Denon - AVR-X2900H 7.2 Ch. 95W 4K/8K Dolby Atmos AV Receiver - Black

The AVR-X2900H is an excellent, easy to set up and use receiver. Offering nearly every possible option for connection and format that you can imagine. For me, the standout is the audio quality. At this price point, the AVR-X2900H far surpasses other receivers I have used. Once setup was completed, firing up an Atmos-compatible movie, I was immediately impressed with the quality. Especially compared to my previous, mid-level receiver. Audio seemed clearer at the higher ranges, and bass somehow seemed more full. As with previous Denon units, the AVR-X2900H also looks very elegant and nice. It's design neatly fitting into nearly any home audio setup. -- Setup One of the typically more daunting parts of getting a new receiver is the setup. Denon has done their best to ease this process. Their onscreen guide will walk you through the process, from adding your speakers, to plugging in your devices. Once you have everything plugged in, the Audyssey calibration process is also easy and straightforward. If you have ever been through this process before, you know what to expect. A sound is played from each speaker while you use an included microphone to calibrate to your seating position. Once this was complete, it was off to the races. I will often fine tune these settings for my personal preferences after a setup, but I have yet to touch the settings for this so far. It sounds great to me. -- Hardware As I mentioned before the receiver itself looks elegant, and maybe somewhat typical to a normal receiver. But that just means it will look great in nearly every setup. The receiver is slightly wider than my previous receiver, so you may want to double-check measurements to make sure it will fit. But the difference is very little. I also like how the buttons are a bit angled now. I keep the receiver in a cabinet under my TV, so those angled buttons are easier to press while reaching down. I appreciate the number of HDMI inputs too. Having 7 inputs covers most of my devices. Supporting the major audio formats is a big plus. It features both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and supports VRR. Something to consider, if you're gaming at something over 120hz, the AVR-X2900H doesn't seem to support anything above 120hz. It seems to be limited to 4K/120hz. So, that could be a dealbreaker for some. If you're looking for a receiver that supports nearly every possible home audio configuration for a 7.2 system, the AVR-X2900H can easily handle it. Pros: Superb sound, easy setup, excellent features Cons: Limited to 4K/120hz, it would be nice if it supported the faster refresh rates

This is a classic mid-range receiver with updated to current functionality. There are 7 audio channels, Which accept banana connectors, and two separate subwoofer pre-outs, for up to a 7.2 arrangement, with support for Bi-Amp front-speakers in a 5.1 configuration, or a separate Zone 2 in Stereo with the main as 5.1. There is also a Pre-out for Zone 2. There is Dolby Atmos support with height speakers. The 'Surround Back' speakers are assignable for all these different alternatives: Bi-Amp, Atmos Height or Zone 2. As expected, supports most Dolby including Atmos and DTS formats including DTS:X As for audio inputs, it has phono RCA connectors with a ground connector, six assignable RCA stereo connectors, one digital RCA and two optical inputs. Separate AM and FM antenna connectors, with an included AM loop antenna. And a separate FM cable antenna. The FM receiver does not appear to support digital broadcasts. The included remote control is large and well organized. It does not control other devices however the receiver supports HDMI CEC so it can control them this way. It's infrared only so the receiver needs a line of sight with the remote. It also has remote control jacks (In and out) so one can add an external IR sensor. Additionally it supports RS-232C for automating it via a controller, and has a DB9 connector on the back. HDMI connectors are essential on a receiver, and partly the reason for upgrading to this. Out of the six assignable inputs, three support 8K sources and the other 3 support up to 4K inputs. There are two HDMI outputs that support 8K and one supports eARC (Return audio from the TV). All support HDCP 2.3 and CEC. HDCP is the encryption format and it's important because otherwise media players can refuse to play in high-definition if they cannot negotiate HDCP. CEC is used to control one unit from another, and this receiver supports it, turning on and off devices and selecting the corresponding input. There is an USB port in the back to provide power to something like a streaming stick, and an USB port on the front that can be used with memory sticks or drives for playing audio. Bluetooth: It can either receive from a Bluetooth device like a phone or it can connect to Bluetooth headphones, depending on the audio source being used, and it can play on speakers and BT headphones simultaneously or just the headphones. It does not support high resolution codecs like AptX or LDAC, which I found surprising. Internet connections: Connected via either WiFi or