Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[Robert-Hifi]

Maybe it sounds 'less muscular' because its better integrated in the sound field? My favorite test scene when I show people the setup is Ready Player One opening race scene. I have a PC12 Plus and if the bass would be more muscular, cracks will appear in the concrete. I have owned the NR906 as well years back. Great machine.

With movies it's different, because the subwoofer takes the strain off of the other speakers and the AVR when it comes to bass.
For music I prefer to listen without subwoofer and with the fronts full-range.
Reason for that is my subwoofer is not articulate enough to keep up with my speakers.

 

[2therock]

Mercy its rough for an AVR buyer if he reads retailer less than positive, word of mouth reviews. I'm thinking about getting a refurbished AVR-X4800H through Denon vs AFL as I believe service after the sale will be better. AFL offers lower price w/3yr Warranty, Denon 200 higher w/1yr & 60 day return? I want to believe sticking with Denon would be the best route.
Anyone reading here using a refurb in this unit? This review, budget, and much less Webb hits on HDMI issues in the Denon brand has me in this direction. Thanks

 

[peng]

I wanted to see if it would bring back the muscular low-end from the Onkyo, but I couldn't get it to output sound.
Only connected the front L/R to the Onkyo and assigned the multichannel input to the proper input (DVD) and switched the audio selector to multichannel input for the DVD input, also tried it for the Game/TV input.
On the Denon I set the front L/R to pre-out only, but got no sound whatsoever.
Tried to switch to the surround L/R as pre-out on the Denon, but that resulted in volume fluctuations in the center channel (probably due to the two volume controle fighting each other).

So, I disconnected the Onkyo and put it in storage again.
I hope it didn't damage the Denon in any way.

If the 906 is in working order, it should work. Did you double check to see if the 906 was on mute, or the volume set to 0, or too low? It should easy enough to check that the 906 is working normally too. That's a pity because the 906 has fantastic power amp output, for an AVR.

 

[Robert-Hifi]

If the 906 is in working order, it should work. Did you double check to see if the 906 was on mute, or the volume set to 0, or too low? It should easy enough to check that the 906 is working normally too. That's a pity because the 906 has fantastic power amp output, for an AVR.

Yes, it was working just fine when I put it in storage 5 months ago with the exception of the HDMI board.
Only weird thing that I encountered was the power button on the front engaged the Pure Audio mode.
It wasn't on mute and I changed the volume between -55.0dB and -30.0dB, no sound with my ears an inch from the speakers.
And the relays were clicking as they should.

Now I'm in doubt whether to go for a Hypex Ncore stereo amp like this one:

Order SoundImpress HY252-2CH Stereo Amplifier | Ncore® | Powered by Hypex

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Or go the route of a new better subwoofer like the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S.
If it's the sound signature of the Denon both options wouldn't yield any results.

 

[dlaloum]

Yes, it was working just fine when I put it in storage 5 months ago with the exception of the HDMI board.
Only weird thing that I encountered was the power button on the front engaged the Pure Audio mode.
It wasn't on mute and I changed the volume between -55.0dB and -30.0dB, no sound with my ears an inch from the speakers.
And the relays were clicking as they should.

Now I'm in doubt whether to go for a Hypex Ncore stereo amp like this one:

Order SoundImpress HY252-2CH Stereo Amplifier | Ncore® | Powered by Hypex

Buy the HY252-2CH online at SoundImports ✓ Same day shipping ✓ Low shipping rates

www.soundimports.eu

Or go the route of a new better subwoofer like the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S.
If it's the sound signature of the Denon both options wouldn't yield any results.

My old SR876 (baby brother to the NR906) - also had the failed HDMI board - but the SPDIF input and analogue inputs continued working fine, and I used it for years that way, before finally reselling it after ordering a current generation Integra DRX3.4 (which I use with outboard power amps, that were not necessary with the 876...)

So yeah, if you can get it working right, the 906 is a great amp. (but not particularly energy efficient... it will idle hot...)

