Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

[eccerr0r]

Anyone have the remote control sequence for the "memory" button for the Denon AVR-1700 so that I could replicate it on a learning remote, or perhaps have the actual remote (Denon RC-855 or RC-974 I think) that could be purchased at a reasonable price?

Wondering if this unit is worth keeping or not... I have partial remote codes set for a learning remote so I can somewhat program it but can't fully test or use it...

Plus the fact I'm not sure if it's fully functional yet...

Thanks!

[rhomanski]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

I've bought replacement remotes on ebay before. There not too expensive if you shop around. Some stores specialize in selling old remotes.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Any comments about the AVR1700? Repairability? I wonder if it's worth to buy an actual remote for this old receiver, even if I don't know if it's fully working at this point?

Would be a shame to buy a remote and the receiver is garbage...

[rhomanski]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Can't really advise on that. I've never owned a Denon before. I have an Onkyo.

I was just addressing the remote because I lost the one for my Panasonic DVD/VCR. It's around here somewhere but I thought it would be easier to buy one and found the exact same one on E-bay for about $30. Works great. I just searched for the unit number and it came up with the remote. My manuals with the remote wherever that is.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Ah... yeah I'm kind of hesitant on that because paying $30 for a remote for the receiver exceeds the acquisition cost of the receiver, hence I wonder the actual value of the receiver before I sink more money in... This receiver is nice as it's 5.1 and 75WPC.

I really don't own much audio equipment in general. The post-Sanyo Fisher 2.0 50WPC was the only component audio receiver I've ever owned, other than some Sony equipment (which are proprietary).

[rhomanski]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Well if it's got hdmi it won't be too bad. Mine doesn't, I bought it in 2002, cost me $1000 back then from circuit city. Still works and since I don't have anything that uses hdmi yet, I don't have a reason to replace it. Test it and if it works good, it's worth a $30 investment for the remote. You can always sell it and easily get the cost back.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Well, that's the thing. The receiver requires the remote to test many of its features which is a big minus.

This receiver does not have HDMI - only composite video selection - it's about as old if not older than your (Onkyo) I believe (come to think of it, it may be in the badcaps era... hmm.).

I guess composite is a lowest common denominator, alas I do have HDMI/DVI equipment but no big deal not to use it. Yet...


The Fisher is audio only so the Denon at least can switch video.

[momaka]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Any comments about the AVR1700? Repairability?

I have an AVR-3200 that I found thrown out a few years back. On the front, it looks almost identical (if not identical) to your AVR-1700. Not sure how similar or different they are on the inside, though. But going by these...
http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_lib...avr-1700.shtml
http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_lib...avr-3200.shtml
... the AVR-1700 appears to be pretty much the same as my AVR-3200, with the difference being that the AVR-1700 is rated for 70 Watts per channel on all of the channels vs. 80 W/ch. on the AVR-3200. And perhaps some other minor stuff.

So my guess would be they are both pretty similar amps. That said, I think my AVR-3200 is an "okay" amplifier overall - at least as far as I could test it, because I too didn't get it with the remote (RC-827), like you.

Built quality -wise, the AVR-3200 is a tank with huge heatsinks and chunky line transformer. Also has good protections, so I doubt it will get damaged or need repair from (non-physical) misuse.

In terms of sound quality, though, I wasn't exactly blown away. Not sure if my AVR-3200 is faulty or perhaps not set properly, but low-end frequencies seem to be lacking quite a bit. In particular, anything below 20-25 Hz seems severely attenuated (remember, the specs claim 10 Hz - 50 KHz). I know this because I've tested various speakers with this amp on "Bass I love you" by Bassotronics (which features some extremely low bass notes below 20 Hz). With this amp, I barely saw my speaker cones move at those extremely low frequencies. With other amps, I get quite a bit of excursion. So I don't know if this amp was designed like that, if it was set-up wrong, or if there are perhaps some bad caps in the signal lines that are limiting the low-end response. Anyways, your should test your amp too to see if does the same thing.

I wonder if it's worth to buy an actual remote for this old receiver, even if I don't know if it's fully working at this point?

