back of it, wich is enough to power lets say a dvd player.

Similar Products Used:

A old Onkyo stereo reciver.

Impeccable Dolby Digital, DTS and ProLogic II decoding. Awesome sound for 'only' 80 watts per channel.

Remote design

I've saved my $$ for a long time to by my new Home Theater system and have previously auditioned AV receivers for many months. While the features of many I compared were similar, it was simply the performance of the AVR1802 that sold me. Others have more 'bells and whistles'. For example, some had 10 or more DSP sound simulations. Club, jazz, stadium, cathedral...Who uses these anyway? That kind of stuff is for boom boxes. And some also had higher bit-rate DAC's. But for me, my ultimate decision was based on what my ears heard when listening to music in stereo, and when 'listening' to a DVD movie in 5.1 surround. My system is as follows:

Receiver - Denon AVR1802
Speakers - Boston Acoustics System 9000II
DVD Player - Sony DVP-NS700P
VCR - Sony SLV-N81
HDTV - Panasonic CT-36HX41
Cables - Monster Cable (MonsterBass 300, Video 3,
Datalink 100 and XPHT speaker cable)

My living room is 17' X 13' (not to big) and my budget for my entire system was around $4,000.00 (not to big either). But I did want the biggest bang for my buck. I auditioned quite a few AV recievers in the $500.00 range and found none other that could match the clean power, dynamic range and DTS and Dolby II digital signal processing that the Denon 1802 delivered. Are they sure it's only 80 watts per channel?? Music AND movie sound is clean through the entire volume range! I am amazed at the absolute silence (no hiss) when listening to quiet passages of music at high volume. And I am simply BLOWN AWAY when watching movies! With the Boston's powered sub, there is no lack of amplifier power to drive the satelites! Try Jurassic Park III or Pearl Harbor! I'm surprised my neighbors haven't called the cops!

This reciever has binding posts for all speaker outputs, and enough inputs for way more components than even an audiophile could need. It automatically selects and adjusts to the type of digital signal inputed (DTS, Dolby ProLogic, PLII) and has a feature that remembers your individual preset preferences (speaker volumes and tone settings for each individual input and surround mode for vcr, cd, tuner, etc.). That way you don't have to re-adjust these settings when you switch from movie or tv watching to listening to music. Nice!

After reading through the owner's manual, the unit's knobs and buttons were relatively easy to master. The only complaint I have is the remote. So many little buttons and functions all over the place. Not to well designed. But the good news is that you only really need it to switch inputs (from DVD to TV to CD to Tuner, etc). The remotes from the other components can be set to work the basic funcitions like on and off and volume and so on.

Believe me, once this unit is set up and you fired it up, get ready for your ears to be thrilled! If your budget is not huge, yet you demand top quality sound and power, this is the reciever for you!

Similar Products Used:

Auditioned Yamaha RXV620, Onkyo TX-DS595, Harman Kardon AVR310 and a few others (Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Kenwood), all in the $500.00 range.

Bang for the bucks, PLII, Sound & Build quality

remote, small display, takes time to learn all the functions

I upgraded from my Onkyo 474 to the Denon 2802 because it had more power(80w x5), better sound, prologic II, and the Denon build quality is first rate. I strongly considered the Onkyo 595, but for about the same price the Denon had better features and was built better than the Onkyo. You can see a pic of the Denon 2802 with the top lid off at crutchfield.com. The heat sinks on the Denon are beefy solid aluminum compard to the wimpy steel heat sinks in the Onkyo.

I found that the Dolby Digital and DTS surround modes on the Denon 2802 were superior to the Onkyo. I heard details in the surround speakers I have never heard before. I also had to turn the sub way down because of the much stronger signal the Denon was putting out to the sub. Don't let the 80w per channel fool you. There was good clean sound at even the highest volumes.

The Prologic II mode is outstanding. My VHS tapes never sounded this good! It works very well with my audio CD's as well, giving you music or cinema modes in PLII.

I was running a Toshiba 2700 DVD player with the Denon and thought it sounded great. I just upgraded to the Denon DVM1800 5-disc DVD/CD changer and wow, my local movie theater doesn't sound this good. The video is very sharp and clean as well.

The weaknesses I found on the Denon were the remote(no surprise), small display and this reciever is a little more confusing to operate. The remote is small and doesn't operate my Zenuth VCR. The manuel says something about a learning feature, but doesn't explain how to use it.
The display is smaller than the Onkyo and I can't read it as well from my chair. Other than that, great reciever!

