Decent AVR between 500-1000€($)

[sadoMasupilami]

Hi, I am searching for a AVR for a friend of mine who wants to start his home cinema. Budget is not that big, Room correction will be important as the room is really small and open on one side. First speakers paired will probably be KEF Q3 Meta and SVS SB1000. They want to slowly add more speakers.

What is currently regarded as decent options? All that I checked like Denon X2800 are rated really bad.

I am thankful for any good tip where to look

 

[kyuu]

You'll have to define "decent". I've never seen the Denons rated bad, but without more information about the requirements and what you saw told as bad it's hard to comment.

First thought if you want good room correction is something like a refurb Onkyo RZ-50 which includes Dirac. You could buy a UMIK-1 and still come in under budget.

 

[Oddball]

Definitively agree that Denons are not rated bad, and there is a bunch of them and they do different things according to their placement in the model/price chain. Some of them are reference AVRs.

3800H is generally considered as the value winner. As noted Onkyo has some decent models like RZ50 or RZ30 which will include Dirac (limited option though) in price if that is needed.

What is really that bad on 2800H - would be interested to know?

 

[DVDdoug]

I have a "basic" 5.1 channel Sony that I got new for about $300 US. It lacks room correction but I'm happy with it and I don't have a desire for more channels. If it dies I'll probably get one with room correction.

 

[napfkuchen]

I‘ve owned the Denon X3700 and upgraded to the X3800. Measurements are better for the older model, but that‘s not noticeable for most (me included). For me the X3800 is a much better AVR because:
1. Auro3D: Stereo music comes alive, Stereo Panorama widens. Regular 2.0 Sounds dull in comparison. Standard 5.1 movies get to a „higher level“ (height speakers). No idea how the algorithm achieves this but e.g. in A Day After Tomorrow it seems to know when space ships fly above you…
2. Dirac Live and Bass Control upgrade option. You should be stress-resistent to make it work though because Dirac can be a bit**. But once it‘s dialed in the effort pays off.

 

[sadoMasupilami]

You'll have to define "decent". I've never seen the Denons rated bad, but without more information about the requirements and what you saw told as bad it's hard to comment.

First thought if you want good room correction is something like a refurb Onkyo RZ-50 which includes Dirac. You could buy a UMIK-1 and still come in under budget.

Thanks for the tip! I actually have a UMIK-1

 

[sadoMasupilami]

Definitively agree that Denons are not rated bad, and there is a bunch of them and they do different things according to their placement in the model/price chain. Some of them are reference AVRs.

3800H is generally considered as the value winner. As noted Onkyo has some decent models like RZ50 or RZ30 which will include Dirac (limited option though) in price if that is needed.

What is really that bad on 2800H - would be interested to know?

Maybe the 3800 would be a fine solution. Audyssey xt32 is included and Dirac is available which is really nice. Thank you!

The Onkyo are sadly to expensive in Europe

 

[sadoMasupilami]

I‘ve owned the Denon X3700 and upgraded to the X3800. Measurements are better for the older model, but that‘s not noticeable for most (me included). For me the X3800 is a much better AVR because:
1. Auro3D: Stereo music comes alive, Stereo Panorama widens. Regular 2.0 Sounds dull in comparison. Standard 5.1 movies get to a „higher level“ (height speakers). No idea how the algorithm achieves this but e.g. in A Day After Tomorrow it seems to know when space ships fly above you…
2. Dirac Live and Bass Control upgrade option. You should be stress-resistent to make it work though because Dirac can be a bit**. But once it‘s dialed in the effort pays off.

Especially Bass Control can be extremely important in the small room. Thanks for your insight and I will probably use the 3800H

 

[Head_Unit]

probably use the 3800H

Longtime Denon users here, that's probably a good default choice these days. Do get the Audyssey App to turn off their silly midrange dip, and you can tweak the response if you like (don't go nuts! mild EQ!). The XT32 which always seems to have the independent Sub EQ HT is the key differentiator (I have not digested all the latest S/N etc of the latest Denon models...oh also I would want to be able to turn OFF unused internal channels. Also AC Infinity is your friend, AVRs run quite warm).