You haven't tested it yet?

If you have some speakers, you should be able to test it without the remote. I did that on mine by using the analog inputs (either CD or VCR 2/V_AUX). You can also use the coaxial or optical S/PDIF input too, if you like. Then hook up your speakers to "Front Main" and press either "Stereo" or "5CH Stereo" buttons after selecting the right input.

On my AVR-3200, I'm not sure why, but sometimes if the amp hasn't been used for a very long time, I won't get any sound from the speakers until I choose the "5CH Stereo" option. Likewise, sometimes I don't get sound until I turn the volume knob way up to -20 to -10 dB. Once the sound starts working, though, then I can turn the volume up and down all I want, and it will work all fine. I'm just mentioning this, in case by whatever random chance your AVR-1700 has the same issues as my AVR-3200.

Wondering if this unit is worth keeping or not... I have partial remote codes set for a learning remote so I can somewhat program it but can't fully test or use it...

Probably a long shot... but if you can program the binary sequences into your remote, I *may* have something for you. Basically I found this database of the actual button binary codes, and not just for Denon, but many many other brands. Unfortunately, it contains nothing about the RC-855 or RC-974 remotes you are looking for, nor the RC-827 that my AVR-3200 uses. If you want to experiment, let me know and I will look for the link where I found that stuff. I do actually have the archive with all of the remote binary codes, and IIRC, you can use LIRC to read the files with those binary codes.

As for "worth keeping"... I am assuming you mean either keeping for yourself or selling and not throwing away. I wouldn't throw away a working amp - even if it does have some issues like my AVR-3200. I use mine mostly to test used speakers that may or may not be faulty... and I don't get many of those that often, so the amp mostly sits tucked away in the closet. For normal use, I prefer my Yamaha RX-380 RS Natural Sound (another oldie amp, but I really like it).

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Currently I'm using 'Pierogi' for the Nokia N900 - it has some of the codes for another Denon receivers but does not have all the buttons, plus it's really clunky - a lot of buttons don't work...

I somewhat tested it but not completely - I do not have a 5.1 speaker set, currently I'm using 2.0 borrowed from my Fisher (which was stolen from my dead Sony...). The radio function seems to work but oddly enough it has trouble receiving AM radio stations where I had my Fisher, but it was working a few minutes ago when I was using some random speaker drivers. FM still seems to work.

What I really need is somehow test the full 5.1 as well as video... and I really would like AM to work...

But right, keeping as in not parting and tossing. The amp seems to somewhat work so I suppose I should keep it alas I really would like something that fully works - and the remote is needed unlike my Fisher which I can completely control with the front panel. (I suppose the only reason why I am keeping the Fisher around is that I was able to repair it!)

I am looking for a remote for the Fisher too...

[momaka]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Currently I'm using 'Pierogi' for the Nokia N900 - it has some of the codes for another Denon receivers but does not have all the buttons, plus it's really clunky - a lot of buttons don't work...

Yeah, I myself am using a Cox THAD-2000 remote. Surprisingly I was able to find a button to get me to the settings menu of my AVR-3200. To see the menu, though, I had to connect the composite output to a TV. However, there seems to be more to the menu that I wasn't able to access due to my limited remote.

Give yours a try and see if you can get to the amp's menu. There are some cool options to play with (that seem to do nothing or not much ), such as the size of the surround speakers, distance between them, and etc.

I somewhat tested it but not completely - I do not have a 5.1 speaker set

You don't really need a 5.1 set to test the amp - at least not the basic 5.1 functionality. Just move the two speakers you have from the "Front Main" output to the other outputs (i.e. to "Surround" and "Center"). Then, while still using a stereo source, just hit the "5CH Stereo" button on the front of the amp. This will give you "simulated" surround sound, so the rear and center channels should work. If they work, then the amp probably works just fine.

Or alternatively, you could use the optical input as I mentioned before. Many late-model DVD players had optical output, so if you have one like that, you can use it to test the 5.1 surround.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

Can't seem to find a button that triggers the tuner to save new stations. Ugh. May need to get a real remote. I tried hooking up a composite TV but couldn't see anything, so possibly the VFD on front is the only place to get output feedback? Dang, not having a manual rots too.

