Design

In appearance, the AVR-X2700H has a traditional receiver design with a black, boxy appearance that blends in. It blends into your entertainment center without winning beauty competitions. The front panel features a big right volume knob and a smaller left input selector knob. Clear input and volume displays are in the center.

Though basic and effective, the buttons seem cheap. Not the most pleasurable to press, they might make the experience seem less expensive than the pricing promises. The receiver's size matters too. It's not little, so if your TV stand is tight, you may have to change things to fit.

After setting it up, you ignore these little inconveniences. The overall style works nicely for something that won't be the focal point of your living space. If you want a more current or polished style, it may disappoint.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the AVR-X2700H begins to shine. It has six HDMI inputs, plenty for most people. This receiver may support a gaming console, streaming box, Blu-ray player, or all of the above. With more 8K videos coming out, its 8K passthrough makes it future-ready. It's wonderful that this receiver can handle the future, even while 4K is still king.

Another huge benefit is eARC, which lets you transport uncompressed audio from your TV to the receiver. Experience high-quality sound without sacrifices with eARC, eliminating frustration from Dolby Atmos or DTS.

The wireless connection is good too. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube Music streaming easy. I streamed from iOS and Android smartphones without issues. Apple customers also benefit from AirPlay 2, which makes sending music and podcasts easy.

Wireless connection setup isn't intuitive. For non-techies, it may take time to get things functioning. After setup, it's largely set-and-forget. The AVR-X2700H supports most audio formats, but not DTS Pro, which may be a concern for high-end audio systems. For most people, this won't matter, but audiophiles may notice.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the AVR-X2700H does a great job for both movies and music. I set it up in a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, and the experience was pretty immersive. Action scenes in movies really come to life, with sounds moving around the room and even overhead. Dialogue is clear, and even when things get loud, the receiver handles everything without missing a beat.

It’s equally capable when it comes to music. I threw a wide range of genres at it—everything from jazz to hip hop—and the receiver didn’t disappoint. The low end is punchy, which is great for bass-heavy music, while the mids and highs stay crisp. You can push the volume pretty high without distortion, which is always a plus if you like cranking up the tunes.

That said, if you’re expecting deep, wall-shaking bass for things like dubstep or cinematic explosions, you might feel it’s a bit lacking. The AVR-X2700H delivers clean sound, but it doesn’t have the overwhelming power of higher-end models that really shake the walls with low-end frequencies. It’s more than enough for most home setups, but if you’re a bass enthusiast, you might want to look at adding a more powerful subwoofer or even consider a more robust receiver.

For movies and TV shows, the AVR-X2700H handles surround sound really well. Even smaller sound details, like footsteps or rain, are distinct and spread across the room in a way that pulls you into the scene. It’s ideal for home theaters, especially in medium to large living rooms. However, it’s probably overkill for small spaces. In a tiny apartment, you won’t be able to fully take advantage of the spatial audio features.

Where and When to Use

The Denon AVR-X2700H is suitable for medium to large home theaters. This receiver is ideal for future-proofing with 8K passthrough and Dolby Atmos compatibility. It's ideal for movie evenings, binge-watching TV, and gaming when audio quality counts. It immerses you in the action, elevating the experience.

If you're in a smaller room or don't care about Dolby Atmos or 8K, this receiver may not be for you. There are cheaper ones with superb sound without all the features.

The AVR-X2700H is compatible with most TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices. I tried it with a PS5 and it handled 4K HDR material without audio latency. The receiver works with Roku, Apple TV, and Fire Stick.

It supports smart home systems. Although I hardly ever use it, it is speech-controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant. Nice to have but not necessary for daily usage.

Ease of Use

The Denon AVR-X2700H comes with a lot of features, and that means the setup process can be a bit overwhelming. The remote is packed with buttons, and navigating through the menu for the first time might take a little getting used to. There’s an initial learning curve, especially if you’re not super familiar with AV receivers.

However, Denon includes the Audyssey room calibration system, which helps a lot. It automatically adjusts the sound settings based on your room’s layout and speaker setup, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of balancing your system. After running the calibration, I did make a few manual tweaks to get it sounding just right, but overall, it makes the process easier.

Once you’ve got it set up, using the receiver day-to-day is pretty straightforward. The remote control gives you plenty of options, and you can switch between inputs or adjust the sound settings with ease. For someone who’s new to AV receivers, it might take a bit of time to get comfortable with all the features, but after that initial hurdle, it’s smooth sailing.

Cost

At around $900, the AVR-X2700H sits in the mid-range for receivers, but it gives you a lot for your money. If you’re serious about your home theater or music setup, the price is justifiable, especially when you consider features like 8K passthrough and Dolby Atmos.

It’s not the cheapest option out there, though, so if you’re someone who just needs a basic receiver for casual use, you might find that you’re paying for features you won’t use. But for anyone who’s looking to invest in a solid system that can handle current and future tech, the price feels fair for what you’re getting.