Sufficient in itself for a first-rate listening experience, Denon's beautiful D-M51DVS DVD-based executive microsystem also provides top-notch video performance should you choose to use it with a television. Bringing quality and elegance to even the most space-constrained rooms, the D-M51DVS provides stereo bookshelf speakers, a 100-watt subwoofer, and 35 watts per channel audio power using the supplied speakers. The innovative 2.1-channel system processes Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound and generates 5.1 sound from any stereo source using Dolby Pro Logic II. The D-M51DVS also incorporates Dolby Laboratories' Virtual Speaker surround-sound technology for enveloping sound from stereo sources.

With its integrated DVD/receiver unit, this tiny, highly refined system conveys surprisingly realistic 5.1-channel surround sound from just 2 speakers. (It also offers preamplifier outputs for center and left/right surround channels for conversion to a true 5.1 system.) The D-M51DVS is perfect for small home theaters, for offices, apartments, dorm rooms, or any spot in which you desire quality, multichannel entertainment. The system plays DVD-Video, MP3 CD, WMA CD, JPEG image CD, and Kodak Picture CD, giving you the best of your digital media wherever you set it up.

Compatible with direct-view TVs but perhaps asking outright to be connected to a silver, flat-panel LCD or plasma set, the D-M51DVS's DVD/receiver unit features a metallic silver chassis with an aluminum faceplate, and the satellite speakers are housed in real aluminum with wood-finish end caps and light-gray grille cloths. The subwoofer is finished in wood.

The single-chassis DVD player/receiver features an FM/AM tuner with 40 station presets (and auto tuning) as well as progressive-scan DVD video outputs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Dolby Virtual Speaker technology provides an alternative to multi-speaker systems, digitally processing stereo and multichannel sound to yield what Dolby feels is the most accurate and natural virtual surround listening system ever. Using a proprietary process, it delivers a realistic 5.1-channel surround sound experience using just 2 stereo speakers.

In addition to Dolby Virtual Speaker, the D-M51DVS features Dolby Headphone signal processing, which delivers natural-sounding surround through any set of connected headphones (none supplied). It's ideal for late-night movie viewing, video game playing, or private listening to audio- or video-based entertainment.

The D-M51DVS provides a host of additional performance and convenience features, such as a clock with sleep and event timers and bass/treble tone controls. Key to the D-M51DVS's outstanding sound and picture quality are its high-resolution video digital-to-analog converters and digital video processing and its use of the same Analog Devices Hammerhead SHARC 32-bit DSP audio processors used in Denon's AVR-2803 and AVR-3803 audio/video receivers.

LF Direct circuitry provides faithful playback of deep bass sound. With LF Direct, low-frequency signals bypass the subwoofer's crossover and level-control circuits, avoiding phase distortion and signal degradation. The result: you hear pure, deep bass that's utterly faithful to the source.

The supplied 2-way bookshelf speakers each feature dual 2-inch mid-bass drivers and a .75-inch dome tweeter for rich, dynamic sound with detailed midrange and extended, open-sounding high frequencies. MDF (medium-density fiberboard) above and below the central aluminum enclosure forms a novel hybrid construction of metal and wood that produces great sound with natural acoustic characteristics not possible using aluminum alone.

What's in the Box
Receiver/DVD unit, 2 speakers, 1 subwoofer, 2 speaker grilles, a remote control, remote batteries, AM and FM antennas, a composite-video cable, speaker wire, a subwoofer interconnect, 4 anti-slip speaker pads, a warranty card, a service-station list, and a user's manual.

Continuing with Denon's acclaimed attention to build quality and high standards of audio and video excellence, this new product brings you the most lifelike theater experience without the need for a degree in engineering.The ADV-M51 is equipped with Dolby Virtual Speaker, a revolutionary surround format developed by Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Virtual Speaker effectively allows listeners to enjoy the surround sound effects of multi-channel playback with just 2 front speakers connected to a DVD system equipped with power amps for the 2 front channels. Since listeners do not need to set up center or surround speakers or worry about correct placements, they also save space.Dolby Headphone allows listeners to achieve the same quality of acoustic characteristics through headphones as they can from the speakers. This means that listeners can enjoy the dynamic surround sound of their home theater in the middle of the night, for instance, when neighbors might otherwise be disturbed.Hammerhead Sharc (MELODY100), the DSP from Analog Devices, is used for the decoder to further boost digital signal processing capability and also providing the highest dynamic range. Faster processing speed results in more complete surround decoding.