I don't think you can go wrong with the Denon 2802. I am very happy with it and I believe it will last me for many years.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 474, older JVC

Sounds great, DTS, DPLII, great looking

Bad remote and controls

Decided it was time to step up to DTS. I was split between the Yamaha 5460 and Denon 1802, Dolby Pro Logic II sold me. Really does make a difference in both TV and music. Since most TV is still broadcast in stereo, DPLII is a useful feature. The reciever is attractive with not too many buttons and lights. Now for the bad. As everybody stated, the remote is bad. But, I figured on using my learning remote (RCU-810) instead. Wrong! First off, this model is not pre-programmed into any univeral remote that I have found yet (RCA, Sony, Radio Shack). Since my remote has limited memory, I was unable to learn all the keys. And the most annoying thing, there are seprate On-Off buttons. Why??? I don't see any reason for this other than really, really poor design. Makes it hard to use a different remote.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSP-780

DTS/Dolby 5.1/Logic Pro/Excellent Construction/Quality Electronic Components.

Pre-Amp not sonically transparent.

Having the space for only one entertainment room in my home I was in the market for a HT receiver that could integrated into my existing sound system without sacrificing sound quality or my budding HT budget. I have auditioned Denon equipment in the past and have always liked the sound quality. This entry level unit has pre-outs to feed existing amplifiers so it is a very logical choice for my situation. Other key selling points are the individual drive transistors, huge power transformers and use of relays not found in most other entry level units I inspected. The underrated 80 watts of power per channel has proved more than adequate to drive the center channel and rear channels (all Infinity RS-2000's) right along with my front pair of Yamaha NS-1000's powered by a Yamaha MX-1000 and two 12" JBL subs planted against the back of the couch. Those wired in parallel, are driven by a Bridged RA-870 Rotel. The resulting sound in the 12X20ft room is in a word spectacular. NS-1000's make great fronts in a room this size, the musical scores are delivered with all the emotional persuasion and impact. There superb imaging presents audio cues precisely in 3D space. In the Matrix scene where Neo is circled by bullet time...you can precisely locate the bullets leaving the smith's gun in 3d space while the previously fired bullets are passing by you exactly in relation to the visual cues up on the screen. Far better realism than any 5.1 theater I have patroned. That's where the Denon shines for me. The sonic quality of this 5.1 decoder is perfectly suited to the HT task. When it comes to serious music listening however I am forced into connecting my CD player directly back to my MX-1000. Upon a home audition I immediately noticed the Denon slightly diminishes the clarity on my most listened to CD's. Frequencies in the higher end of the spectrum seem restricted and lacked precise detail. On some scores it completely changed the musical signature of an instrument. When paying CD's on the DVD player connected through an optical input there was only a slight improvement in the perceived restriction. This could be caused by an impedance mismatch between the pre-outs on the Denon and the Yamaha amp. But I am not disappointed with this short coming, frankly because I expected it. $500 dollars for a unit that does everything from receiving FM to Decoding 5.1 has to have some flaws over $500 dollar pre-amps that are just what they are...pre-amps. If you are looking for a solid 5.1 decoder that can connect existing equipment into your HT this unit is worthy of your money. If you are a true audiophile with sonically excellent equipment and enjoy listening sessions with studio monitor quality speakers ... best to keep that system separate. Lastly I have to humorously agree with the other reviewers who included the remote. It's functionally fine but the fact the batteries are up in the front of the unit is really testing. The first two weeks you will find yourself pointing it the wrong way by habit because most remotes place the battery weight in the palm of your hand. After kicking the weight in palm habit you will find it hard to grip the remote naturally since you have to keep it from falling over your fingers. When it comes time to replace the batteries I am sure another chuckle will escape my lips when I reach for non exsistant compartment door at the bottom of the unit. This is a tiny short coming to the package, no pun intended. Put in the DVD reach over and turn the volume knob on the Denon to read 0db and prepare to be immersed in a solid 5.1 experience.

Enough power. Lot of options. Price

Remote.Cant understand why ther is only one coax.. The older AVR-1700 has 2. only pre. out on front, center and sub.

I bought the AVR-1802 altought i hadnt listened to it. I wanted a reciever with possibility for Dolby Digital, and played music well. After having looked arroun a bit the choice was between the Denon and a Marantz SR5200. The guy in the shop recomended the denon for music and punc.. altough the Marantz is 6x85 Watts.

I'm very impressed with the reciever, but the remote is poor... It is much better on the AVR-1700.. There is only one coax... On the AVR-1700 there is 2, the Marantz had pre out on all 6. channels

I miss a clock and the possibility to use it as an alarm etc... with a radio it does'nt take much to make it

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-1700

Super smooth sound for movies & music, DTS/Dolby Digital/Pro-Logic II, good selection of inputs

Remote is silly, no on-screen menu setup, no component video jacks.

I began looking for an affordable yet well-built A/V receiver in the $400-600 range, and eventually narrowed my choices down to Denon, Onkyo, & Yamaha. After demoing each for a week, I was most impressed w/ the AVR-1802. The Yamaha had more features (buttons, soundfields etc.) but didn't sound nearly as good. The Onkyo was very similar, but the Denon's higher wattage (80 vs. 75), and seemingly one more of everything (video inputs, digital & standard outputs, front inputs) made me lean towards the Denon. Plus, the Onkyo was a bit more expensive compared to my final price, by about $150.

