Was my friend given misinformation.

"Features are the bread and butter of low fi. High sound quality and few features are the mark of high fi."

Well put, agree 100%

While there are some AVRs that do pay attention to, and actually do provide very good two channel sound, you’re very unlikely to find them at a Magnolia/Best Buy.

Your friend would have been better served by purchasing an all in one integrated/streaming/DAC/amplifier, some with room correction, and some with HDMI ARC connections for running a 2.1 channel TV connection..  Various manufacturers make them, NAD has several models at different price points.  The best advice you could give him would be to return it all and take a look on Crutchfield’s website.  Lots of information as well as customer reviews, but the best part is their generous return policy.

Wow guys and gals! Have any of you even heard this combo he got? I installed that same avr for my brother in law with a pair of Martin logan Motion 60x and it sounded very good. I'll go out on a limb here and bet he's not slumbing it with his music.

It’s true that AVR’s pack a lot of options and a lot of amps at astonishing price levels as compared to ’high end’ stereo.

In your friend’s case, he paid for 7 amps but he probably uses only two, that’s a pity.

The Denon has the option to use 2 of the 7 amps for bi-amping the front speakers. If you can show him how to do this he’ll have even better sound out of his B&W 603’s.

He can also run his HDMI cable via the Denon and use his AVR together with his TV to enjoy great TV sound.

He said the salesman told him to stay away from integrated amps as they are not anything but stripped down AVR's without the features.

Selling point of the month!

I bet though it can be bettered