I've been looking in to the Denon DHT-487dv HTiB, but can't seem to find any decent reviews on it. It seems like an awesome system, does anyone have any personal feedback on it yet?

I've been looking in to the Denon DHT-487dv HTiB, but can't seem to find any decent reviews on it. It seems like an awesome system, does anyone have any personal feedback on it yet?


I have the Denon DHT-486DV which seems to be quite similiar to the 487 except for the 486 is 7.1 (2 more speakers)and the 487 is 5.1. Check the Denon web site to compare the difference and to get the specs on the 487. Also, C-NET.com should have reviewed it by now. I really enjoy my system, great sound and features, just takes a little tweaking to get dialed in and figuring out the adjustments to get the best performance. For the price range I don't think you can find anything better, especially other htib's. I even tried to put together a system with seperate components, but there was no way to even get anything comparable to this system for the price This Denon system is not put together with cheaply made components like panny's or sony's or the other all in one pkg. systems. Onkyo's and Yamaha's have some systems that might come close but not with the same quality the Denon offers.

Thanks for the reply. I don't really need the DVD player (that's what my HD-A1 is for) but other than that they seem to be great bang for the buck.

I have not been able to find any reviews on this product either. I went out and bought one anyway , I bought it at best buy knowing that if i wasn't happy I could always get my money back for it ,as long as it's under 30 days.

My review for this product is 5/5 stars. This product completely blows my kenwood system out of the water. I wasn't sure what I was getting into but after shopping around and speaking with many different people all I kept hearing was DENON is good , some compared to BOSE .

The sound is crisp and clear. The bass is awsome and when turned up hi , very little distortion it maintains the hi quality sound. This is definately a good purchase I have no regrets. The remote is designed nicely and everything on it is easy to figure out.

I would still like to find some reviews on this item. I would like an experts opinion on the item .

Glad to hear you are enjoying your system mrpep. You cannot beat a Denon system. High quality system for the price of a low quality system imho. Way better than an overpriced Bose system also

right on! keep em coming. and btw, I should hope it's much better than Bose. I hate Bose speakers

The only thing I can't find is a good picture of the back of the receiver. I need to know if it accepts analog 5.1. I want to hook up the HD DVD player and take advantage of Dolby TrueHD.

Had a first hand experience to listen to it at my local circuit city. It dwarfs any system (Onkyo included) by its sheer power. The connection details can be seen at usa denon site . BTW is the Receiver 7.1 compatible and they only provide 5.1 speakers? Let me know. The local Circuit City is on a renovation so will give a bit of time to here it properly. Will love to hear reviews from u guys

Had a first hand experience to listen to it at my local circuit city. It dwarfs any system (Onkyo included) by its sheer power. The connection details can be seen at usa denon site . BTW is the Receiver 7.1 compatible and they only provide 5.1 speakers? Let me know. The local Circuit City is on a renovation so will give a bit of time to here it properly. Will love to hear reviews from u guys

Any other owners on the board?

The only thing I can't find is a good picture of the back of the receiver. I need to know if it accepts analog 5.1. I want to hook up the HD DVD player and take advantage of Dolby TrueHD.

Pictures:

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3332.asp?ProductName=DHT%2D487DV%3A+Complete+5%2E1+Home+Thea ter+System#

I bought one of these for my great room.

I think it's fantastic.

The sound is crisp and rich -- a big improvement over the Bose 3-2-1 I have upstairs (where 5.1 wiring was an issue).

It set up easily with my Logitech 880 remote.

None of the components seems cheap or cheesy, so I think it forms a good basis for step-by-step improvement over the years.

I heartily recommend it.

Just bought the 487dv, tivo s3, aquos 52in. Plan on hooking it all up this weekend.
This may be the wrong place to ask but do you guys have anything running thru the avr or do you go straight to the tv via hdmi from the STB/tivo if you have it??? Send the audio to the avr from the tv? I feel like I kind of blew it having all these components with hdmi except the 487dv-even though it some folks say component is just as good? :rolleyes:

sorry bout that

i just bought this system and set it up last night. got the feed from the cable box coming in, sounds great...

however, i have no audio from the dvd player and i can't figure out why. i have the dvd outputting HDMI to the tv (and the tv audio DOES work) and i've got an optical calbe (purchased from fry's, brand is matix) going from the dvd player to the receiver.

as far as i can tell, all the settings are correct, and i should have audio... but this is my first HT system, and my first experience with optical audio cables. i'm not even sure i have the thing plugged in right.. it's sorta just sitting there, really loose. but i can't push it in to get it to click or anything, and i'm afraid of breaking it.

should i just give up and go with coaxial, or what? any help is greatly apreciated, as this is driving me nuts.

Can anyone compare this system to the Onkyo 790?

well, i think i've figured out my flaw... in short, i'm an idiot. that optical cable i'm using? yea... i think i left the lense caps on it. that would explain the problems i've been having, eh? i'll know for sure in about 2 hours when i get home... but after looking through things online, i'm 90% sure this is the problem.

sigh.

Hello,

I am thinking about getting this HTIB. A few questions: Do you need optical cables to hook this up, or is that just an upgrade to get better sound? How is the DVD upconversion? And, is the current Circuit City sale price of $599.99 plus a 10% coupon a good deal.

Thanks

Can any of you guys with this system tell me the model numbers of the receiver and dvd player. I forgot to check when I was at the store. I already have a receiver and dvd player and was thinking of buying this just for the speakers. I want to see what these parts might be going for on e-bay and try to sell them.

Thanks


And, is the current Circuit City sale price of $599.99 plus a 10% coupon a good deal.

Thanks

I just saw it yesterday at Costco. They have it for $499. It will save you $40 from your CC price if you have a Costco near you, and they have a great return policy just in case.

If all you want is the speakers they can be had in 7.1 form on ebay from 140-200 bucks including the sub. That's a steal if you ask me. I'm no audiophile but I think they sound pretty good for what they are. They aren't extremely loud but they are loud enough and the sound quality seems to be there, I don't find myself asking "what did he/she say?" during movies. Wish I knew how to take a measured response.

Receiver is AVR-487
DVD is DVD-557
Speakers SYS-57HT

If you're interested in the speakers on ebay look up sys-76ht they are 7.1 and silver instead of black.

