Denon AVR-X3600H AV Receiver Review

[funkera91]

Can anyone compare, or tell me - what would be the differences between my current AVR - Yamaha RX V2500 vs Denon X3600h in regarding listening to music? Which is better?

Also is x3600h AVR match well with Logitech Z906 5.1 system for movies and music listening?

 

[ryanmh1]

Can anyone compare, or tell me - what would be the differences between my current AVR - Yamaha RX V2500 vs Denon X3600h in regarding listening to music? Which is better?

Also is x3600h AVR match well with Logitech Z906 5.1 system for movies and music listening?

Audyssey XT32 room correction. That's going to be the most audible by a mile. Slightly better ability to drive current per 20 year old tests. Likely a lower noise floor and better DACs if you're using digital input. Not to be rude, but if you're just going to hook a CD player up and hit play and not replace those crummy old Logitech speakers, nothing. Literally nothing. You're basically trying to polish a turd.

 

[funkera91]

Audyssey XT32 room correction. That's going to be the most audible by a mile. Slightly better ability to drive current per 20 year old tests. Likely a lower noise floor and better DACs if you're using digital input. Not to be rude, but if you're just going to hook a CD player up and hit play and not replace those crummy old Logitech speakers, nothing. Literally nothing. You're basically trying to polish a turd.

Thanks, so I have also Klispsh RP8000, but I use them only for music, for movies I use the Logitech, as they are THX certified and the sound is very clear, Klipsh sound muffled a LOTTT!
The Yamaha is still working perfectly, just I think it is too laid back and muffled or warm the sound, maye be I dont know how to describe that sound, also I dont know if I am not gonna be unhappy by buying X3600h and realise that the Yamaha was better. If I only could havelistened to the Denon X3600h somewhere...

 

[ryanmh1]

X3600h is better overall. Audibly so? Who knows. But it can only be better.

 

[funkera91]

X3600h is better overall. Audibly so? Who knows. But it can only be better.

So no need to buy x4800, for the tripple price more, as I found a X3600 second hand for 700USD. Should I buy?

 

[ryanmh1]

You can buy that, or you can go even cheaper all the way down to a used X3300H. For stereo listening use, they are all basically the same. I have an x3500H as well as an x4300H. Zero reason to buy the x4800h unless you need sophisticated multi-subwoofer bass management, although it will have a higher quality feel with the metal faceplate and drop down front panel. The x3xxxH series is plastic and the knob feel crummier. If you want new and cheap consider this: https://www.adorama.com/indrx34.html?sdtid=17711397&emailprice=t. That's the current new value leader and would be highly recommended. I assume you're going to use Dirac or XT32. Used and no warranty, Denon is better IMO.

I will say, though, that the amps on these Denon do have a higher signal-to-noise ratio. It's probably not a significant concern and likely an inaudible difference, but they are remarkably quiet for an AVR. Anything that can beat .015& THD at 1W had some significant attention paid to noise.

 

[peng]

So no need to buy x4800, for the tripple price more, as I found a X3600 second hand for 700USD. Should I buy?

That seems like a lot for an older model that is out of warranty as well. Maybe try 500 USD, or get a new AVR-X1800H if you don't need 7.1 pre outs, the North American models even come with front left and right pre outs for external power amps but the European models don't have those pre outs.

As mentioned, the potential audible benefits would be Audyssey XT32 SubEQ HT (for the 3600 and above). In direct/pure direct/straight modes, your Yamaha AVR should be just as good.

 

[ryanmh1]

Prices on x3600H are bloated because they are the cheapest Denon with 11ch processing, I assume. But really, prices on all used Denons are bloated. People are paying more for some of these things used than what they cost when they went on sale new. Issue is probably because x3800H is now $1400 new after they basically dumped bits and pieces of the old x4000 series guts into a cheaper chassis starting with x3600h, and cranked x4800h to over $2000.

 

[funkera91]

Thank You all guys! Will try to compare the Denon x3600h with mine Yamaha RX V2500

 

[Blackintosh]

Hi guys, I'm just about to buy an X3600H, this is going to be my first ever AV receiver. I already have an Atmos setup using audio interfaces and active monitors, with direct channels decoded by MacOS. I can see that the x3600 has 12 analog audio inputs, out of which 10 says "assignable" on the back. Am I going to be able to connect my 7.1.4 setup's 12 analog line level signals to these 12 rca inputs, and let the AV forward these signals to the preouts or the amps, maybe after applying room calibration? Basically I will have two separate signal sources to my speakers, and I am trying to avoid using mixers, or line combiners.

