Denon AVR-A1H

[symphara]

Really nice what SU has done to make this a desirable product but the price….. in the Netherlands, where I live, I can now buy a new (silver) AVC-x8500h for les than € 3.000,00. How could I ever justify spending almost € 4.000,00 more for DIRAC and two more amps…. I think this price increase is totally ridiculous. In Europe we suffer hard from inflation, mainly through energy costs, but this… All their boxes are very much more expensive. I belief buying a 3700, 4700 or 8500 makes a lot of sense. Mind you, I bought my 4700 of € 1.399,00 in December.

I did exactly that, I bought a silver 8500H for about 2500, and to the best of my knowledge it was the very last one in Switzerland, where I live. Then I paid another 900 and upgraded it to HA, so I got a relatively cheap 8500HA with the AKM DAC.

So yes, if you can get it it's a very good deal because it's the outgoing model. But can you get it? Don't be fooled by the listings. When I bought mine at that price, lots of shops were listing it and only one had exactly one unit (mine).

I personally think that with Dirac, this A1H is good value and it would be my prime choice if I were to upgrade to Dirac world. The next level is 15k and this includes Lyngdorf.

Even the Anthem AV90 is more expensive and it doesn't include amplification, and I'd say the reliability, software and build quality are nowhere near the Denon.

 

[Descartes]

Very true, that $10,000 Classe should still be reasonably good as a preamp for music but for movie watching, even a cheap Denon AVR will be more fun to use. They all depreciate so in that sense an one year outdated Denon AVR used as prepro on deep clearance discount could be more cost effective in the long run unless one must use XLRs. Obviously, that's not an issue for those who can afford the cost no object approach.

Paid much much less than that but still electronic obsolescence is worst than cars!

 

[jomark911]

Just note that the xlr outs are fully configurable, not for just subs.

Only the subwoofer 2,3,4 pre outs are assignable . The no 1 sub is white , like the L,C,R . Look at the color code on the back where it states the assignable channels.

 

[Everett T]

Only the subwoofer 2,3,4 pre outs are assignable . The no 1 sub is white , like the L,C,R . Look at the color code on the back where it states the assignable channels.

Yeah, someone mentioned it after... Thanks for the update.

 

[MCORN]

Courtesy of avclub.gr

 

[Monstieur]

Can this use all 15 channels for Atmos when using the combined Atmos / Auro3D height speaker layout (Front Height / Center Height / Top Middle / Top Surround / Rear Height)? Or is the Atmos decoder restricted from using the Center Height / Top Surround Auro3D channels like the 13-amp X8500HA, even though the A1H has 15 amps?

 

[slacki]

buy a stand alone MiniDSP DIRAC.

which is quiet hard for a e.g. 5.3.4 setup like i have, at least i did not find "one box" to fit my needs (so i can have dirac)

 

[Dj7675]

This is a very compelling unit IMO. But it falls short with the slow rolout of DLBC. The only other thing missing for me is manual PEQ. I doubt most won't care but I still prefer manual EQ for the most part above the transition..
Edit: Adding manual EQ would not seem to be too difficult for then to add. It would also appeal to the custom install/calibrator market as well.

 

[Monstieur]

It looks like the A1H does not come with a learning IR remote like the X8500H does. I use the learning functionality and extra buttons at the bottom extensively to switch inputs and eARC source on my HDFury VRROOM box.

 

[ban25]

This is a very compelling unit IMO. But it falls short with the slow rolout of DLBC. The only other thing missing for me is manual PEQ. I doubt most won't care but I still prefer manual EQ for the most part above the transition..
Edit: Adding manual EQ would not seem to be too difficult for then to add. It would also appeal to the custom install/calibrator market as well.

FWIW, manual PEQ is possible on D+M AVRs with Audyssey MultEQ-X. Of course, you can't mix and match that with Dirac.

 

[Dj7675]

FWIW, manual PEQ is possible on D+M AVRs with Audyssey MultEQ-X. Of course, you can't mix and match that with Dirac.

I read that but it seems that they are relative to the measured response? Has the accuracy of the manual PEQ been measured and are they exact?

 

[peng]

I read that but it seems that they are relative to the measured response? Has the accuracy of the manual PEQ been measured and are they exact?

