Before you Begin
I. Speaker Setup
(Auto Setup)
(Manual Setup)
II. Option Setup
(HDMI Setup Options)
(Video Processing Options)
(Audio Setup Options)
(Zone 2 Setup Options)
(Amp Assign Options)
(Other Options)
III. Input Setup

Denon manuals are hard. Plus, the menus are filled with cryptic terms with nary an explanation to be found. Thus, I present you with an easy, step-by-step guide to hooking up and setting up your shiny new Denon receiver. Enjoy, and I hope this helps you get up and running with minimal pain!

If you have general questions about the use or operation of your Denon AVR, check out my FADQ (Frequently Asked Denon Questions).

If you want some general background on modern AVR's, including explanations of new technologies like HDMI and upscaling, the first step should be to go and read MichaelJHuman's outstanding AVR FAQ at AVSforum.com

Please note that this website deals primarily with installation, setup and use of "consumer level" Denon models. Some more advanced models may have additional features, such as networking, which I will not cover here. For an explanation of the different model levels, head over to the Denon Model Numbers section of this website. Note, however, that in terms of basic setup these higher end units are essentially identical and 95% of the information I provide here will still be relevant! Just be aware that there may be certain features available to you which aren't discussed on these pages.

But with modern AVR's, all of these fancy new input connection types are completely user ASSIGNABLE. There is nothing special about any of the inputs, and they can be reassigned by you to be associated with any of the "names" available. This means that it doesn't matter if you plug your cable box into the "DVD" input, and that you aren't SOL when you need to use an optical audio cable from your CD player but the optical input is labeled "DVR". If something isn't labeled the way you want to use it, you can just assign it to a different name, as discussed in Part III. Input Setup below.

For easiest "plug and play" you can use the inputs labeled on back of your AVR, but you should also pay attention to the number (e.g. HDMI-1 versus HDMI-2) in case you need to reassign something. So, when you hook everything up, just WRITE DOWN exactly what you plugged in where, because you may need to assign inputs later to coordinate the numbers with the names. For example, just make a list like this:

• I plugged my PS3 into "HDMI-1" for audio and video;
  
• I plugged my DirecTV box into "HDMI-2" for audio and video;
  
• I plugged my Xbox 360 into "Component-1" for video and "Optical-1" for audio;
  

... and so forth.

Later on, when you get to Input Setup, you will coordinate these input numbers with whatever input name you want. You can even rename all the inputs, so you can make it say "PS3", "DIRECTV", etc. when you are done.

If you have a simple setup with only a few components, you can generally stick to the "named" defaults, for example plugging your cable box into the HDMI input labeled "SAT/CBL" just means one less step later on. But it's important to grasp the concept that the names Denon chose to put on the back are simply the arbitrary DEFAULT options and carry no special meaning, you can re-map everything to customize for your particular setup.

Please note that the "old school" connections -- composite (the red/white/yellow analog RCA connections) and S-video -- are NOT assignable. So, if you use these, you DO need to pay attention to which "name" is associated with the input. However, all of the digital audio inputs (optical and coaxial), component video inputs (the red/blue/green analog video connectors), and HDMI inputs are user assignable.

Once you have everything plugged in and you are ready to go, think of it as a three step process:

• STEP 1. Set up all of your fundamental speaker parameters (number of speakers, size, distance, level, etc) -- you can let the receiver do it automatically using Auto Setup, or do basic speaker setup yourself using Manual Setup.
  
  
• STEP 2. Set up any other options.
  
  
• STEP 3. Assign and rename your inputs. This is accomplished in the Input Setup menu.

The other two main menu areas, AUDIO/VIDEO ADJUST (called PARAMETERS in some older models) and INFORMATION, are not used when setting up the receiver.

The AUDIO/VIDEO ADJUST (or PARAMETER) menu is for adjusting specific sound parameters WHILE YOU ARE USING THE RECEIVER, not during setup. Note that not all parameters will be available all the time, this menu changes depending on what surround mode you are currently in (e.g. "Dolby Digital" vs. "Stereo" vs. "MultiCh In" etc). There is a table in your manual which details exactly which parameters are available with which surround mode.

The INFORMATION menu is, you guessed it, just to get information about various things going on in your receiver. Again, this is not used in setup, and you can't actually change anything here; it's only to get info while actually using the receiver.