I will need to get a TOSLINK cable. My DVD player doesn't have an optical output so I can't use that as a test, but some of my PCs have TOSLINK outputs, probably can use that.

It looks like the Denon isn't a true 5.1, it doesn't have a dedicated sub output. It just has center, and four corners. Perhaps the center channel can be used for the sub.

At least 2.0 works... my speakers are pretty crappy but I have a hard time discerning the difference using the Denon compared to my Sanyo Fisher...

[momaka]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

I tried hooking up a composite TV but couldn't see anything, so possibly the VFD on front is the only place to get output feedback?

When you select the receiver's menu (i.e. "System Setup"), perhaps then will see it on the TV. At least that's what my AVR-3200 does. Same if I adjust the volume with the remote.

Did you have the composite TV input hooked to "Monitor Out" video on the receiver? If not, that could be why.

Dang, not having a manual rots too.

Would this do?
http://www2.aerne.com/Public/dok-sw.nsf/0c6187bc750a16fcc1256e3c005a9740/97c6fd64fb0e6bdfc12571300064687e/$FILE/AVR1700.pdf
(sorry for not uploading here. It is a 7.x MB PDF. Perhaps I may do that in a multi-part Win-RAR later. Or if you need it.)

I will need to get a TOSLINK cable. My DVD player doesn't have an optical output so I can't use that as a test, but some of my PCs have TOSLINK outputs, probably can use that.

Yes, that should do.
Or you can use the Exterior 6 ch. input too. But you will need three or four 3.5 mm <-> RCA L/R male audio cables, if I am not mistaken.

It looks like the Denon isn't a true 5.1, it doesn't have a dedicated sub output.

Yeah, they cheated a bit when they called it a "5.1 receiver".
It only has a sub-woofer output of the pre-amplifier output stage. So you can use that to hook up to an external subwoofer amplifier and subwoofer.

It just has center, and four corners. Perhaps the center channel can be used for the sub.

Maybe.
I think you can do only two of the following, though:
1) Either use the Subwoofer pre-out and connect to a subwoofer amp (+ subwoofer)
*OR*
2) Set subwoofer speaker setting to "No" (i.e. OFF - see page 6-7 in the manual) and set the speaker settings for one or more of the other channels as "Large" (again, page 6-7 in the manual), meaning that this/those channel(s) will play full-range, including LF bass.

... Which makes me wonder what I entered for those settings on my AVR-3200 way back when I did it (since I don't seem to as get much bass below 30-40 Hz). IIRC, all of those options for my AVR-3200 were exactly the same as your AVR-1700. So I think this is even more proof that these receivers are pretty much the same thing inside, with my AVR-3200 just being capable of a few more watts output.

At least 2.0 works... my speakers are pretty crappy but I have a hard time discerning the difference using the Denon compared to my Sanyo Fisher...

And I don't think you should anyways - as long as you set those speaker options above properly.

Like I said, it's a decent amp/receiver. It's only problem is that the remote really is needed for some options, which is something I dislike quite a bit too.
So as it is, I'd say the receiver is only suitable as a desktop stereo or 5.0 surround amp.

(Or in my case, testing speakers. Just repaired a 15" Eminence Kappa Pro-15A last week and needed a beefy amp that could push that speaker a bit).

[stj]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

http://lirc-remotes.sourceforge.net/remotes-table.html

[eccerr0r]

Re: Denon AVR-1700 remote control (offtopic)

My Fisher's 50WPC probably also could push some speakers too, though the Denon can push almost another 50% more But anyway I did try hooking up a mini TV to the monitor output and didn't see anything... which seemingly corresponds with the manual you found, thanks!

Hmm... I figure that lirc-remotes seems like the same set that are available on Pierogi-N900 as I believe the author swiped all of those for conversion (Pierogi was initially based off of lirc). Alas it doesn't seem it has the 855.

I guess I should go get the remote, at the very least it's a full learning remote (and not a code system remote) so it could be useful for doing some stuff... Also the Denon seems to support RDS which the Fisher does not...