If all you want is the speakers they can be had in 7.1 form on ebay from 140-200 bucks including the sub. That's a steal if you ask me. I'm no audiophile but I think they sound pretty good for what they are. They aren't extremely loud but they are loud enough and the sound quality seems to be there, I don't find myself asking "what did he/she say?" during movies. Wish I knew how to take a measured response.

Receiver is AVR-487
DVD is DVD-557
Speakers SYS-57HT

If you're interested in the speakers on ebay look up sys-76ht they are 7.1 and silver instead of black.

I'm no audiophile for sure, but I just assembled and connected this fine unit (collection). I've never had a home theater system before, but I went with this because the views here and at other sites were so extremely positive.
I've got it set up as far as possible for now, I've yet to really delve into the settings, adjustments, and fine tuning.

As of now it is:
Denon HTIB (AVR-487, DVD-557, SYS-57HT)
Sony KDF-E42A10 42" Rear Projection LCD
Xbox 360
Scientific Atlantic Explorer 8300HD (HD Cable Box)

The dvd player is not set up yet due to length of cable issues (I'll need to buy longer/ better cables in oder to connect it)
The 360 is not set up either for the same reasons....

I'm such a newbie that I'm not even sure if things are connected correctly, if anyone here has advice or tips I'd greatly appreciate it.
I'm not sure why sometimes the subwoofer seems "on" and others it doesn't?
I've been perusing the manuals, but there's just so much to explore and so many options and set up possibilities that I need to cut through some of the "fat'.

As of now though, this thing screams "quality" and "possibilities".
I'm happy, excited, and a little daunted.
Thanks for any help that is out there.

I need some advice. I got the Denon yesterday at CC at 299.99 due to the flyer misprint. I had already pulled the trigger on the Onkyo last week from Vanns (409.99 with stands). I went to see if I could get this b/c it's such a good deal but never expected to score it.

My options (as far as I can tell) are:

1). Keep Denon and keep refuse shipping on Onkyo. Vann's states I will eat the shipping and return shipping costs. Shipping was free, return shipping I can attempt to argue with AMEX was a restocking fee and get credited. If not, looking at $100 or so.

2). Return Denon and keep Onkyo. This will be painful but pragmatic. Really depends on whether Denon is superior.

3). Keep one and gift the other. I have a good friend who is having a kid. He has mentioned wanting a speaker system for years now. This would be more of a gift for them since they won't be spending money on themselves for awhile. I'm assuming gift the Onkyo but have only found one comparison in this thread. I can probably get quite a few others to pitch in to keep my gifting costs at $50 - $100. Seems like the best option.

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

Just to reply to your question:
I'm biased towards the Denon for obvious reasons, and I can't speak to the quality of the Onkyo.
After the initial setup of my Denon DHT-487DV I am extremely happy. As others have mentioned, it feels more like a component based system rather than a HTIB, and feels very sturdy and well made to boot.
I think it'd be a wonderful gesture to gift the Onkyo if you can afford it and (f you) decide that the Denon is better suited to your needs.

Hope this helps, but I'm sure my bias kind of muddied the waters.
Best of lucks.
Peace
AM Son

digduggler:
did that cc deal for $299 already expire?
thanks,
ldy

It's not dead yet but its very YMMV.

Go to CC, pick up the store ad in the front of the store.

Drive to BB, find the HTIB, find an unsuspecting salesman, say you want the HTIB. Show him the ad, askk for the PM.

Pay and run from the store!!!

^^^^ Exactly what I did today.

Can't wait to set it up.

digduggler:
did that cc deal for $299 already expire?
thanks,
ldy

huge YMMV. BB is your best bet (or Fry's if you have one). CC has already heard from corporate not to honor it..

I think I'll go ahead and set up Denon (vs Onkyo) since there seems to be a few raves. The speaker dimensions are smaller as well, which will make the the wife happier :)

I'll report back how it sounds once I get it all set up (in a few days).

yeah, cc won't honor the ad. i went to 3 bb's and they all refused to pm after they called cc and found out the ad was a misprint.
oh well, i tried. i guess i will have to buy it from costco for $499, which still is a killer deal imo.

Pay and run from the store!!!



That made me laugh.

Picked it up tonight from the Best Buy in Humble, TX. GREAT deal at $299...

I picked one of these up at CC due to the misprint. I spent about four hours setting it up and it's well worth the money even at it's normal price. The sub is amazing to the ears of a non-audiophile, the speakers are solid and the amp is great.

Quick notes:

* The receiver has 4 separate digital audio inputs--two coax and two optical and they can be assigned to "pair" with any specific video input.

* The HDMI cable is require for upconverting to 720p/1080i

* The upconverting performance is noticeable on my Westy 32w6

* The amp was a breeze to program.

* Make sure you select the best audio source for each particular DVD--the default is source #1 which is usually Dolby Digital. On the Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl, DTS is available but not used by default. **Big difference**

* The amp is heavy on the left side so be careful when balancing it in your hands during placement in your cabinet.

* The onboard AC plugs can do a fair amount of power so use 'em.

good for you guys that scooped up the system for $299. what a deal. i am going to pick one up today at costco before they run out. the one near my house has one left out and they said they are not re-stocking those systems in the near future.
pretty excited to test the dvd upconverter - houseofwarwick, did you make any pq adjustments on the player?

I must add that this system sounds great. I just got through installing (4 hours - had to run a lot of cables and break down old setup) but haven't tweaked anything yet. Even without tweaking, it blows my 6 year old Bose Acoustimass POS out of the water. The bass is phenomenal. I've only hooked up the dvd player and a Tivo series 3 so far, but this is worth the cost. At $299, it's the steal of the year.

Also, if you don't read instructions much like me, it took me about 30 min to realize there was a back to the remote that you had to open a panel to use. I thought there were two remote models for awhile just glancing at the instrucions, felt reeeal dumb.

just set mine up, haven't made too many adjustments, but it sounds awesome. my brother has the same htib, so i kinda knew what to expect.
digduggler - i know what you mean about the remote, my brother told me about that!
dvd player works very well. one thing i noticed with my setup was that i had to turn the black setting on the player off, after that it looked great.