NOTE #1 - Most of this information applies to more recent model Denon AVRs, and older models may have a slightly different menu structure. However, almost all of this information should still be relevant to older receivers, as Denon does not really change their terminology or setup logic over time. Many of the settings will still function the exact same way as described here, they just may be located in a different place in the menu.

NOTE #2 - Not all Denon AVR's have identical functionality, so some of the items discussed below may not be present on your specific receiver. For example, Denon AVR's which do not convert analog video to HDMI will not have any of the settings related to HDMI output resolution, older Denon AVR's without Audyssey will obviously not have any Audyssey options, etc.

NOTE #3 - I DO NOT COVER NETWORKING!!! Networking is now becoming commonplace among newer receivers of all brands, but I am NOT a network guru! I honestly do not have much to offer beyond what you can find in the manual. So if your receiver won't connect to the network, or your Airplay stream is skipping, or your receiver can't find your music library on the household NAS server, I am not the guy to ask! Sorry!!

^ BACK TO THE TOP

One way or another, your AVR needs to know how many speakers you have connected, and how to properly balance them so that the sound mix in your room is heard as intended. Since around 2005, modern Denon AVR's have had some type of AUTO SETUP routine. In current models, the auto setup is done by a 3rd-party calibration system known as Audyssey MultEQ (read more at Audyssey.com).

HELPFUL HINT: While it is possible to set up your Denon using only the display on the receiver, it is much, much easier to do it using the On Screen Display (OSD) on your TV screen. Make sure you have a video connection from one of the "Monitor Out" video plugs to your display, and switch your display to the correct input to view the OSD. Note that some older models will not display the OSD over the HDMI connection.... while some newer models will ONLY display the OSD over the HDMI connection! So if you aren't sure, check your manual or ask at AVSforum in the appropriate owner's thread.

OPTION 1: LET AUDYSSEY MULTEQ SET UP YOUR SPEAKERS AUTOMATICALLY

On the "Start" screen for Audyssey setup, you can pre-configure a couple of settings so that the AVR knows which speakers you have connected. The first allows you to assign your surround back amplifiers, so the receiver knows if you are running any extra speakers beyond the typical 5.1 setup. If you are running a 7.1 setup, make sure to change the Amp Assign setting to the "Normal" or "7.1" setting (depending on which model you have). If you will be running a standard 5.1 setup, just leave the Amp Assign set to "Zone2", which is the default.

The second option menu allows you to designate which speakers to measure. This is especially relevant if you are using both A and B front speakers, or if you have a model equipped with Audyssey DSX, because you can tell it whether you are running "height" or "wide" speakers. Again, you can just leave this at the default setting with a standard setup.

Once that is done, you are ready to start. Note that Audyssey MultEQ ignores all settings in the receiver so there is no need to worry about the volume or anything, just start it up!

Once Audyssey has begun, follow the instructions on the screen and make sure to follow the highly technical Audyssey Step-by-Step Guide (created by users at AVSforum) or the much simpler MultEQ How To Guide (provided by Audyssey). Remember to USE A TRIPOD, as the microphone needs to be stable for accurate results, and definitely do all 6 or 8 measurement positions for best results. For more info, please click here to go to the Audyssey section.

HELPFUL HINT: Do not "STORE" your Audyssey setting until you are all done! Many people mistakenly hit "store" after the first measurement point. You only "store" the results at the very end, when you are done running all the positions! You can stop at any time, but it is recommended that you do all 6 or 8 positions if possible. If you are pressed for time, at the MINIMUM do 3 positions for decent results.

Once you have completed Audyssey setup, you can review your results in the "Parameter Check" menu. Note that this menu is just a "report card" of what Audyssey measured! You cannot make any actual changes in this menu! If you want to make any manual changes after AUTO SETUP is complete, just proceed to MANUAL SETUP and do your tweaking there. Anything you change in MANUAL SETUP, such as speaker volumes or crossover frequencies, will automatically take effect and override the setting determined by AUTO SETUP. Making these manual changes will not screw up Audyssey, you can still use Audyssey's MultEQ filters and Dynamic EQ and Volume.

