Denon AVP-A1HDCI Surround Preamp/Processor and POA-A1HDCI 10-channel Power Amplifier User Interface

User Interface
The AVP's front-panel LCD display is rather large, and the white lettering can be seen from a few feet away. You can dim or turn off the panel when watching TV if you're disturbed by the light.

Two remotes are provided. One is a full-function model and the other is a smaller remote with fewer functions for a secondary room. The secondary remote operates using infrared (IR) beams, so an IR sensor must be strung between the remote zone and the AVP in order to use it.

At the top of the primary remote is a backlit membrane keypad. Clicking on a device such as DVD, CD, or iPod changes the remote's functions to control that particular device. There are several pages of manufacturer's codes in the manual for setting up the remote to control various products. At the bottom of the remote are hard buttons for selecting inputs. Many of the buttons function as toggles, capable of selecting more than one device.

The onscreen graphic user interface is probably the most involved GUI I've ever used on an A/V device, but then you would expect that given all the functionality of the AVP. The design appears to be newly created, and you can get confused as to which layer you are in. Actually navigating through the menu is simple enough using the designated menu buttons on either remote, which consist of four curved buttons around a large Enter button.

X