1. Excellent home theater perfomance with gentle highs, strong and controlled bass, wide soundstage and
2. Reference reproduction of stereo music (great D/A conversion)
3. Unit looks great (mine is gold finished)
4. Many, many connections at your disposal (incl 5.1-7.1 inputs for future soundsystems)

1. Can´t shut of the display via the remote.
2. OSD looks rather boring.
3. Remote is big and cluttered with buttons, only a few of them glow in the dark.
4. No decoding for DD-EX or DTS-EX (then again, these sound-systems are rather new)

Stellar performance in every way ! Finally an amplifier that I feel 100% happy with, and will probably keep forever thanks to its ability to upgrade.

Every positive comments about this wonderful receiver, especially 5CHANNEL STEREO, DTS, DELICATE 24/96 DAC SOUND, OVERALL HIGH MUSICALITY, SUBTLETY

weighs 50 lbs, and I am a skinny man.

I initially wanted the AVR-3300, but the AVR-5700's extra features and higher quality convinced me. The first night after I set up the AVR-5700, I was glued to my coach listening from CD to CD, DVD to DVD until over 2 AM. And this is only my temporary setup w/o center channel,
main and surround channel speakers are not from the same manufacturer, and neither are speaker cables.

There is no hiss or hum from any channel. The receiver is dead quiet when not called for. I have no problem with the remote control nor the manual. They do not amuse many people, but I didn't buy the receiver because of these two.
The unit itself is gorgeous, and its power consumption perfectly matches the PS Audio P300. Together with NHT Super2, Super1, Hsu sub, DH-Lab T-14 cables, Kimber interconnects and digital links, they will make for a cool system.

Once the system has been completely set up as planned, I will post a follow-up report. For now I am happy enough to give the AVR-5700 an enthusiastic 5 stars and a highest recommendation to ANY music and movie lovers.

Similar Products Used:

Recently: None, strictly 2 channel music.
In the past: Home audiotioned up to $2,000 SONY and YAMAHA receivers and returned after few days.

Musical sounding, solid build and feel, nice looking, upgradable, expandable, satisfies both music lovers and movies goers.

Manual is not indexed so it's hard to find information

Even my wife, who is usually against audio, loves it. Last night listening prompted me to write this review.

It was just a CD listening session in 5CH mode, and the system is way pre-optimized [DH-Lab cables and center speaker have not arrived, and I have not gotten a SPL meter yet]. First I intended to listen to Cafe Blue CD featuring Patricia Barber. It never sounded so good that I ended up going through ALL tracks. My notes were full of words like "Warm sounding yet detailed with great ambience. Voice is presented with reality, and instruments with full body yet delicate texture..."

Second was the Mahler's Sixth Symphony recommended in The Absolute Sound's Super CD List. Again, my notes read, "Silky smooth sounding. Deep sound stage. Powerful orchestra on some movements...". That was around 2 AM and the volume was much reduced.

How about movies, you might ask? Oh boy, it really shows off your Home Theater. Great people have written rave reviews about their movies experience with the AVR-5700, and they helped me make decision to purchase it. Really appreciate it, guys! All I can say is, I am gonna buy/rent more DTS/DD movies and enjoy.

Build quality? It is quiet in ALL channels, weighs and looks like a champ, and sounds like a very expensive audio equipment.

Bravo to DENON team for making such a topnotch A/V product for music lovers like myself. Now I can enjoy BOTH movies and music and not worried about owning "high end, high priced" gears from Krell, Proceed, Meridian, Lexicon, let alone SONY, YAMAHA, ONKYO. A well spent, completely justified $2,000 purchase I ever made!

Similar Products Used:

Separates tube amp and DACs and DSP from The Parts Connnection, CAL, and Meridian, respectively.

Sound, versatility, power and sound again

None

I have purchased the AVR 5700 last summer replacing Yamaha separates including the DSP-1, DSR-100 Dolby Prologic and additional Pioneer Elite Dolby Digital processor (I think I was first "on the Block" with Dolby Digital).
I have delayed reviewing the Denon AVR5700 until I had some experience with the equipment and at this point I feel unlike some of the reviews I have read recently that I am qulify to forward my comments.
The Denon is a very versitile receiver you can hook up everything short of the kitchen sink to the back of this unit and I believe that if anybody will, the sink will play good stereo or maybe even surround music.
It is powerful enugh to drive the B&W nautilus 803 main and HTM1 center and have still some left for the 805's in the back. I even connected the THX certified side surrounds and guess what, there is enough power for them too. Now I am looking at the 3 Adcom 555 II amplfires I have in the rack and can't figure out what do with them now.
The sound resulotion in stereo is excelent, 5 ch.stereo is great for being right in the middle. and movie watching can not be any better (in my opinion anyway).
It was very hard not to select the Sony ES9000 processor but in Toronto you have to buy the Sony 5 channels amplifire with the processor which realy pissed me off(Sony PR. I hope you are reading this). So if I have to get a "receiver" the Denon is a much better choice.

Associated equipment
Speaker system B&W nautilus 803 front
HTM1 center
805 surround
THX surround
Velodine HGS10 sub
DVD Sony S7000
Toshiba 5109 Proscan
CD player Technic
MD player Sony
DSS Sony
LD player Pioneer
TV Sony 53" XBR RPT.
PS: Found a good use for the Pioneer DD processor, Set it to 3 stereo, hooked a center suround speaker and now I have DD-EX, how about that.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha separates

Quality of Sound, Power, functionality, connections, future upgradability

Remote

Over the past 5-7 years I have actively participated in upgrading my equipment as new or better technologies came along.

