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Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

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  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 11 3.1%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 74 20.8%
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    Votes: 190 53.5%
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    Votes: 80 22.5%

  • Total voters
    355
There are both 2-ch and multi-channel modes listed for both direct and pure direct. I would expect both 2-ch and surround to operated as defined.

UPDATE: I just noticed the manual indicates both analog and PCM input default to the same stereo sound mode. So they should be processed/not-processed identically? Now I really want to test this all myself!
I now have my AVR-X1800H set up for test with REW, if you have any specific thing that can be tested this way just let me know and I will do it. Unfortunately the X1800H does not offer the 2 channel stereo playback menu, so any features associated with that cannot be tested, by me. I really should have kept my AVR-X4400H, that I was sure I tested the way the stereo, direct, pure direct mode, and crossover settings and they all seem to work as expected, again, can't do some of those things with the X1800H (say for $400). If I can sell the X1800H I would just grab a X3800H for playing around.

X4800H 2ch playback menu

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Do you believe Fosi V3 mono 240w is enough to ampifly each front channel ? Or i need more power ?
 
Do you believe Fosi V3 mono 240w is enough to ampifly each front channel ? Or i need more power ?
Yes, if you use the larger power supply and accept higher distortion, to claim 200 W 4 ohms.
 
Yes, if you use the larger power supply and accept higher distortion, to claim 200 W 4 ohms.
Thank. I read somewhere , 300W will be the minimum to worth it... Fosi have 240W... I have separated power supplies for each mono... 48V 5A each... it will be enough?
 
Thank. I read somewhere , 300W will be the minimum to worth it... Fosi have 240W... I have separated power supplies for each mono... 48V 5A each... it will be enough?

Enough for what? Usually power needs are based more on your listening requirements than the receiver.

Unless like me, you want a high performing system in excess of your 'need'. This can be for various reasons including enjoyment of quality engineering and/or avoiding future (also unnecessary) incremental upgrades by future proofing now.

I went with nc502mp buckeye because I know I'll have that unit for decades. Fosi v3 will be on eBay in 30 months for me.

Neither are really 'needed'.
 
It´s just for movies ... my first option was Purify but I don't feel like spending 1,000 at the moment...«
 
It´s just for movies ... my first option was Purify but I don't feel like spending 1,000 at the moment...«
Where can you get three front channels of Purifi for "1000" (lets assume USD since currency was not stated)? I'd strongly consider @Mort Hypex 502 recommendation, less expensive and you have a spare channel should one fail down the road.
 
Can you point me to the X4800H 2ch Playback menu you posted. I can't find it in the latest US online version of the manual (search function within the pdf also does not find "2ch Playback" term).

Why not just download the PDF version?
Then just go to page 240 and 241.

You do get the same contents in the online version but I find it easily to navigate the PDF file.

Online North America version:
 
Thank. I read somewhere , 300W will be the minimum to worth it... Fosi have 240W... I have separated power supplies for each mono... 48V 5A each... it will be enough?

My issue with those PS Fosi sells on their website is that they off the 48 V 5 A, or 10 A versions. That's fine for 8 ohm nominal speakers but for 4 ohm nominal, for 240 W, you would be better off with a 36 V, or even 32 V, 10 A power supply.

As I mentioned many time on ASR, the common way of looking at "Watt, Power" is not as good as looking at voltage and current rating instead.

Power depends on both voltage and current, so you can have the same 240 "Watts", but that 240 W it could be achieved with higher voltage, lower current,, or higher current, lower voltage. In this case, if you can only choose the 48 V version, yet your 4 ohm speakers is much better off with the 36, or even 32 V, but higher current rating such as 10 A.

Power supplies are rated for VA (commonly W as well but not as good), VA = V X I (voltage X current), so 32 V X10A = 320 VA (commonly stated as 320 W, but again, not as right).

The 48 V 10A can be rated 480 VA, or "W", but it doesn't help you because you use 4 ohm speaker (think Ohm's law as well, not just the power formula), that will do better with power supplies that has higher rated current, not higher voltage in this case. You can buy the 48 V 10 A that Fosi does offer, it would be overkill, but it will do the job, and you get both higher voltage and current, always better to have something you don't need than something you do need but don't have enough.
 
Where can you get three front channels of Purifi for "1000" (lets assume USD since currency was not stated)? I'd strongly consider @Mort Hypex 502 recommendation, less expensive and you have a spare channel should one fail down the road.
I can get for two channels , not three , and currency is euros.
 
Why not just download the PDF version?
Then just go to page 240 and 241.

You do get the same contents in the online version but I find it easily to navigate the PDF file.

Online North America version:
Why not just download the PDF version? Wonder why I had not thought of that? In my post I stated I did indeed download the pdf "I can't find it in the latest US online version of the manual (search function within the pdf also does not find "2ch Playback" term)".

