Get connected

Denon's entry-level X Series AV receiver is also its most advanced in terms of HDMI connectivity. Go figure, says John Archer

- John Archer

1. The front-panel mic input enables the amp's Audyssey auto-EQ calibration

AV INFO

PRODUCT: Entry-level seven-channel Atmos/DTS:X AVR

POSITION: Denon's most affordable X Series receiver

PEERS: Yamaha RX-V6A; Denon AVR-X2700H

Thanks to problems with first-generation HDMI 2.1 ports, the last year was unusually tumultuous for the AV receiver and amplifier world. The late arrival of Denon's AVR-X1700H (sold in the UK exclusively through retailer Peter Tyson) therefore turns out to be quite handy.

Certainly I can say that the X1700H’s HDMI setup is now a key strength rather than a cause for consternation. For starters, three of its six HDMI inputs handle the latest gaming features of 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rates, Quick Frame Transport, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). There was only one such input on Denon’s first generation of ‘8K capable’ AVRs, from the flagship X6700H [HCC #316] down to the £750 X2700H [HCC #320].

You can now, to be fair, buy a Denon AVS-3 HDMI switching box that lets you connect three HDMI 4K/120Hz devices to these older, otherwise more premium models. But you’ll have to find an extra £200 for it, not to mention accommodate another box in your system.

Another great thing about the X1700H’s built-in HDMI 4K/120 or 8K/60Hz connections is that they work right out of the box. The 40GB capacity of the ‘8K’ ports handles everything it’s supposed to, including 4K at 120Hz feeds from the Xbox Series X that