AV Receivers

On the back panel are six HDMI inputs and two outputs. The dedicated 8K HDMI (it's number six on the board) supports 8K/60Hz. The receiver is waiting on a firmware update to fix a bug that prevents it from reliably delivering sound and vision from 4K/120 sources. Use eARC as a workaround if you need to.

HDR format compliance covers both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, the latter new on this season's models. There's also Quick Media Switching (QMS) to combat screen blackout when hopping between sources, a solution to a problem I've not been particularly cognizant of.

Additional connections include two optical digital inputs (there's no coaxial option), a pair of analogue video inputs, and four analogue stereo pairs. There's also MM phono for vinyl enthusiasts, which seems a much more sensible use of panel space than the AVR's twin set of component video inputs...

The AVR-X2700H's feature count is impressive. The Bluetooth spec includes transmission to compatible headphones, plus the option of listening through speakers and headphones simultaneously, which is useful if one member of the household has a hearing impairment. There's also Wi-Fi/Ethernet, Apple AirPlay and HEOS multiroom, the latter allowing you to put together a whole home audio system using disparate but compatible products, controllable via Denon's app. If you've already got HEOS speakers, this receiver will fit right in.

If you want voice control, that's here too; the AVR works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri.

AV receivers may retain vestiges of prehistoric complexity when it comes to setup, but Denon has gone further than most when it comes to numbing the pain. Its graphical Setup Assistant remains one of the best hand-holding systems in the business, and the process includes calibration, which here is Audyssey MultEQ XT. Just pop in the microphone and allow yourself to be prompted to measure at least three listening spots.

Multiroom AV isn't a big concern at this price point, although you can stream downmixed stereo audio to Zone 2 while retaining native multichannel in the main viewing room. There's no video feed to a second zone.

Gently Does It
Bad Boys for Life (Sky Cinema) via this Denon had us grinning with satisfaction, but this receiver's not just about bombast. It's good at subtle nuance, too. Moana (Disney+, Dolby Atmos) is a great showcase for dialogue and vocal articulation, featuring everything from baby burbles and nasal teens to weighty male baritones. All are convincingly delivered. Mid-range tuning is top notch.

Music proves slightly more divisive. Multichannel is undeniably fun. Music Non Stop, from Kraftwerk's 3-D: The Catalogue (Tidal, Dolby Atmos), proves a thrilling listening experience, the track providing the receiver with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to flash audio into every channel with remarkable precision and snap. But two-channel sources sound a little duller. Overall musicality gets a mark down, but this needs to be weighed against the receiver's astonishing versatility.

Spookily Good
Anyone looking for a well-specified mid-range receiver that doesn't sacrifice features for price will find the AVR-X2700H has immense appeal. It's as much a system upgrade for gamers as movie fans, particularly if you've just taken in a next-gen console, and when it comes to cinematic action, its performance is addictive. This receiver is snappy, energetic and moves objects as efficiently as a poltergeist in a Pinewood mixing suite. If it has an achilles heel then it's two-channel musicality, but even here it doesn't profoundly disappoint. Overall, the AVR-X2700H is a stonking buy.

HCC Verdict

Denon AVR-X2700H

Price:£630
www.denon.com

We say: This brilliantly specified mid-range receiver is a home theatre hero. Value for money is off the chart, and it has next-gen gaming chops too.

Overall: 5/5

Specifications

DOLBY ATMOS: Yes DTS:X: Yes IMAX ENHANCED: No MULTICHANNEL INPUT: No MULTICHANNEL PRE-OUT: No POWER OUTPUT (CLAIMED): 7 x 95W (into 8 ohms, 0.08% THD) MULTIROOM: Yes. Zone 2 (audio only) AV INPUTS: 3 x composite; 2 x digital optical audio; 4 x phono stereo; MM phono input HDMI: 6 x inputs; 2 x outputs VIDEO UPSCALING: Yes. To 8K DIMENSIONS: 434(w) x 330(d) x 167(h)mm WEIGHT: 9.5kg

ALSO FEATURING: HEOS multiroom compatible; Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant/Siri voice compatibility; Audyssey MultEQ XT room calibration; eARC; hi-res audio file playback (ALAC, FLAC and WAV up to 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 2.8/5.6MHz); Ethernet; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; USB; AirPlay 2; FM/AM tuner; 4K/120fps (firmware pending); VRR, ALLM and QFT support; Roon Ready