Denon AVR-X2900H Review

Price

The Denon AVR-X2900H is priced at £899 in the UK, and $1,349 Stateside – but it’s not just the price which differentiates them. The North American model has additional functionality, including front left and right pre-outs, RS232C control, a 12-volt trigger for system control and integration, and remote control terminals. These are all aimed at the custom install market.

You can get these features in the UK and Europe, if you need them, but only on the step-up AVC-X3900H.

The UK version, as reviewed here, counters with a built-in DAB+ digital radio tuner, hence the unique model number AVR-X2900H DAB.

There’s no difference in audio performance though. The model has been tuned at Denon’s Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan, by Denon Sound Master, Shinichi Yamauchi.

Design

• Familiar form factor
• Front fascia headphone jack
• Backlit remote control

Don’t expect too many surprises when it comes to form factor. The AVR-X2900H sticks to the script, with a central display flanked by source and volume knobs. There’s no front mounted HDMI, which I think is a bit of a shame, but you do get a headphone jack, USB port and an input for the Audyssey set-up microphone.

You won’t require an awful lot of AV furniture space. The AVR measures a relatively compact 434 x 330 × 168mm (W/D/H) and weighs 9.7 kg. The finish is regulation black.

Real design interest lurks beneath the lid. Silicon steel plating has been introduced as part of the amplifier’s power‑supply and transformer assembly, to reduce vibration, alongside a new power capacitor design, which includes a redesigned anode aluminium foil sheet to improve its ability to store charge, for better transient response for dynamic audio peaks, and a lower noise floor.

Connectivity

• Six HDMI inputs
• Two HDMI outputs
• MM phono support

The rear panel of the AVR-X2900H offers six HDMI inputs, three of which support 8K (don’t hold your breath) and 4K high frame rate sources. There are two HDMI outputs, designated TV1 and 2, so you can run the receiver with both a flatscreen TV and a projector. The former is eARC compatible.

There’s also a moving‑magnet (MM) phono connection, four assignable analogue stereo inputs, plus a coaxial digital audio input and a pair of optical digital audio inputs. There’s a stereo analogue output for Zone 2 (but no Zone 2 video feed), plus twin subwoofer outputs.

Features

• Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction
• HEOS multiroom streaming
• Roon Ready certified

Providing the connected backbone for the AVR-X2900H is HEOS, the multichannel, high resolution audio platform. This allows the Denon to partner other HEOS compatible speakers around the home, and simplifies the streaming of key music services from smartphone to AVR, via the HEOS app.

HEOS is as near to being bullet proof as any multi-room system you could name.

You can also use HEOS to pair the AVR-X2900H with Denon Home 200, 400 and 600 wireless speakers, allowing them to function as surround or Dolby Atmos speakers in a home cinema setup.

Service compatibility includes Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect and TuneIn Internet Radio. 

The receiver is also Roon Ready certified. Roon’s RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) can also handle Hi-Res audio streaming, and will work in multi-room configurations with other Roon Ready devices.

As mentioned before, the UK iteration of the AVR-X2900H adds a DAB+ digital radio to the tuner menu. I’m not quite sure what the appeal of DAB is these days, but like FM radio, it’s there if you want it.

Set up is simplified by a clear, graphical interface that takes you through installation one easy step at a time.

The receiver comes with a small calibration microphone used as part of this routine. Audyssey MultEQ XT involves a short series of tones, measured at the prime listening positions, and automatically adjusts speaker levels, crossovers, distance compensation and room equalisation.

The whole process takes between 10 – 15 minutes. After that you’re good to go.

The AVR-X2900H is also Dirac Live Room Correction compatible, giving you the option to unlock more advanced room tuning over time, as an optional extra. I’m not convinced that’s entirely necessary on this model though. Audyssey MultEQ XT does a remarkably fine job.

Power output is rated at 95 W into 8 ohm, with two channels driven (125 W into 6 ohm).

Performance

• Sonic precision
• Excellent dynamic attack
• Seamless steering

Pace, precision, and power. The X2900H has all three, although not necessarily in abundance.

When it comes to handling fast, dynamic transients, it’s a front runner. The opening action sequence to the Ana de Armas John Wick spin-off Ballerina, which sets young Eve off on her path to the Continental, and assassin school, is a dizzying multi-channel mix of gun fire, crashes, and ferocious foley effects.

The Denon pans all this chaos with pin point precision, movement is tight and seamless. Its ability to envelope you in fast moving sound is thrilling. High frequency detail is crisp, the mid-range well defined. The AVR-X2900H’s new 32-bit multi-channel DAC architecture is clearly earning its keep here.

I paired the AVR with a Definitive Refence speaker array, and Monitor Audio Anthra W12 subwoofer, but I think it can safely drive pretty much any collection of enclosures. I’ve even heard the AVR-X2900H with a fistful of big Bowers & Wilkins 801s (handy if you have some knocking about), so no worries there.

I ran the receiver in a 5.1.2 Atmos configuration, but you could just as easily opt for a 7.2 flatbed surround, if you don’t have Atmos height channels. The resulting soundstage sounded fabulous.

My default Atmos aperitif is Dolby’s Amaze Blu-ray demo clip, which confirmed its ability to steer. The wraparound jungle effects, tropical rain and then final thunderclap were all beautifully delivered.

The receiver boasts 95 W per channel of tried and tested Class AB amplification, which for most listening rooms, translates to ample punch. If your home theatre is very large size, then maybe the stablemate AVC-X3900H, with nine channels of 105 W amplification might be a consideration.

That said, I never felt the AVR-X2900H was lacking headroom or slam.

The overall sonic balance is excellent. There’s a naturalistic weight to the receiver’s bass handling. Obviously, my Monitor Audio sub was doing the heavy lifting, but the wider soundstage is definitely brawny.

It also does a solid job with music – specifically spatial mixes.

With two channel tracks, the AVR-X2900H sounds perfectly fine. It exhibits all the same overarching characteristics when it comes to definition and imaging, but it’s in native multi-channel mode that it seems happiest. 

Streaming from Amazon Music via a Fire TV stick, its delivery of Atmos encodes is infectious fun. Detail and image placement are spot on. Nothing smudges; tracks are crisp and rhythmic.

Should you buy it?