Ethernet, it can play back internet radio stations via Tune-In, with no account required, it has excellent Apple Airplay 2 support, with even lets me set up WiFi credentials via Apple and the receiver displays album art on the TV while playing. There is also Spotify Connect support but does not support Google cast audio. Then there is HEOS, which is a multi-room home audio protocol similar in concept Sonos. It supports home NAS servers as well as a few internet services like Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL and a handful of others. Not a huge list but covers the basics. There is no YouTube Audio nor Apple Music (Although Airplay support is excellent and very responsive). HEOS can also connect to other internet speakers from Denon and Marantz, so a vinyl record player connected to the phono input of the receiver can be heard using HEOS on a separate Marantz speaker for example. HEOS can also be used to cast audio from an Apple or Android phone. It comes with an acoustic calibration microphone for Denon's Audyssey system that I found it worked well for my room. The calibration microphone comes with a very long cable and is only needed during calibration and can be stored afterwards. It supports attaching to a tripod and comes with a cardboard extension if there are no better options. Denon also offers a paid phone (iOS/Android) application to use the phone for assisting in the calibration, which I chose not to purchase at the moment. It also supports, in alternative to Audyssey, 'Dirac Live', which offers more complete calibration toolset, although the receiver supports the 'Core Optimization' technology and not the Active Room Treatment (ART). This is entirely optional and the license is expensive. Not an option for me but I appreciate it's offered. Although there is classic matrix display on the unit that works very well, most of the setup is much simpler through the menu on the TV, and some settings are even simpler from the programming menu on the phone app. For phone apps, there are two basic ones required to install: The Denon remote app is very simple and mostly replaces the remote control, and adds direct access to some advanced settings, shows cover art of what's playing when available. The second app is HEOS which handles any streaming audio sources and some other basic controls. The Audyssey app is completely optional, as the included mic is often enough. So, overall, it's a great traditional receiver with some quality of life improvements necessary to function with the latest TVs and 4K/8K sources. To me this model covers the vast majority of home audio/TV setups without the extras required on private listening rooms. And offers slightly more flexibility than the base models and including support for home automation, 12V trigger, a second simultaneous HDMI output (Like for example a projector and a TV), and so on. Internet sources support is good but not great. IN any case it excels in audio quality which is the most important aspect of a receiver and the HDMI switching works very well. I do like the warmth of the sound.

This Denon AVR-X2900H (X2900) is an upgrade for me from 2018’s X2500. The X2500 is still going strong, a testament to the quality of Denon sets, even at the entry level. What did it in is the same old story – evolving standards and new components that require them to perform at peak level. In this case, I recently bought a new 4K/120hz TV, which requires HDMI 2.1 and HDR 10+ for the best picture quality, specs that were too new when the X2500 arrived. (The X2900 is also Dolby Vision capable if your TV employs that rather than HDR10+). So here I am with my new X2900, and the video difference is stunning. What I didn’t expect was the perceptible bump in audio quality too. The bottom-line is, for a medium room Dolby Atmos box (plus Freesync for gamers) it’s not just superb, it’s the best in its tier. THE MODEL FOR MOST The X2900 sits in the middle of Denon’s X series lineup which is Denon’s mid-tier of AV receivers, sandwiched between the S series below and A series above. In my opinion it in my opinion, it punches above its position. It’s no wimp. There are legit reasons to jump to a higher model if you have more than 7.1 speakers or your listening area is over 900 sq. ft., or you have a dedicated home theater/media room. But for most applications I see no reason to look further up the line. The X2900 is the sweet spot when combining price, modern features, and sound and audio performance. I’m confident proclaiming this because Denon’s former flagship X8500HA powers my “big” home theater. The X8500HA has the connectivity and power I need for that space, but I can’t say the video or sound quality is thousands of dollars better than the X2900. The X2900 has all the current connectivity, formats, and standards, so buying more receiver than needed gets you nothing more than an emptier wallet. Don’t chase the “future proofing” mirage because specs are forever changing. A TALE OF TWO BUILDS Common sense says manufacturers must make compromises to make an overall great product affordable. For receivers this typically materializes in one of two ways. They are either show ponies