 

[Bleib]

I'm using Denon AVR-X1800H and I'm quite happy with it. Wouldn't want to have more channels to use..
Can't hear a difference between it and better SINAD TP RA3 amp really.

​

 

[sadoMasupilami]

Thank you all, that was extremely useful!

 

[Miniyouuuu]

I got a Denon DRA-800h. It’s not an AVR but a stereo receiver. It has DAC, several HDMI inputs and outputs, streamer, network connection… how do you handle all that stuff in less than 600$? Lower quality components.

Some Chinese manufacturers are able to produce low-cost/mass production devices like amps, preamps, DACs, streamers with very good results and nice components.

You can set a nice-low cost example by adding these separates, but I haven’t seen an AVR compiling all that stuff in a sub 500$ example with nice Specs. They will be sufficient at the cost you pay, but they’ll have low tier DACs and audible distorsion.

In the low 1000$ tier I would search second hand equipment.

In the 1000-1500$ tier some nice examples can be found.

 

[Bleib]

Audible distorsion? Back in the early 2000's Swedish LTS used to measure Denon's AVR and compare them to their 2 channel equivalents. The AVRs were objectively better because they targeted a neutral sound whilst the 2 channel had a Japanese sound preference focus.

We can compare 800h

Denon DRA-800H Review (Stereo Receiver)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Denon DRA-800H Stereo AV Receiver. It was kindly purchased used by a member and drop shipped to me. It costs new US $599 from Amazon including Prime shipping. The front looks like any multi-channel receiver: Then you look in the back and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

With something like

Denon AVR-X1700H Measurements

With the recent price drops of Denon AVRs in Germany (349€ for this particular model) I decided to upgrade my current stereo setup to a surround system. This is the EU model, which, unlike the US version, does not have pre-outs for front left and front right. I have active mains however, so I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The AVR should be clean enough

 

[vsch]

FWIW, I recently bought a Denon AVC-X3800H for my 5.1 setup for roughly 700 bucks and couldn't be happier. The following three features make it a good choice in my view:

1. It's compatible with @OCA 's free A1 Neuron room correction script, which is far superior to the included Audyssey XT32. (It should work great with KEF R3s as they have even dispersion and respond well to eq.)
2. Stereo content upmixed with Auro 2d/3d sounds phenomenal to my ears.
3. It has pre-outs which give the option to upgrade to active speakers or external amps.

 

[Miker 1102]

FWIW, I recently bought a Denon AVC-X3800H for my 5.1 setup for roughly 700 bucks and couldn't be happier. The following three features make it a good choice in my view:

1. It's compatible with @OCA 's free A1 Neuron room correction script, which is far superior to the included Audyssey XT32. (It should work great with KEF R3s as they have even dispersion and respond well to eq.)
2. Stereo content upmixed with Auro 2d/3d sounds phenomenal to my ears.
3. It has pre-outs which give the option to upgrade to active speakers or external amps.

I agree with the auro 2d and 3d. It makes it very hard to ever go back to two channel listening. The 3800 is probably the best bang for the buck. You can get that for under 1000. Try accessories4less.com. If you were looking for a cheaper option, used can be the way to go for Denon products. I got a great 4500 off ebay for 600. It was in the box all original. I figure if it lasts 3 years I am good. I preferred it over the 3800h that I just sold. I think the 3800 is hard to beat for a serious starter in the hobby, though.

If you were going to go really cheap, the last Sony series avrs were great products for starters. Buy a fan, thou. I started off wirh a little adh 790. Thinng sounds great and the room correction does a good job for what it is. That avr cost me 280 dollars. It still works to this day. It's not in the 4500 class or the R70 I have, however with movies it's excellent..just only two height speakers and not pre outs.

 

[sadoMasupilami]

I am going to order the 3800h for him. Thank you all for the valuable insights! This forum is great!