 

[Robert-Hifi]

My old SR876 (baby brother to the NR906) - also had the failed HDMI board - but the SPDIF input and analogue inputs continued working fine, and I used it for years that way, before finally reselling it after ordering a current generation Integra DRX3.4 (which I use with outboard power amps, that were not necessary with the 876...)

So yeah, if you can get it working right, the 906 is a great amp. (but not particularly energy efficient... it will idle hot...)

I'm surprised that it lasted 15 years before the HDMI board failure, because you could use it as a space heater.
Just would like the bass with the Denon to be tighter and punchier, but which solution could offer that?

 

[peng]

I'm surprised that it lasted 15 years before the HDMI board failure, because you could use it as a space heater.
Just would like the bass with the Denon to be tighter and punchier, but which solution could offer that?

If it is a under power issue, a high power Hypex amp would help, but if the bass is bad even at volume -18 to -15, then I doubt power/current is the issue. In that case, Dirac Live bass control will likely do it for you.

 

[dlaloum]

I'm surprised that it lasted 15 years before the HDMI board failure, because you could use it as a space heater.
Just would like the bass with the Denon to be tighter and punchier, but which solution could offer that?

I would look at the Audyssey/Dirac target curves...

Assuming you have sufficient power/current for the job to start with.

So much of the "sound" of the setup now is down to that target curve... and if you go with defaults, you get the manufacturers preference, not yours!

 

[2therock]

Just picked up an open box X4800H fingers crossed, wish me luck. Inspecting the unit you cannot convince me its not brand new.
I know this is not a thread for help requests but I hope you will allow me this one question.
I have read no matter the speaker impedance leave the settings at 8 Ohms. My mains are 4 Ohm and 4 satellites & center are 6 Ohm.
Studying the manual I find the below and would like your opinions. Why would it be smarter to not go by the book in this one?

Thanks

 

[rynberg]

Just picked up an open box X4800H fingers crossed, wish me luck. Inspecting the unit you cannot convince me its not brand new.
I know this is not a thread for help requests but I hope you will allow me this one question.
I have read no matter the speaker impedance leave the settings at 8 Ohms. My mains are 4 Ohm and 4 satellites & center are 6 Ohm.
Studying the manual I find the below and would like your opinions. Why would it be smarter to not go by the book in this one?

Thanks

Unless you want the output power cut by more than 50%, keep the setting at 8 ohms. Google Audioholics testing if you still don't believe the "wisdom". The lower impedance settings are to meet a particular UL criterion, not there to maximize performance.

 

[2therock]

Thank You.

 

[dlaloum]

Unless you want the output power cut by more than 50%, keep the setting at 8 ohms. Google Audioholics testing if you still don't believe the "wisdom". The lower impedance settings are to meet a particular UL criterion, not there to maximize performance.

Interestingly, I have had the owner of an Onkyo NR7100 report initially that it was not handling his 4ohm speakers well... then after switching to the 4ohm setting (which I agree should have little or no impact) it appeared to handle them as it should.

Worthy of note that all of this was subjective, but still, it is the first time I have seen someone report that the 4ohm setting actually achieved something.

 

[rynberg]

Interestingly, I have had the owner of an Onkyo NR7100 report initially that it was not handling his 4ohm speakers well... then after switching to the 4ohm setting (which I agree should have little or no impact) it appeared to handle them as it should.

Worthy of note that all of this was subjective, but still, it is the first time I have seen someone report that the 4ohm setting actually achieved something.

What does "handle them as it should" mean? If the owner meant the system was no longer shutting down in auto-protect mode, I believe it (especially with Onkyo). But there is zero chance that better sound quality was had by severely restricting the system output.

 

[pogo]

My mains are 4 Ohm and 4 satellites & center are 6 Ohm.

That should help you: Link

 

[dlaloum]

What does "handle them as it should" mean? If the owner meant the system was no longer shutting down in auto-protect mode, I believe it (especially with Onkyo). But there is zero chance that better sound quality was had by severely restricting the system output.

