Anytime Denon rolls out a new generation of AVRs, the first question that comes to mind for most home-theater enthusiasts is: what’s new? How, for example, is the new AVR‑X2900H (US$1349, CA$1799, £899, €1000) substantially different from its forebear, the AVR‑X2800H, which debuted way back in 2022 for US$1299?
We’ll dive deeper into that in my full evaluation, but for now, I want to dig into some non-spec/non-tech-related differences of this 7.2-channel, 95Wpc offering. Because there have been a few of those that I worry I’ll overlook once I start geeking out on setup, performance metrics, ergonomics, and day-to-day use.
Not that there are significant differences visible in the outer carton, mind you. There’s only so much you can do with a logo-littered cardboard box. But I do like that “Need help?” QR code prominently placed thereon, because, as I’ve said any number of times, we have got to stop pretending like younger people just automatically know what the heck to do with A/V components.
(Sadly, as I write this, the QR code leads to a “Page Not Found” link under Denon’s support section on its website, but one assumes that’ll get sorted out soon.)
Doubling down on the “let’s not assume everyone who buys this thing will have already owned an AVR” motif, the first thing you see when you open the outer carton is an exploded view of the package’s contents, as well as some additional QR codes to take you to the relevant apps (although, I couldn’t help but notice, not the Audyssey MultEQ Editor app).
Not going to lie: this view took me by surprise. The last Denon AVR I reviewed—if memory serves me correctly—was the massive and massively expensive AVR‑A1H (US$6500), which sort of set my expectations for how Denon would package and present a receiver selling for something like 20 percent of the price.
In some respects, the packaging of the AVR‑X2900H is even nicer, especially given that even the power cord is housed inside its own box behind the main accessories box. The entire presentation is cleaner and better thought-out overall, which I simply wasn’t expecting.
Peek inside the accessories box, and things get even swankier. Like, seriously, at first glance the remote control seems to be wrapped in the same sort of matte polypropylene film, but the closer I look (and the more I touch), I think Denon is actually using washi kōzo as a protective cover for the clicker.
Baumgartner Restoration fans will be as excited about that as I am, if I’m right. If I’m wrong, it’s still a luxurious-feeling wrapper that adds an element of swank I’m not accustomed to seeing at the $1350 price point. And even if it’s merely aping the feel of washi kōzo, that’s still a nice nod to Denon’s Japanese heritage.
The rest of the accessories box also contains custom carve-outs for the Audyssey mike, remote batteries, wireless antennas, and pack-in literature . . .
. . . Beneath which you’ll find a dedicated AM‑radio antenna in its own little cubby.
And below that, an FM‑radio antenna, as well as the folding mike stand that I’m going to leave folded and boxed, in case the next reviewer needs it. I have a gazillion of the things lying around already.
Still, I love Denon’s clear instructions for the assembly and adjustment of the mike stand. It’s borderline IKEA-esque in its unambiguous simplicity.
With the accessories box out of the way, you can see the foam paper in which the AVR‑X2900H is carefully wrapped, as if it were a gift. Really, the only thing about the entire packaging presentation that doesn’t feel a little bougie is the fragile, crumbly expanded polystyrene padding, but it’s hard to grump about that in this case because I don’t know of any AVR that isn’t packed in EPS, and at least Denon makes use of its enhanced rigidity to mark which piece is which and which way it’s supposed to be positioned relative to the box and the receiver itself.
Full disclosure: this shot was taken purely to show off the intricate, origami-like folding of the wrapping paper. It almost felt wrong to unwrap it.
But unwrap it I did, and here we get our first look at the receiver itself. And to be frank, it doesn’t look substantially different from the X2800H. You might even miss the differences. But the thing that stands out most to me is that the front-panel controls, beneath the screen, are now beveled in such a way as to be easier to see at a glance when you’re standing nearby (they catch the light a little differently as a result of the slight angle) and easier to press, as well.
Mind you, not a lot of people spend a lot of time operating their AVRs via the front panel. And I’m honestly a little sorry I didn’t skip giving the hollow plastic volume knob a twist. I could have just relied on the remote and convinced myself that the chonky knob feels as good as it looks. But hey, you’ve gotta cut costs somewhere, I reckon.
Around back, the thing that stands out most to me is that the five-way binding posts are arrayed in typical Denon fashion—side-by-side instead of stacked—which I can only assume Sound United has patented. Otherwise, why wouldn’t every AVR manufacturer rip off this approach? It makes connecting speakers so much easier—especially if you use a bare-wire connection.
You can also see here the generous HDMI connectivity, as well as the overall clean layout of the back panel.
A closer look at the back reveals the other digital inputs, as well as the analog I/O. Sadly, there’s no multichannel preamp output section, although I’m guessing that most folks inclined to use an AVR as an A/V preamp would prefer to step up to the X3900H, with its 11.4 channels of processing.
At any rate, I wouldn’t be using the X2900H as a preamp in the course of my review even if it had the multichannel outs. I’m more interested in putting the internal amps—and by extension the power supply—to the test. And I’ll be doing just that over the coming weeks. So keep an eye peeled for my full review, coming soon.
. . . Dennis Burger
dennisb@soundstagenetwork.com