OPTION 2: SET UP YOUR SPEAKERS MANUALLY

PLEASE NOTE that as of the "xx10/xx0" models (ending in "0" such as 1910 or 890) the AMP ASSIGN setting has now been relocated to the SPEAKER SETUP menu. Please scroll down or click here to go straight to the description of the AMP ASSIGN settings, as you will want to have this properly configured if you are running anything other than a 5.1 setup.

The first step is to tell the AVR what speakers you have, and whether you want the AVR to perform "bass management" on them. Select SPEAKER CONFIGURATION, turn any speakers you have connected to "Large" or "Small", and any speakers you don't have connected to "None".

HELPFUL HINT: The "Large" vs. "Small" designation has NOTHING to do with the physical size of your speakers! In AVR terms, Large vs. Small is only about bass management, i.e. telling the receiver whether or not you want to cut off bass frequencies below a specific point, and then "cross over" or "hand off" the low frequencies to your subwoofer. As a general rule, if you have a subwoofer, SET EVERYTHING TO "SMALL"! Even if you have big, floorstanding front speakers, you subwoofer will do a better job reproducing the lowest frequencies.

If you don't have a subwoofer, your front speakers MUST remain as "Large" because there is no subwoofer to cross over to. Any speakers set as small will now hand off the bass frequencies to your fronts.

Next, if you have a subwoofer, enter the BASS SETTING menu (which in older models is called SUBWOOFER SETUP). The LFE vs. LFE+MAIN setting is only relevant if you have set any speakers to "large". If all of your speakers are set to "small", this setting doesn't do anything. For speakers set to "large", think of this as the "double bass" setting. For more info on the LFE vs LFE+MAIN setting, click here to read a good explanation.

In newer models you will also find an "LPF for LFE" setting here. This setting only determines the upper limit (low pass filter) for the LFE channel in multichannel content with a "point 1" track (e.g. 5.1 or 7.1) . It is not a crossover and it does not affect any of your speakers' bass management. It also is NOT a general "subwoofer setting". It ONLY affects the LFE track, period. Set it to 120Hz (this is the actual specified upper limit for LFE material) and forget about it. If the distinction between crossovers, subwoofers, and LFE is confusing, you may want to read this great article on the misunderstood LFE channel.

Next, set your speaker distances using the DISTANCE menu. Whip out the tape measure, pick a central primary listening spot, and measure the distance to all of your speakers. This is an important step, and is less about physical distance than it is about time alignment, i.e. making sure all the sound gets to your listening spot at the correct time.

Next, you must balance your speaker output using the CHANNEL LEVEL menu. Select your preference for the test tones, "Auto" (the speaker test tone will cycle continuously through all of your speakers) or "Manual" (you control which speaker is outputting the test tone). Then, scroll down to "Start" and hit the LEFT arrow to begin.

If you have selected "Manual", you can cycle the tones among the speakers by pressing UP or DOWN on the directional pad. To adjust the volume of a particular speaker, press LEFT or RIGHT.

HELPFUL HINT: While you can get decent results "by ear", it is much more accurate to do this using a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter, which you can buy at Radio Shack. It is very important for the surround mix that your speaker levels be balanced correctly!

Next, you need to specify the cut-off frequency for bass management by entering the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY menu. Scroll to the left or right to cycle through the various options. This is the frequency at which the receiver will start cutting off the bass from your speakers, and instead send it to the dedicated subwoofer (or fronts if you have no subwoofer).

To set independent crossover frequencies for each speaker, keep scrolling left/right until it says "Advanced", and then new options will appear for each individual speaker type (front, center, surround, surr.back).

HELPFUL HINT #1: You will often read that you should set your crossover frequency to 80Hz all around. However, if you have tiny satellite speakers, you may need to set it higher. Check the specifications for your speaker and choose a crossover point above the "minus 3 dB point" quoted in the specs. A good rule of thumb is to set towers to 60 or 80Hz, medium or large bookshelves to 80Hz, small bookshelves to 100Hz, and tiny satellites to 120Hz or 150Hz. However, you may have to experiment as everyone's setup is different. The best idea, however, is to let Audyssey figure it out for you.