Over a period of time I began to be wiser as to the pros & cons of purchasing equipment that can either be upgraded or have additional processing units to be connected to them. These days it is even more crucial to invest in a product that alows you to do either or both of these attributes.

As you can see from the "Similar products used" I have had a fairly well grounded experience in the use of like products.

All of the products I have come to use performed admirably. Some were better sounding on music while others gave you a more theatre like experience at home. They all sounded pretty damn good.

The last component prior to the Denon was the EAD "Encore". This product out all I have used sounded the best. It was the closet I have come to an analog sound from a digital processor in my lounge room.

Why did I get trade the EAD for the Denon? Well, the Denon allowed a greater control over the "system" and allowed for a better upgrade path to new technologies than the EAD.

The sound of the Denon, in my opinion, sounds ever so slightly better than any of the other "Jap" brands I have used. Soundstaging and definition are an improvement over the others (except EAD). There is less noticable thickness to voices and the separation of front to back is exemplary.

I will be holding onto this product for some time. I won't be shelving the Denon for one of the new components with Dolby Digital/DTS EX as I will be able to plug it in when a component is made available as an add on - and I will still have that extra spare 6 channel input to use for DVD audio.

Denon have done an excellent job with this unit. Put it on your short list and weigh up what it has to offer, you wont be disappointed.

For those who gave this product a "1 star" really don't know what they are talking about.

As a side note, although the remote is quite versatile it would be nice to have a remote that is similar to the Phillips "Pronto" controlling a unit such as the Denon.

Contact me if you wish to discuss further.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSPA1000, DSPA2070, DSPA3090, Onkyo TXDS939, Denon AVC-A1 (AVR5600), EAD Theatermaster "Encore" + Rotel 5 Channel Power amp

sound o.k on movies

very narrow soundstage on stereo music,first on dead out of the box

I purchased this unit thinking it was supposed to be a very good receiver. For starters the first one I received was dead out of the box.The second worked at least but I was not very happy with the sound.It was very flat sounding and not very musical. I really prefer the sound of the sony 777es and I think I will stick with it instead.

Similar Products Used:

Marant sr-18,sony 777es

Built, look and feel, incredible sounding, easy setup

Heavy due to beefy power supply

The AVR-5700 well deserves its highest rating as the Product of the Year 1999. I feel sorry for those who are unlucky and unable to enjoy its beautiful high resolution holographic sound.

High-end reviewer Robert Harley was impressed. He compared it with other high end separates from Meridian, Lexicon, EAD, etc. and found the AVR-5700 a strong contender.

I found this unit a fabulous receiver, a highly valuable piece of furniture in my home.

Similar Products Used:

Mondial Acurus amp, Assemblage tube amp

Sound on Audio, Surround features including assignable digital imputs

Remote could be a bit better

The 5700 is a great sounding receiver with Denon AL24 on the front channels and Premium Burr Brown D/A converters which definately sounds better than the Denon 5800 which used Analog Devices D/A. The sound is smooth clear and detailed. Anyonw who has this receiver can be proud its a great sounding receiver even better if you use a separate amp on front channels.
After upgrading from the 3600 the sound was so much better the 3600 was very harsh on the top end and not very musical.
Bryston 4BST Front Channels
Bryston 4NBR on 2 Nht 12" Sub
Paradigm Reference 100 Front
Paradign Reference CC Center
Paradign Reference 20 Rear
Toshiba 61G90
Toshiba 2150 Dvd
Pioneer DVL 700
Sony AD5

Similar Products Used:

Denon Avr 3600 sold that currently 5700 & 5800

Movies

Remote, tuner, sound

After using this unit for 3 weeks and then comparing it to the B&K AVR202, I just had to exchange it for the B&K. Decent performance on movies, and it's better than the DSP-A1, but it loses out to the B&K on almost all other fronts. All of the buttons, gadgets, and options in the world can't make up for mediocre performance when it comes to sound quality. I would recommend the Denon for any kids rich enough to waste money on a sub-par performer that does a good job on movies and has a high "ooh-ahhh!" rating, but, for the people who really know and enjoy music, just doesn't cut the mustard. The remote is difficult to use, and the tuner had difficulty picking up anything in my area. Glad I exchanged it while I had the chance.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSP-A1, B&K AVR202

Matrix mode, DTS, THX, DD
Quiet yet dynamic and musical with right sources

No EX, replaced by AVR-5800

The combination of the AVR-5700 receiver (functioning as a surround preamp and amp), Pioneer DVD-525, Camelot Dragon 5.1, MMG as fronts, NHT S2 (surrounds), NHT SC, HSU12 sub w/kimber cable, silversonic cables to 5 channel spkrs, illuminati digital links has given me a very satisfying and musical sounding system.

Whenever I listen to CDs, I switch to the matrix mode and enjoy a deep, wide soundstage, a tight bass, and a true to the timbre midrange. Except for when that is a DTS CD which usually sounds fabulous, keeping myself buying more DTS CDs. Movies? Man, most things happening on the screen, so I don't miss the EX that much. Even if I need to, the 5700 can always let me add on later.

Similar Products Used:

Separates from Acurus, TPC, Meridian
Sony, Yamaha receivers up to $1,700