Denon AVR-X3600H AV Receiver Review

[Sal1950]

WRONG

What's wrong, your going to use a multichannel external preamp?

 

[Laserjock]

I think you’d have to leave the volume on the Denon at 82.5 to get the 2.0V on the preamp outputs. ?

 

[rccarguy]

What's wrong, your going to use a multichannel external preamp?

If using a off board stereo pre amp/integrated amp with HT input then you use the L/R pre out from the Denon. Not the Zone 2 controls.

Unless you want a downmix output, instead of dedicated L/R pre outs

 

[Sal1950]

WRONG

If using a off board stereo pre amp/integrated amp with HT input then you use the L/R pre out from the Denon. Not the Zone 2 controls.

Unless you want a downmix output, instead of dedicated L/R pre outs

My suggestion for Zone2 was simply it offered the option of shutting off the AV's volume control and having it function as a old fashion tape output with fixed level.
Otherwise Laserjock's above suggestion is a good one. I would set it as the startup volume in the menus to avoid the chance of an accident.
BTW, no need to shout at me, I was simply trying to help you.

 

[BassThatHertz]

My suggestion for Zone2 was simply it offered the option of shutting off the AV's volume control and having it function as a old fashion tape output with fixed level.
Otherwise Laserjock's above suggestion is a good one. I would set it as the startup volume in the menus to avoid the chance of an accident.
BTW, no need to shout at me, I was simply trying to help you.

I'm the person who asked the question. Someone else said "WRONG", not me. Any idea what the output voltage is if set to Zone2?
It would be for 2ch. AVR > pre-amp > a 2ch Buckeye PURIFI 1ET6525SA

I think you’d have to leave the volume on the Denon at 82.5 to get the 2.0V on the preamp outputs. ?

I'm thinking of getting a used Schiit Freya (first generation) to use as a pre-amp. Do pre-amps require a particular input voltage for maximum performance? If so, is it usually 2V that's required?

 

[Sal1950]

I'm the person who asked the question. Someone else said "WRONG", not me.

Appologies, I just assumed it was you answering me.

I'm the person who asked the question. Someone else said "WRONG", not me. Any idea what the output voltage is if set to Zone2?
It would be for 2ch. AVR > pre-amp > a 2ch Buckeye PURIFI 1ET6525SA

I'm thinking of getting a used Schiit Freya (first generation) to use as a pre-amp. Do pre-amps require a particular input voltage for maximum performance? If so, is it usually 2V that's required?

Voltages are not a particular set amount, the voltage goes up and down from the source with the volume.
There's a usual industry assumed std of approx. 2 volts input from source to achieve max output but his isn't by far set in stone.
Can I ask you exactly what it is you hope to accomplish in with final sound from adding these components to your Denon?

 

[Laserjock]

Are you using the AVR for home theater duties and want to add the Schiit Freya for two channel listening with the same L/R front speakers?

Look into Home Theater Bypass. The Freya doesnt have that function per se but there is a way to use it that way

 

[shorodei]

When set in Pure - Auto mode, playing 2 channel music on my Shield, the avr still upmixes using dolby surround.

topology: shield -> tv with hdmi, tv -> avr with hdmi earc.

Is there a way to make the receiver switch to stereo when playing 2 channel content without manually switching modes on the remote?

 

[Chromatischism]

When set in Pure - Auto mode, playing 2 channel music on my Shield, the avr still upmixes using dolby surround.

topology: shield -> tv with hdmi, tv -> avr with hdmi earc.

Is there a way to make the receiver switch to stereo when playing 2 channel content without manually switching modes on the remote?

The AVR switches formats if it receives a change in format. It also remembers the last used output format for each input. So if you switch inputs to one that you use for 2-channel, it will switch to Stereo at the same time it switches to that input.

 

[rvsixer]

Is there a way to make the receiver switch to stereo when playing 2 channel content without manually switching modes on the remote?

Denon can auto-detect any inputs currently incoming stream/container, and select the proper decoder for it, automatically. No need to use remote to chase different inputs for different streams/containers.