HELPFUL HINT #2: If you own a model from past years (e.g. ending in "8" or "9") and you set your Crossover to "Advanced", you will see an option for "LFE" at the bottom of the list. This is somewhat confusing, as it is NOT part of the bass management of your receiver. Rather, this is a "cap" or "Low Pass Filter" (LPF) for the dedicated LFE channel discussed a few paragraphs up. There is very little dedicated low frequency content above 80Hz, so as long as this is above 80Hz it will be fine. Audyssey recommends just setting this to 120Hz, the specified ceiling for any LFE content in movies.

Newer models have one extra sub-menu in SPEAKER SETUP, called FRONT SPEAKER SETUP. This is for people who have a second set of front speakers that they prefer to use for 2-channel music, which are different than the speakers used for multichannel content. So, if you have a setup like this, it saves you the trouble of having to remember to switch to the "B" speakers for 2-channel music and then back to the "A" speakers for multichannel. For most of us, who only have one set of speakers for everything, just leave this on the default "Normal" setting.

^ BACK TO THE TOP

This section will cover the other options available in the MANUAL SETUP menu. If you have general questions about the use or operation of your Denon AVR, check out my FADQ (Frequently Asked Denon Questions)..

HDMI SETUP OPTIONS:

• AUTO LIPSYNC: Attempts to automatically sync up the timing of audio and video when switching HDMI signals, based on metadata provided by the HDMI display about its video processing delay time. You can just leave this on the default unless you have problems. Note that if you are actually experiencing sync issues, you will be more likely to fix it using the manual "Audio Delay" setting found in "Audio/Video Adjust" (aka "Parameters") area.

• HDMI CONTROL: Turning the HDMI Control setting on "links up" your HDMI 1.3 Denon AVR with your compatible display. The primary benefit of HDMI Control is that the Denon AVR will "pass through" HDMI video and audio when the Denon is on Standby. If you experience some funny HDMI issues, try turning this and "Power Off Control" to the "off" position, it may resolve things. If you want to understand how to setup the "Standby Passthrough" feature, click here to read my explanation in the FADQ.

• STANDBY SOURCE: Available only on newer models, this setting works in conjunction with HDMI CONTROL and determines which HDMI source will pass through when the receiver is in Standby mode.

• POWER OFF CONTROL: This settings is only applicable if "HDMI Control" is turned on. When this is on, turning on/off your "linked" display will also turn on/off the Denon AVR. Again, this will only work with compatible displays! And it may or may not decide to turn your receiver back on again when you turn the TV on.... HDMI-CEC is, unfortunately, a fairly inconsistent technology.

VIDEO PROCESSING OPTIONS:

• i/p SCALER: This setting turns the scaling functions of the receiver on or off. Note that some models can only scale analog video! On these "analog only" models, there is no scaling or processing at all on HDMI inputs, this settings and all the other video processor settings apply ONLY to analog-to-HDMI transcoding. If you do have a model which can scale HDMI video, the i/p scaler will have three settings: "OFF", "ANALOG", or "ANALOG and HDMI".
• RESOLUTION: When the i/p SCALER is turned on, this setting determines the output resolution of the video signal. If you want to output at the highest resolution that your TV accepts, just leave this on the default, "Auto". Note that if your model can process/scale HDMI video in addition to converted analog video, there is a separate resolution setting for analog versus digital video signals.
• PROGRESSIVE MODE: Just leave this on "Auto" unless you are experiencing any weird artifacts. Different types of video material can have different "frame rates" -- for example film is shot at 24 frames-per-second (FPS), whereas video is shot at 30 FPS. However, your display has a frame rate that is a multiple of 60 -- typically 60Hz, but with new LCD's 120Hz. Consequently, the video processor has to convert the frame rate of the source material to the standard 60 FPS rate used on displays. Unless you know what you are doing, and you can tell that there is a specific problem with the cadence of the frame rate, just leave it on "Auto".
• ASPECT: This setting determines whether the Denon "stretches" standard definition video signals to fit your widescreen HDTV. If you leave this on "NORMAL", standard definition material (which has a 4:3 aspect ratio) will be passed through un-stretched, so you will see black bars on either side unless you have your TV do the stretching. If you set this on "FULL", the Denon will horizontally stretch standard definition video so it fits the 16:9 aspect ratio of your HDTV.

