Conditions:
- 20m² living room
- 2 old Heco Spirit 400 Front
- 1 Magnat Supreme Center 250
- 2 Magnat monitor Supreme 100 Surround
- 2 Harman Kardon Surround Back S4
- 1 Downfire Subwoofer 300 watts which manufacturer I forgot
- WDTV Gen3 as a Media Player
- Samsung 50 "Plasma TV
With this receiver I really want only one thing: see full HD sources and listen with optimal sound. He can flawlessly.
The X2000 replaced my 9 year old Denon AVR-2105, which has about the same data at 7.1. Should not be a downgrade.
Purchase reasons for the upgrade were HDMI inputs (the old one had only SVHS) and DTS-HD / Dolby True HD.
Connections:
What I did previously, but still at same price class is a pity: Only 2 optical inputs, no digital coaxial terminals. Previously gabs a lot more options.
Old cherished devices such as MiniDisc, CD player, DVD player, etc. can be limited only continue to operate (analog).
In addition, you can unfortunately not connect a second pair of speakers more, the old receiver could switch between A and B in order for example for films 7 satellites + sub to use and for music Hifi 2 front speakers. The amplifiers were switched to with 2-channel in series. Now there is a second zone, on which can be sent by preamplifier signal to another room (at an additional amplifier). What is the need in the price range but I am not sure.
The rear HDMI inputs 6 + 1 forward should be enough actually. I just need one for the WDTV and the port on the front occasionally for the Notebook.
Furnishings:
After you have served the clear bushes back, turned on TV, you can set up the receiver via Wizard.
This is done after about 20 minutes. A wizard asks for everything essential, helps by diagram when connecting the speakers if necessary.
After using a microphone the room is calibrated. Overall, 8 listening positions are measured. That's a bit annoying, but unavoidable.
Has worked very well with me. I had to correct only the subwoofer, which was too quiet with -2dB later.
Sound:
The Hammer. I was very happy with the old receiver and had counted on 0 things distinguished in my unimpressive speakers. But the difference was so so vastly under normal DTS and DD5.1, crystal-clear surround sound effects from all corners that I have zapped the rest of the day by about 20 older films to be effective only to the differences.
This should mainly be due to the space optimization in poor conditions of Audyssey because the old receiver actually was very neat.
Music in the 2.0 direct mode sounds clean and clear as before to the upper level, here there was no difference.
Somewhat weak seems to me the bass, despite LFE + Main. At least in a neutral setting. The subwoofer Of course you can turn up at the top. But the 4-way front remain quite restrained.
Next I can because my equipment not judge the professionals can better. Test reports for the receiver should at least in the price range up to 650 top his (ultimately the reason for buying was for me).
Dolby TrueHD I could test with a couple of MKV sources 5.1. Significant added value for kompromierten DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 but I have not heard.
DTS-HD MA, the WDTV not as passthrough, so this no statement. The DTS 5.1 Core but given knotless.
Streaming:
Here you get the point deduction. After the feature is applied. USB I have not yet tested. Also Spotify, Lastfm, etc. are of no interest to me at my MP3 collection.
However, the streaming via DLNA by the computer I was very curious. In short, currently unusable. Navigating through the music collection, change of folders takes such a long time, even if you just simply scroll one screen in the folders down that one has after a short time lost the desire to continue to listen to music.
At first I thought a couple of times, the device would have crashed because no key has responded to a folder change. Presumably, the processing power is simply too weak.
Mp3 himself will play properly in all variants.
The device can also display pictures via DLNA. That works, unfortunately, only very mediocre. Low-resolution images, screen shots, etc., are sometimes extremely blurry or not to recognize. Whether I have worked better with the high-resolution holiday collection untested.
Internet radio works. Somewhat sluggish, precisely I have not yet checked.
Television:
Works very satisfactory. The networked devices can be controlled by Samsung Anynet + (HDMI-CEC), switching between the inputs on your receiver is working properly. You do not have to switch on the AV button inputs. This works in reverse of the functions on the TV. If you switch the receiver off, automatically all other compatible devices off (TV, WDTV). The Samsung also recognizes the X2000 in the HDMI network.
Which unfortunately does not work in my case, the Audio Return Channel in TV, but this is the older TVs (Samsung Generation 5). Here I had to connect the optical S / PDIF cable and the OSD from the receiver I will miss here in TV mode. For me, not so tragic, because I use the TV function at most for the World Cup or European Championship.
Upscaling, image optimization, etc. I have not tested, in my opinion, an unnecessary function. The WDTV already delivers 1080p Deep Color and if you want to optimize the image makes you the better directly to the TV. Each media player, BluRay or DVD player with HDMI output (wenns sowas there) can generally own Full HD output and upscaling other material. And DVD is anyway old news in today's televisions.
Other:
The remote control is refreshingly clear. With the old receiver I occasionally accidentally activated the test tone. If super at high volume in the film if you then have to look for the remote control. Thanks to HDMI CEC can TV on and off, the inputs by switching, etc., so you need a remote control less within reach.
Per OSD Info the player clearly shows the current sound source, the channels and which speakers are currently as active.
Buttons have multiple functions, such as when you press the Movie button longer comes a menu where you can select the sound modes.
About the sleep function all connected HDMI devices to be switched off after 30-120 minutes.
There's an app for Android and iPhone. Unfortunately, not for Windows Phone. This allows you more comfortable and faster than on the device by the DNLA navigate libraries and then stream it to the device.
However, the operation of the app on Android I did not particularly outstanding.
The inputs can be renamed. So "MEDIA PLAYER" to "WDTV". Unused inputs can disable and hide. The best that goes beyond the web interface of the device.
There you will find all other settings. The web interface is only in English. I do not care, just for info;) The OSD on TV is German.
Without remote control can no longer operate the unit virtually down to inputs and high / low.
The old remote control had fluorescent buttons for the most important functions. Here in the dark until the key knows by heart used to. Especially since "back / return" is mirrored for Samsung TV.
Safety: It's actually so absurd to draw a subject in home theater into consideration, but the device is at least one computer. A computer can be controlled remotely.
The web interface can be accessed without a password by any on the same network (no further action). You can not assign a password. For me, not so tragic. For families but you can do fun things with it to those hanging just watching TV to scare tidy. Or to annoy. Just looking to stream some unmeasured contents in high volume. Anyone have an unsecured Wi-Fi operates, is therefore sure to have his joy.
Quality / appearance:
The front looks from a distance of a high standard. But there is only plastic aluminum imitation. Could be better, but is apparently now in the price range that.
The feel of the front dial is fine.
A flap that covers the front ports would have been nice. Visually disturbing the jacks the big picture.
In conclusion, I am very satisfied with the purchase. Because I really wanted to have only the HDMI function and DTS-HD / Dolby TrueHD also, but have been in the standard modes significant added value, an absolute profit.