Hey I wouldnt mind doing this as well, but what do I tell BB when I get there? Hey they sell it cheap at CC can you match it? I mean I see the letters PM but not sure what it means, took me a while to understand what BB and CC meant :p What is YMMV mean as well?

I wanna go to CC and try this with BB tomorrow asap.

Ranger:

you can go onto circuit city's website and print out their weekly ad. towards the end, maybe the second to last page, is the denon listing.
bring that into best buy and ask them to price match it. good luck, some have had luck but i went to various best buys in the chicago area and none of them would match it.

thanks ldy just went to CC and saw the ad on wall with a correction over it. Ima try BB and see whats up than

My wife just managed to bag one for $299 in Ohio after getting shot down at a couple of BB stores in Pittsburgh. Yes!

Will be using it with my Oppo 981 and 51" Hitachi CRT. I'll grab some speaker wire from Home Depot tomorrow. Any recommendations on the best way to hook up the audio from the Oppo to the receiver? Digital coax. cable?

Coax or optical digital audio. It's six of one, really.


Heh, this scramble to get the system for $300 is amusing. I can see BB corporate trying to contain it as best they can. :D

thanks for the reply Tulpa.

houseofwarwick writes
"* The HDMI cable is require for upconverting to 720p/1080i"

so there is no upconversion over component on the DVD player included?

I'm sure I'll have a few more questions after playing around with it tonight :)

so there is no upconversion over component on the DVD player included?



Yeah, the film industry wants upconversion only over HDMI. More robust copy protection.

There are DVD players with a firmware hack to allow component upconversion, but it's nothing to really worry about if you have an HDMI cable.

i just bought this system and set it up last night. got the feed from the cable box coming in, sounds great...

however, i have no audio from the dvd player and i can't figure out why. i have the dvd outputting HDMI to the tv (and the tv audio DOES work) and i've got an optical calbe (purchased from fry's, brand is matix) going from the dvd player to the receiver.

as far as i can tell, all the settings are correct, and i should have audio... but this is my first HT system, and my first experience with optical audio cables. i'm not even sure i have the thing plugged in right.. it's sorta just sitting there, really loose. but i can't push it in to get it to click or anything, and i'm afraid of breaking it.

should i just give up and go with coaxial, or what? any help is greatly apreciated, as this is driving me nuts.


you have to assign the opitical and the coaxial with the dvd player, (dvd player to optical 1, or aux to optical 1 etc..)
refer to your manual.

hope it helps.
I just to this system 2 days ago, sounds really good, this is only my 2nd HTiB, 1st with a powered sub, I haven't adjust the sound setting yet but this unit sounds really good at high volume. loved it.

Quick question...maybe someone can help me. I ordered the Oppo 981HD last week for my new 50A2020, and it's arriving Monday. However, I figured I'd take a shot at getting this system today as it was my only chance all week at getting to a Best Buy. Well, I didn't get it at the first store but did at the second for $269.99 plus tax. Now my question is this...is there going to be a huge difference for me with the Oppo over the included upconverting DVD player in this HTIB? The Oppo costs almost as much as this entire system, and I'm seeing the DVD player alone selling for $150 or more online. I could return the Oppo, eat the shipping costs, and maybe still enjoy upconversion, albeit only at 1080i (my TV is 1080p capable, even though I know it may not be a huge difference).

Also, I'm using a Yamaha HTIB that has served me very well for four years. I don't really need this Denon HTIB, so I could always return it (that would be tough to stomach) or sell it (which I want to avoid because I think it'd be better than the Yamaha).

What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

A general question: I upgraded my speaker wire and stripping it was a slight pain (used a knife and some pliers). Towards the end I did a less that stellar job and can see about 1/2 " of the copper wire exposed. Should I bother trimming this down? I cannot find any good articles on the effects of the exposed wire...

Quick question...maybe someone can help me. I ordered the Oppo 981HD last week for my new 50A2020, and it's arriving Monday. However, I figured I'd take a shot at getting this system today as it was my only chance all week at getting to a Best Buy. Well, I didn't get it at the first store but did at the second for $269.99 plus tax. Now my question is this...is there going to be a huge difference for me with the Oppo over the included upconverting DVD player in this HTIB? The Oppo costs almost as much as this entire system, and I'm seeing the DVD player alone selling for $150 or more online. I could return the Oppo, eat the shipping costs, and maybe still enjoy upconversion, albeit only at 1080i (my TV is 1080p capable, even though I know it may not be a huge difference).

Also, I'm using a Yamaha HTIB that has served me very well for four years. I don't really need this Denon HTIB, so I could always return it (that would be tough to stomach) or sell it (which I want to avoid because I think it'd be better than the Yamaha).

What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

Yeah, most people were so stoked about trying to get this system at $299 they didn't notice the pricematch should have really been $269! If you look at the ad it says $299 BEFORE $30 savings which was in the form of an instant rebate.

I admit I was one of the many who totally missed this! However, I didn't forget to use that handy $40 off $199 coupon that's been floating around forever. I also had $75 in gift cards from CC for buying my PS3 this Christmas... WooT! This came out to be $259 plus tax for me minus the $75 in giftcards which I had to unload anyways.

As for your question I would think the reason you bought this system is for the sound quality more than for the bundled dvd player right? So why get rid of it over the dvd player? If it were me I would definitely keep the Denon and maybe unload the Oppo on ebay or just return it like you said depending on whether or not you got a good deal on the Oppo so you can make a buck or two for your frustrations listing on ebay.

You could also keep the Oppo and look to sell the Denon DVD player on ebay as I hear they are going for $150 or so if I remember correctly (check this as I'm not sure).

I can't be happier with this system especially for the price! I had JUST received the Onkyo HT-S590 refurb in the mail when I saw this. I had a chance to set them both up and I hurried up and packed the Onkyo back up! It wasn't bad but it was no Denon. One of the biggest differences was the passive vs active sub - it really set the Denon apart. The sound at higher volumes is another plus for the Denon - very clean. I also wanted black instead of silver as my Olevia 232v's are black.

I'm kinda in the same situation as you are in that I have the Onkyo to either send back or hock on ebay and the last two Onkyos sold for about $200 including shipping which allow me to make a very small profit... beats eating shipping on a 66lbs return though right!

