Archived Expert Review


This review is from our archive. The manufacturer has informed us that this model has been discontinued. However, it might still be available for sale. The MSRP and warranty were valid at the time the model was discontinued. We hope you'll find our other Stereo Receivers reviews and pricing useful.



Click here to go back to normal view!


Expert Review
Denon DRA-685

Enlarge Image

CG Award:  (what's this?)




Expert Rating:  4  (what's this?)

Expert Review

Denon DRA-685

Date Published: 1/9/08

While most of the focus in consumer electronics is on surround sound, there is no denying the need for competent stereo components. One such component is the high-quality Denon DRA-685, a flexible stereo audio/video receiver that can be configured to broadcast two different sources simultaneously (dual room/source requires a separate amplifier or powered speakers in the secondary location).

The system comes with a full remote control and even a small remote for the secondary source. If you want both speaker sets to broadcast the same source, you can use one of the two main speaker outputs. This feature can also be used to connect two types of speakers, such as one for movies and one for music.

The DRA-685 has amplification delivering up to 100 watts into two channels. The receiver also has one of our favorite features: you can separate the audio and video feeds so that you can listen to one source while watching another, such as listening to the AM/FM tuner while watching a sporting event on TV. There are three audio inputs (including one phono input) and three composite audio/video inputs. All in all, the Denon DRA-685 serves a vital role in the current home audio environment.



Warranty
2 years



Expert Rating Scale

 
   Value
   Is it appropriately priced?
   Performance
   How well does it work?
   Ease of Use
   How easy is it to operate?
   Features
   What's included?
   Overall
   What does Consumer Guide® think?




Product Specs

Width
17 1/10 in.
Height
6 7/10 in.
Depth
16 2/5 in.
Weight
22 lbs.
Watts per channel
100 watts X2
Nbr. of AM/FM presets
40
Remote control
2 (includes a small remote for secondary source)
A/B speaker switching
yes








Magic Debugger

release: 8.4.3-qa1
content_id: 254096
type: review
category: l4-cp-stereo-receivers

brws title: Denon DRA-685 Review: Powered by ConsumerGuide and HowStuffWorks

meta d: The Denon DRA-685 stereo audio/video receiver can broadcast two different sources simultaneously. Learn more in Consumer Guide's review.

url: http://shopproducts.howstuffworks.com/Yamaha-R-S500-2-Channels-Receiver/productId=105221812