Unlike most home theater systems on the market today, the Denon DHT-487DV is actually a component system with a separate A/V receiver and DVD/CD player. The HDT-487DV also comes with a powered subwoofer and five small speakers, so you don't need any extra hardware to get the system up and running.

Denon is renowned for its home audio components, and the AVR-487 receiver and DVD-557 DVD player packaged into the DHT-487DV ably support this reputation. The AVR-487 is loaded with features, including five discrete 75-watt amplifiers, compatibility with an XM Satellite Radio Mini-Tuner, external inputs for an SACD or DVD-Audio player and support for DTS 96/24, DTS NEO:6, Dolby Digital and Neural Surround modes. An iPod docking cradle is an optional add-on. The included silver remote has an intuitive design and a small door that hides less-used buttons, but it is not backlit.

The progressive scan DVD-557 includes an HDMI output, and it can up-convert DVD video to 1,080i. The player is compatible with a wide variety of formats, including DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW and discs loaded with MP3, WMA and JPEG files. It has both optical and coaxial digital outputs, as well as component, S-Video, composite and the aforementioned HDMI video outputs. The DVD-557 has a separate remote control, which is odd. Why not integrate the receiver and DVD player remotes into a single unit?

The DHT-487DV's subwoofer features an 8-inch, bottom-firing driver powered by a 100-watt amplifier. There is a small port on the front of the black cabinet. The rear of the subwoofer is home to controls for level, phase and an internal crossover, as well as RCA-type inputs. There is no power button, as the unit only powers up when a signal is detected. This small subwoofer comfortably fits under a side table.

The five speakers included with the DHT-487DV are acoustically matched to provide a seamless soundstage for music and film. Each of the four satellites has a two-way design, with a 3-3/5-inch mid-bass driver and a tweeter. The horizontally aligned center-channel speaker adds a second mid-bass driver. All of the speakers are magnetically shielded for use around a television, and they can be easily mounted on the wall.

We were not expecting much from the diminutive speakers, even though we knew the receiver would deliver plenty of power. However, once we connected the DHT-487DV to our reference HDTV and popped in a few movies, we were pleasantly surprised. Although navigating the receiver's menus took some getting used to, we were quickly able to adjust the individual speaker levels, including the output to the subwoofer, resulting in a pleasing, balanced sound.

The system was easily able to fill our modest listening area with sound, so the DHT-487DV should be more than sufficient for an average apartment or small den. Movies sounded great in both Dolby Digital and DTS surround modes, and the subwoofer provided plenty of low-frequency power, even shaking the room at times. With most home theater systems we have reviewed, music performance generally isn't up to the level of the movie playback. However, the DHT-487DV was able to handle musical material much better than many competitors.

Although the receiver does not include HDMI switching, we decided to run an HDMI cable directly from the DVD-557 into our HDTV. The results were excellent and clearly superior to the video quality from composite, S-video or component video cables. We kept the optical cable in place, so our audio ran through the Denon receiver and speakers. This resulted in the best possible sound and video quality the DHT-487DV can offer.

The DHT-487DV would be a great if you want a full-feature system but don't have the space for big speakers. Of course, you can always upgrade to larger speakers at a later date, and the system is equipped to handle additional components as well. While the DHT-487DV is not as easy to set up and operate as a typical home theater system, the results are worth the effort. When you consider what a comparable component system would cost, not to mention surround speakers and a subwoofer, the Denon DHT-487DV is a good deal.


Pros:  Component system for the price of an all-in-one, HDMI output on DVD player, fully featured and expandable receiver
Cons:  Speakers limited by their size, system set-up and adjustment can be complicated if you aren't technically inclined, two remotes instead of one

Warranty
1 year DVD player, 2 years receiver