I need help regarding setting up my DHT-487dv . I connected all the speakers and subwoofer. I tried setting up 5.1 settings but I am not getting any sound out of my subwoofer. I would appreciate if anyone can let me know where I am doing wrong and fix issue with my subwoofer.

thanks in advance
rinks

i had the EXACT same problem

make sure all your speakers are set to small.
also make sure in the menu , you set it to "Main +"

edit - ignore

This is just a general question for all you owners of this fine Denon system:

are you finding great differences in sound levels across tv channels and input sources? I find that some channels are very loud and some are almost inaudible. I also find that different inputs have either high or low volumes. Especially with some of the movies, it seems that I have to crank the volume all the way up just to hear the dialogue. Then when the action starts I have to turn it down quickly (I live in an apt.).
I've got all digital inputs, so when available the receiver sets sources to appropriate settings, but I find that 5CH stereo is usually good for normal tv, but sometimes even it can't give me enough "volume".
Have I connected this thing incorrectly, or do I need to mess with the settings and menus more- I thought I was pretty thorough in my setup.
I guess I'm just very confused overall, I don't understand enough about when I should hear certain things and what settings to have it on t hear them. lol I know, confusing....
I'm a newbie with home theater, so maybe I'm naive or missing the boat here...
Any help or pointing to other threads/ discussions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

This is just a general question for all you owners of this fine Denon system:

are you finding great differences in sound levels across tv channels and input sources? I find that some channels are very loud and some are almost inaudible. I also find that different inputs have either high or low volumes. Especially with some of the movies, it seems that I have to crank the volume all the way up just to hear the dialogue. Then when the action starts I have to turn it down quickly (I live in an apt.).
I've got all digital inputs, so when available the receiver sets sources to appropriate settings, but I find that 5CH stereo is usually good for normal tv, but sometimes even it can't give me enough "volume".
Have I connected this thing incorrectly, or do I need to mess with the settings and menus more- I thought I was pretty thorough in my setup.
I guess I'm just very confused overall, I don't understand enough about when I should hear certain things and what settings to have it on t hear them. lol I know, confusing....
I'm a newbie with home theater, so maybe I'm naive or missing the boat here...
Any help or pointing to other threads/ discussions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Same here. HBO is quiet as a mouse but HBO HD isn't. My Fox has low level volumes while my NBC is loud. Depends on the channel, etc. But I can always crank it up enough (although sometimes it gets to -10 or so)

i too experience different volumes between channels, but not as extreme as you described AM Son. I think the volume variations is attributable to the channel and the quality of the signal for that channel. but i really don't know.

Thanks for the replies, it sounds to me that it's probably attributed to poor encoding or sound signals being added to the video feeds.
I've set my receiver limit at -20, and generally I don't need to go to the limit... but when I do it's just frustrating.
I'm thinking of buying an audio calibrator, think this will help?

What is anyone else finding to be the optimal x-over frequency? I have set the center to small and the sub to Main+. Playing around I have it @ 120 now. Cnet's review for the 486 recommends 135 (not an option on the 487. it's either 120 or 150).

Edit: here's (http://reviews.cnet.com/Denon_DHT_486DV/4505-6466_7-31615669.html?tag=prod.txt.6) the link to the 486 review on cnet.

What is anyone else finding to be the optimal x-over frequency? I have set the center to small and the sub to Main+. Playing around I have it @ 120 now. Cnet's review for the 486 recommends 135 (not an option on the 487. it's either 120 or 150).

I fiddled with mine yesterday, and kept it at 120. At 150, it was rumbling pretty much all the time, but at 120 it seemed to be only when appropriate. I have a question though. How do I know exactly where the crossover frequency knob is set on the back of the sub? There are no markings to indicate middle frequencies, so I just eyeballed it.

I fiddled with mine yesterday, and kept it at 120. At 150, it was rumbling pretty much all the time, but at 120 it seemed to be only when appropriate. I have a question though. How do I know exactly where the crossover frequency knob is set on the back of the sub? There are no markings to indicate middle frequencies, so I just eyeballed it.

Hmm, good question. But if the receiver is controlling where to output signal would it really matter if you cranked it to 200?

I threw away the speaker manual by mistake. Anything of any use in there?

Can anyone confirm if Pro-Logic II output goes haywire on the surround channels (rear left/right) with this receiver? I get nasty sound clipping when set to PLII with a PLII source on the surround speakers, doesn't matter if the source is the cable STB or game console. Using 5ch stereo works but I'm wondering if PLII just doesn't work right w/the receiver..

Been very happy with everything else about this system!

Can anyone confirm if Pro-Logic II output goes haywire on the surround channels (rear left/right) with this receiver? I get nasty sound clipping when set to PLII with a PLII source on the surround speakers, doesn't matter if the source is the cable STB or game console. Using 5ch stereo works but I'm wondering if PLII just doesn't work right w/the receiver..

Been very happy with everything else about this system!

Ok I have done some testing. Here's the setup I used for this test. I used the Denon DVD player, connected to my Sony SXRD TV via an HDMI cable. I use optical cable to connect the DVD player to the reciever. Also, I have a standard red/white cable for audio connecting the TV output to the reciever, which I use for the sound for OTA, Xbox 360, and the TV's front inputs. Of course, since HDMI carries audio too, the DVD player can output via this same cable.

I put in Star Wars III, and fired up the THX Test. First, I used the DVD optical connection input, set the audio to 5.1 and listened to the test. No problems. Surround and sub worked perfectly, just as the test indicated.

I then used the DVD menu to select Dolby 2.0 surround on the same optical input. The reciever showed Dolby Pro Logic II on the display. The surround worked exactly as it had for the 5.1 setup. No problems with the subwoofer, or with the surround.

Next, I kept the 2.0 audio going, and swapped the receiver to AUX, which is the input from the TV via the red/white cables. The receiver still showed Dolby Pro Logic II on the display. However, the left and right front inputs were swapped. Also, both surround speakers played for each surround test: left, right, and center.

Obviously, something is going wrong here. I did the same test using my Xbox 360, which outputs to the receiver via the same red/white cable connecting the TV to the receiver, and got the same exact errors.

I'm a newbie to audio in general, but it looks to me like, for this receiver at least, true 5.1 or even simulated 5.1 through Dolby Pro Logic II requires the optical cable connection. Is this expected, or can other receivers do 5.1 through the regular red/white audio cables (what are they called exactly, anyway)?

