Denon DRA-75VR Stereo Receiver Review

Denon’S DRA-75VR is primarily a high-quality am/fm stereo receiver, but it also has video switching facilities that allow video and audio programs from separate sources to be combined for listening/viewing or for recording on a VCR. Since its video features are limited to switching, however, we would consider it an enhanced stereo receiver rather than a true “audio/video” receiver.

The amplifier section of the De-non DRA-75VR is rated to deliver 65 watts per channel into 8-ohm loads from 20 to 20,000 Hz with no more than 0.015 percent total harmonic distortion. For a receiver, it has an unusually high dynamic-power rating: 150 watts into 4 ohms or 175 watts into 2 ohms. The amplifier features Denon’s “Non-Switching Class A” circuitry, which is designed to minimize the crossover distortion typical of Class AB or Class B amplifiers.

The receiver’s preamplifier section controls three high-level audio inputs (auxiliary, CD, tuner) and a phono input whose gain and input impedance can be switched for either moving-magnet (mm) or moving-coil (mc) cartridges. Separate preamplifier-output and power-amplifier-input jacks in the rear of the receiver, normally joined by jumper links, permit inserting an external processor into the signal path without using a tape-monitor loop. There are two tape loops, each of which can be used for either a VCR or an audio tape deck for playing, recording, or dubbing from either machine to the other.

The Denon DRA-75VR uses a microprocessor to store the settings of its digital-synthesis am/fm tuner, input selectors, and digital volume control. Each time the receiver is switched on, the previous control settings are restored. Although pushbuttons are used for the tuning and volume adjustments as well as selection of program sources and preset stations, the DRA-75VR has conventional knobs for its bass and treble tone controls, balance control, and loudness control.

The loudness control operates independently of the volume setting. The response is flat at the knob’s clockwise limit, and turning it counterclockwise reduces the volume over a limited range while simultaneously boosting the bass and treble responses. This system allows almost any degree of compensation to be used at any volume setting, making the loudness control’s usefulness reasonably independent of speaker efficiency.

The highly informative display window on the front panel is visually subdued and tasteful. In addition to showing the selected program source, preset channel number, station frequency, stereo reception, and relative signal level, it has an upward-sloping row of dots that indicates the volume setting. Most of the receiver’s display lighting is pale yellow-green, clearly visible but not obtrusive.

The Denon DRA-75VR is furnished with a wireless remote control that duplicates all of its digitally operated front-panel controls. The receiver’s stand-by power circuit keeps its memories intact and allows full power to be switched on or off from the remote control. The remote control can also operate certain other Denon components, including several CD players and a cassette deck, giving it full system-control capability.

The Denon DRA-75VR, which is finished in black with white markings, measures 17-1/8 inches wide, 14-7/8 inches deep, and 5-7/8 inches high, and it weighs 22-1/2 pounds. Price: $500.

Lab Tests

The rated fm usable sensitivity of the Denon DRA-75VR is 9.3 dBf (0.8 microvolts, or jiV), which is somewhat optimistic—we have never tested a tuner whose sensitivity even approached that figure! Nevertheless, its measured sensitivity of 13.4 dBf (2.6 mV) should be more than adequate for almost any receiving situation. Its distortion performance and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) were both excellent, and, like most of the other tuner measurements, they were close to the rated values.

The tuner’s stereo and muting thresholds were identical at 31 dBf (19.5 mV), a reasonable value in view of the tuner’s other performance characteristics. Two of our measurements produced surprising results: the 19-kHz stereo pilot-carrier leakage into the audio was suppressed to a record-breaking —90-dB level (a more typical figure would be about —70 dB), and the image rejection of 33 dB was possibly the lowest we have ever measured. Even the receiver’s rated 42-dB image rejection would be marginal near airports, where air-to-ground transmissions fall on the image frequencies of some fm stations, and the measured 33-dB image rejection might be a problem in such areas.

The top of the receiver became moderately hot during the amplifier section’s 1-hour preconditioning period at one-third power. The power ratings of the Denon DRA-75VR proved to be extremely conservative—it clipped at 90 watts continuous output into 8-ohm loads and 140 watts into 2-ohm loads (for which it does not carry a continuous-power rating). The 20-milli-second tone bursts of the dynamic-power test permitted maximum unclipped outputs ranging from 120 watts into 8 ohms to 240 watts into 2 ohms (well above its 2-ohm dynamic-power rating of 175 watts). The receiver did not shut down or blow any fuses during our rigorous testing of its power amplifier.

The amplifier’s distortion was also very close to its ratings, typically measuring a constant 0.016 percent at rated power over most of the audio range and reaching a maximum of 0.023 percent at 20,000 Hz. At reduced power levels the distortion curve was similar, but the actual readings decreased with the power (with many amplifiers, distortion increases at very low output levels). This effect can probably be credited to Denon’s “non-switching” amplifier design, which evidently does eliminate crossover distortion just as the manufacturer claims.

The preamplifier section matched the quality of the power amplifier, with an A-weighted S/N of 88 dB (referred to 1 watt) through a high-level input and 81.5 dB through the mm phono input. The MC phono input had an S/N of 69.5 dB, which is probably adequate though not as notable as the other measurements. The phono-overload limit for mm cartridges was about 170 millivolts, and both the input sensitivity and overload level were about ten times lower for the MC input.

The RIAA phono equalization was extremely accurate. On our usual plotting scale the variation was barely detectable, and with the expanded scale that we use for plotting CD player responses we could see that the variation was a mere ±0.2 dB from 20 to 20,000 Hz. The digital volume control had a range of about 80 dB, operating in steps of approximately 2 dB over most of that range.

Comments

The Denon DRA-75VR is an interesting receiver with some strangely contrasting performance characteristics. In some respects it is outstanding, especially the power amplifier, whose actual capabilities were far beyond the manufacturer’s ratings. The FM tuner’s performance in general was at least competent. It had better-than-average quieting, good separation, and exceptional stereo pilot-carrier suppression, and the capture ratio and am rejection were above average. Image rejection was poor, but selectivity was about average for a receiver.

The preamplifier had superb phono-equalization accuracy and high gain. The tone-control characteristics were mild and not intended to produce extreme changes in system frequency response, but they were nevertheless useful for adjusting the tonal balance of programs without creating bizarre effects. The loudness compensation was excellent, boosting both lows and highs as it reduced the midrange level by a maximum of about 15 dB. Its ability to introduce any desired degree of boost at any listening level makes this one of the better loudness controls we have used.

In most cases, this receiver should be more than satisfactory. The compact yet uncluttered remote control is convenient to use, especially since the receiver’s last operating conditions are “remembered” and restored each time it is turned on. Although we did not use the DRA-75VR with other compatible Denon products, the potential usefulness of its remote control as a system controller cannot be overlooked.

Our only criticism of the design of the Denon DRA-75VR concerns its mixture of pushbutton and knob controls (particularly for volume and loudness). Although we tend to prefer knobs for these functions, it is possible that using buttons for both (or neither) would be preferable, from an ergonomic standpoint, to the present hybrid arrangement. A small point, perhaps, but it says something for the performance of this receiver that this is the strongest criticism it elicits from us!

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