Set:
Sound mode = AUTO (accessed by repeatedly pressing PURE mode button on remote until AUTO is selected)
2ch playback setting = AUTO (accessed in setup -> speakers -> manual setup -> Speakers/2ch Playback->Setting = AUTO)
Use INFO button to verify current input stream/container (and output after AVR processing)

I use an Apple TV in a similar scenario (attached to a single input of course). Multichannel movies/atmos music mixes are all output to, and playback on the Denon, as multichannel/atmos output (i.e. surround), while stereo 2.0 PCM is correctly played back in 2.x. No manually switching modes on the Denon remote at all, it just automatically detects the current input stream's format and plays it back correctly. Certainly much different than @Chromatischism ‘s experience…

 

[shorodei]

The AVR switches formats if it receives a change in format. It also remembers the last used output format for each input. So if you switch inputs to one that you use for 2-channel, it will switch to Stereo at the same time it switches to that input.

Unfortunately I use my shield for both movies and music, so it remembering mode per-input is not helpful. Currently it stays on dolby surround mode whether I play 2ch music or movies on the shield unless I manually switch.

Denon can auto-detect any inputs currently incoming stream/container, and select the proper decoder for it, automatically. No need to use remote to chase different inputs for different streams/containers.

Set:
Sound mode = AUTO (accessed by repeatedly pressing PURE mode button on remote until AUTO is selected)
2ch playback setting = AUTO (accessed in setup -> speakers -> manual setup -> Speakers/2ch Playback->Setting = AUTO)
Use INFO button to verify current input stream/container (and output after AVR processing)

I use an Apple TV in a similar scenario (attached to a single input of course). Multichannel movies/atmos music mixes are all output to, and playback on the Denon, as multichannel/atmos output (i.e. surround), while stereo 2.0 PCM is correctly played back in 2.x. No manually switching modes on the Denon remote at all, it just automatically detects the current input stream's format and plays it back correctly. Certainly much different than @Chromatischism ‘s experience…

I could not find a "2ch playback" setting anywhere in my receiver's menus. I even upgraded firmware to latest to be sure.

 

[Timbo2]

Unfortunately I use my shield for both movies and music, so it remembering mode per-input is not helpful. Currently it stays on dolby surround mode whether I play 2ch music or movies on the shield unless I manually switch.




I could not find a "2ch playback" setting anywhere in my receiver's menus. I even upgraded firmware to latest to be sure.

I use an Nvidia Shield and this receiver as well. With Kodi for FLAC files I get pure 2 Channel. (It also kill my subwoofer so I don't use it.)

Are you up-mixing on the Shield?

This makes the AVR see a 5 channel source all the time. Even for the system sounds.

AVR-X3600H

manuals.denon.com

PDF Page 133 - Pure Direct playback

 

[shorodei]

I use an Nvidia Shield and this receiver as well. With Kodi for FLAC files I get pure 2 Channel. (It also kill my subwoofer so I don't use it.)

Are you up-mixing on the Shield?

This makes the AVR see a 5 channel source all the time. Even for the system sounds.

AVR-X3600H

manuals.denon.com

PDF Page 133 - Pure Direct playback

No I'm not upmixing. Are you connecting shield to avr directly, or through tv earc?

 

[Timbo2]

No I'm not upmixing. Are you connecting shield to avr directly, or through tv earc?

Shield to AVR.

 

[shorodei]

Shield to AVR.

I'm nearly certain earc is the source of my issues. It also seems to be introducing about 200ms of latency that I have to fix with shield's audio sync delay tool. I'll try connecting directly to AVR and check. (really didn't wanna do this because now I need to keep 2 remotes within reach )

 

[Timbo2]

I'm nearly certain earc is the source of my issues. It also seems to be introducing about 200ms of latency that I have to fix with shield's audio sync delay tool. I'll try connecting directly to AVR and check. (really didn't wanna do this because now I need to keep 2 remotes within reach )

I use CEC from the shield to work the TV. But I generally only watch the shield.

 

[Chromatischism]

Unfortunately I use my shield for both movies and music, so it remembering mode per-input is not helpful. Currently it stays on dolby surround mode whether I play 2ch music or movies on the shield unless I manually switch.

It sounds like there is a mode enabled that is causing this. Apple TV users recently discovered that they need to turn off "continuous audio" so that it does not do this. Make sure you don't have a similar feature enabled that is forcing Dolby MAT to be applied to music.

 

[rvsixer]

I could not find a "2ch playback" setting anywhere in my receiver's menus. I even upgraded firmware to latest to be sure.

Oh sorry, my fault, aging eyes failing. Mistakingly read thread as 3800 not 3600...