The back to back post#807 and 808 just show another case of how little subjective reviews mean, yet so many people continual to rely on such.. To be clear, subjective reviews are not useless, but imo choices of hardware and even RC software such as DL vs Aud vs Trinnov vs Anthem ARC should not rely on them too much if perceived "sound quality" is the criteria.
Although I am very firmly in objecivists/measurements camp, I do not think you can really measure SQ of such complex system as 9.4.6 HT [for example]. I have also chnaged to TRINNOV from Denon 8500 with MSO and PC app [and probably not 100% of potential, but I would say 99% for sure]. Out fo the box TRINNOV with Wizard and most crude adjustments in e.g. Bass Management - and immersion in 3D material was really on completely different level. Now after couple of months, wtinessing 1 pro calibration, experimenting and talking to excellent TRINNOV support [I have changed center speaker and aded 2 height speakers recently, so needed to re-do all the measurements] - I do not think it gets any better. Sometimes you just need to stop and say - "this is good enough for me" and enjoy it.
At the end of the day DRC is just a bunch of IIR and FIR filters applied into the signal. You can have differences in number of taps, IIR filters etc - but the tools are basically the same. So measurements and flexibilty to adjust to your specific room/setup is the key, not number of taps.
I will compare Audyssey PC app with Denon vs TRINNOV in flexibility [I will pick up Bass Management as an example, as this is one area where I was able to achieve transformational improvement over Denon]
Denon /Aud - SUbHTEQ - time and level align 2 subs and apply Global EQ, choices for X OVers - 40, 60, 80, ..etc Hz. [I will ignore MSO/MiniDsp based solutions], you can do some target curve in the app. 0.5dB steps in AVR. That is it.
TRINNOV - unlimited [only by total channel count] number of Subs, that can be EQ individually or in groups up to 4, gain delay, LPF/HPF freely adjustable. Bass Management - separate HPF/LPF filter with 3 types and 4 slopes each [LR, BSL, BTW], you can have individual gain of SW per speaker and also individually adjust polarity if needed. Intermediate Bass Management [signal goes to nearest speaker] - I use e.g. 110Hz for Height speakers that get bass managed to nearest bed plane speaker and only then bass managed to SW. Stacked Sub compensation for LFE. 0.1dB steps.
You probably can imagine that in the hands of somebody, that knows what to do TRINNOV will achieve completely different results. Well treated room and properly placed subs are still much more important than any DRC, but in my case we are talking "better than cinema" experience. Not exxagerating. Of course it took me 2 weekends with REW, Optimizer, moving subs around etc.
I have 3 setups for Bass Part - "MSO" which is MSO emulation with Mono Sub as a result, then "REL 3D" modelled after REL recommendations and "Fidji" with 5 subs - 2 pairs and 1 extra, serving as Bass Extension via Active crossover [avaiable in TRINNOV] so that my L-C-R have identical bass extension [my L-R play down to 20Hz, sealed]
Not doable with Audyssey. E.g. I could never get BOTH L_R and C crossover done properly [L-R at 60, C at 80Hz, same distance] - either L-R or C was out of phase at Xover frequency. Now?