 

[witwald]

I don't think that you will be able to connect your 7.1.4 setup's 12 analog line level signals to these 12 RCA inputs. They are not designed for that purpose. Note that the 12 analog audio RCA inputs include a phono preamplifier for a phono cartridge. That leaves 10 audio input channels that don't have RIAA EQ on them. However, those 10 channels correspond to 5 pairs of left/right audio inputs for connecting stereo equipment for individual playback. The user manual talks about "input assign" as follows: By making connections as indicated by the input sources printed on the audio/video input connectors of this unit, you can just press one of the input source select buttons to easily play back audio or video from a connected device.

As you already have an Atmos setup, it seems that the X3600H would simply allow the decoding to occur within it, and the preamplifier outputs (the PRE OUTs) could be sent directly to your complement of 11 active loudspeakers and 1 active subwoofer. This would enable the X3600H's room calibration/bass management system to be used, noting that it is capable of dealing with 2 subwoofers and not just one.

 

[Blackintosh]

I don't think that you will be able to connect your 7.1.4 setup's 12 analog line level signals to these 12 RCA inputs.

Thanks for your reply, so it is as I suspected already, but I needed confirmation. I guess I am stick with line combiner circuits then, I need some form of transformer isolated combiner that allows both signals to the inputs of my active monitors. Before you ask why do I need that, why don't I just use one solution, I want to be able to output Atmos not just from encoded sources like Apple Music, but from DAWs and plugin hosts too. Currently I can play the guitar with realtime Atmos surround effects, and there is no way I would give that up. So I need both the software rendering and the HDMI passthrough as well. Thanks again, I will keep googling then.

 

[funkera91]

Guys is it possible with X3600h to watch dolby Atmos and Dolby True HD movies form external Hdd/SSD ?

 

[rccarguy]

Guys is it possible with X3600h to watch dolby Atmos and Dolby True HD movies form external Hdd/SSD ?

No. The Denon plays audio, not video. You need a video streamer

 

[funkera91]

No. The Denon plays audio, not video. You need a video streamer

Thanks! So which model of Denon will play these video files?

 

[rccarguy]

Thanks! So which model of Denon will play these video files?

No AVR will play audio files. You need a video player, like ones in BD players, TV's, Nvidia Shield, Kodi boxes, etc.

 

[funkera91]

No AVR will play audio files. You need a video player, like ones in BD players, TV's, Nvidia Shield, Kodi boxes, etc.

I didn't know that, so I guess they did thin in purpose to buy also a player...

 

[rccarguy]

I didn't know that, so I guess they did thin in purpose to buy also a player...

AVR's have a audio player function, typically can play from USB stick, and points to DNLA service (NAS etc) to play local flac/vorbis/mp3 music, and radio stations.

If you want to play video files, you'll need either a BD player (for physical discs) Nvidia shield, or some kind of video box like amlogic/rockchip kodi boxes, or the available video players by bigger brands

 

[Vid33nyc1]

Hi all, so what is the optimal option here. I just upgraded to the reserve series and the r600 are rated at 87.5db sensitivity. Currently in a 5.2 setup and wondering if I should get a good 2 or 3 channel amp for the front stage and get more power to the r600s since they are a little harder to push. Even though I'm not using all the channels would the 11 channel hack work. The AVR seems to be doing a pretty good job so far but I feel I have to crank the volume up a bit more.

 

[Miker 1102]

You can buy that, or you can go even cheaper all the way down to a used X3300H. For stereo listening use, they are all basically the same. I have an x3500H as well as an x4300H. Zero reason to buy the x4800h unless you need sophisticated multi-subwoofer bass management, although it will have a higher quality feel with the metal faceplate and drop down front panel. The x3xxxH series is plastic and the knob feel crummier. If you want new and cheap consider this: https://www.adorama.com/indrx34.html?sdtid=17711397&emailprice=t. That's the current new value leader and would be highly recommended. I assume you're going to use Dirac or XT32. Used and no warranty, Denon is better IMO.

I will say, though, that the amps on these Denon do have a higher signal-to-noise ratio. It's probably not a significant concern and likely an inaudible difference, but they are remarkably quiet for an AVR. Anything that can beat .015& THD at 1W had some significant attention paid to noise.

Agreed.