What happens when you put the composite(red&white) cables directly into the receiver from the DVD player? It sounds like at the very least the channels are reversed in your cabling between dvd-tv-receiver.

Since ya quoted me, the problems I've had occur w/digital optical connections as well as the others. The surround channels have terrible clipping sounds whenever the receiver is set to PLII..

Can you verify, you definitely don't get that from 2.0 source --> PLII on the receiver from your dvd player via optical?

Can anyone confirm if Pro-Logic II output goes haywire on the surround channels (rear left/right) with this receiver? I get nasty sound clipping when set to PLII with a PLII source on the surround speakers, doesn't matter if the source is the cable STB or game console. Using 5ch stereo works but I'm wondering if PLII just doesn't work right w/the receiver..

Been very happy with everything else about this system!

No issues with my Wii or with cable ...

What happens when you put the composite(red&white) cables directly into the receiver from the DVD player? It sounds like at the very least the channels are reversed in your cabling between dvd-tv-receiver.

Since ya quoted me, the problems I've had occur w/digital optical connections as well as the others. The surround channels have terrible clipping sounds whenever the receiver is set to PLII..

Can you verify, you definitely don't get that from 2.0 source --> PLII on the receiver from your dvd player via optical?

I get no clipping sounds over the optical cable in either DD or PLII. I haven't had time to check and see if I swapped the cables around accidentally, thanks for that advice.

Have either of you changed the speaker distances in the setup menu of the receiver? I noticed that seemed to exacerbate the problem..

Odd though, I may be contacting Denon for a replacement.. It was horrible w/the Wii until I set it to 5ch Stereo. =[

Have either of you changed the speaker distances in the setup menu of the receiver? I noticed that seemed to exacerbate the problem..

Odd though, I may be contacting Denon for a replacement.. It was horrible w/the Wii until I set it to 5ch Stereo. =[

I have adjusted the speaker distances. Still, no problems. I have had one issue with the Wii though. When I swap to the Wii input on my TV, I get static until the Wii starts up. Then the static disappears. The static doesn't start back up when the Wii is turned off. I'm wondering if it is related to WiiConnect24.

Bought this system from CC for $499 after PM of Bestbuy sales price. The following week, as you know, it was wrongly priced at $269 thus rushed down to CC and got the PM and then continued to complete the 100m dash in 10 seconds before CC figured out it was mispriced. A novice at the HTIB I need some advice on settings in order to get the best out of this system. What settings for speakers small or large? crossover frequency? SWoofer main or normal, volume settings per speaker, etc, etc

Bought this system from CC for $499 after PM of Bestbuy sales price. The following week, as you know, it was wrongly priced at $269 thus rushed down to CC and got the PM and then continued to complete the 100m dash in 10 seconds before CC figured out it was mispriced. A novice at the HTIB I need some advice on settings in order to get the best out of this system. What settings for speakers small or large? crossover frequency? SWoofer main or normal, volume settings per speaker, etc, etc

Speakers set to large, crossover frequency at 120, Subwoofer set to Main+.

As for speaker volume, I just put inthe settings for the distance from my easy chair where I usually listen. Beyond that, I have no other advice for you; I am a newbie too!

Speakers set to large

Why large and not small? I guess poor lf response won't really make a difference cause the sub will drown the lil guys out anyway..

Why large and not small? I guess poor lf response won't really make a difference cause the sub will drown the lil guys out anyway..
I meant small, no idea why I said large. Sorry! :(

Thanks for the help on the settings. Out of the feedback I can find it appears everyone has similar settings. Any good movies to check out that will get the windows shaking? I bought Matrix for the lobby scene expecting the room to be shaking but was dissappointed...maybe it was the settings. Spiderman3 trailer on Comcast HD sounds great as does Silent Hill which I watched on HBO the other night. I'm just looking at getting the settings right and the windows shaking.

Thanks for the help on the settings. Out of the feedback I can find it appears everyone has similar settings. Any good movies to check out that will get the windows shaking? I bought Matrix for the lobby scene expecting the room to be shaking but was dissappointed...maybe it was the settings. Spiderman3 trailer on Comcast HD sounds great as does Silent Hill which I watched on HBO the other night. I'm just looking at getting the settings right and the windows shaking.
Try war of the worlds. The scene when the alien machine comes out of the ground should get your sub humming.

Thanks for the help on the settings. Out of the feedback I can find it appears everyone has similar settings. Any good movies to check out that will get the windows shaking? I bought Matrix for the lobby scene expecting the room to be shaking but was dissappointed...maybe it was the settings. Spiderman3 trailer on Comcast HD sounds great as does Silent Hill which I watched on HBO the other night. I'm just looking at getting the settings right and the windows shaking.

1). Batman Begins in the training sequence when he sniffs the hallucinogen. Ninjas flying in and out and a boooming bass when it shifts to wayne's pov

2). Spiderman2 when dock ock is coming up the outside of Harry's apartment (right after the butler leaves harry and remarks he's not like his dad..). Turn it way up. The bass just rocks.

Thanks for the help on the settings. Out of the feedback I can find it appears everyone has similar settings. Any good movies to check out that will get the windows shaking? I bought Matrix for the lobby scene expecting the room to be shaking but was dissappointed...maybe it was the settings. Spiderman3 trailer on Comcast HD sounds great as does Silent Hill which I watched on HBO the other night. I'm just looking at getting the settings right and the windows shaking.

The end of Independence Day, when they fly out of the mother ship and it blows up, has rumbled my windows more than any other movie I've watched, so far.

Also, the beginning credits of Superman Returns are apretty good showcase.

I have been using this system for last few days. One question:

I have optical-out going from Dish ViP622 receiver to Denon receiver. Yesterday, when watching "Lost" on ABC, no audio was coming from the center-speaker. I could hear audio was coming from all other speakers.

Audio from Center-speaker was coming on most of the other channels, but not all. The moment "Lost" was over and my local news started, I could hear audio coming out of my center-speaker too.

Can somebody please explain to me what is going on here? Does it have something to do with the feed coming from ABC?

I'm about to pull the trigger on this HTIB. But I have a question. The Sony I am alo considering is rated at 900w. This Denon is 75x5 channels. Does that mean that the Sony is 900/5 channels and the Denon has a total wattage of 375w?

