Denon 3900h - setup issues - is this just borked?

[tearfalls]

Long-time lurker, but I finally had to register just to chime in on this exact issue. I am running a Denon AVR-X3900H paired with a Samsung 8K Neo QLED QN900A, and the HDMI 2.1 handshake instability is completely ruining the experience. My sources are an Xbox Series X, a PS5, an Nvidia Shield TV, and a standard Spectrum set-top box. The Denon seems to choke on the data negotiation with every single one of them.

Knowing how finicky the Samsung One Connect Box can be with external AVRs passing high-bandwidth signals, I have already tried the standard mitigation steps to stabilize the EDID/HDCP negotiation to no avail:

• Forced the Denon's HDMI Signal Format to 8K Enhanced for the console ports.
• Hardcoded HDCP to 2.3 per input to prevent auto-negotiation lag on the Denon's end.
• Disabled HDMI-CEC (Anynet+) across the board to stop CEC polling conflicts from interrupting the handshake.
• Set the Denon’s Video Mode entirely to Bypass (and disabled Video Conversion) to ensure the active video processor isn't touching the signal.

Despite stripping the signal path down to the bare minimum, the X3900H fails to establish a successful handshake about 80% of the time whenever there is a bandwidth or metadata shift.

If I switch HDMI inputs, if the consoles trigger Fixed Rate Link (FRL) for 4K/120Hz and VRR, or even if the Nvidia Shield utilizes match frame-rate to drop down to 4K/24Hz for movie playback, the handshake simply times out. The receiver gives up, and I am left staring at a black screen on the Samsung.

My previous Onkyo NR7100 handled this exact same hardware chain flawlessly, so it really feels like the Denon's HDMI board is exceptionally unforgiving with its timeout window when talking to the Samsung TV. Has anyone found a workaround for this specific AVR/TV combo that doesn't involve bypassing the receiver entirely and relying on eARC?

 

[Johasne]

I am having the same problem with my Denon AVC/AVR-X3900H and an Nvidia Shield Pro. It seems like the Denon is having trouble completing the HDMI handshake properly.

The issue is that the picture and sound keep dropping in and out several times before it finally works. Sometimes I get no picture, sometimes the audio cuts in and out, and other times Dolby Vision does not work correctly. It feels like the receiver and the Shield are struggling to agree on the correct HDMI signal format.

My setup is a Nvidia Shield Pro and a LG C3 i think.

I have tried changing HDMI settings on both the Shield and the Denon, including different video output settings and passthrough-related options. I also tested settings related to Dolby Vision and HDMI overlay/OSD from the Denon. After disabling/bypassing the Denon overlay, Dolby Vision seemed to work better, but the handshake problem has not been completely solved.

I have also checked that the Shield is set to direct play in Jellyfin, and I have tested different audio settings. TrueHD content sometimes shows up as PCM instead, but I am not sure if that is related to the HDMI handshake issue or a separate Jellyfin/Shield audio setting problem.

The main issue is still that the HDMI connection is unstable when using the Shield through the Denon. It often takes several signal dropouts before the image and sound finally stabilize.

 

[Chrispy]

I'd return it at this point.

 

[Ruediger]

It has been some years, but I remember CEC problems with the Shield. Had to reset that section on the AVR multiple times due to chaos began to reign. The Yamaha AVRs have a method for it (don't remember exactly).

The two patterns I see here are: X3900H and Nvidia Shield. Will stick around to see how this ends.

Also very interesting to all early adopters of the new Denon model. I hope the HDMI board is not buggy in general. Maybe just firmware updates are needed.

 

[Toni71]

@tearfalls, does everything work correctly without the Shield in the chain? PS5 playing HDR?

​

 

[Insearchofthedream]

Update from me - from input on another forum, tried setting the shield to 1080p with no HDR.

Everything worked.

Then (on another hunch) reduced the HDMI video output on the Denon 3900h to 'standard' (it's a new thing on the Denon - standard restricts you to basic 4k with no HDR).

This lets the shield run at 4k 60hz, but with no HDR.

Again - all stable. Can switch inputs no problem, everything seems to work & stay working reliably. No video on off cycling, no sound but no video, no weird corruption on the Denon LCD display.

Switching the HDMI video output mode to either of enhanced or 8k enhanced on the output connected to the shield gives immediate on/off cycling, or black screens.

At this point all cables have been switched out (no change), CEC enabled / disabled across the full chain (no change). Direct connection between the shield & the TV - everything works fine. Taking the Denon 3900 out & replacing with my 12 year old Denon 4200 - everything works fine.

So - as long as you don't care about HDR - you can set the video output mode for the individual HDMI connector for the Shield to be 'standard' & it works.

