You'll never be at a loss for creative surround algorithms, irrespective of your listening source. The receiver's onboard 6.1-channel surround processing includes Dolby Digital Surround EX, DTS, DTS 96/24 5.1 for DVD-Video, DTS ES Discrete 6/1, ES Matrix 6.1 and Neo: 6 Cinema and Music modes, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx (for cinema, music, and games). Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing is the first technology to offer a choice of processing traditional stereo music and movie content into room-filling 5.1 or 6.1 channels.

The AVR-685S owes its superlative sound quality to premium digital-audio technologies like SHARC 32-bit floating-point DSP from Analog Devices. For simplicity of video connectivity and switching, the AVR-685S includes video up-conversion for composite and/or S-video sources to high-bandwidth component-video with no compromise in video quality.

The receiver performs 24-bit, 96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion on all stereo analog inputs except the multichannel analog jacks, while Analog Devices 24 bit/192 kHz high-resolution DACs on all 7 channels ensures premium playback sound. Adjustable high- and low-pass crossovers (40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 250 Hz) let you tailor the sound to suit your speakers and your listening space.

The AVR-685S features 3 assignable sets of component-video inputs and 1 set of monitor inputs (all with 100 MHz bandwidth). You get 4 sets composite and 3 S-video inputs, a set of 5.1 external wide-bandwidth (100 kHz) inputs for multichannel formats such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD, 3 assignable digital inputs (2 optical, 1 coaxial), and a total of 7 analog inputs (not including the unit's built-in AM/FM tuner).

The receiver uses a digitally regulated volume control with .5 dB increment adjustments and a step range of -80 to +15. Product Comparability

This product is comparable to Denon model number AVR-1705