One other thing... the sales guy at CC says that they have had quite a few returns on this HTIB due to malfunctioning DVD players. Has anyone else experienced problems with the DVD player? Thanks for the help.

- Shaun

ritalin:
i have had my denon 487 htib and have not experienced any problems, including the dvd player. actually, i am very impressed with the quality dvd player.

I'm about to pull the trigger on this HTIB. But I have a question. The Sony I am alo considering is rated at 900w. This Denon is 75x5 channels. Does that mean that the Sony is 900/5 channels and the Denon has a total wattage of 375w?

One other thing... the sales guy at CC says that they have had quite a few returns on this HTIB due to malfunctioning DVD players. Has anyone else experienced problems with the DVD player? Thanks for the help.

- Shaun
I purchased this system about two months ago and I did have problems with the DVD player. The picture would just freeze and lock up. Replaced system back to CC and so far no problems with the new DVD player. Based on no problems with the DVD player there is no comparison between between the Denon and Sony. I spent a little time setting up the system with a little help from the guys on this forum and it sounds good although I still don't have it fully dialed in but I think that's more my problem (novice).

Thanks DJ, dig and lefty for the film choices, will give them a try. Anything that gets the sub humming, the windows shaking and the wife running is always good.

Thanks ldy and SJW. Since the Sony and Denon are in the same price range, I am thinking that they are similar in output. Also, the room the system will be in is relatively small so filling it with sound should not be a problem.

Help on multi-channel

I have oppo connect to my Denon DHT-487DV using both coax and multi-channel, both sounds great, the only problem is that the subwoofer works OK when I use COAX, but it does not produce any sound when m/c.

Here's my set up:

OPPO: Front speaker: large(also tried small), subwoofern

receiver: all speaker small, subwoofer on, main+, crossover 120, also tried 100, no help.

Any idea? Thanks.

Hou

Nice little review (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/htib/denon-dht-487dv-home-theater-in-a-box-review) at audioholics. Considering they say $697 is a bargain, those that got the CC deal should feel really good about themselves.

I just bought the Denon 487. I did try to set-up the system manually. I think I messed it up. Can you please help?

Mine is now playing in the default setting. Can someone tell me the optimum setting for good audio quality? What is a good movie to test your Home theatre system?
thanks

Mine is now playing in the default setting. Can someone tell me the optimum setting for good audio quality? What is a good movie to test your Home theatre system?
thanks

Read through this thread. There are some good suggestions (and a link or two).

does anyone have suggestions on rear speaker wall mounts that work for this unit?

does anyone have suggestions on rear speaker wall mounts that work for this unit?

It has a keyhole in the back. I'm just using a screw to be honest (I have drywall). A molly bolt or molly screw should do the trick as well.

is there a region free mod for the dvd player that comes with it? I could not find anything in the usual places.

Before I got this system my first choice was the ONKYO 894. I tried the ONKYO 894 for one day but I returned it. There was a FLICKERING IMAGE on the video ouput if I connect TV (HDMI) to RECEIVER (HDMI). The sound is good but video is bad. But if I connect the DVD (HDMI) directly to TV (no problem). I called ONKYO customer support but they told me that I got a defective unit. I did not get the same unit because I was dissapointed. THOUGH I like the 2 HDMI on the DVD player and Receiver. I've known DENON for quality that's the reason I bought the 487 for a reasonble price.compare to BOSE. The sound quality of the DENON 487 is excellent with some adjustments. I used Optical cables and HDMI cables. I also replaced the speakerswires to MONSTER 16 gauge.(recommended) and MONSTER SUBWOOFER CABLES....SATISFIED!

Quick question, I'd like to set my X-box up through the Denon HTIB. I have a component cable connected from the monitor out on the receiver upto a component input on the TV however all I get is audio (which sounds great by the way). Does the component 'monitor out' only work with component inputs? The X-box cable is composite (red, white, yellow). All my cables between components (DVD player, receiver, cable box, etc) are all buried in the wall except the x-box thus my only option to keep things clean is to put the x-box signal through the receiver. Any help would be appreciated.

Does the component 'monitor out' only work with component inputs? The X-box cable is composite (red, white, yellow).

I am unsure whether composite cables would work, at all, but I strongly recommend you get a cheap set of component cables for your Xbox anyway. The difference is like night and day on a good monitor.

I am unsure whether composite cables would work, at all, but I strongly recommend you get a cheap set of component cables for your Xbox anyway. The difference is like night and day on a good monitor.

Thanks Dman. I use the x-box little and it's currently hooked up with the standard hardware. Tried hooking up last night and the only conclusion I could come up with was the composite cable verses a component cable. Will buy component cable today and give it a try.

My review:

I just picked up this HTIB from a local store. Being that I am coming from previously owning a Phillips HTS300 (or something), which was truly the epitomy of an HTIB set, keep in mind that I will be a little biased :D . So here goes:

First impressions out of the box (pre-setup and not configured):

Receiver: Heavy! The receiver is basically like the stand alone receivers you would buy at your local B&M shop. Seemed to be of good quality build like other Denon receivers. Has all of the inputs most people need except for HDMI. The lack of HDMI was not a deal breaker for me though. It would be nice, but not a necessity.

DVD Player: Fairly light, compact, goes well cosmetically with the receiver, has all the outputs you need for full surround sound, HDMI output.

Speakers: Big for satellites, small for bookshelf size, not extremely heavy (center channel weighs about 4lbs), Rock sturdy subwoofer that feels like it can pack a punch......also looks like it could be bought as a component....not part of an HTIB set. Speaker wire was chintzy.....must have been 20 gauge or something.