That sucks - hearing similar issues now from multiple people with the 3900h, my gut feeling is that there is a firmware issue affecting all of them - I think the brand new HDMI implementation in this unit is either faulty in some significant way, or suffering from early firmware. Multiple reports of failure with the shield when using high bit rate (10 bit / dolby vision) & other DV fails.

Either way, mine being replaced by the retailer tomorrow - will feed back here if any change.

 

[Marc v E]

Update from me - from input on another forum, tried setting the shield to 1080p with no HDR.

Everything worked.

Then (on another hunch) reduced the HDMI video output on the Denon 3900h to 'standard' (it's a new thing on the Denon - standard restricts you to basic 4k with no HDR).

This lets the shield run at 4k 60hz, but with no HDR.

Again - all stable. Can switch inputs no problem, everything seems to work & stay working reliably. No video on off cycling, no sound but no video, no weird corruption on the Denon LCD display.

Switching the HDMI video output mode to either of enhanced or 8k enhanced on the output connected to the shield gives immediate on/off cycling, or black screens.

At this point all cables have been switched out (no change), CEC enabled / disabled across the full chain (no change). Direct connection between the shield & the TV - everything works fine. Taking the Denon 3900 out & replacing with my 12 year old Denon 4200 - everything works fine.

So - as long as you don't care about HDR - you can set the video output mode for the individual HDMI connector for the Shield to be 'standard' & it works.

That sucks - hearing similar issues now from multiple people with the 3900h, my gut feeling is that there is a firmware issue affecting all of them - I think the brand new HDMI implementation in this unit is either faulty in some significant way, or suffering from early firmware. Multiple reports of failure with the shield when using high bit rate (10 bit / dolby vision) & other DV fails.

Either way, mine being replaced by the retailer tomorrow - will feed back here if any change.

Is there a way for the Denon to output exactly the same as it received from the input: set it to automatic/passthrough or something like that ?

As a starting point chatgpt suggested the following :

"To get the closest thing to a bit-for-bit video pass-through:
Press Setup on the remote.
Go to Video → Output Settings.
Set Video Mode (or Video Conversion, depending on firmware) to Bypass or Off.
Set i/p Scaler to Off.
Set Resolution to Source Direct (or Auto if Source Direct is not available on your firmware).
Leave HDR-related settings on Auto."

 

[EWL5]

Then (on another hunch) reduced the HDMI video output on the Denon 3900h to 'standard' (it's a new thing on the Denon - standard restricts you to basic 4k with no HDR).

This option was there for the 3800 as well. Sorry to hear about your issues but I hear the same w/Onkyo products as well and the common thread appears to be the Shield.

 

[Ruediger]

A hardware failure sounds less likely now. This will show instantly with the new unit.

Save your config to usb if it is comprehensive (Audyssey LS presets, input re-arranging and naming).

Next would then be to test other 4k60 HDR/DV and 4k120 sources.

Should the good ol Shield finally fall off the wagon?

 

[BookshelfBob]

Is there a way for the Denon to output exactly the same as it received from the input: set it to automatic/passthrough or something like that ?

As a starting point chatgpt suggested the following :

"To get the closest thing to a bit-for-bit video pass-through:
Press Setup on the remote.
Go to Video → Output Settings.
Set Video Mode (or Video Conversion, depending on firmware) to Bypass or Off.
Set i/p Scaler to Off.
Set Resolution to Source Direct (or Auto if Source Direct is not available on your firmware).
Leave HDR-related settings on Auto."

I believe all those settings are possible, or the Denon equivalent terms. But I'm sure they've already done that. It didn't make any difference in my testing either but I'm using an old Nvidia GPU not a shield. And different software.


The handshake timeout makes sense....Mine just defaults to something odd instead of going black

 

[Ruediger]

The Denon has bypass as an option in the HDMI settings.

 

[Insearchofthedream]

I would bin the nVidia shield & try something else - but every group test I see still puts it as the best box in the class, even though no new hardware for a few years.

I pretty much watch 95% of my viewing via the shield - youtube, netflix, kodi (big local library).

Is there anything else out there that can do these 3 tasks, is better & more 'modern'?

I don't want to blame the shield at this point, as it is working fine with everything else in the chain - only the 3900h is struggling.

 

[BookshelfBob]

I would bin the nVidia shield & try something else - but every group test I see still puts it as the best box in the class, even though no new hardware for a few years.

I pretty much watch 95% of my viewing via the shield - youtube, netflix, kodi (big local library).

Is there anything else out there that can do these 3 tasks, is better & more 'modern'?

I don't want to blame the shield at this point, as it is working fine with everything else in the chain - only the 3900h is struggling.

