TIME ON TEST: Three years
REVIEWER: Steve Withers
Denon AVR-X7200WA Review – WHEN DENON FIRST launched the AVR-X7200WA all the way back in March 2015, it committed to keeping its flagship 9.2-channel AV receiver up-to-date for at least the next two years. I’ll admit to being somewhat sceptical at the time, especially as these days most AV products seem to be obsolete within a matter of months. Yet I’ve been using an X7200 since its launch, giving me first-hand experience of Denon’s upgrade path and making this an extremely long-term test. So three years down the line, has Denon delivered on its promise and should you consider buying the receiver at its current price?
Table of Contents
What’s good about it?
I may have taken Denon’s ambitious update plans with a pinch of salt when I first unboxed the X7200 in 2015, but there were no such concerns when I heard the receiver in action. It blew me away with its impressive combination of sheer power and superior processing. This is an AV receiver aimed at the cinephile, with a big soundstage, precise steering of effects and plenty of headroom. It’s also built like the proverbial tank, which is not only psychologically satisfying but means it has withstood near daily use without any adverse effects. And after numerous firmware updates it remains absolutely rock-solid.
I’ve used the Denon with various speaker packages, some presenting quite challenging loads, and it has taken them all in its stride. I’ve also compared the X7200 to numerous other AVRs and often returned to it with a sense of relief.
When I initially set it up, I opted for a 5.1.4 speaker config that included a single subwoofer and four speakers on the ceiling. This layout utilised the nine channels of built-in amplification, and it’s a testament to the X7200’s inherent power (rated at 150W per channel) that it could effortlessly drive them all simultaneously. I subsequently added a second woofer to take advantage of the Denon’s ability to run two discrete subs, plus rear speakers and extra amplification so I could switch to a 7.2.4 layout.
av info
PRODUCT:
Nine-channel networked AVR
POSITION:
Once Denon’s flagship, now ousted by the AVC-X8500H
PEERS:
Yamaha RX-A3070; Denon AVR-X6400H
At launch the X7200 was limited to Dolby Atmos, although it did an excellent job processing that particular object-based audio format. Since then Denon has added a free update for DTS:X and the option to purchase an Auro-3D upgrade as well. I downloaded the DTS:X update as soon as it was available and, in a moment of foolish optimism, also bought the Auro-3D upgrade.
Denon’s X7200 offers every feature expected of a modern AV receiver and plenty more besides
Implementing a second speaker layout for the latter was somewhat challenging and ultimately rather pointless given the paucity of content.
All these different formats and configurations had the potential to be confusing but thanks to an intuitive menu system, and the inclusion of Audyssey MultEQ XT32 Pro, setup was fairly straightforward. Audyssey proved quite effective at equalising tonal imbalances between my different speakers, while correcting the bass response in my room. The X7200 is also very easy to operate generally, with a useful onscreen display and a well-designed remote control with a motion-sensitive backlight.
The latter is handy in the dark, even if it does sometimes light up by itself during more LFE-heavy moments.
The X7200W (without the ‘A’ suffix) had eight HDMI inputs and three outputs when it first shipped, but these were all HDMI v1.4. That meant no 4K at 50/60p, no HDCP 2.2 copy protection and no HDR support. As soon as the necessary chipsets were available, Denon addressed this deficiency by releasing the updated X7200WA with HDMI 2.0 connectivity. If you already owned the X7200W, you could upgrade to HDMI 2.0 for a fee.
More recently, further firmware tweakery has added support for HLG and Dolby Vision passthrough.
What’s not so good about it?
It’s hard to find fault with a receiver this accomplished, so it’s less a question of what’s not so good and more a question of what’s missing…
As mentioned, the X7200 only has nine channels built in, so for a 7.x.4 setup you need to add a two-channel power amp. That’s hardly the end of the world but if you want eleven channels from a single box, then this model obviously isn’t for you. If you do opt to add extra channels, I recommend getting a good stereo amp to drive the front L/R speakers, and let the X7200 run everything else.
In terms of missing features, this receiver doesn’t support Denon’s new remote app but I prefer the older version, so that’s no great loss. The X7200 also doesn’t support Denon’s HEOS multi room system, and this isn’t something you can just add with a firmware update.
How important this is will depend on whether you have an existing HEOS system or plan to set one up.
Audyssey could be considered one of the X7200’s few real weaknesses. Compared to Dirac Live (as found on AVRs from Arcam and NAD), Audyssey seems rather dated and lacks the former’s processing power and flexibility, but, conversely, it’s considerably cheaper.
Should I buy it?
If my experience is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. The X7200 has been a joy to use and still holds its own after three years. Denon’s success in keeping it up-to-date is reflected in the fact that I have absolutely no desire to replace it. Dirac-capable models are tempting, but there’s a significant financial outlay attached to such a swap. Ultimately, the X7200 has served me well, offering every feature expected of a modern AVR and plenty more besides, so whatever’s missing just isn’t that important
- Auro-3D can be added to Atmos and DTS:X support via a paid upgrade
- The AVR shows its age with its inclusion of twin component video outputs
VERDICT:
Denon has been true to its word, and three years after its initial release the X7200 remains up-to-date and a real AV bargain. But you might want more channels…
SPECIFICATIONS
DOLBY ATMOS: Yes DTS:X: Yes THX: No MULTICHANNEL INPUT: Yes. 7.1 MULTICHANNEL PRE-OUT: Yes. 11.2 MULTICHANNEL OUTPUT (CLAIMED): 9 x 150W (into 8 Ohms) MULTIROOM: Yes. 3 zones AV INPUTS: 5 x composite; 5 x digital audio (2 x optical; 2 x coaxial; 1 x Denon Link HD) HDMI: 8 x inputs; 3 x outputs (v2.0 with HDCP 2.2) VIDEO UPSCALING: Yes. To 3,840 x 2,160 COMPONENT VIDEO: 3 x inputs; 1 x output DIMENSIONS: 434(w) x 437(d) x 195(h)mm WEIGHT: 17.1 kg
FEATURES: Integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; twin subwoofer output; Apple OS and Android control apps; iOS wireless sharing; Audyssey MultEQ XT32 Pro Room EQ with LFC; audio file playback including FLAC and DSD; Ethernet; 2 x USB; Apple AirPlay; 12V trigger, AM/FM tuner; Spotify Connect; HDMI passthrough in standby; Auro-3D optional firmware upgrade available; HDR passthrough incl. Dolby Vision