Installing the system:
This was not a wham, bam, thank you ma'am kind of job. It took me 2 full evenings to take out my old HTIB setup and install the new one. However, I should mention that I wanted to do this right the first time to get the best sound, not some quick, shoddy install job. So I went to my local electronics store and bought 4 universal satellite speaker wall mounts and 150 ft of new speaker wire. Installing these without an electric screw gun is not recommended! My hands were very tired afterwards, but well worth it. I can now point the speakers directly to the optimal sitting point (which made a HUGE difference! More on this later). Since I live in an apartment, I had to run the wire under the carpet along the baseboard, which hides it very well, but then it comes out of the carpet up the wall........but nothing I can do about that since I'm not about to go digging through the walls to run speaker wire in a place I don't own :cool: . After running the wire, I got out the big installation diagram that came with the HTIB.....this was very useful as it gave me a quick way to look at which speaker port was for which speaker; it was pretty straight forward. I used HDMI for video only for both the HD-STB and the DVD player that both go straight to the TV, and used a VGA cable for my computer to the TV. I then used two optical cables for both the STB and the DVD player to the receiver and used a digital COAX for the computer to the Receiver. So basically, all sound is going through the receiver and all video is going straight to the TV (bypassing the receiver completely).

Setting up the system for optimal sound:
The first thing I noticed was that this is not really a "plug n play" type receiver. For whatever reason, my box did not come with the manual for the receiver, so I had nothing to go by. I was able to download the manual though, which helped a bit. Even still, the manual had pretty bad documentation, so I had to figure out how to do a lot, which took some time. Another issue was that the remote was very confusing, not to mention that the button setup on the remote is abysmal, so I would press buttons and they wouldnt work for reasons unbeknownst to me. Anyways, once I got a better feel for the receiver's functions, it made more sense how it functions: The best first step is to set which audio inputs are assigned to which type feature or function (ie: DVD/CD, AUX, TV, etc.). This is accomplished by the "System Setup" button on the front of the recevier and turning the knob on the bottom right to the second option "IN" and pressing the knob to select it. For whatever reason, it seemed to easily revert back to the default "OFF" on all options unless it detected that there was a signal coming through.....just something to note. Next, I made sure that I was able to hear sound from the speakers on all of the connections (DVD, STB and Computer). This was a bit tricky because when I tried switching the audio by the receiver's "Input" button, it wouldnt work! It would switch and say "DVD", but 2 seconds later would switch back to the TV sound. Anyways, after playing with that for 15 minutes, I figured out that I was hitting the wrong button......you have to make sure the "audio" option is selected on the slider button at the bottom left hand of the remote, then open the back of the remote and press the yellow buttons on the keypad that are labeled the different inputs that you want to select (DVD, TV, AUX, etc). This made the audio inputs switch to the proper channels. This is one of my complaints...more on this later. Once I was able to get sound from all inputs, I then checked to make sure that I was getting full surround sound from all inputs. There are a few buttons inside the back of the remote that control the sound, like "5 channel", DD, DTS and PLII. This is controlled by (if I remember correctly) the blue "Simulation" button. I think 5 channel only does 2 channel through all 5 speakers, so this is not truly "surround sound", but when set to DD or PLII from a 5.1 surround signal, I was able to get full surround sound......but I wanted more! I like it when the rear speakers are louder than normal. This was actually very easy to accomplish using the remote. There is a spot at the bottom of the remote that consists of 5 buttons in the shape of a diamond; the 5th button is the center and is the shape of a circle (writing this from memory, so I dont remember the labels). Every time you press the center button, it scrolls to a different speaker and you can set the volume of every speaker. Use the left and right arrows to change the volume up or down on a selected speaker. Whats more, it seems that the receiver stores the individual speaker volume level settings per musical style setting (ie: Rock, Matrix, Jazz, Hall, etc.) in memory.

My Impressions of performance, usability, and overall satisfaction:
I like to think of this system more as a component system rather than a standard HTIB, because when the rubber meets the road, that's really what this system is. My old HTIB had no additional inputs other than 2 sets of 2 channel auxillary composite RCA connections, so needeless to say, this is quite an upgrade for me. So let me get the bad out of the way first:

The BAD: Not the easiest of setups. It took lots of time to get it right and I feel that I still have a lot to learn about how it works. Not as user-friendly as most HTIB's. I know lots of people that would have given up and would rather have bought a system that just plugs in and plays......this is definitely NOT one of those systems IMHO. I am very tech savvy and a few things threw me for a loop for a little while. The remote has the weirdest setup I have ever seen. There is a ton of empty space on the front and they chose to put more buttons inside of a panel on the back, and why they didnt put the real audio input button switcher on the front of the remote, I will never know why. Having to open the back to change the source is a pain. Also, if you dont want to have to mount the mini-bookshelf speakers, you will not get optimal sound and will have a hard time finding a good place to put them. Lastly, no HDMI input. It is kind of a pain having to switch both the TV and the receiver to switch sources. If there was HDMI, I could just switch it through the receiver and keep everything on one source on the TV.

The GOOD: Sounds amazing! When you get these puppies set up properly, you can hear things you never knew existed when you watched them on your old system. The sound is VERY crisp and clear, even at fairly loud levels. The Matrix lobby scene is on a whole new level in 5.1 DD surround sound. The 8" 100 watt active subwoofer definitely holds its own. It isn't the loudest sub out there when compared to subs like Velodyne and the like, but you will also NEVER find another sub like this in any other HTIB set. Also, even though this may be confusing for some people, for me, having so many different settings and inputs and options is a big positive. I would hate to buy a new component and have nowhere to plug it in! Another good thing is the look. I mounted my system and I think it looks awesome. Another good thing is the DVD picture quality. I have it hooked up to HDMI and was able to do 720p and 1080i upconversion. The picture looked very good for a lower-end Denon DVD player. I havent seen the highest-end Denon DVD players, but I will say that I was very happy with the picture on my Samsung HL-S6187W with the lower-end Denon DVD-557.

Conclusion: I am extremely pleased with the the Denon DHT-487 and would buy it again in a heartbeat for the $$$ I paid. Yeah, it doesnt have HDMI, but who cares? I have to press a couple more buttons than people with HDMI enabled receivers. I am not exactly an audiophile, but I do have a fairly picky ear, so I feel that this set would please anybody looking to jump into the Home Theater arena for the first time. Also, the fact that this system has room for upgrading is a big plus. Most HTIB setups cannot easily add components without doing away with some other component, so if you feel the need to go bigger in the future, there's no component keeping you from doing so! So in a nutshell, for great sound and adjustability, great picture and an awesome price, you can't go wrong with the Denon DHT-487!

