Denon AVR-2500 as garage system?

[kmcorolla15]

So I picked up a Denon AVR-2500 for free from Facebook Marketplace along with some other components (was a condo cleanout). Original remote and in near-mint condition. Would this make a good system for the garage? I already have an external DAC and a 65 inch TV in there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TLS Guy]

So I picked up a Denon AVR-2500 for free from Facebook Marketplace along with some other components (was a condo cleanout). Original remote and in near-mint condition. Would this make a good system for the garage? I already have an external DAC and a 65 inch TV in there.

Thanks in advance!

It is about 30 years old and is an old prologic receiver, but does have one set of multichannel inputs.

Since it is pre HDMI there will be a lot of gear you can't connect to it, like a modern TV and players. We are way past the analog sunset, so it depends on how you are going to use it. Those pre HDMI receivers have very limited usefulness now. They have been pretty much regulated out of existence by digital rights management.

 

[isolar8001]

So I picked up a Denon AVR-2500 for free from Facebook Marketplace along with some other components (was a condo cleanout). Original remote and in near-mint condition. Would this make a good system for the garage? I already have an external DAC and a 65 inch TV in there.

Thanks in advance!

I wouldn't do that...Denon's are usually designed for attics.

 

[kmcorolla15]

Im starting to think that a soundbar would be a better option (It's a garage after all). I know someone that lives closeby that refurbishs/sells vintage audio equipment. He would probably get better use out of this than me haha. I'd love to keep it but don't have anywhere else in the house to set it up (I already have 3 Atmos systems in the house).

 

[Trebdp83]

What is the model of TV and external DAC? You could potentially run an optical cable from the TV to the DAC and the analog output cables from the DAC to the Denon.

If using just two speakers, you can connect the cables to the MAIN IN of the Denon by removing the jumpers connecting the PRE OUT FRONT and the MAIN IN if they are still present. This will prevent an ADC of the signal for DSP by the Denon if that matters.

If using a 5.1 system, simply connect the analog cables to the VDP/TV input source ports. This will allow DSP and Pro Logic sound mode can be selected.

To use the amps for the Front channels when connected to anything other than the MAIN IN, the jumpers MUST be connected from the PRE OUT FRONT to the MAIN IN.

 

[kmcorolla15]

What is the model of TV and external DAC? You could potentially run an optical cable from the TV to the DAC and the analog output cables from the DAC to the Denon.

If using just two speakers, you can connect the cables to the MAIN IN of the Denon by removing the jumpers connecting the PRE OUT FRONT and the MAIN IN if they are still present. This will prevent an ADC of the signal for DSP by the Denon if that matters.

If using a 5.1 system, simply connect the analog cables to the VDP/TV input source ports. This will allow DSP and Pro Logic sound mode can be selected.

To use the amps for the Front channels when connected to anything other than the MAIN IN, the jumpers MUST be connected from the PRE OUT FRONT to the MAIN IN.

The DAC is an SMSL PS100 and the TV is a Skyworth UC7500. It looks like I could run an optical cable from the TV to the DAC and then analog cables to the Denon. I'm also wondering if I should just get a different receiver that has ARC or eARC and not worry about the DAC or multiple remotes as I've seen them really cheap on FB Marketplace....or am I overthinking this for a garage receiver?

 

[Trebdp83]

I would try and use what I have in front of me before spending any more money on a system that is not the main one of the house. You can try it out now for nothing. If it isn't up to snuff, look into a receiver supporting ARC. I believe the TV supports ARC but not eARC. The DAC supports ARC so you can use the HDMI connection from the TV's HDMI/ARC port to the DAC's HDMI/ARC port rather than an optical connection between them if desired. In either case, the TV's audio output setting should be set to PCM, not Passthrough, DD or DTS. The DAC will only handle a two channel PCM signal.

 

[kmcorolla15]

I would try and use what I have in front of me before spending any more money on a system that is not the main one of the house. You can try it out now for nothing. If it isn't up to snuff, look into a receiver supporting ARC. I believe the TV supports ARC but not eARC. The DAC supports ARC so you can use the HDMI connection from the TV's HDMI/ARC port to the DAC's HDMI/ARC port rather than an optical connection between them if desired. In either case, the TV's audio output setting should be set to PCM, not Passthrough, DD or DTS. The DAC will only handle a two channel PCM signal.

I know the ARC on that Skyworth has always been a pain (it's very slow to respond - have tried multiple receivers), so I think I'll just use the optical connection and the DAC. That's what I get for buying a cheap POS TV haha....thank you all for the advice. I'll be setting up everything this weekend!

 

[Antares]

Im starting to think that a soundbar would be a better option (It's a garage after all). I know someone that lives closeby that refurbishs/sells vintage audio equipment. He would probably get better use out of this than me haha. I'd love to keep it but don't have anywhere else in the house to set it up (I already have 3 Atmos systems in the house).

A soundbar in a garage (and everywhere else for that matter) is not a good idea.
Just hook up the Denon to good stereo speakers and rock on!

 

[kmcorolla15]

A soundbar in a garage (and everywhere else for that matter) is not a good idea.
Just hook up the Denon to good stereo speakers and rock on!

I wound up getting a Sony STR-DA333ES last week from FB Marketplace for $20 in working condition, and liked it better than the Denon.....so I set that up instead with a set of old Sony tower speakers and the DAC. So far so good!

 

[Trebdp83]

To bypass any DSP in the Sony and avoid any more conversions, you can connect the DAC to the Front L and R ports of the Sony’s 5.1 CH INPUT and select it as the input source. To use DSP, simply connect to any one of the two channel analog input ports.

 

[highfigh]

A soundbar in a garage (and everywhere else for that matter) is not a good idea.
Just hook up the Denon to good stereo speakers and rock on!

I have Definitive Technologies Indoor/Outdoor speakers in my garage and they work well, mainly because I placed them in the upper corners, which reinforces the low frequencies. It's a very simple system- iPhone to BT receiver[ into a stereo power amp.

 

[kmcorolla15]

To bypass any DSP in the Sony and avoid any more conversions, you can connect the DAC to the Front L and R ports of the Sony’s 5.1 CH INPUT and select it as the input source. To use DSP, simply connect to any one of the two channel analog input ports.

Good to know - thank you! Right now I just have the DAC hooked to the TV RCA inputs on the Sony but will move it to the 5.1.

 

[Trebdp83]

Some prefer their external DAC to an AVR when playing two channel PCM signals. If you add more speakers for a 5.1 setup, you can connect the optical cable directly to the Sony’s TV/SAT IN optical port and bitstream DD signals from the TV to it.