with unimpeachable inside-out build quality, but minimal power and limited i/o or they are work horses with power and good connectivity options but don’t exude external refinement. The X2900 is the latter. It has the heft of a heavy bevy. Denon reports it weighs 21lbs and I felt everyone one of them. It’s a sign of high quality and thoughtful engineering but frequently underappreciated. It includes boring things like the inclusion of strong, durable power transformer. There’s also the new 32-bit DAC, which gives the X2900 even cleaner bass frequencies than my X2500. The X2900’s metal case is a must to withstand heat production. No worries, it’s well vented on top, just don’t block them and be sure there’s proper room at the top for air to circulate. It’s all plastic from here. Compared to my X2500, the buttons feel hollower and the dials less weighted, precise, and satisfying to turn. Still, I’m just thankful a consultant didn’t axe them to save a few bucks. Seriously, I mostly use the supplied remote to control receiver. So, I’d rather Denon lower the quality on the outside than inside, where it does matter. The speaker and component connectors are basic but effective. For example, the RCA connectors are not gold plated, but I’ve always felt that was a gimmick. Well-constructed cables are what matter here. The binding posts feel cheap but are functional and accept bare wire or banana or spade connectors. The feet have a ½” diameter rubber ring to keep the X2900 from sliding during bass vibrations and potentially disconnecting cables. I doubt the rubber offers any shock protection, but less necessary on a receiver since there’s no moving media. SETUP Without getting into fine details, the X2900 virtually holds your hand during the calibration process. Just follow the “setup assistant” at initial startup. Your speakers will emit lots of ugly tones and static. That’s part of the process. Rinse and repeat as the instructions asks. When calibration is complete you’ll have perfect surround sound customized to your room’s walls, furniture, and flooring. Proper setup of any A/V receiver is a clumsy, protracted, and unenjoyable affair. The good news it’s not difficult and the X2900’s on-screen menu is intuitive for post “setup assistant” tweaks too. Expect to spend an hour, once your speakers and components are hooked in, getting everything as you like. Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration, a calibration mike, and disposable cardboard tripod is included. I enjoy the results it gave me, but if you want more precision, the X2900 is also compatible with Dirac Live Room Correction, Level 1 as an extra cost option. Dirac Live is considered the more audiophile of the two calibration methods and previously was limited to high end models. AUDIO PERFORMANCE Denon not only doesn’t overstate the X2900’s RMS/channel power ratings for marketing purposes, it backs it up with a “70% power guarantee” when audio is simultaneously pushed to five channels. That means it will deliver, not dump, all the slight details an action-packed moment brings. So, while a two-digit number may not seem exciting, in the X2900’s case, I think your ear’s will tell you, your family, and guests, otherwise. It fills my 700-ish sq. ft open family room perfectly. For context, the equipment in this room consists of a 65” 4K/120hz TV and a 5.1.2 in-wall/ceiling speaker system. Except for the “height” speakers all are “ancient” 20-year-old Boston Acoustics (a top speaker brand then and still sounds great). A couple years ago I added two 4.5” speakers as height speakers for Dolby Atmos. In this scenario the X2900 is distortion-free at 0 dB volume, but it’s powerful enough that I keep it at a much lower setting. Even at relatively low volume it authoritatively fills a room with discernably layered audio. Video dialog is accurately placed and well-defined and doesn’t get buried by competing sound effects like traffic or airplanes, or rockets. But if you want more dialog presence you can manually set it to your taste. Clear dialog doesn’t come at the cost of diminished sound effects. To my ears they are realistic. Movie explosions are lifelike, not just generic rumbles and static. On the music side, the X2900 is equally “goldilocks,” with all the frequencies in harmony rather than one or another aiming to be “boss.” No matter what genre I play, from classical to punk, or the volume I play it at, its enjoyable for hours either in the forefront or lingering in the background. VIDEO PERFORMANCE Unlike the surprising, noticeable audio improvements from my X2500H, I expected a boost in video performance since that’s the reason I ordered it in the first place. The X2900 can handle higher bandwidth than the X2500 with its HDMI 2.1 and HDR10+ (or Dolby Vision) capabilities. And Freesync for gaming. Suffice to say, video is as expected and sends a “perfect” signal to my TV. The black level is where is should be for my TV, good brightness, accurate colors, and the fast sports like soccer are both buttery smooth and crisp. Of course, you’ll need a TV with top specs too since the X2900 is only part of the puzzle here. HEOS & THE APP The X2900 is feature laden