Denon AVR-A1H High-end AVR Review

[Miker 1102]

My issues wirh the avrs is they are barely clearing 16 bit play back. I don't gripe too much becaue I love multichannel music. Just playing 5.1 or DTS up mix music with a Denon that has well tweaked Audyssey 32 xt in your room is delightful. I think multi speaker music is better than two channel any day. Just focusing on the better two channel performance of the equipment should also include the advanced in room correction and the combined benefits of multit subs when comparing today's avr.

 

[welwynnick]

Think they're basically the same amp modules in both models. Just different power supply details I think.

I think you do Denon engineers a disservice.
Here are the power amp modules for the 4520 and the A1H respectively.
They're clearly different, and the A1H has better performance than preceding models.

 

[EWL5]

So, Denon is falsely promoting the use of it ? Fully documented in the manual, nothing cautionary about it. Should I contact Denon about bordering on irresponsible? When I reach Denon Corporate tomorrow I'll be sure to reference this ASR discussion.

Any half-way decent AVR is going to promote its "bi-amping capabilities" as a selling point! The issue is whether the difference is audible. IMHO, unless the AVR design is some pseudo-monoblock where power is not always "sipping from the same pool", then there should be no audible difference whether something is bi-amped or not!

Anyone know if the A1H has such a pseudo-monoblock design?

 

[zentiques]

Any half-way decent AVR is going to promote its "bi-amping capabilities" as a selling point! The issue is whether the difference is audible. IMHO, unless the AVR design is some pseudo-monoblock where power is not always "sipping from the same pool", then there should be no audible difference whether something is bi-amped or not!

Anyone know if the A1H has such a pseudo-monoblock design?

So Denon is "bordering irresponsible" for promoting it ? Waiting on a response from corporate.

 

[EWL5]

So Denon is "bordering irresponsible" for promoting it ?

I didn't say that.

It's all marketing and gamesmanship. If you aren't knowledgeable enough that you fall for it, that's on you! That's why we're here on the forums to learn from each other!
You aren't the first to ask about bi-amping and certainly won't be the last!

 

[sask15]

They all do it so Denon is no different promoting biamping whether it does anything or not. If they don’t then potential customers will be asking why Denon can’t Biamp.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

There's nothing irresponsible about bi-amping the way Denon describes it, but the benefits are minimal. While one could argue that it helps distribute the load between output components, in practice, there's little advantage since most of the power demand is in the low end.

Denon promotes it as a feature because they have the capability to do so, but it's not a significant advantage.

No big deal.

 

[zentiques]

I didn't say that.

It's all marketing and gamesmanship. If you aren't knowledgeable enough that you fall for it, that's on you! That's why we're here on the forums to learn from each other!
You aren't the first to ask about bi-amping and certainly won't be the last!

All I originally asked for was if there were any specs or tests. Thought this was the proper place for answers and not the condescending BS. Then again, shows why there's such disdain for this site across other boards.

 

[zentiques]

There's nothing irresponsible about bi-amping the way Denon describes it, but the benefits are minimal. While one could argue that it helps distribute the load between output components, in practice, there's little advantage since most of the power demand is in the low end.

Denon promotes it as a feature because they have the capability to do so, but it's not a significant advantage.

No big deal.

Thanks, that's all I was looking for and not Chrispy the Clown.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Thanks, that's all I was looking for and not Chrispy the Clown.

I deliberately ended my comment that way to imply that it wasn’t something worth a heated debate, and it certainly don't justify that kind of name-calling. Completely unnecessary IMO.
But to each their own..

 

[EWL5]

All I originally asked for was if there were any specs or tests. Thought this was the proper place for answers and not the condescending BS. Then again, shows why there's such disdain for this site across other boards.

To my knowledge, not even professional reviewers test for bi-amping capability. This is something you have to decide if the "feature" is worth paying extra for.

To this date, I've never made a purchase based on bi-amping capability. If that is truly important to you, you're better off getting actual monoblock amps!

 

[zentiques]

To my knowledge, not even professional reviewers test for bi-amping capability. This is something you have to decide if the "feature" is worth paying extra for.

To this date, I've never made a purchase based on bi-amping capability. If that is truly important to you, you're better off getting actual monoblock amps!

Purchase was never based on that. Just considered a bonus and utilized it. Saw the review here and joined. Followed and asked the question. Thread shows the responses from there until I received a thoughtful answer. And the subsequent BS.

 

[EWL5]

Purchase was never based on that. Just considered a bonus and utilized it. Saw the review here and joined. Followed and asked the question. Thread shows the responses from there until I received a thoughtful answer. And the subsequent BS.

Still confused. What did you consider "BS"? Most replies to you were from a place of helping you out.

 

[zentiques]

I deliberately ended my comment that way to imply that it wasn’t something worth a heated debate, and it certainly don't justify that kind of name-calling. Completely unnecessary IMO.
But to each their own..

All I did was ask a question and got shredded by him for the question, then my background, then my speakers. So, that was all justified and necessary in your opinion ?
Each to his own. Please.

 

[soerenssen]

Purchase was never based on that. Just considered a bonus and utilized it. Saw the review here and joined. Followed and asked the question. Thread shows the responses from there until I received a thoughtful answer. And the subsequent BS.

Since you tried it already, did you notice or did REW show any difference?
Asking as a fellow A1h owner, but in my case it's driving a KEF surround system with large towers for 2ch, lower sensitivity than yours.

 

[zentiques]

Since you tried it already, did you notice or did REW show any difference?
Asking as a fellow A1h owner, but in my case it's driving a KEF surround system with large towers for 2ch, lower sensitivity than yours.

Purchased a year ago, occasionally re-ran Audyssey as everything settled in, never had a need to measure. Whether it makes a difference, I don't know, that's why we're here making friends. Anecdotally, driving it hard in the 70/80 range, barely gets warm.

 

[EWL5]

Purchased a year ago, occasionally re-ran Audyssey as everything settled in, never had a need to measure. Whether it makes a difference, I don't know, that's why we're here making friends. Anecdotally, driving it hard in the 70/80 range, barely gets warm.

Hence @soerenssen's suggestion to run REW. If you don't hear a difference and REW objectively shows no difference, then it's proving that bi-amping in any way other than pseudo or true monoblock is pointless!

 

[zentiques]

Hence @soerenssen's suggestion to run REW. If you don't hear a difference and REW objectively shows no difference, then it's proving that bi-amping in any way other than pseudo or true monoblock is pointless!

Alright, I give up !!!!
Made sure to use extra exclamation points that you seem to enjoy.
The upgrade from a 3700 and monoblocks was noticeable. And I'm happy with the sound, but for you, I should rewire, take a listen, measure it, and then restore it to compare. There's a better chance of Amir carrying one upstairs !!!

 

[SorenTyson]

There's a really good thread on Biamping already:

Biamping 101

 

[zentiques]

There's a really good thread on Biamping already:

Biamping 101

Thanks.
This party was supposed to be focused on the A1H, and if it perhaps brought more to the table.