I continue to be impressed with my decision; the 1802 provides better than average flexibility in setting up my components and enables them to perform at a top level. Pro-Logic II is fantastic, as is the DTS & Dolby Digital. I was a little concerned about the 80 watts at first, but the full steady power of the Denon is perfect for movies & music in a medium sized room.

As others have posted, the remote is basically a joke. It'll do the job, but unless you have a universal remote be sure to keep your other remotes handy. I recently purchased the Sony 2100 and it was a great relief to finally ditch the factory remote (is it me or was it designed for the hands of a 6 year old...). The only other concern I have is the lack of component video ins & outs - my TV only has one sets of inputs which are currently hooked up to my DVD player, so in the event of DSS/HDTV I'm going to need another component.

Great receiver, great value, and it can be found online for great prices. Highly recommended.

Great sound,power. The DTS mode for DVD'S blows you away.5 channel stereo mode is great for music

remote control is small with tiny buttons

Was using a Yamaha powerhouse..was concerned about the Denon's 80 watts per channel. After about 2 minutes of listening..I could'nt belive my ears,the sound and power were awesome. I use a set of Bose Acoustimass 15 speakers..which I have never been really thrilled with..but with this Denon receiver..they sound great..the bass really thumps. I looked at H/K'S and Onkyo's of similar price..I liked the Denon's A&B speaker option to drive a second pair of JBL'S. Shopped the internet..but bought locally to eliminate any shipping and warranty concerns...its worth the extra money.Other that the remote control...very impressed!!

Similar Products Used:

Had a Yamaha RX-V2090

superb,nice design overall, lots of adjustable parameters

pee-wee remote:buttons to small, jacks not gold plated.
poor english or french used, looks like translation

a) The BEST web site :you can download the spec sheets,AND
the FULL manual. ( pdf files) very professional its one of the reason for the purchase. The manual as plenty of illustrations but sometimes fuzzy.

b)the remote ... crummy... to small,too much,too crowded
some of the set-up functions only accessible from the remote. what can I say.... I don't like it...

c) Physical aspect: nice cabinet,nothing cheap, all push buttons work well (a bit noisy ), knobs not too loose,
smooth,ratchet feeling. Inputs on the front panel (opt,video,audio),display as plenty of informtion, size is
ok. Odd cdr/tape selection button.

Back: plenty of jacks. Speaker terminals a bit crowded.(gold plate please)
2 AC outlets sw. only 1A could be higher.

Inside: Good size power tranformer,lacquered, and most important INSULATED noise and stray fields.(notice the copper band all around).It is seated on a tray,screwed
to the frame (THE BEST). It is also noted that the screws
are zinc or chromate plated for corrosion protection.(THE BEST).Full size heat sink for the ouput transistors, vent holes on top cover,bottom and rear plates. Some smaller heat
sinks for power supply. Please note the presence of a heat
shield on the top of the large heat sink to protect the ribbon cable going over.(THE BEST).It is also noted that many pc boards are mounted verticaly thus better for coolling.
D)Features: Dolby prologic II (not all receivers have this new
format),dimmer,status buttons,tone defeat cinema eq,and automatic settings memory, etc, etc.You can also adjust
parameters with actual values (1,2,3...)settings even milli-
seconds, default values,some settings are small,med,meds ...etc.(not all receivers will permit this.)
Please also note that you can connect a turntable to this
receiver to the phono input.

E)Performance:First you need good speakers and they don't
have to be expensive.May I recommend AXIOM speakers.
front:M40,center:vp100,back:QS4 (www.axiom.com)You could add
subWoofer EO175.
Some complian about poor base and /or ;lack of power.
You need EFFICIENT speakers and make proper adj. of the settings to direct low freq.in my case main spearkers.
I have no sub. and I do have plenty of bass (+6db setting),
treble (+2db).Volume is set (ex. FM) -25 to -5 db(to lound
for me)My house as 1200 sq.ft and -15db is more than background.At -10db light rock music I can fell bass in my
kitchen I some time think a truck just passed by.
It just sounds great, no noise etc...
My 15 year old AIWA HX pro tape deck sounds fantastic with this receiver.I am very happy.

To me I think this receiver is a VERY good buy.
What more can I say ? Try it.

That's all. Thank You. and Good luck.

Similar Products Used:

jvc

Excellent sound for price, still has phono input for turntable, lots of hookups, S-Video switching,

Remote: complicated, small buttons, does not light up and will not control other brands, including sat receiver. warentee policy: Denon will not honor warentee of any equipment not purchased on a "authorized Denon dealer" -- who didn't have the unit. I tried.

Outstanding value on e-bay auction. For price I paid I could afford risking having to pay for defect. Overall sound is fantastic, tuner works well,

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Sony, Hitachi, receivers and stereo equipment