Customer Reviews
Best receiver ever! 
2008-09-07
Denon AVR788 Dolby Digital Surround Receiver
This receiver has excellent sound quality for both digital multichannel and digital 2 channel audio sources. For those that think this receiver is harder to set up than other receivers with Audyssey, it's not. All receivers with Audyssey have an identical set up procedure. First, you run the auto setup using the supplied mic along with a tripod (very important). Second, you set the subwoofer crossover to 120hz. Third, you raise the crossover for each individual speaker (usually to 80hz) if it was incorrectly detected as either large or small with a 40hz crossover.
HDMI Sound Processing & GREAT SOUND 
2008-05-30
What can I say, this receiver does everything I ask of it. I have a PS3 and a HD DVD hooked up to it, both are sending the new High Definition Surround Sound Formats ie. Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio, via HDMI, and everything sounds fantastic.
It only has 2 HDMI ins, but its all I need. It has an automated calibration microphone so set up was a breeze.
Top notch build quality and the thing runs cool.
My only knit picks would be the remote, could be better, and the fact that it only sends the on screen display through component, not over HDMI, so it requires a connection to your TV that you really shouldn't need.
Great Receiver, GO BUY NOW!!!! 2008-04-05
AVR-788 and AVR-1908 ARE THE SAME, THEY HAVE A DIFF FACEPLATE B/C DIFF STORES CARRY ONE OR THE OTHER. I LIKE 788 BETTER(LOOKS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE PIC SHOWS) AND THE 1908 COME WITH AN EXTRA REMOTE, SAME FEATURES AND SPECS!!!
Where can i start?
After shopping around for a month or two, reading all kinds of forums and reviews I got it down to two brands.
Pioneer Elite or Denon.
Went to listen to both to decide. Denon was the definite choice as recommended by just about everyone. Then compared models and it just so happens that this receiver is almost the same as the avr-988($1200) beside the up-conversion which if you have and hd cablebox/satellite or hd dvd play you will not need. Got it Home set it up and WOW! Sounds great, powers the speakers very well(I Have Polks), extremely clear and precise sound.The Only Cons are that it does take some playing around with to set it up to where you want. Bottom Line, Best Value Receiver on the market by far. Save yourself some time on research and just go with this. This receiver blows all in it league out of the water, you will not be sorry. Trust Me, Denon really is the best. And No Yamaha is not is clear is this!!!
Make sure that you are getting a Manufacturers Warranty from the vendor! 
2008-03-28
I bought the Denon AVR-788 2 months ago, and it's a great AV receiver for my home theater. HOWEVER the Amazon marketplace dealer E-Tronics that I purchased it from is not a Denon authorized dealer. Hence, no factory warranty. E-Tronics has repeatedly tried calling me, and sending me e-mails saying that they will honor the warranty, and not to worry. I have done some research on E-Tronics, and a few years ago according to a website I found that they used to go under a different name, went out of business, and came back as E-Tronics. If they go out of business next week, then where am I left? Holding the bag for almost $500, and no warranty? The old saying of Caveat Emptor is true, and I have found out the hard way. Shame on me, and Amazon for this. I didn't look close enough, and neither did Amazon. com for allowing this to happen. Buyer beware!
Very good sound, Great features, sub-optimal remote. 2008-03-06
I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.
I've had this for about four weeks and only now I am beginning to finish the setup. It sounds very good, for both music and movies. Here are the pluses:
1. It has a audio calibration system that equalises the response to match your listening environment. This one has a 6-position Audyssey MultEQ system (the capability to measure more than one position is important) It seems to do a fine job, although it said my center speaker was inverted in phase when it was in fact correctly wired. It computed the speaker distances precisely and The EQ result looks (they show you graphs) and sounds correct. The setup takes a good 20-25 minutes and you are supposed to do it each time you move furniture. Thats a bit of a drag.