No he meant he knew how they should sound, from long term use of the speakers with far more capable power amps - the NR7100, by default, wasn't sounding right until he switched it into 4 ohm mode. (hearsay of course, I am passing on what was said in a facebook conversation on the Onkyo group...)

All I can say, is that if he is happy with the results, it's all good.

 

[peng]

What does "handle them as it should" mean? If the owner meant the system was no longer shutting down in auto-protect mode, I believe it (especially with Onkyo). But there is zero chance that better sound quality was had by severely restricting the system output.

No surprise, it's usually (not saying 100%) Placebo effects, so given that there is a 4 ohm setting..... lol, such claims are expected.

 

[rynberg]

No he meant he knew how they should sound, from long term use of the speakers with far more capable power amps - the NR7100, by default, wasn't sounding right until he switched it into 4 ohm mode. (hearsay of course, I am passing on what was said in a facebook conversation on the Onkyo group...)

All I can say, is that if he is happy with the results, it's all good.

It's not all good if complete misinformation is being spread around...the 4-ohm setting is wrong, period. End of story. Things like this are exactly why actual measurements are so important.

 

[dlaloum]

It's not all good if complete misinformation is being spread around...the 4-ohm setting is wrong, period. End of story. Things like this are exactly why actual measurements are so important.

On a measurement oriented site like this one... sure.

But on a facebook group, where someone purchased an NR7100, and now fears that it won't be useable.... it is all about them being happy with their purchase. Raising theoretical issues is just petty in that case.

 

[pogo]

On a measurement oriented site like this one... sure.

Realistic measurements must also be carried out for this purpose. Reactive load tests for example, which would also have to be carried out in parallel across several channels, are a first step in this direction. Unfortunately, only one channel is currently measured

You simply have to try out whether the 4 ohm setting sounds better. There are always reports that it sounds better.

 

[Robert-Hifi]

If it is a under power issue, a high power Hypex amp would help, but if the bass is bad even at volume -18 to -15, then I doubt power/current is the issue. In that case, Dirac Live bass control will likely do it for you.

The Denon should have enough power with my fronts having 92dB sensitivity and 6 ohm (on paper).
The reason why I haven't tried Dirac is it's limitation when you change the speaker configuration after measurement the Dirac config gets deleted.
Why is that a problem? I like to listen to music in 4.0 with Auro-2D Surround and that's only possible with the center disabled.

One more thing about using the Onkyo as a poweramp. The manual stated "Input Sensitivity and Impedance 200 mV/ 47 kΩ (LINE)".
Maybe that was the reason it wasn't working out using it as a poweramp.

I would look at the Audyssey/Dirac target curves...

Assuming you have sufficient power/current for the job to start with.

So much of the "sound" of the setup now is down to that target curve... and if you go with defaults, you get the manufacturers preference, not yours!

I tried a lot of Audyssey target curves, probably around 25-30 different ones.
Trial and error got me very close to the Onkyo, but the way I see/hear it the Denon just doesn't have the iron grip like the Onkyo did resulting in slightly less tight/punchy bass.

The German magazine Audiovision tested the Denon AVC-X4800H in it's 02/24 issue and they seem to come to the same conclusion:

So spielte der 5.1-Mix auf Steely Dans Rockalbum "Two Against Nature" bewegt, druckvoll und mit schöner Ortung, Instrumente standen greifbar körperhaft im Raum. Die druckvollen, satten Bässe sorgten für ein überzeugendes Fundament, spielten aber nicht ganz zo straff wie manch anderem Hersteller in dieser Preisklasse.

The 5.1 mix on Steely Dan's rock album "Two Against Nature" played movingly, powerfully and with beautiful location, instruments were tangibly physical in the room. The powerful, rich bass provided a convincing foundation, but didn't play quite as tightly as some other manufacturers in this price range.