Denon AVR-1911

For some home theatre enthusiasts, AV receivers have lost their way. What used to be a relatively simple device with a focus on sound quality is now the complicated hub of your home theatre, handling audio, video and sometimes even online streaming services. Among such multifaceted receivers, however, the Denon AVR-1911 is something of a throwback. Its connectivity is modern, but sparse, with four HDMI 1.4 inputs where others offer six. There's also only a single-component video input and two digital audio inputs. The Denon has an on-screen display, but it uses blocky, white text, compared with the hi-res graphic interfaces offered on the Pioneer VSX-1020 and Yamaha RX-V667. If all we cared about were specs, we'd be ready to write off the AVR-1911, but it gets arguably the most important aspect right: outstanding sound quality. The Denon AVR-1911 is a full notch above other receivers we've tested this year, making it our go-to choice for audiophiles on a mid-range budget. Yes, it costs more than competitors and it lacks tons of inputs and outputs, but the Denon AVR-1911 is the way to go if superior sonics are your priority.

Design

The design on the AVR-1911 hasn't changed much from last year's Denon receivers. The front panel has a matte-black finish, which gives it a more refined look than the shiny gloss of Pioneers and Sonys. The main unique touch is the slight curve on the front panel, which tapers away toward the top. It's certainly a distinctive design, and one that not everybody will like, but we think it's a pleasing variation on the "big black box" design of many competitors. There are two large knobs on the right and left, for volume and source selection, both of which are displayed on an LCD readout at the centre. Buttons on the front are mostly kept to a minimum and we appreciate the handy front-panel USB port.

The front-panel USB port is easy to access. (Credit: CNET)

The AVR-1911's included remote is a huge improvement over the awful remotes that have come with Denon receivers in the past. It gets many things right, from the centrally-located directional pad to the large button rocker for volume. There are buttons at the top for selecting sources, but even more useful is the source select button, which lets you choose your source for the on-screen display. We also appreciated that many of the important buttons glow in the dark, which makes it easier to use in a darkened home theatre. (That said, it's not as easy as the Marantz NR1601's backlit remote.) We had our nitpicks, such as four buttons at the top for controlling power options, and it's still going to intimidate home theatre novices, but overall we're happy to see a Denon receiver with a usable remote.

Denon AVR-1911's main menu. (Credit: CNET)

Assigning inputs is a little more difficult using Denon's matrix-like menu. (Credit: CNET)

Though the AVR-1911 can play songs directly from an iPod connected via USB, its lacklustre user interface takes some of the thrill away. (Credit: CNET)

Though new AV receivers come packed with fancy features like 3D compatibility and multiple HDMI ports, we're always shocked at how primitive most of their user interfaces are. The AVR-1911 uses a text-based user interface, which looks out of place in a modern home theatre. It makes the set-up process a little more difficult compared with receivers like the Sony STR-DN1010, which use a more graphics-based approach, although that's not a huge shortcoming since you'll only see the set-up menus infrequently. More limiting is the fact that these same menus are used for iPod playback. They get the job done, but there's absolutely no eye candy.

Features

The AVR-1911 has most of the key features we expect at this price level, but it is stuck with the aforementioned basic text-based user interface. We do appreciate the two-year warranty, which is one more year than that of the Pioneer VSX-1020-K. Analog video upconversion ensures that you won't need to run additional cables from your receiver to your HDTV for older devices that still use analog video connections (we're looking at you, Nintendo Wii).

Like most mid-range receivers, the AVR-1911 comes with a full suite of new HDMI features. Though nearly every AV receiver this year is HDMI 1.4-compatible and capable of 3D video pass-through, the AVR-1911 also supports audio return channel and standby pass-through. Those last two features are a leg up over the Pioneer, which supports neither.

As is standard, the AVR-1911 includes on-board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DST-HD Master Audio, plus decoding for Dolby ProLogic IIz. There's also support for Audyssey Dynamic Volume, which limits volume spikes, and Audyssey MultEQ, which is a collection of sound-processing modes based on measurements taken during auto set-up.

The Denon AVR-1911 has the least amount of video connectivity offered by any of the mid-range AV receivers we've tested this year. Its four HDMI inputs are the minimum we expect, with competitors like the Pioneer VSX-1020, the Yamaha RX-V667 and the Onkyo HT-RC260 offering six. It's also skimpy with analog video inputs, offering just a single component video input and three composite video inputs. All that adds up to the fact that you can only connect five HD video devices at a time; this is significantly fewer than other mid-range receivers, which can handle seven or eight HD devices at once. It's easy to knock the AVR-1911 for its lack of ports, but it's worth remembering that the extra connectivity offered by competitors really only matters if you're going to use it. For many (if not most) home theatres, the Denon's video connectivity will be plenty.