I own it for near 3 years and must say it is one amazing set! It is like having real serious system but scaled down in size. The audio quality is first class. I listen mostly to Jazz and Classical and details that come out the speakers are second to none. For the sake of experiment I tried big JBL speakers and found that these little Denons produce better, sharper and non-fatiguing image.
The movies come out very nice, high quality. It is not HD of cause, but for normal DVD the quality is outstanding. I liked a lot the 2+1 speaker system and the way it deals with the movies. The virtual surround works nicely and provides relief from hell of wiring bunch of speakers.
It is nice quality product

I ordered this unit from Amazon, which was then fulfilled by DakMart. I ordered and paid for a new unit, but was sent a different, substandard used unit from DakMart. It wasn't the same model, didn't have the three Denon speakers (came with 2 Mission speakers?), had no DVD feature..... a dismal substitute. I tried to contact DakMart -- no one answers the phone, the automated operator answers - there is never a live operator on duty to route the calls, I left messages and e-mails to employees within the company.... no response. I suspect a "bait and switch" has occurred. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH DAKMART.

I have not owned a hi-fi system in a while. I have lived in apartments for years, and the thought of a subwoofer keeping my neighbors children awake all night seemed a little cruel. I now own a house, and wanted a real stereo to listen to. I almost built a component system from Adcom and Kef. That equipment is very expensive, and very good. After careful consideration, I realized what I wanted was something that was very accurate sounding, but unobtrusive. Small systems do not offer the fidelity of large systems; it is a simple matter of physics. I was either going to have a dinky little stereo or a real ground shaking hi-fi. After auditioning many high end components, I happened on this system. I did not expect much, but I knew Denon was a respected mid-high end manufacturer. I verified that I could bring this thing back if it sucked, and I took one home to try out. For less than the cost of an amplifier I had a complete system that even played DVD's on the TV. Once home I unpacked the boxes and inspected the system closely. The subwoofer is actually made of MDF, which is the speaker enclosure material of choice. The main speakers are diminutive, but they are an MTM configuration, and they are triangular shaped, just like the subwoofer to reduce standing wave interference. The sides and baffle of the enclosure are made of aluminum; the top and bottom are real wood. The receiver is equipped with a cooling fan, and the speaker connections on the receiver and the speakers are 5 way binding posts. Clearly, Denon wanted to give the impression of quality equipment. I hooked it all up and turned it on. I was not completely satisfied with the first listen. The bass was boomy, and the highs were shrill. This is pretty much what I expected from inexpensive Japanese stereo equipment. Still, I wanted to make sure before I took the time to box the little unit up to return it. I selected a radio station and let the stereo play all night, about 12 hours. The next morning I expected to get some breakfast on the way back from returning the Denon to the store. As it goes, I never had breakfast that day. I again tried out a CD, and I could not believe my ears. Coming from this tiny little jewel box was MUSIC. Not the sounds of electronic equipment, but honest-to-goodness music. I tried some more challenging CD's and the same result. I tried some poorly recorded CD's and the system did the best it could with it. I tried the volume at ridiculously high levels, my neighbors said it sounded good, now turn it down. I could not get over how musical the stereo sounded. It does not have the sound stage of a large system, but the accuracy is there to please a very picky listener. The more I find out about this system, the more I like it. The virtual surround system is pretty neat, it works with movies, but it can make music a little weird, so I only use it for DVD's. I can not say enough about the sound of this stereo. It allowed me to enjoy listening to music, it kept my wife from killing me, and it kept several thousand dollars in my bank account. It performs well above my expectations, thus the 5 star rating. If you get one, let it play all night before you decide if you are going to keep it. It is worth the wait!

Japanese have been accused of selling hifi to the eyes and not to the ears - making them look nice, but not offering quality sound - since most people can't tell any way. This is not the case here - it looks sophisticated, and sounds good too.

You don't get the ear fatiguing entry level sound, but a good mid-fi sound for so little money, that does dvd too! The sub adds a nice cushion to the sound, and looks like an item from a James Bond movie - what a sophisticated world class criminals with money to burn might have.

The sound is nice and soft, yet powerful enough to fill a room. It is a cut above all in one plastic system for sure. In fact, it is the best sounding exec system I heard so far from Japan. They are now offering quality for less, with a sexy look as well.

You won't be disappointed - for less than half a grand, you can't get much better than this - with all it does.

I gave 4 stars instead of 5, since the sound is not quite hifi - not transparent - but quite enjoyable, really. It won't replace a true hifi system from a specialty shop, but this is among the best offered in consumer oriented products.

If you are not happy with this, you are looking at putting in major bucks to satisfy your hifi ambition. You might want to visit www.audiogon.com or www.ecoustics.com for more info on hifi. www.hifichoice.co.uk is another good one for professional reviews.

Getting back to the Denon, they have really done a good job of producing a beautiful looking system to obsess over - and it's performance matches the looks.