avr-2600the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for only ($749).

This receiver is bettered by the Yamaha RXV-990 in every way. The AVR-2600 is only an AVR-2500 with AC-3 input capability. Sound is fair. Not good with power hungry speakers.

I first purchased the AVR-2600 in Dec '96 the moment I read about it in the magazines. I even made the risky move of purchasing the receiver without listening to the product. Usually a bad idea. Not this time however.
For the budget-minded audio guy, the Denon AVR-2600 gives you the typical receiver functions. 100x3F/C, 25x2R, Dolby ProLogic with 14 Surround modes. If the end of it was that, then it was well worth the money. The sound is solid, excellent midrange without the annoying highs. That alone is amazing considering I am running a five-year old pair of Klipsch KG 5.2s.

But wait there's more. Full Two-zone and Multi-sourcing capabilities. 5 S-Video inputs. Learning Remote. Six-channel line input for DD or DTS decoder. Six channel preouts for a power amp. A.V.S.E. sound option for enhanced base on music or cinema (both impressive). A "Cinema Re-Eq" like function for leveling out the soundtrack imperfections of movies. The amp can be bi-wired or run two centers at the same time.

Flexibility is the key to the Denon AVR-2600. All of Denon's newer products include Dolby Digital or equal rear power. But they lack the multi-sourcing and two-zone control the the 2600. The Denon AVR-2600 is an excellent cornerstone of the modern home theater. If you can't afford seperates but want the flexibility, go with Denon.

Although I'm by no means and enthusiast, I couldn't turn down the price that I got on my demoed AVR-2600($450). Folks can use all of the 50 cent words to describe the technical qualities of the sound to this thing that they want. To me, it just sounds good(but take into consideration that I'm moving up from a 5 year old entry-level Sony). I must admit, however, that the remote is a bit confusing, and that the faxed copy of the owners manual (it was, afterall, a demo model) was too smudged to help me out. When I first played it, I was a bit disappointed. The Dire Straights (album title of the same name) CD sounded the same as it did through my Sony with Pioneer and Jensen speakers ( I also paid under 1/2 price for some uponpened high end JBLs...1800's, I think.). But after listening to a newer recording, Dave Matthews' "Crash", I had an epiphany. I did not know that one could actually hear the recording limitations of a CD. Dude! This is the greatest thing since bubble gum started getting packaged with baseball cards.

I purchased the 2600 for $300 at a Nobody Beats the Wiz clearance sale. Compared to the other recievers in this price range (e.g. Sony) the Denon's sound quality and clarity make everything else I listened to sound like crap. Denon uses high quality amps, while everything else used mass-market ones. I use it almost primarily for listening to music, and I can just sit in the sweet spot with my NHT superone's and listen all day. The only thing I can see wrong with it is 25x2 to the surrounds, but the receiver has pre-amp outs for everything (including s/w) Denon doesn't carry this receiver anymore, so try to pick it up used if you're looking to spend around $300. You can get a more recent Denon model (1400 I think) which has less power and options for about $400, but please stay away from the mass market crap! That stuff is such a ripoff, it can't deliver half the sound that the Denon can. Five stars for $300, I never compared it to anything in its original price range. Later
-JAY

Highly recommended if you can find one. It's one of the better dolby digital ready receiver you can get.
Great small to medium size room receiver when mated with the Cambridge Soundwork Enselmble IV Home theater speakers.

All the right features. Like 5.1 inputs, pre-amp outputs to all channels, 100 watts per side. Intelligent functions that remember your personal settings.

It falls apart in sound quality, which why anybody really owns an audio component. Extremely shrill fatiguing sound quality. I've now become Denon-shy.

I've been through three surround-sound receivers in the last year. This has gotten very expensive for me. I now own a Nakamichi AV-7 which I'm finally happy with. I guess I'm very picky about how my mid-fi surround system sounds. The Nakamichi just sounds like the music, without sounding electronic.
The same cannot be said about either the Denon AVR-2600 or the Sony ES. My Denon AVD-2000 Dolby-Digital decoder is a keeper, however.
Happy listening and Happy Milenium.

Taz

Similar Products Used:

Sony GS800ES, Nakamichi AV-7.
Infinity Compositions Overture-3's in the front, Magnapan 10.1's surround, Magnapan Center Channel speaker.
Denon AVD-2000 Dolby-Digital decoder, NAD 917 tuner, Toshiba 4109X 6-Disc DVD player, Philips CD-760 CD-recorder.

clear, clean power

25 watt surround channels; no Dolby digital

Great receiver; clear, clean power; have never turned it past 1/3rd up. Sound is so clear that it's louder than it seems. Teamed up with Definitive BP10s as fronts and BP6s as rears, movies like Top Gun are a rush. Classical and vocal music are perfectly true to the original. Didn't think the receiver was so important (compared to speakers) until I replaced Sony with this Denon. It really opened up the sound. Since then I've compared with Harmon Kardon and HK just doesn't have the power of an equally-rated Denon. Only downsides are lower powered rear channels, no Dolby Digital (but is AC3-ready), and surround effects that are crude. Five channel stereo, though, can be great!

Similar Products Used:

Sony; Harmon Kardon

I originally purchased the avr 1200, but was not very impressed by it when I got it set up at home. So, I exchanged it for the 2600 and I am very glad I did. My main priority was for music reproduction, not surround. And the 2600 delivers. As volume levels rise, there is no strain whatsoever. It's strange, when the music is loud, it doesn't seem as loud as it really is because it is just such a clean signal. It just flows effortlessly from the speakers. Wonderful!
The pro-logic surround mode sounds good, although since this is my first surround receiver I don't have anything to compare it with. But the DSP modes sound pretty lame - like a bunch of artificial reverb. I just leave it on pro-logic for movies.
There are two great modes (besides stereo) for music reproduction: 5-channel stereo and matrix. The 5-channel stereo does exactly what it says it does - stereo to front, center and rear, and it sounds great. The matrix setting sends a slight delay (adjustable - as are all the effects) to the rears, creating a more "open" sound without sounding over-processed.
I am very happy with this receiver and recommend to anyone shopping in this price range.

I like the product very much, specially on movies, its really good