and well documented in the spec sheet and elsewhere. So, I won’t regurgitate them. But one, HEOS, I think it’s (understandably) misunderstood by those who’ve never owned a recent-ish Denon (or Marantz). I really enjoy it and think it’s worth a mention here. HEOS has been around for years and seems to continue to collect new responsibilities. It spins many records, so to speak, but above all its Denon’s wireless connection to your home Wi-Fi network. It’s the input used to stream music from services like Spotify, Roon, Tidal, all at the highest audio quality your subscription offers. This is also where Apple AirPlay 2 lives, allowing you to stream music stored on your Apple device without pairing. But HEOS is also the name of the (iOS/iPad/Android) app and gives extra value to owning Denon (and Marantz), especially if you have multiple AV receivers like I do. It connects to all your Denon and Marantz receivers to assemble a wireless whole home audio system. Each receiver can then be controlled individually or as a defined in-app as a cluster to play the same media. I have a total of five Denon and Marantz receivers controlling seven zones in my house and love having this wireless whole home audio system. But even if you just have the X2900 you can use the app to control almost every basic aspect of your receiver just like the physical remote. You can even use HEOS to select audio to stream from streaming services without having to go to that services app. Another cool feature is you can connect it to a DNLA capable music server. This will populate the albums and art into the app for each play selection. Finally, Denon makes HEOS wireless speakers with minimal latency. I have no need for wireless speakers myself I have in-walls in my house, but I love the concept. If I was still a kid living in an apartment or even moved into a new home, it would be a no brainer to get true surround sound. There is a slight learning curve to grasping and mastering all HEOS’s capabilities. Some parts of the app could be more intuitive and easier to configure. Still, I find it worth the effort.

I have only ever owned entry level audio/video receivers to power my surround sound system. The Denon AVR-X2900H is my first mid-level receiver, and I truly cannot stress how much better everything sounds. Namely, the cinematic audio experience is exceptional. Everything sounds fuller, wider, and deeper. What helps is the receiver’s higher total watts per channel and Denon’s ability to always deliver that power consistently to each speaker. There are plenty of other features that contribute to its exceptional performance. I’ll go further into detail on the ones that stood out to me the most. --Setup, Customization, and App Features What is nice about the setup process is that Denon makes it simple. You can step through the setup program and walk away with a well balance system. But it also allows for deep customization if you would like to fine tune some of the initial settings. For example, I used the included mic and the Audyssey calibration tool during the initial setup. However, I felt I needed to adjust the individual sound levels for my center channel and subwoofer output. Denon makes it an easy process with intuitive menu and setting options to make these adjustments. Not to mention, many of the same settings found on the receiver can also be adjusted by the Denon app. On top of that, you can also make the adjustments on your computer by directing your browser to the receiver’s local webpage. Either method is easy to use and is reliable. Unlike my previous receiver, the communication between the app and the system is instantaneous. There isn’t any lag and the connection always remains stable. --Sound Processing and Dolby Atmos Features This receiver excels at driving a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system. In my case, I have a 7.1 system that uses Dolby height speakers. For an average sized living room of 250 square feet, this model is perfect. If I had a dedicated room for watching movies, I would most likely upgrade to a premium tier audio/video receiver that has more total wattage and channels. But for a typical living room, with a standard 5.1 setup, this receiver is more than enough. And if you are thinking about adding Dolby speakers in the future, this receiver has additional channels for future upgrades. Until that time, this model includes a Dolby Atmos virtualization option, a process that simulates object-based height channels. There are a few key features that set this model apart from the less expensive entry level Denon model. And I would be remiss for not mentioning them. Aside from the difference in watts per channel from 90 to 95, this receiver, the AVR-X2900H, utilizes higher-capacity main power transformers and custom audio-grade power capacitors. In addition, the digital signal processer is an upgraded version that allows for the more advanced Audyssey MultEQ XT software when performing room calibration. The AVR-X2900H also contains additional memory and processing hardware if you’re interested in upgrading to an even more powerful room correction software known as Dirac Live. In terms of