I bought mine from Costco. I am not satisfied with Sound Quality. When I play my DVD to get decent sound, I need to set the volume above -10db
Can you please help? Here are my settings

1. Speaker Size.
Center Speaker set to Large and the rest to small
2. Inputs
DVD outputs are connected to the receiver though the Red, white and Yellow cables. Do I need optical or Co-axial Cables
3. Subwoofer on
4. Main +
5. Cross Over Frequency 80Hz
6. Individual Speaker Sound settings
Rear L&R : 10db
Center: 0db
Front L&R : 0db

Thanks

rrk25:
i believe you will notice a vast improvement if you use optical cables.
ldy

I bought mine from Costco. I am not satisfied with Sound Quality. When I play my DVD to get decent sound, I need to set the volume above -10db
Can you please help? Here are my settings

1. Speaker Size.
Center Speaker set to Large and the rest to small
2. Inputs
DVD outputs are connected to the receiver though the Red, white and Yellow cables. Do I need optical or Co-axial Cables
3. Subwoofer on
4. Main +
5. Cross Over Frequency 80Hz
6. Individual Speaker Sound settings
Rear L&R : 10db
Center: 0db
Front L&R : 0db

Thanks

1). Set center to small
2). Get an optical cable. Alternatively, you can just use the cable you have as a coaxial cable. Just use one of the red, white, yellow cables.
5). Up this to 135 or so

Try that out and see what you think.

Thanks ldy76 & digduggler

What is your subwoofer settings?
I am going get a Optical Cable.
Thanks

Thanks ldy76 & digduggler

What is your subwoofer settings?
I am going get a Optical Cable.
Thanks

Offhand, I believe you mean Main+? That is what I have it at, don't quite remember the options available. If you ask specifically I can probably remember...

[QUOTE=digduggler]Offhand, I believe you mean Main+? That is what I have it at, don't quite remember the options available. If you ask specifically I can probably remember...[/QUOTE

What is you settings on the subwoofer?
1. Phase Selector switch "NORM" or "REV"
2. LF Direct Switch "NO" or "OFF"
3. Cross Over
4. Volumar adjustment

Do any of the forum sponsors sell this system, I browsed around but couldn't seem to find it.

I am utterly confused at the setup of this system. I have done everything according to directions and have taken suggestions from the forum setting the front speakers to small, sub to "main +", and crossover to 120. Still...I have to turn the volume as loud as it goes to get sound and if I want to hear anything; I must set it to "Direct" which only produces sound from the front two speakers. The sound also appears much louder when running analog inputs then with the digital inputs. If anyone could offer any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated as I've already begun pulling my hair out.

Also, is it possible set everything back to the default settings? I'm thinking it may be best just to start over.

Again, thanks in advance.

I believe there is a factory reset option in one of the system setup menus. Your problems sound atypical, though I can't think of anything off the top of my head to try except to go over all your cabling and setup(after the factory reset) and just double check everything. If that fails, you should try contacting Denon for warranty repair/service etc.

Thanks for your reply. After your message I have reset everything to the default settings several times hoping to find the problem, but it continues to give barely audible output. Hopefully Denon will be helpful with a replacement.

Circuit City allowed me to switch out receivers and with the new receiver everything works fine. Although it caused a week and half of frustration trying everything trying to make what was a faulty receiver work properly; I was very thankful Circuit City didn't force me to repackage every component of the HTIB to make the exchange. With the working receiver, I am very pleased with the product.

not sure if this is the right place for this... but hopefully someone can help.

I have this denon setup, and ive taken all the advice about settings and such so im really runnin out of answers now. :(

My current setup contains

Samsung 61" LED Dlp
Comcast HD dvr box
xbox 360 elite w/hd dvd

So i have the hdmi cables going to the tv, and then seperate optical cables going from the components to the AV reciever. Problem is, i cant get my center channel working properly. I have read through the book and played with the surround settings and such, but to no avail.

Before it was that when viewing digital broadcasts (like the HD channel) my center channel wasnt working. All the voices were coming out the left and right speaker, and didnt sound all that great. I had the same problem when using my xbox.

I read through the manual and got the center working decently for the cable box, but still cant get anything out of it when plugged into the xbox!?

if i put i do a sound test... it all works, and it works fine on standard tv, just is struggling to do anything with the xbox input. On the display, it shows that its a digital connection, its shows the "dolby digital" across the front, yet i still dont get any sound from the center.

Any ideas? Im really not happy not having a working center channel. :(

this is the same problem i am having i just bought it yesterday and i spent most of the night running all the wires and such. i have a 40in lcd samsung with direct t.v. box and the denon dht-487dv. i have an optical running from the t.v to the a.v and another optical running from the dvd player to the av. also i have an hdmi cable running from the t.v to the dvd player and a s video cable running from the t.v to the direct tv box and a set of red/white cables running from the direct t.v box to the t.v. for sound. the problem i am having is when i watch a movie or satalite in dolby 5.1 i can only hear sounds coming from the surround speakers and the front speakers. you can hardly hear any talking. can someone please point me in the right direction for set up. thanxs alot-

I just bought 487DV and trying to setup the system.

I have connected Optical out from the dvd player into the 487 receiver and it recognizes it. I plays (movie) the audio only in left & right speaker (NOT in center speaker). Subwoofer is good. I did not connect rear speakers yet.

Looking at the manual, for digital input, center & surround speaker should be turned on or configured. I tried the setup but could do nothing.

Can someone help me fix this issue.

Also, when setup button is pressed & then down arrow, I see something like "1 Sp. 2 Op 3" - what does does this mean.

I checked the connection & seems to be ok. Any help would be appreciated.

I am trying to set up one of these systems for my sister, and I am stumped. My son and I have gone thru the setup multiple times, using both the toslink and digital inputs for a DVD player. We have properly assigning the inputs, and configured (2) different DVD players to output to the receiver via the digital links. We have only had one toslink cable on hand, and have used an array of cheap interconnect cables and a thicker composite video cable for the digital coax connection. The receiver recognizes the digital signal. No matter what we do, the receiver fails to sync or stay synced on the digital signal, and it puts out splattering noises to the speakers. The receiver has already been "repaired" for this problem by Denon. Any advice? Has anyone else seen this?

I just bought this system and it sounds very good. I'm not using the rear speakers since it is in the bedroom. Do I need to change any of the settings since they are not being used?