This is going to be a several-parts-review.I have just received a new 2700.
Starting with the front. two workable knobs (volume, base and treble) the rest are all push buttons for selecting input source and sound modes. One minus no speaker control A and B speakers run all the times. I run the b speakers in another room so now I have to spend some more money on a speaker switch box.
No tuning control in the front panel, you can only cycle thru the memory programed stations (called channels).
Back of panel: several video inputs, no tape or aux input if you have minidisk and a cassette recorder then you have to use one of the vcr loops, assuming you don't have two vcr's in this case you are out of luck. Not enough audio inputs
Only one optical input if you have a dvd and md you probably can't connect both usind optical inputs. one of the coaxial is shared by the optical input that means only two actual digital inputs one optical/coax and one coax.
you can biamp both the main speakers and the front. or run two front speakers.
binding post on all speakers.
I have yet only listened to FM since I have not yet finished hooking up the rest of the components. If you have to hook up an antena make sure to hook it up using the included coax connector other wise the reception stinks.
Listening to fm in stereo sounds just ok nothing fancy. If you switch to 5 channel stereo then the sound sounds much better but the noise goes up. It does sound much better than regular stereo on many other receivers that I have auditioned. The digital sound field are not worth the time you spend trying to set them up. in other words I did not particularly care for them. This is a part where yamaha's and sony's got denon beat.
So far I got mixed feelings so I will not rate this receiver more than 3 since I have not yet finished testing all the features( I have to rate it to post).
Hopefully next week I will continue posting. I would appreciate any input from previous owners in how to make my listening to this denon more enjoyable.

This Denon is top quality.

This Denon is top quality

Denon provides great performance for the money. Sure it's not high end but it still does a bang up job. You won't be disappointed with Denon.

Denon provides great performance for the money. Sure it's not high end but it still does a bang up job. You won't be disappointed with Denon.

This is part II of my ongoing review. This weekend I finally got to use this receiver for the purpose of why I bought it. I got to watch one of my favorite movies on laser disk "The blues brothers". I do not yet have a Dvd player ( I will wait til they sell a dvd audio/video with the new accepted digital standard). This movie has a lot of car chases, some explosions, some shooting and most important music, loud music. I do not have a powered subwoofer (have one connected to a pair of satellite speakers on b-channel in onother room thru a switch box) I don't think I will need one, the bass on this amplifier is more than enough to knock the pictures off above the main speakers. I was able to hear Cab, The king of soul, Aretha and TJ clearly and without any artifact introduction by the amplifier. The sound was clear and powerful. Loud enough for you to hear only the voice from the center channel speakers ( I decided to go with 2 2way speakers for center channel)during the regular passages. and during the music and car chases without having to keep all the speakers at full volume and without blasting to a level where you have to hold the remote in your hands to control the volume every 2 to 3 minutes of action.The trumpet solo sounded pleasantly high but not screeching, the bass guitar sonded tight the drums had no extra resonance on them just plain percussion.
I am using the default settins on everything. I only made sure that the speakers were correctly set-up. The speakers can be set-up as large (full range) or small(bass frequencies are limited to above 85HZ) or none to disconnect.
For those of you who asked the question of digital input limitations I think I might be mistaken. There are Three inputs one digital, two coaxial. From looking at the manual and onscreen settings you can plug three different digital devices but only a dvd can go on the optical input. Dvd can also be plug into one of the coax digital inputs. You cannot use a minitape digital input or any other digital device in the optical input. If someone can clarify this issue I think it will help everyone with future updates. I only have a laser disk player.
I listened to a lot of other receiver over a 4 months period. Almost all of them sounded good at the dealer but you have to consider what you have. If you are thinking of buying a receiver audition as many as you can and see if they can hook them to speaker similar to what you have at home.
I still insist if you are only going to hook this receiver to 2 speakers (plain stereo) you should consider a different model (I haven't listened to plain stereo for over 8 years). This is an audio/video receiver and it has a 5 channel stereo setting that is not a digital (reverb) sound field but sounds exellent even if all you are listing to regular cassete. If you have at least 4 speakers then you wil appreciate the sound quality of this receiver.
I am rating a 4 only because I have not yet fully used this receiver to its maximum capabilities.

I purchased the Denon AVR-2700 receiver last week at World Wide Stereo and am amazed at the sound quality. I upgraded from a Denon DRA-635R stereo receiver, 9 years old. Paired with 5 Boston Acoustics speakers and a Denon CD player, the sound is awesome. It fills our living room. The bass is great, no subwoofer yet. The receiver has Dolby Digital onboard as well as plenty of both S-video and optical connections. Can't wait to get a DVD player next year. I had a little problem using the on-screen menus to balance the speakers, only to find there is also a choice on the remote to do the same thing, but without the TV hook-up. My wife took to it right away and does not find the remote at all confusing, one of my big worries.

This Denon is a sleek performer. Great for budget HT. Dolby Digital on board makes it worthwhile. Hometheater magazine rated it one of their dream components for budget theater.

Ok, Mr. Denon is better than Yamaha, 12 different names 1 IP address, I suggest you get a life and go finish your Disney movie. I think your Mom is calling you because your favorite part is coming up. If Denon is so much better than Yamaha then why do you have to tilt the ratings. If you really think a $1500 Yamaha product deserves a 1 star, then you need to take another listen, and find out why so many people like it and feel it is the best quality for the money. If you had looked there are 5 different ratings here. Not just 1 or 5. So what does a low priced Scott, Kenwood or Teac reciever get? 2 stars?

I am a big time fan of the Denon AVR 5600DTS/THX that I just bought. I think that all the way down the line to the AVR 900, Denon offeres the best and most flexible line of receivers out there. There is surely going to something to fit everyones budget.
However, I find it ridiculous and nimble minded to give ANY of the Yamaha products 1 star. If Denon gets a five (a little extreme. Not only does 5 mean state of the art, but also means that there are no needed improvements; it is a PERFECT product), the Yamaha should get 43/4 stars. The sound quality of the 2 are the best out there. They both are in the upper echelon of receivers, alone. By themselves.

I admit, I give out 5 stars to the 5600DTS. My reason is this: I cannot possible see the industry ANYWHERE developing ANYTHING that sounds better. The 5600DTS is close to. (The perfect receiver offers what the 5600DTS does, costs about $3, has limitless S-Video jacks, coaxial digital and optical Toslink digital inputs and outputs. I know none of that is possible, so therefore, using the trasitive property, Denon IS PERFECT). The Yamaha is as close to it that anyone can expect. In fact, if I set it up with my system right next to the 5600 and switched them back and forth with my back turned towards it, I could not tell you which is which. No way ANYONE could either, despite what the "audiophile" anal apertures claim. They may have a slightly different sound, but it is not THAT much and who says which one sounds better. It is all subjective. That's right you ridiculous nimble minded "audiophiles", it is subjective, whether you think it is objective or not.

Please, and you know who you are, stop giving any Denon or Yamaha a 1 star. While they both are in the 4 to 5 star category is open for debate. The quality of both are the best, whether it is a 4 or 5.

ANYONE who rates one of them a 2 and the other a 4 or 5 is a snob. You CANNOT tell an appreciable difference, NO MATTER WHAT YOU CLAIM. There may be a little difference, but NOT THE GAP BETWEEN THE 2 THAT THE "audiophile" so often claims they hear. They're just trying to sound profound and knowledgeable when, in fact, they are letting their opinions get in the way. THAT is obvious when they give one a significant rating over the other!

A 1? Grow up!