Denon AVP-A1HD Product Review page 4

For Setup go to: http://www.radiodenon.
com and follow the procedure below:
1. *Select the "Net" input on the AVP-
A1HDCI
2. Push the "MENU" button.
3. Select the "MANUAL SETUP".
4. Select the "NETWORK SETUP".
5. Select the "Network Info".
6. Display Shows the MAC Address.
7. Enter the MAC address online
* make sure you don't forget to do
step 1, else the website won't identify
your product even if you type in the
MAC address for it.
What's really cool about Denon's Net
Radio, is you can program all of the stations
you want online. The website breaks down
over 11k available channels by location,
genre and streaming quality. You can group
stations which will automatically update on
the AVP-A1HDCI once/day though my unit
was updated almost instantly. Audio quality
varies from 64kbps MP3 to 128kbps WMA
even some AAC for jazz stations but those
seemed mostly limited to 64kbps.
When you select the "Net" input, you are
brought to an OSD (left image) where you
can make your choice between Rhapsody,
Internet Radio or Media Server. I selected
Internet Radio and within minutes, I was
chilling to tunes from stations all around
4
the world. I found an all Beatles channels
and also happened on some Billy Joel in the
process. Too bad you can't search by artist
but perhaps they can add that feature in the
future.
Rhapsody
Rhapsody is a paid music broadcast system
that gives you access to millions of song
for a $12.99 monthly access fee. There is
supposedly a free 30 day trial accessible to
Denon users by signing on to:
rhapsody.com/denon/signup
to take advantage of it. I even emailed them
to see if I could get temporary access to
this service for my review but received no
response. Perhaps I will revisit this music
service in a latter review.
Music Server
The AVP-A1HDCI's Music Server function
lets you stream audio and still image files
from your PC via Windows Media Player
Network Sharing Service or Windows
Media DRM10. To access iTunes library and
playlists you need to install TwonkyMedia
software to your PC. Twonky Vision is a
software program needed to manage your
iTunes database and can be downloaded
from www.twonkyvision.com
fee of $29.99.
Enhancing Sound Quality
Through "Restorer"
To ensure the best fidelity possible,
there are three proprietary DSP music
enhancer modes labeled as "Restorer 1, 2,
3" which attempt to improve the fidelity
of compressed music sources making them
more palatable to listen to. This is a good
feature to have and was beneficial in usage,
especially via Internet Radio and MP3 copied
music. I tried them out and found modes 1
"The Denon AVP-A1HDCI
does everything impeccably
well. The flagship A/V pre/pro
from Denon is truly a master
of all domains"
Gene DellaSala
& 2 to sound nearly identical whereas mode
3 labeled "HQ" seemed to over boost the
highs on many of the stations and seemed
more appropriate on stations that were
severely lacking high frequency response.
You can even overlay PLIIx Music Mode
when using the "Restorer" sound enhancer
which really adds further enhancement to
the music.
Multi Zone Audio –
http://www. A Total Home Solution
but I was unable
The AVP-A1HDCI is armed to the teeth
when it comes to audio and video support
for up to three additional zones. Although
the AVP-A1HDCI doesn't do a second zone
of 5.1 DD/DTS decoding (a feature only
found on the AVR-5805 receiver) it does
offer digital optical outputs for zones 2 and
4 to interface with additional A/V receivers
and stream its sources to them for decoding
and processing. Zones 2 and 3 offer stereo
line-level audio outputs with volume, balance
HPF option, and tone control where Zone 2
features composite, s-video and component
video output and Zone 3 has composite
video output. Zones 2 and 3 also boast
conversion of optical or coaxial digital
signals to analog audio output for 2nd and
for a one time
3rd rooms (PCM signals only) so you don't
have to run additional analog audio cables
from each source should you desire them
to play on those two zones. Combine this
with Denon's music streaming capabilities,
RS232 functionally for external control, and
four high current (250mA / 12V) triggers
assignable to zone, input source, surround
mode, HDMI monitor, etc ensures that the
AVP-A1HDCI can intelligently operate your
entire home theater system and serve as
the demarcation point for entire home A/V
solution.
It's good to know that when you're buying
a high end processor from Denon, you
aren't buying a hollow box with a lot of hot
air in it like many esoteric companies tend
to offer. This product is built like a tank
and utilizes some of the very best analog
and digital components the industry has to
offer.
The AVP-A1HDCI rear end's impressive
stature would make even Jennifer Lopez
envious. With every conceivable connection