2. It has audio over HDMI support (from the PS3 for e.g.) and supports deep color. It cannot do DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD, but it can take a 7.1 uncompressed PCM input, which is all you need (i think) because the blu-ray spec requires PCM while DTS-HD and TrueHD are optional. I am not using any of these features yet (so this point is from theory not experiment), but its good to have these for future blu-ray support.
3. It does not get very hot at my listening levels (-12 to -24 db). So I was able to cram it into my existing cabinet (albeit with a little carpentry, since it is over a foot deep)
4. Standby power consumption is under 2 watts. While playing music it consumes about 60 watts at my listening levels.
Like I said, it works well for me and I plan to keep it. But its not perfect:
The Downsides:
1. The remote is terrible, and the user interface is not so good. I liked the remote in pictures - it has big buttons and less clutter than other receiver remotes, but this one is unique. It has buttons on the back (with a cover), That would be alright if you only put those buttons there that you dont need often. However I find that some everyday buttons are in the back - for e.g. the button that changes Sound Modes (DTS/Dolby/ROck/Jazz etc. is in the back) Not well thought out. The manual way to save each FM station requires you to press a button on the back and then two buttons on the front to save one preset. Go figure!
I suspect that all high/mid end receivers have so many features that it will be tough to find one with a good interface, unless you get a all-in-one system like a Bose Lifestyle or 3-2-1.
2. The manual is not fun reading - and some things are not explained. I had to call Denon once to figure out something. (it took two calls and a 5 minute hold the second time, and then I got to a somewhat bored sounding technician. But he seemed knowledgeable.)
3. When I connected the subwoofer line level output to my Bose 701s LFE input (powered subwoofer) I got an audible hum (probably at 60 Hz). I had to buy a ground loop isolator from Radioshack ($12) that removed it.
Overall, a good receiver. In an ideal world, you would try out five brands and keep the one that sounds best to you. The only store where I could compare two brands in A/B fashion was Tweeter, where they had Pioneers and Yamahas set up. I liked the Pioneer Elites better but I think it was because the Yamaha's were setup sub-optimally. Circuit City let me hear a Denon but without the EQ. All in all, I feel that the speakers make a bigger difference than the receiver. I hope some of this helps you in case you are agonizing over the choices. If you'd like to read more about my home theater components, there is a blog entry here: http://spyglasshill.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/the-lexus-of-home-theatre/
This is for the avr688 2008-01-17
Consider that widescreen HDTV is emerging as a vital aspect of your home-theater entertainment system and the superb surround sound that accompanies it; you want more than a good sound system. Connecting your TV - DVD - VCR - DVR and more to the Denon AVR-788 gives you a really great audio system for outstanding performance for your stereo and surround needs. 6-Channel External Analog Input, 5/7-Channel Stereo Mode / Front Panel A/V (Composite and S-Video) Inputs and Optical Digital In Port for powered subwoofer with adjustable crossover control High Resolution 32-Bit Floating Point DSP Virtual Surround Mode (For use with 2 Speakers/Headphones) Auto Setup with Microphone Assignable Amplifier Configuration of Surround Back Channels for Multi-Zone Amplification Customization Features to suit some specific needs Icon-Based On-Screen Display Auto Surround Mode (Analog or Digital Input Type) High-Grade Speaker Terminals (All Channels) Stereo/Direct Modes with Pure Analog Path, Cinema EQ Direct Function (Tone Bypass), Front A/B Speaker Selector 56-Station Auto-Preset Memory Tuning (FM Only) Low Impedance Drive Capability, Large Aluminum Extruded Heatsink Wide-Range Play Capability for DVD-Audio and SACD Speaker Time-Delay and Level Controls - L/R, Sub, C, Surr. L/R, Surround Back Component Video Inputs are Full Bandwidth (100 MHz) Twin Drive Rectifier Personal Memory Plus, Video Select Control Adjustable Cross-Over Switching - 40/60/80/100/150/200/250Hz HDMI connector Unit Dimensions - 17.09 W x 5.78 H x 16.14 D / Unit Weighs 25 lbs Denon USA 2-Year Parts and Labor Warranty
