Denon AVR-X1700H Review

Given the competitiveness of the modern AV receiver market, Denon had to take a bold step to strike its competitors. From the first glance at AVR-X1700H specifications, I realized that the competition would be fascinating. And I wasn’t wrong back then.

The Marantz has a slim but mighty 5.2 channel NR1510 receiver in this price range. In turn, Yamaha doesn’t seem to take a backseat with their 5.2 channel RX-V4A. And when the Denon cavalry, the AVR-X1700H, arrived in October 2021, the market already had the AVR-X2700H. Nevertheless, the hero of my review is not the most expensive model among analogs and is cheaper than the X2700H. So now, when some time has passed, I can make a comprehensive Denon AVR-X1700H review to see whether this unit is actually worth all the fuss around.

Design

The AVR-X1700H is not a trendsetter when it comes to design. I didn’t manage to find much of a change when comparing the X1700H with X2700H. A classic black box with convenient control surfaces and a big readable screen in the middle. Dimensions are also relatively standard for this price range, 17.1× 13.3 × 6 in. The AVR-X1700H weighs slightly less than the AVR-X2700H – 18.96 lbs vs. 21.

After unpacking the receiver and holding it in the hands, it felt solid and rigid, giving a feeling of holding a costly and quality unit. No strange noises or scary crunch sounds that one may have from more simple units. Even though the AVR-X2700H is more expensive, it has the same case and quality. This aspect enormously benefits the AVR-X1700H, as in some cases, more affordable AV receivers have cheaper cases.

Features and specs

Denon AVR-X1700H has the situation firmly in hand by being a 7.2 Ch AV receiver. For comparison, Marantz, in the same price range, offers 5.2 NR1510, and Yamaha also comes with 5.2 channel RX-V4A. Denon also surpasses its competitors in terms of power, offering 80W with 8-ohm speakers, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.08%. It is enough to fill the middle-sized room with immersive sound, especially with the help of supported Audyssey MultEQ XT and DTS:X technology trees.

Denon has an advantage, having 6 HDMI inputs (HDCP 2.3), 3 of which support 8K resolution at 60 Hz. At the same time, as all analogs, Denon AVR-X1700H features include only a single HDMI output. It also contains 2 composite inputs, a single output, 7 speaker terminals, 2 outputs for subwoofers, assignable bi-amping, an FM antenna, has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The receiver fully supports Zone 2 feature, which also gives the AVR-X1700H advantage over the NR1510 from Marantz. The latter supports only HEOS-compatible speakers, with no multi-room feature.

In terms of video capabilities, all HDMI support 4K/120Hz, and, as I have mentioned before, only 3 are 8K/60Hz capable. The AVR-X1700H offers almost complete support of the DTS:X technology family, apart from DTS Neo:X. The same goes for the help of the latest Dolby technologies. But in this case, the only exception is Dolby ProLogic II. HDMI to HDMI scaling and HDR 10+. In terms of video features, the receiver stands alongside its competitors without significant flaws or advantages, with specific characteristics that partially equal it to more expensive models.

Listening experience

The AVR-X1700H has a pretty pleasant sound when listening to music, showing similar results with a different genre. The level of detail, stability, and vibrato can almost be compared to AVR-X2700H. Compare these two blindfolded, and you won’t find much difference in music. With movies, The AVR-X1700H shows detailed, steered, balanced sound. Despite not having the highest power, it delivers just enough to fill a medium-sized room with immersive sound. Two subwoofers work great, delivering theater-like sound.

Denon habitually plays one of the leading companies in the AV receiver industry. Their AVR-X1700H adhered to the company’s tradition and didn’t disappoint me during the test. It is a severe competitor of Marantz and Yamaha and an excellent choice for optimizing your multimedia system.