subwoofer options, this receiver features independent dual subwoofer DAC channels allowing for separate level and delay calibration for two subwoofers. And finally, the X2900H includes two types of pre-outs: one for sending the audio signal to a different receiver, such as a dedicated stereo receiver or amplifier, and an additional set of pre-outs for playing music in a second zone in the house. --Home Theater versus Stereo System Notwithstanding all these technical differences, I want to touch upon my experience of configuring this model for the dual purpose of a home theater and stereo system. Until I can afford a stand-alone stereo receiver, I plan on using this AVR to serve both purposes. Believe it or not, it can be quite challenging for some AVR’s to handle both. For example, my entry-level receiver from another brand did not do well transitioning from a 5.1 surround system to a 2-channel stereo setup. Essentially, I would have to dig deep into the menu to reconfigure the number of speakers being used. Doing so would lose all my saved settings and it wasn’t worth making this transition every time I wanted to use my floor standing speakers as in a stereo setup. So essentially, I abandoned this effort and kept the settings for a surround system only. However, this new receiver not only has the capacity to transition between both configurations, Denon makes it an easy process by allowing the ability to save up to two speaker presets. I use one preset for my surround sound system and the other for a stereo setup. For the surround setting, all the configurations made by the calibration software are saved, in addition to any additional modifications I made to the system to enhance the surround sound experience. And for the stereo setting, I was able create a separate configuration that only utilizes the main two speakers. This effectively turns off power at the system level to all the speakers except for the front left and right. This allows for more power to each speaker and less interference and noise throughout the system. In terms of how well each system performs, I am very happy with how everything sounds. There is no question that this receiver excels at producing exceptional home theater sound. But it is very capable of producing great stereo sound too. I used the Audyssey room calibration tool to fine tune the surround sound system. And instead chose to use the graphic EQ settings (see pictures) along with tonal bass and treble adjustment to fine tune the stereo system. Overall, I am very happy with the results and thrilled that I can switch between both speaker presets with ease while retaining the customized settings to both. --Music Streaming The final feature I want to speak about is the receiver’s ability to play/stream hi-fidelity music. I subscribe to Tidal, a music service built specifically for high-fidelity listening. My old receiver used to struggle playing and maintaining a wireless connection between streaming services. In my opinion, Denon did an excellent job pairing the HEOS app with the receiver’s built-in wireless streaming capabilities. The HEOS app allows me to easily search and play music from Tidal. It also displays useful system configuration information within the app (see pictures). And if necessary, allows for direct system adjustments without needing to use the physical remote control. Both the HEOS app and Denon app can perform system adjustments. And at times, it does seem like they do the same thing, but the HEOS app is designed for playing and streaming music. And the settings within the HEOS app are made to support this process. What I’m most pleased with is that the app and receiver communicate flawlessly. As mentioned earlier, there is no lag or dropped connection. I also love that I can use the native In-Tune service to call up and play all my local radio stations. There is even a button on the remote dedicated to this useful feature. Again, the wireless streaming features are robust with this receiver. --Concerns One concern I have with the receiver is it sometimes fails to switch to one particular source within my system. My guess is that the source’s signal is pretty week and the receiver has a hard time recognizing it. It doesn’t happen all the time, but the solution is easy when this does occur; I simply switch to another source and back and the receiver properly picks up the signal. A second concern was when I was during the initial setup. I was adding the receiver to my wireless network, but I could not get it to connect by manually entering in the network password. I kept on getting a “password failed” notice. I suspect the issue is with my wireless router. It sometimes struggles connecting with devices that use the latest WPA3-Personal high-security standard. Instead of trying to troubleshoot the process, I decided to utilize another option Denon includes, which is using an iPhone to add the receiver to the network using Apples AirPlay networking system. The AirPlay option worked as expected. --Final Thoughts If you can’t tell by now, I’m absolutely thrilled with this model. It is packed with the latest technology, but more importantly, it produces excellent sound.