I just had to look into this for my mother. I'm an HTPC guy and obviously biased towards the shield as well. I just couldn't justify buying her those considering the age of the hardware.

Even with it's recent price increases. The Apple TV is the only other thing on offer that competes. It's upscaling is not great for the apps on offer that i've seen. But if you're playing 4k sources and just letting the TV do the processing. It's fine. And my mother understands apple UI pretty well.

Whether or not the Apple TV is as good on 1080p upscaled sources as the shield probably depends on the app you're using.

edit - and there is a 100 dollar app that will give you ALL relevent license options (Dolby etc) that you can tie into Jellyfin. Name is eluding me but googling should find it.

 

[Ruediger]

I would bin the nVidia shield & try something else - but every group test I see still puts it as the best box in the class, even though no new hardware for a few years.

I pretty much watch 95% of my viewing via the shield - youtube, netflix, kodi (big local library).

Is there anything else out there that can do these 3 tasks, is better & more 'modern'?

I don't want to blame the shield at this point, as it is working fine with everything else in the chain - only the 3900h is struggling.

I don't know how and what they test. But have a hard time seeing the Shield up there with current player hardware. It is true though that the Tegra3 chip was around the fastest options available and chosen by many users for it's performance vs. good price.

You list 3 very different options: YT is interested in video & ad distribution. You will find the app on many stock androids and alternatives will also work. Netflix is interested in paying customers only and to use the app certification is required. I think I have seen it on stock AOSP as it comes from Minix with the U8K, but could be wrong. They also got DV certification for their boxes. And then Kodi as the player/library/GUI. You can do YT in there, also alternative apps (no ads maybe). Netflix addons I don't think so, certification problem. It would need to be open source, which it can't be for obfuscation reasons, so there can't be an official addon (afaik that's still true). Not covering hacks here, which are used to grab Netflix.

So you could check for the Netflix app on amlogic hardware and also which modern box / with big SX chip comes with a recent AOSP and is DV certified. Cherry on top, or maybe as starting point, check the CoreElec support for amlogic boxes. A lot of the good brands work with them.

In the end it won't cost more as the Shield (non pro) did cost, run from an sdcard and if you chose a current model with big chip it is an 8k HDR/DV player that could do almost anything. The one thing I really don't know is Netflix app, I just think I saw it.

 

[Insearchofthedream]

I've skipped looking at the apple tv boxes due to not being able to install kodi (or it being a nuisance if you do), and no DTS passthrough is also a killer.

Thanks for other suggestions - will take a look

 

[BookshelfBob]

I've skipped looking at the apple tv boxes due to not being able to install kodi (or it being a nuisance if you do), and no DTS passthrough is also a killer.

Thanks for other suggestions - will take a look

Googled it. The relevant app is called "infuse". That will handle all your local media. Just tie it into Jellyfin

I believe infuse has an audio passthrough. It definitely has a video passthrough. I didn't buy it but I got close so i could provide her access to my media server easily.

 

[ATB]

Googled it. The relevant app is called "infuse". That will handle all your local media. Just tie it into Jellyfin

I believe infuse has an audio passthrough. It definitely has a video passthrough. I didn't buy it but I got close so i could provide her access to my media server easily.

I use Infuse with AppleTVs (and other Apple devices) pointed directly at a NAS share and I have been very happy with it.

 

[BookshelfBob]

I use Infuse with AppleTVs (and other Apple devices) pointed directly at a NAS share and I have been very happy with it.

It seemed very painless which is what I was looking for. The only thing it lacked relative to my HTPC is upscaling/processing (edit - for non 4k content) with MadVR and the power of a giant GPU.

But many more advantages with the apple TV/infuse. Dolby vision support, user friendly so you can hand off control, superior to an HTPC for all streaming services but youtube.

If my GPU died tomorrow I would go Apple TV/Infuse. And I own zero apple products but would* still do it.

 

[Insearchofthedream]

Ok - the replacement denon 3900h avr was delivered today - exactly the same result.

So it looks like the nVidia shield is not going to work at 4k 60hz with any HDR options - possibly fixed later via firmware (uncertain).

You can run the shield at 4k 60Hz (no HDR) by setting the video output to 'standard' mode - acceptable for me at least for a little while.

It is what it is - potential buyers be aware I guess.

 

[EWL5]

Ok - the replacement denon 3900h avr was delivered today - exactly the same result.

So it looks like the nVidia shield is not going to work at 4k 60hz with any HDR options - possibly fixed later via firmware (uncertain).

You can run the shield at 4k 60Hz (no HDR) by setting the video output to 'standard' mode - acceptable for me at least for a little while.

It is what it is - potential buyers be aware I guess.

Not surprising. As I said before, the 3900 would not be the only AVR that doesn't play nice w/the Shield.