Denon AVP-A1HD Product Review

review
06.01.08
Denon AVP-A1HDCI
12 Channel A/V
Processor Review
Master of all Domains
Review by Gene DellaSala of Audioholics.com
Introduction
Maybe you should wait another 3-4 years
until Denon comes out with a replacement
to the AVP-A1HDCI A/V processor. While
you're at it, you might as well wait on
purchasing a new car. By then, the car
industry would be releasing an affordable
sports sedan that gets 100mpg running
on plant algae with a 0-60 time in under 5
seconds and Denon would have added yet
another must have feature not currently
found on this model. After all, this bad
boy won't network with your "smart"
refrigerator or stove top despite it has an
Ethernet port and is WiFi capable, nor will it
run on solar power as going "green" hasn't
hit the A/V marketplace yet as it's barely
reached out to the car industry. You can wait,
and wait or be content with the fact that
the AVP-A1HDCI will decode and process
every current A/V format unadulterated
and leave room for future ones via external
inputs and/or firmware upgrade options to
ensure what you buy today won't double
as an expensive door stop tomorrow or
the days that follow shortly thereafter. As
for the fuel efficient sports car...don't hold
your breath...
Denon took a hiatus from making
dedicated pre/pros for longer than I can
remember. Instead, their focus was on
bringing to market some of the most feature
packed performance receivers in efforts to
become one of the dominant players in the
receiver market. Their efforts have paid
off and they proved they could dominate
market share at all price levels and even
push the envelope with their introduction
of the $6k AVR-5805 multi functional "super
receiver" which to date, in my opinion,
is still one of the best performing A/V
receivers ever built! The AVR-5805 had a
good run for 4+ years but has since than
been replaced by a scaled back successor
– the AVR-5308CI. While the AVR-5308CI
has virtually all of the same features found
on this processor, it lacks the balanced
circuitry design, class A audio drivers and a
host of other component upgrades (some
of which I found measurable differences
during my preamp testing of the two units).
Considering the AVR-5308CI sells for about
$2k less than this preamp and has seven
respectable built in power amplifiers, I'd say
it makes it quite a bargain.
Denon has aimed its sights higher with
the introduction of their AVP-A1HDCI (A/V
pre/pro) and POA-A1HDCI (10 channel
power amp) separates solution which goes
up against the likes of Krell, Lexicon, Classe,
etc. These are not value products, but
instead statement pieces to show off
Denon's engineering prowess and legitimize
their brand into the high end market
segment. The question remains however,
will this separates solution deliver the goods
and carry enough prestige to justify the
$14k price tag? Read on to find out...