And here is the link to the current US online version I downloaded, and to reiterate it has NO mention of "2ch Playback" in it (scroll down to Owner's Manual and click to download):
https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/av-receivers/avr-x4800h/300608-new.html

It would be nice if Denon posted only a single current online version of the manual :facepalm: . Both are dated 2022 :facepalm:. How are we supposed to know which one is actually current and correct?
 
I can get for two channels , not three , and currency is euros.
Sorry about that. When you stated you wanted to amplify each front channel, I assumed that meant left/right/center (since the center carries the vast majority of content and imo should be the first target for external amplification if needed).
 
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Why not just download the PDF version? Wonder why I had not thought of that? In my post I stated I did indeed download the pdf "I can't find it in the latest US online version of the manual (search function within the pdf also does not find "2ch Playback" term)".

And here is the link to the current US online version I downloaded, and to reiterate it has NO mention of "2ch Playback" in it (scroll down to Owner's Manual and click to download):
https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/av-receivers/avr-x4800h/300608-new.html

It would be nice if Denon posted only a single current online version of the manual :facepalm: . Both are dated 2022 :facepalm:. How are we supposed to know which one is actually current and correct?
Nice find and that's interesting!

I tried that on Marantz, same results, if you download it from the product website you get one version but if you download it from the link on the online manual, or look at the one line version you will get the same 2 channel playback menu. So the one linked from the online version is the more complete. I guess the one linked from the product website (your way) has a more preliminary version that missed certain information. I wonder if the 2 ch menu is the only thing missed, if you compare the number of pages the one you linked has 7 pages less!!
 
That's fine for 8 ohm nominal speakers but for 4 ohm nominal,...
Not sure I can agree with this. Most all "nominal" 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers are actually all around 3-4 ohm minimum (and usually at frequencies above sub crossover point), which is the load the amp actually needs to drive regardless of a speakers marketing "nominal" spec (FF to 20:45):
 
Nice find and that's interesting!

I tried that on Marantz, same results, if you download it from the product website you get one version but if you download it from the link on the online manual, or look at the one line version you will get the same 2 channel playback menu. So the one linked from the online version is the more complete. I guess the one linked from the product website (your way) has a more preliminary version that missed certain information. I wonder if the 2 ch menu is the only thing missed, if you compare the number of pages the one you linked has 7 pages less!!
And just how does one guess or assume one is more complete or more correct than the other? Just like new features could have been added to a later manual, an older manual could have contained incorrect information that was removed from a later version (making it appear less "complete", but more correct).

When online I always hate to mention page numbers in manuals. One countries manuals could have multiple "current" versions (as is the case here), and I have noticed other countries versions can also be numbered differently than the US version. So hence I only mention actual section headers by name, etc.
 
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And just how does one guess or assume one is more complete or more correct than the other? Just like new features could have been added to a later manual, an older manual could have contained incorrect information that was removed from a later version (making it appear less "complete", but more correct).

When online I always hate to mention page numbers in manuals. One countries manuals could have multiple "current" versions (as is the case here), and I have noticed other countries versions can also be numbered differently than the US version. So hence I only mention actual section headers by name, etc.
True, those who own the product will/could know which one is right, but not those who don’t own it yet.
 
It would be nice if Denon posted only a single current online version of the manual :facepalm: . Both are dated 2022 :facepalm:. How are we supposed to know which one is actually current and correct?

Subtle difference, so subtle who would actually know which one is newer? The version from the product page says "3520 10885 00AD" at the bottom of the last page. The one from the link in the online manual says "3520 10885 00ASD".
 
Since my L+R's are 3dB down at 34Hz (according to Erin's Klippel measurements) I decided to setup the 2ch Playback settings here. Would have probably never known about it if I hadn't read about it here, it certainly wasn't in the manual I printed.
 
I recently received a refurbed X4800H directly from Denon and have an annoying issue.

At first, I could not get any video passthrough working whatsoever. I managed to update the firmware by working through the front display, and this seemed to resolve the problem, but only very temporarily. I finally had video, but it would soon drop. Each time I managed to get video working again, it was only functional for a couple of minutes at most. I tried multiple HDMI 2.1 cables (including a brand new one) on all of the HDMI outputs on the AVR to no avail, as well as with ARC turned on and off. I completed several factory resets. My TV is a Sony A80J, and the firmware is current. If I completely unplug the setup for 10 or so minutes, I will get video again. Sometimes it seems to work fine for quite a while, other times it will drop within moments. Once it drops, the video doesn't return until another power cycle.

Is there anything else that I may be missing before I kick this thing back to Denon for a replacement? I've had 3 other Denon AVRs, and none have ever had this issue. If it's not actually a defective AVR, I'd hate to go through the hassle of replacing it just to have the same issue again. Thanks!
 
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