HELPFUL HINT: Remember, by default, Denon AVR's with HDMI and video processing are set up to output everything to your TV via an HDMI cable, and will scale all analog sources automatically to the highest HDMI resolution your TV accepts, without touching any of the HDMI inputs. If all you want to do is plug everything in and run one HDMI cable to your TV, then DON’T CHANGE ANY SETTINGS and it should work fine as long as you have assigned all of your inputs correctly (see Step 3).

AUDIO SETUP OPTIONS:

A brief explanation of the various additional audio options (note that all options will not be found on all models):

• EXT.IN SUBWOOFER LEVEL: This setting applies ONLY to the multichannel analog inputs. If you have an external device (like an SACD player or a Blu Ray Player) that is connected with multichannel analog cables, this setting ensures that the LFE channel gets the appropriate level boost. If you are not using the multichannel analog inputs (labeled "EXT IN") then this setting is totally meaningless and you can ignore it!! Note that this setting will not even exist on many newer models that have done away with the multichannel analog inputs.

• 2CH DIRECT/STEREO: This menu allows you to have a different speaker configuration for listening to 2-channel music using the "Direct", "Stereo", and "Pure Direct" surround modes. If you leave it set at "Basic", the AVR will just use whatever configuration settings you have chosen in the SPEAKER SETUP menu (in other words you will get the exact same bass management in STEREO mode as you do in multichannel modes). If you set it on "Custom", you can tweak the settings specifically for two-channel music, including having a different crossover frequency, speaker distance, etc.
  
  HELPFUL HINT #1: If you are trying to listen to two-channel music in a 2.1 configuration (two speakers + subwoofer), and you can't get any sound to come out of the subwoofer, try setting it to "LFE+MAIN" here in the "2Ch Direct/Stereo" menu. Sometimes this "forces" the sub to be active with 2-channel music when it won't work otherwise.
  

  HELPFUL HINT #2: When in "Direct" or "Pure Direct" mode, there is NO BASS MANAGEMENT. That means your front speakers will be sent a full-range signal even if they are set to "small". Whatever bass your subwoofer produces will be "double bass", duplicating the output of your front speakers. If your front speakers cannot handle bass, do not use the Direct/Pure mode for 2-channel music, just stick to "Stereo" mode.
  

• DOLBY DIGITAL SETUP: This setting will turn on/off the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) for Dolby Digital sources. If DRC is on, it will compress the dynamic range of a Dolby Digital soundtrack to reduce the volume change between loud and soft parts. Note that this is a GLOBAL setting, meaning if you turn it on here it will affect everything. Generally, just leave this "OFF" (the default setting) and use things like "Night" mode (or "Dynamic Volume" on '09 models) if you want to control volume swings. This setting has disappeared (thankfully!) on the new models.

• AUTO SURROUND MODE: If this setting is on, your Denon AVR will automatically remember what surround mode you prefer depending on the input source and the signal type. For example, let's say you like to listen to 2-channel music from CD's in the "Stereo" mode, but when you get a 2-channel signal while watching TV you want to matrix it to 5.1 using "Dolby Pro Logic II". If Auto Surround is "on", the AVR will remember this, so when you switch to the "CD" input it will automatically go into "Stereo" mode, and then when you switch back to the "TV/CBL" input it will automatically go back into Pro Logic mode. In general, just leave this setting set to "ON" (the default) unless you want to constantly be fiddling with the surround mode buttons.

• EQ PRESET ('09 models) or EQ CUSTOMIZE ('10 and newer models): This menu allows you to delete unused EQ curves from the list of options, so that when you hit the "Room EQ" button you don't have to cycle through all five possibilites (off, Audyssey, Flat, Front, Manual). For example, if the only EQ you ever use is the "Audyssey" EQ curve, just switch all the other ones to "Not Used" and then, when you hit the Room EQ button on your remote, it will just turn Audyssey on/off. Note that in current models this option is located in the PARAMETER (or AUDIO/VIDEO ADJUST) menu.

ZONE 2 SETUP OPTIONS:

The section is used to set up basic options for multizone use. For information on seting up Zone 2, see the FADQ Section.

A brief explanation of the various options (note that higher level models with 3 zones have an identical "Zone 3 option" menu as well):

• L/R CH LEVEL: Used to balance output levels between the left and right speakers in Zone 2.

• VOLUME LIMIT: Use this to set a maximum volume level for your Zone 2 speakers so you don't accidentally blow them out.

