Introduction

It amazes me that what passed for a premium feature in A/V receivers two or three years ago can now be found on entry level models.  That is the beauty of progress!  Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the Denon AVR-689.  At an MSRP of $399 it is hard to believe that this unit is so jam packed with bells and whistles.  From auto calibration to HDMI switching, the prices are coming down as capabilities are going up.  Having reviewed several Denon units, and having owned several more, I am very familiar with Denon’s receiver philosophy and level of quality, both of which make them a market leader in that space.  I was eager to see how one of their entry level models would fare. This is the first of a series of affordable receiver reviews, for our difficult economic times.