The Denon - AVR-X2900H falls within the middle of Denon's offerings, between their high end and low end receivers. That doesn't mean this should be overlooked. -----SETUP----- Setup is pretty straight forward, plug it in, connect your components, and enter the HeOS setup. HeOS walks you through setting up speakers, video input/output and connecting to your network. Everything works really well for me with one exception. I could not get the X2900H to level test my subwoofer. I double checked connections, checked subwoofer, swapped with another, even updated firmware. Nothing worked until I performed a factory reset. After factory rest, the sub tested perfectly and has been working ever since. It was odd that factory resetting something fresh from the factory worked, but I was glad it wasn't a hardware issue. Denon includes an Audyssey mic, which when attached to the special input and placed on a stand, will assist with speaker distance and audio calibration. I've been setting up receivers for over 30 years, so I skipped this in favor of other options, but for most people, this gets the audio sounding pretty good. ----SOUND---- This is obviously on of the most important factors when considering a AV receiver. The X2900H packs enough punch with it's 95 W at 8 Ohms / 20 Khz and 0.08% total harmonic distortion to drive my Bowers & Wilkens speakers without a problem. Sound was punchy yet warm, mids were fantastic and clear, while lows (especially with my working subwoofer) were detailed and boomy with highs being sharp, defined but not bothersome. Sound separation was evident. Depending on the source, Dolby Atmos sounded spatial and immersive, stereo was dynamic through the left and right channels, 5.1 was equally as spatial and immersive. The X2900H handled anything I threw at it. ----VIDEO---- Video processing it also stellar on the X2900H. I set my primary streaming devices as the passthrough, so even if the AV receiver is off, video comes through just fine. It has no problems passing through 4k at 120hz all the way down to 1080p at 30hz. Movies, HDR whether Dolby Vision, HDR10, etc all looks fantastic on my 96% reference grade calibrated display. I didn't notice any artifacts, distortion, processing, or lag due to the receiver. Everything passed through in it's native format flawlessly. Switching between inputs was fast as well. Transitioning from SDR to HDR had no problems either. ----FEATURES---- Whether streaming music from any number of services, or AirPlay, Google Cast, playing video games, watching TV, or watching movies, the X2900H handles it with ease, and provides many options to suite many different needs. There are plenty of HDMI inputs (x6) with many options for audio as well. If you rather use a smartphone to control the X2900H, there is a companion HeOS app that can be used to stream music, update firmware or help perform setup function. I preferred the direct menu system personally, but did find the app to be easy to use and connect. I chose to have my Apple TV use the eARC as well as turned on HDMI CEC. This way, I only need one remote control to power on/off my Apple TV, TV, and AVR. Volume control on my Apple TV remote worked great controlling the Denon. I rarely need to touch the Denon remote, only to make modification changed to the setup or change an input, which for this specific TV, is rarely done. The built in wireless antennas had no problem with signal either. While there is a RJ45 for hard wiring Ethernet, I did not need to use it as network use is minimal for me on my AVR and when I do use it, wireless performs great. My only real complaint is that the power on LED is bright white. I mean, flashlight bright. The main display has a dimming feature, which is fantastic for watching movies in the dark, but the LED is so bright it's distracting. I chose to cover it up with a small piece of electrical tape, but Denon should really consider putting a feature to have "Power On" simply turn off the white LED with "Power Off" being the red LED. I don't understand the rationality behind allowing main display to dim and not having this searchlight have the ability to dim. ----CONCLUSION---- The Denon AVR-X2900H is a fantastic balance of price to performance and will be a phenomenal performer for most people. It's capable of driving high end speakers with exquisite detail while being easy to use. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a great AVR for under $2000.