Denon AVC-2000 Audio/Video Amplifier Review

The Denon AVC-2000, an exceptionally versatile integrated amplifier, was designed for use in a variety of audio and audio/video systems. It provides Dolby Pro Logic surround-sound decoding for video sources plus stereo-enhancement modes that simulate the acoustics of a concert hall or a stadium.

The main front-channel outputs of the AVC-2000 are rated at 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz with no more than 0.08 percent total harmonic distortion (THD). The rear channels deliver up to 20 watts each into 8 ohms at 1,000 Hz with 2 percent distortion. There is also a mono center-channel amplifier rated at 20 watts from 20 to 20,000 Hz with 0.4 percent THD. The AVC-2000 has line-level outputs for the front, center, and rear channels for driving additional or more powerful amplifiers.

The AVC-2000 accepts a full complement of audio inputs, including a moving-magnet (mm) phono cartridge, a CD player, a tuner, and four additional high-level sources such as the audio signal from a tv set or videodisc player. Front-panel jacks accept the video and audio signals from a second videodisc player, and there are rear audio input and output terminals for three VCR’s and three audio tape decks. In an A/V system, the AVC-2000 can also control the video signals to and from up to three VCR’s, sending the selected signal to an external video monitor. For suitably equipped video systems, the amplifier can also channel S-video signals from two of the VCR’s to the monitor.

The extensive input and output capabilities of the AVC-2000 are complemented by its switching flexibility, which provides completely independent selection of audio and video program sources for recording or monitoring. Program switching is done with front-panel pushbuttons, separately grouped for audio and video, that have red status LED’s. Other buttons operate the surround-sound circuits, selecting hall or stadium effects, simulated stereo (from a mono source), or slightly different configurations of Dolby Pro Logic operation. A phantom mode can simulate the effect of a center-front speaker when one is not available, and a wide mode provides enhanced quality with a center speaker. There is also a button that sets the rear-channel delay time to 15, 20 (normal), or 30 milliseconds.

The AVC-2000 also has video-enhancement circuits: sharpness and DETAIL buttons each provide three degrees of improved picture quality from the video outputs of a VCR during viewing or recording on another machine. A small display window on the front panel shows the status of the audio and video record selectors, the Dolby Pro Logic and surround-sound modes, and the selected delay time for the rear-channel signal.

Across the bottom of the front panel are a number of fairly conventional knobs for the bass and treble tone controls, center-channel level, input level into the surround circuits, and input left/right balance. There is a front-panel headphone jack, individual speaker-selector buttons for two pairs of front-channel speakers, and a mono/stereo mode button. The main volume control, a large knob with an led bar as an index pointer, is motor-driven when operated from the supplied wireless remote control. Beneath it are up and down buttons for electronic adjustment of the rear-channel level.

The large remote control contains sixty-four buttons of identical size. Fortunately, they are grouped by function and clearly marked to correspond with the amplifier’s front-panel markings. Virtually every front-panel control is duplicated on the remote unit, which also has a few exclusive functions, such as test tones for balancing the Dolby Pro Logic system, audio muting, and controls to display the unit’s operating status on a video monitor.

Twenty-six of the keys on the remote control are dedicated to operating compatible Denon CD players, cassette decks, fm tuners, and digital audio tape decks (not yet available in the United States). Furthermore, the remote can be programmed to duplicate the functions of controllers for products of other manufacturers.

The Denon AVC-2000 is a large and heavy component, partly because of the considerable circuitry it contains and partly because a large front panel and rear apron are needed to accommodate its many controls and connectors. It measures 17-1/4 inches wide, 15-3/4 inches deep, and 6-1/4 inches high, and it weighs about 33 pounds. Price: $1,000.

Lab Tests

The “75-watt” rating of the Denon AV C-2000’s main outputs proved to be very conservative. At 1,000 Hz, the front outputs clipped at 114.3 watts into 8 ohms and at 178.5 watts into 4 ohms. Since the amplifier is rated only for 8-ohm service, we did not attempt continuous operation into 2 ohms. We did make dynamic power tests at all three impedance levels, measuring 121 watts into 8 ohms, 176 watts into 4 ohms, and an impressive 225 watts into 2 ohms.

The THD plus noise, when the amplifier was driving 8 ohms at 75 watts, was 0.0085 to 0.01 percent from 20 to 8,000 Hz, reaching 0.015 percent at 20,000 Hz. Readings were slightly higher at lower power outputs because of the greater contribution of noise, reaching a maximum of 0.02 percent at 7.5 watts. At a constant 0.1-percent distortion, the amplifier delivered 65 watts into 8 ohms at 20 Hz, 90 watts from 1,000 to 10,000 Hz, and 75 watts at 20,000 Hz. With 4-ohm loads, the maximum output at 0.1-percent distortion was 100 watts at 20 Hz, 118 watts at 20,000 Hz, and 140 watts between 2,000 and 6,000 Hz.

The frequency response through a high-level input was +0, —1 dB from 20 to 20,000 Hz, and the RIAA phono-equalization error was less than 0.1 dB from 200 to 20,000 Hz and — 1.2 dB at 20 Hz. The sensitivity, for a 1-watt reference output, was 18.5 millivolts (mv) through a high-level input and 0.35 mv through the phono input, with respective A-weighted noise levels of — 83.2 dB and —75.5 dB. The phono preamplifier overloaded at 170 mv input at 20 and 1,000 Hz and 157 mv at 20,000 Hz. The phono-input impedance was 47,000 ohms in parallel with 160 picofarads.

Comments

Our measurements showed the Denon AVC-2000 to be a very good integrated amplifier, with adequate power for most purposes and probably more flexibility than most people will ever need. Like any A/v product, its true worth can best be judged by actual use, so we assembled a system around the AVC-2000, consisting of a good, typical VDP, VCR, and monitor, a pair of Allison AL-120 speakers for the front channels, and other speakers of comparable size for the center and rear channels. The program material consisted of several good videodiscs and a videocassette of excerpts from various films chosen for their effectiveness in demonstrating Dolby Surround sound.

Everything on the AVC-2000 worked as it was supposed to, and both the sound and picture were as good as the recordings and ancillary equipment would permit (which was very good indeed, especially with the newer demo discs using digital audio). We found, as the instruction manual for the AVC-2000 implied, that the video-enhancement circuits had little effect on most program material.

In the beginning, operating the AVC-2000 effectively was not an easy matter. The large number of controls, many of them unfamiliar, led to some temporary frustration even when we attempted such an apparently basic operation as trying to get the picture and sound simultaneously from the same source. The instruction manual appears to be quite complete and was able to clear up any confusion, but because the AVC-2000 is so different in its operation from many ordinary audio integrated amplifiers, practice is a must!

When we used the AVC-2000 as an audio control center to play CD’s, we encountered another small snag, the low power output of its rear-channel amplifiers. With most of the video material we used, the rear volume could be set at maximum with excellent surround-sound effects, but when we played certain CD’s having very high levels of bass transients (such as drums), the rear amplifiers became overloaded too readily. Turning down the rear gain cured the problem, but this experience emphasized some of the differences between movie surround sound and wide-dynamic-range digital music recordings.

All things considered, the Denon AVC-2000 is an exceptionally versatile a/v control center, ideal for those whose involvement in video (in particular, those who have several video sources) outstrips the capabilities of more basic audio products. Few people will find the AVC-2000 wanting in this respect!

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