Skip to main content

Denon’s new user-friendly E-Series AV receivers pack next-gen features while keeping prices under control

Denon AVR-400 HedWith all of the new AV receivers coming down the pike this week, you might almost think we were back in Las Vegas at CES 2013.  But the truth is that not everyone brings all of their new toys to that particular show. Receiver manufacturers march to their own beat and seem to prefer CEDIA as the venue to show off the newest wares. Besides, it’s pretty easy to get lost in the zoo that is the world’s largest consumer electronics show.

The past few weeks have been a bit of a coming out party for manufacturers’ new AV receiver line-ups. The latest offerings from Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Sony will not sound the same, but we are noticing some key features getting applied across the board.  2013 is officially the year of the super-affordable AV receiver with next-gen technology. Like its competitors, Denon has added support for 4K/Ultra HD, MHL, AirPlay, and high resolution audio formats to a line of user-friendly receivers with bargain basement pricing. Let’s check ’em out.  

Recommended Videos

Denon has a fairly extensive line-up of AV receivers ranging from its top-of-the-line AVR-4520CI to its brand new AVR-E200 ($250) which just launched today. The AVR-E200 is the baby in the new E-series family of Denon AV receivers and it’s clear that the company is going after college students, recent graduate with new jobs, and young couples looking to power the entertainments systems in their first new home.  And, as we intimated earlier, Denon is not alone in this pursuit – all of its competitors have feature-packed, buget-friendly models coming in under $600 .

The new E-series includes three models: the AVR-E400 7.1 Network Home Theater Receiver ($600), the AVR-E300 5.1 Network Home Theater Receiver ($400), and the aforementioned AVR-E200 5.1 Home Theater Receiver. The top two models support Apple AirPlay allowing you to stream music from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch – which begs the question – why bother with a $250 model that doesn’t?

The top two models also offer support for Pandora, Spotify (which requires a subscription), vTuner, SiriusXM, and allow you to view your photos via Flickr. The E400 and E300 can also be controlled via Denon’s remote app.

Denon Setup UIAll three models feature a redesigned on-screen UI to make set-up that much simpler. The exclusive “Denon Setup Assistant” walks users through the entire setup process (AVR-E300 & AVR-E400 Only). For convenient setup and easy EQ-setting, the AVR-E400 and AVR-E300 both feature Audyssey MultEQ automatic room acoustic measurement and correction system along with Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Audyssey Dynamic Volume for immersive surround sound, even at reduced volume levels.

All E-Series receivers feature Denon’s new color-coded speaker terminals and supplied matching color cable tags to ensure correct speaker cable hookup right out of the box. For even more setup simplicity, Models AVR-E400 and AVR-E300 both feature Denon’s new Easy-Connects “push-in” type speaker wire connections making the task of connecting speaker wires easier than ever before. Why are we just now seeing this?

The new AVR-E400 7.1 receiver can be configured for a full 7.1-channel system or as a 5.1 channel system in the main room with powered support for audio in another room. Denon color-coded easy terminalsFor total system connectivity, the AVR-E400 is equipped with 6 HDMI inputs including 5 on the rear panel along with 1 on the front panel for easy connection of an HDMI-equipped camcorder, game console or other portable multimedia device.

The AVR-E400’s video processor includes SD-to-HD up-conversion, along with 4K/Ultra HD (3840×2160) pass-through for the next generation of 4K/Ultra HDTVs. The E400 is rated at a maximum of 185 watts for each of the 7 channels but we’re rather skeptical that those numbers will prove to be the case as manufacturers tend to fudge the math when it comes to rating power into more than two channels.

The AVR-E300 outputs 10 fewer watts into all 5 channels and has 1 less HDMI input on the rear panel.  The AVR-E200 is a 5.1 AV receiver with 4 HDMI inputs and is rated at a maximum 165 watts for all of its channels.

The new E-series AV receivers from Denon are available for purchase now at authorized retailers. 

Topics
Ian White
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ian has been a full-time A/V journalist since 1999, covering the world of high-end audio, video, music, and film for Digital…
Best TV deals: LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL, and more
Vizio OLED TV

There’s a lot to choose from among today’s best TV deals, with Samsung TV deals, LG TV deals, Sony TV deals, TCL TV deals, and Vizio TV deals at the top of the list. Premium picture quality is also available at discount, as there are some QLED TV deals and OLED TV deals out there as well. Reading onward you’ll find what we feel are today’s best TV deals of the bunch, as well as as some information on why each might best fit into your home theater. If you prefer to take a look at what savings are available by TV size, don’t miss the current 65-inch TV deals, 70-inch TV deals, 75-inch TV deals, and 85-inch TV deals.
Hisense 43-inch A6 4K Smart TV — $180 $190 5% off

For a 4K TV at a fraction of the expected cost, check out this TV from Hisense. It has everything you need to get the modern TV experience, including a gaming mode, HDR and HDR10, a 4K AI upscaler for older content, and a special sports mode. This sports mode automatically changes the screen's settings to accommodate sports programming without you having to fiddle with each option. Additional bonuses like the included voice remote, DTS Virtual X, and the ability to connect directly to the TV with Bluetooth headphones and speaker make this TV easily go head-to-head and achieve victory over any other TV under $500.

Read more
Best 75-inch TV deals: Get a big screen from $450
LG 75-Inch Class UN6970 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV

Whatever your favorite content may be it can likely be made a more enjoyable experience with a large TV. There are plenty to shop among today’s best TV deals, but here we’re taking a look at 75-inch TV deals specifically, which is a great size if you’re looking to go big with your home theater. Today’s 75-inch TV deals include top brands such as Sony TV deals, Samsung TV deals, LG TV deals, TCL TV deals, and more. We’ve got all of the details organized below, so read onward and grab a new TV if you see a price point you like. And if you’d like to take a look at deals on some other TV sizes be sure to check out the current 65-inch TV deals, 70-inch TV deals, and 85-inch TV deals.
Insignia 75-inch F50 4K Fire TV — $450 $600 25% off

The Insignia F50 isn’t going to blow anyone away on paper, but when it comes to actually sitting down and watching this TV it’s going to give most people everything they’re looking for. It has plenty of smart capabilities, including the ability to connect directly to online content and easy, built-in access to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. But without much fuss it also produces a sharp, clear 4K image that’s enjoyable to watch. It even has HDR capabilities, providing a wide range of color details and sharper contrast.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Buds deals: As low as $60
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and their charging case.

While there are a lot of AirPods deals, Bose headphone deals, and Sony headphone deals available to shop right now, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds lineup is also seeing some pretty impressive discounts. Each of the Galaxy Buds models regularly turns out some of the best headphone deals to shop, and right now they’re all having a pretty good showing. We’re seeing previous generations of Galaxy Buds discounted, as well as models in the new Galaxy Buds 3 lineup. We’ve rounded up all of the information below, so read onward to save big. If you need a cool new Samsung device to pair them with check out the best Samsung deals, best Samsung tablet deals, or best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 — $150 $180 17% off

The newest edition to the Galaxy Buds lineup is the Galaxy Buds 3. They offer a radical redesign and a sleeker design that may be more attractive to minimalists and anyone who prefers their earbuds remain discrete while listening. These wireless earbuds have active noise-cancellation, live translation with a real-time AI interpreter, and cinematic sound with 360 audio. A new boosted speaker delivers great bass and crystal clear sound to play Ultra High Quality Audio with up to a 24-bit sample rate.

Read more