• POWER ON LEVEL: Use this to set the initial volume level for the Zone 2 speakers when you first turn on Zone 2. Setting it on "Last" will cause the volume level when Zone 2 turns on to be the same as when it turned off. Setting it on "---" will cause the Zone 2 speakers to be muted when they first turn on. Otherwise, you can set a specific volume number.

• MUTE LEVEL: use this setting to determine the function of the "Mute" button. Leaving it on the default "Full" will cause the Mute botton to completely cut off the volume, or you can set it so that the Mute button just attenuates the volume by "-20dB" or "-40dB".

On certain higher-end CI models, you can also set up tone controls (bass/treble) and a high-pass filter for your Zone 2/3 speakers.

OPTION SETUP:

The section is a catch-all for any other options available on your Denon AVR. Note that different models may have slightly different options available.

• AMP ASSIGN: Denon AVR's with 7.1 capability provide the option of reassigning the Surround Back (SB) amps. Since these AVR's come with 7 discrete amp channels, and not everyone is running a 7.1 setup, this provides the flexibility to utilize the 6th and 7th channels as opposed to letting those spare amps "go to waste".

  The specific assignment options available depend on the exact model of Denon AVR, but in general all 7.1 Denons will offer the option to reassign the SB amps to power a pair of Zone 2 speakers (thus the designation as a "7.1/5.1+2" receiver). Starting with the '06 models, all 7.1 Denon AVR's also provide the option of using the SB amps to "bi-amp" the front speakers.

  Here is a description of the various AMP ASSIGN options (note that your specific Denon may not have all of these options):

  • 7.1 or "NORMAL" - You must use the "7.1" or "NORMAL" setting (depending on your model) if you are running a 6.1 or 7.1 setup. The Surr.Back (SB) amplifiers will be assigned to power the rear (surround back) speakers. Note that, if you would like to utilize Zone 2 speakers when the AVR is set to "7.1" mode, you need to provide some method of external amplification for your Zone 2 speakers, as all seven of your amps are now being used for the Main Zone. NORMAL is also the correct setting to use for an Audyssey DSX setup with "Wide" or "Height" speakers.

  • ZONE 2 - Use the "Zone 2" setting if you would like to run a 5.1 setup in your Main Zone, but also want to power a pair of Zone 2 speakers, or if you just have a standard 5.1 setup and will not be using those extra two amps. This is the correct setting for a standard 5.1 system even if you don't end up using Zone 2. The five main amps will be used to power the 5.1 setup in your primary setup, and the two SB amps can now be connected with normal speaker wire to a pair of speakers.
    
    Note that, for most models, this is the only amp setting that will allow internal volume control over Zone 2! The Zone 2 "pre-outs", used to connect an external amplifier to power Zone 2, are what is known as "line level" outputs. They provide a constant output, so the volume control must be provided externally (usually on the other amp) unless you are running a higher-end Denon AVR.

  • FRONT A/B BI-AMP - Use this setting if you are running a 5.1 setup, and you would like to use the spare SB amps to bi-amplify your front speakers. Please note that you must have bi-amp capable speakers with FOUR speaker wire posts, and remember to remove the "jumper" connecting the posts or you will blow your amp!
    
    In this setting, you will run one set of speaker wire from the FRONT L/R terminals on the Denon to the lower binding posts on your front speakers, and then a second set of speaker wire from the SURR.BACK terminals on the Denon to the upper terminals on your speakers.
    
    Note that this is what is known as "passive" bi-amping; the different wires will be carrying the EXACT SAME signal, and it will not really "double" your power as all seven amps in your AVR share the same power supply. The benefits of this are much-debated, so please do not ask me if it is "worth it". The general consensus is that you may see a small benefit in the form of a little extra "headroom" at high volumes, but a lot will depend on your speakers and your ears. If you have extra speaker wire lying around, there is nothing to lose by giving it a shot, but don't expect anything major to change.

