Denon AVR-1311 AV-receiver

Denon AVR-1311 AV-receiver photo

The front panel of Denon AVR-1311 is made of plastic, but this doesn’t harm the design â€" simple and very elegant forms show the noble origin of the device even in this appearance. Build quality and the used materials are perfect. We even want to check if we were not wrong about the cost.

The limitation of functionality, which provided the decline in value, came to the lack of sound auto calibrating and the presence of five amplifier channels. At the same time the set of HD sound decoders is full and the signal part of the scheme is 7.1. There are analog outputs for additional surround channels, all five amplification channel of the amplifier are equipped with powerful screw terminals. There four HDMI inputs, the company made the right decision here. But coaxial and optical inputs could be more, having only one â€" it is modest.

There are few analog video outputs but usually you don’t need much of them. S-Video slot, which has already admitted as a relic of the past, is need for the connection of optional docking station, which allows you to transfer video from iPod. All other designers preferred to commutate a portable player through “digit” with a help of special interfaces for docking station, but it does not fundamentally change the core of a subject.

The sound quality in cinema mode has exceeded our most optimistic expectations. HD audio tracks were so clear, detailing and dynamic that we again decided to see if the device is out of the stated price limits. It seems that audio path has not undergone any significant reduction in price in comparison with the elder models. This is one of the best receivers by sound in the test; it has an excellent dynamic range, perfectly builds the scene in stereo and in cinema it superbly recreates the atmosphere and elaborates the space very accurately and with many plans. Transparency, naturalness and volume in movie soundtracks strike you. The sound field turned out to be literally infinite and realistic.

It is very noticeable that Denon AVR-1311 plays music material not only very clearly, detailed and precisely, but also with some freshness, sometimes even distantly, although there are no obvious problems with dynamic. In the result, its style of performance is ideal for jazz, some classic genres and any relaxing melodies. Speaking about brutal genres of hard rock, energetic folk rock, fast and fiery music this receiver plays them too intelligently.

“Compressed Audio Restorer” technology adds lightness into a compressed audio; artifacts are smoothed that is not ministerial to the improvement of sound’s detailing. Well, what can be done here, in Denon performance even improved MP3 are not comparable to CD quality.

The overall impression from the listening was extremely positive. Denon AVR-1311 is just superb in cinema, in stereo it is quite comparable to a very good, budget amplifier. However, it has the character and you should keep in mind this.