If I understood right, the PEQs created with the Mult EQ X app are better than the so call manual PEQ because the app use the entries, ie gain and Q as sort of templates only, the app then use the input data to implement the FIR filters to achieve the intended results. Very much like Ratbuddyssey's use with D+M's $20 Editor app.

 

[Dj7675]

If I understood right, the PEQs created with the Mult EQ X app are better than the so call manual PEQ because the app use the entries, ie gain and Q as sort of templates only, the app then use the input data to implement the FIR filters to achieve the intended results. Very much like Ratbuddyssey's use with D+M's $20 Editor app.

I was wanting to compare the result of a PEQ entered in with the Mult EQ X app vs a PEQ entered on StormAudio or Roon. Is the result exactly the same? Has anyone compared them to see how accurate they are?

 

[ban25]

I read that but it seems that they are relative to the measured response? Has the accuracy of the manual PEQ been measured and are they exact?

You can apply them directly without room EQ. Before/After could be measured with REW. I'd do it myself, but REW has not cooperated with my laptop.

 

[peng]

I was wanting to compare the result of a PEQ entered in with the Mult EQ X app vs a PEQ entered on StormAudio or Roon. Is the result exactly the same? Has anyone compared them to see how accurate they are?

As you may recall, I played with the $20 app using Ratbuddyssey a lot. I can tell you based on using that UI, I would expect the Mult EQ X's PEQ implementation using Audyssey's own FIR filters should be pretty good. I say that based on checking with REW after each tweak. With Denon/Marantz's editor app I would enter the gain values for some anchor frequency points to simulate PEQ's Q value. With Mult EQ X, you can actually enter the Q value directly, so there is less effort even if the results are not better than the way I did it (but I am sure my cheating way is not that great). Audyssey is really very good if you take the time to work with the app. Again, some reviewers, such as Matthew may think that REW graphs for the MMP may look good but Audyssey would mess up the other positions. In my own setup, I found that with my tweaks with the app, it not only improved the mmp measurements but also the other positions, at least for the most part.

 

[peng]

To me, the Mult EQ X's "PEQ" thing is really just one of the tools to help customize the target curve. It is theoretically better because Audyssey's core, i.e. algorithm, fuzzy logic etc., and the FIR advantages over IIR (PEQ is based on IIR) are still used for implementing the intended changes. For example, manual PEQ can do a good job for the bass range at the MMP but not necessarily, or could even make worse, the FR outside of the very tight bubble around the MMP.

 

[Joe63]

https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/av-receivers/avr-a1h

9.4.6 ch
15 x 150w
8K
DIRAC upgradable
$6,500

Denon made a mistake removing 7.1 multi-channel analog inputs.

 

[SoundsGood64]

Agree with post 77; there should be multichannel inputs in a flagship. For AVR-A1H and future AVRs, I hope Denon will extend the capability of HEOS to: 1) stream multichannel audio over the local network and 2) (less important) provide a direct DSD feature. It's a bit ridiculous that for many generations of Denon AVR, streaming over local network has been limited to 2 channel in devices varying between 6 and 13 channels. Likewise, many previous Denon AVRs could receive DSD over HDMI and send that DSD to the DAC, but whether HEOS can do this seems unlikely given that 1) 'Direct DSD' cannot be displayed on front panel or in menu when using HEOS (like with HDMI), and 2) the 'network' dac is often PCM5100 which cannot convert DSD.

I appreciate the proposed power supply in AVR-A1H to a point. It seems like the 'innovation' is more channels and better video but to what end does that serve? Even if 8k movies existed I wouldn't want to get that close to the screen for my eyes, comfort, and screwing up the Mch audio experience. I wouldn't have much use for a new 2023 AVR that costs a lot with 11, 13, or 15 channels & the ability to handle 4 subs..... but can't even stream 5 channels plus 1 sub from file formats >20 years old.

 

[SKBubba]

AVR-A1H - 15.4 Ch. 150W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in | Denon - US

The AVR-A1H 15.4 Ch. 150W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in from Denon provides high quality audio for your hi-fi needs. Explore more AV Receivers at Denon - US.

www.denon.com

 

[JayGilb]

From the advertisement: "The world’s first 15-channel AV receiver delivering up to 150W per channel (at 8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD 0.05%, 2ch driven)."

Does that mean that a max of of 150 watts is available total for all 15 channels ?