  • 2 CH - Use this setting (available on certain models, generally '08 models or those without A/B front speakers) if you are running a 5.1 setup, and want to use the spare SB amps to power a different set of front speakers that are dedicated to 2-channel listening. The SB amps will be inactive when in any multichannel mode (Dolby Digital, DTS, Multi Channel In, Dolby Pro Logic, etc.). When you switch to a 2-channel mode (Direct, Pure Direct, and Stereo), the five main amps will now be inactive, and the SB amps will turn on. For example, let's say you had a 5.1 speaker setup that you liked for movies, but you also have a 2-channel speaker rig that you really prefer for music. You would hook up the 5.1 speakers to the normal 5.1 speaker outs, just like any normal 5.1 setup. Then, you would hook up your dedicated 2-channel speakers to the SURR.BACK speaker outs. Whenever you are in a surround mode, sound will come out of your normal 5.1 channel speaker setup. However, if you put it in one of the dedicated 2-channel modes -- Stereo, Direct, or Pure Direct -- the 5.1 setup is deactivated, and sound now automatically comes out of the dedicated 2-channel speakers.
    
    Note that in '09 models, Denon replaced this option with the "Front Speaker Setup" setting, described above in the SPEAKER SETUP section. This is a much more sensible way to do it, since you can just use the "B" speaker terminals for your dedicated 2-channel speakers and still run a 7.1 setup.

• VOLUME CONTROL: Like with the Zone 2 options listed above, this section allows you to set the volume options for the main zone. The VOLUME LIMIT allows you to set a maximum volume level so you don't accidentally blow out your speakers; the POWER ON LEVEL allows you to specify what the volume will be when the receiver turns on; the MUTE LEVEL allows you to specify exactly what the "Mute" button does (full mute, or just volume attenuation at your choice of "-40dB" or "-20dB").

• SOURCE DELETE: This option (available on '08 and newer models only) allows you to delete unused sources, so when you scroll through the inputs it will automatically skip the ones you don't use.

• ON-SCREEN DISPLAY or GUI: This section allows you to set up options for the On-Screen Display (OSD) or Graphical User Interface (GUI). Note that the OSD will NOT overlay on top of HDMI and Component video sources! You must have a model with a full GUI to do have overlay. Please see the second question in the "General" section of the FADQ for a chart of which models have OSD vs GUI.

• QUICK SELECT NAME: This allows you to rename your three "Quick Select" buttons to whatever you want.

• ZONE RENAME: This option (new to the "10" models) allows you to rename your other Zones (e.g. you can call it "PATIO" instead of just "ZONE 2")

• TRIGGER OUT: This section (only available on "CI" models with 12V trigger output) allows you to specify which zone and which input will trigger the 12V trigger output. This is generally only used with custom installations, or for automatically turning on an external amplifier or lowering a projector screen; if you don't know what it is, you probably won't ever use it.

• REMOTE ID SETUP: Allows you to specify a remote ID number to prevent conflicts with other Denon remotes. Basically, don't touch this unless you know what you are doing.

• 2WAY REMOTE: Turns on/off the 2-way remote function for higher level models (2808ci/2809ci and up) which utilize a 2-way remote.

• DISPLAY: Allows you to specify the brightness of the AVR's display. Note that you can also just use the "Dimmer" button as well.

• SETUP LOCK: Allows you to lock in the options you have set up so that nobody accidentally screws up your carefully tuned setup. If Setup Lock is turned on, it will no longer be possible to make changes such as accessing the menus, turning on/off Restorer and Night mode, changing surround parameters, Room EQ, or adjusting channel levels. To turn Setup Lock off, just hit the "Menu" button and it will prompt you to turn it off.

^ BACK TO THE TOP

Once you have hooked everything up, set up your speakers, and tweaked your options as described above, it is time to enter the INPUT SETUP menu so you can actually enjoy all those things you hooked up!

HELPFUL HINT: For older ('08 and '09) Denon AVR's, you need to select the input you would like to work with by scrolling up to the top of the INPUT SETUP screen, and then scrolling left/right to choose between inputs. On newer model Denon AVR's, you first select the input using the Source Select control, and THEN open up the OSD/GUI and go to INPUT SETUP. Either way, any changes you make will ONLY affect the input you have selected. Note that any inputs you have deactivated using "Source Delete" (described above in the OPTION SETUP section) will not appear as you scroll through the inputs.

Remember the first lesson we learned: other than old school (red/yellow/white RCA cable and S-video) inputs, ALL INPUTS ARE ASSIGNABLE. The key to input assignment is to understand that the output you get is dependent on what SOURCE NAME you select, and how the inputs have been assigned or "mapped" to these source names.

Think of each source name -- like "TV/CBL" or "DVD" or "V-AUX" -- as different "faucets", and the physical inputs on the back of the unit as input "pipes". You can re-route those pipes on the back to come out of any faucet you want on the other side (when you actually select a source name).

So, when you are determining how you are going to hook up all of your components, first start by deciding which NAME each will be associated with. Start with the name (the faucet it will come out of ), and then re-map those input pipes on the back to correspond to your names.

To help illustrate how everything works when you assign inputs, let's use a hypothetical scenario where you are trying to hook up three devices: 1. an HD cable box that is hooked up with an HDMI cable to "HDMI-1"; 2. a Blu Ray player that is hooked up with an HDMI cable to "HDMI-2"; and a Wii that is hooked up with a component video cable to "COMP-1" and plugged in with analog RCA audio (the red/white cable) into the "DVD" input.

• First, ASSIGN YOUR INPUTS. Using our hypothetical, go to INPUT ASSIGN and select the "SAT/CBL" input row. Set the "HDMI" input to "HDMI-1", and set everything else to "None". Now, that HDMI cable you plugged in to the HDMI-1 input has been "assigned" to the SAT/CBL source name. Next, choose another input name (like "BD"), go into the "Assign" menu, and set "HDMI" to "HDMI-2" and everything else to "None." Finally, choose the "DVD" input name and set "Component In" to "1-RCA", and everything else to "None".
  
  Now, when you turn to the "SAT/CBL" input, it will play the audio and video from the HDMI-1 input. When you turn to the "BD" input, it will play your Blu Ray player that is connected to HDMI-2. And when you turn to the "DVD" input, it will play the Wii via the component video and analog audio.

Now the biggest step is done -- you have correctly assigned your inputs! Now, there are a few other options in the INPUT SETUP menu that can be set for each input specifically:

• INPUT MODE: Here, you can specify where the Denon AVR should "look for" the audio signal that is associated with a specific input. In general, leave this on "Auto" unless you want to force a specific configuration. Similarly, for "Decode Mode", just leave it on "Auto" unless you need to force a specific input type for some reason.

• RENAME: As you can imagine, this is where you can rename your inputs to whatever you want. For example, in our hypothetical setup, we can rename "SAT/CBL" to say "CABLE", "BD" can be renamed to "BLU RAY", and "DVD" can be renamed "Wii". Now, when you hit the "DVD" button on your remote, the display on the receiver will say "Wii".

• VIDEO: On 2009 and newer models, the video processing can be set up independently per input. The options in this menu are identical to those described in the HDMI OPTIONS section above.
  
  On older models, you can turn "Video Convert" on/off by input, but the main HDMI Video settings like resolution and color space have to be set globally in the HDMI SETUP menu. On these models, the "Video Convert" option is found in the "Other" sub-menu.

• SOURCE LEVEL: This setting (found in the "Other" sub-menu on older models) allows you to balance out the levels of your inputs. On some models, you can also balance the digital and analog inputs separately.
  
  So, back to our hypothetical setup, let's say for some reason when you switch from watching cable to the Wii, the volume always blasts you out of the room. To correct this, choose the "Wii" (DVD) input, enter the "Input Setup", then scroll down to "SOURCE LEVEL" and turn the volume level of the analog source to "-10dB". Now, the "Wii" input will be 10dB softer than the "CABLE" and "BLU RAY" inputs. So if the volume level is "-30" when you are watching TV, when you switch over to the Wii it will effectively now be "-40", even though the display still says "-30".

Can you believe it? You are done with setup! Take a breath, and if you have any more questions, head over to the Frequently Asked Denon Questions (FADQ) section.

While I do have a "real" job, this website and all its content was created for free during my spare time. This is not a commercial website and I am in no way an AV professional. I do this because I enjoy learning about AV stuff and helping people out, and the contents and helpful hints found here are free for all to use.

However, if you found it useful, consider throwing a small donation my way to help me cover costs like web hosting, domain registration, time, etc. Maybe think about how much you would be willing to spend on a "Denon for Dummies" type book, and how much it would have cost to have a professional installer come over to set up your Denon.

Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with your Denon!