Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[Aerith Gainsborough]

You can output different channels from REW for any of the 7.1 bed layer. The setup just requires HDMI from a laptop to the receiver and a UMIK.

Not with the Java drivers built into REW, unfortunately these only support L / R Stereo.

Is it possible to connect the computer with HDMI to your receiver and select different channels for measurement in REW? How did you achieve this?
I have a 7.1.2 configuration at the moment and would be also interested how the calibration happens in my difficult room. Your Dirac correction looks very well done - way linearer at low frequencies and corrected with some brain at higher frequencies.

You connect via HDMI and then have to select ASIO in REW.
You need an intermediary program (I used Voicemeeter Potato, since I already had that installed) or "ASIO4all" as a driver to address the AVR/GPU and also the UMIK via ASIO.

Then you can select all channels individually. Sadly going through Voicemeeter nukes the sensitivity of the UMIK's calibration file but the frequency calibration still works.

That way you don't get exact SPL levels but you do get the frequency response.

 

[CapMan]

Agreed, except the toroidal thing that is overrated... I have had low cost amps that utiluzed toroids, and there are expensive amps that went with non toroids. Depending on the applications, one is not always better than the other.

My previous Devialet Expert Pro had a switched mode PS and cost many
Time more than an A1H. As @peng says - means nothing.

 

[IamJF]

A GOOD switched power supply is better as the conventional 50/60 Hz transformer. You always have some residuals of the main power frequencies with transformer power supplies, switched mode ones push these out of the audible range. And properly done they have no downsides. But not that easy to develop and standard ones often don't meet the needs of an audio circuit.

 

[JW001]

I hope we will see more devices like the MiniDsp flex HT with which one can manage an amped 5.1 LPCM system, assuming you have a compliant TV. With DiracLive but not DLBC.

My holiday project is setting one up. It's not an AVR but I don't really need all the bells and whistles. I just have one video input and will stick with 5.1 for this space.

Depending on what you consider bells and whistles... With Denon x4800h, I have a 5.2 home theater, a second zone stereo on the patio, the Audyssey XT32 room correction with an option to switch to Dirac Live, HDMI CEC to control the whole system (TV, AVR, Apple TV streamer, bluray player) with the Apple TV bluetooth remote, and no need for separate amplifiers.

 

[Mort]

Depending on what you consider bells and whistles... With Denon x4800h, I have a 5.2 home theater, a second zone stereo on the patio, the Audyssey XT32 room correction with an option to switch to Dirac Live, HDMI CEC to control the whole system (TV, AVR, Apple TV streamer, bluray player) with the Apple TV bluetooth remote, and no need for separate amplifiers.

I think you missed I was responding to someone's question "what if Denon and marantz were no longer around?"

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

Welp ... that didn't work.

Finally got my missing HDMI cable and tried the following:
Windows PC -> AVR < ARC > TV

Signal gets through alright, passthrough works well, ARC did a whole movie w/o a hitch. Neat.

But then I had the idea: what happens when I switch the AVR on / off during a computing session? Since I do that all the time when switching between Cans (RME) and Speakers (DENON).
From black screens (when turning the AVR off) to squished windows positions (when turning it on) ... it was a royal mess.

In one word: unusable. One would think they could manage something like this in the year 2024... sheesh.

A dedicated connection from Windows PC -> TV and a separate audio connection to the DENON it is then.

 

[ban25]

Welp ... that didn't work.

Finally got my missing HDMI cable and tried the following:
Windows PC -> AVR < ARC > TV

Signal gets through alright, passthrough works well, ARC did a whole movie w/o a hitch. Neat.

But then I had the idea: what happens when I switch the AVR on / off during a computing session? Since I do that all the time when switching between Cans (RME) and Speakers (DENON).
From black screens (when turning the AVR off) to squished windows positions (when turning it on) ... it was a royal mess.

In one word: unusable. One would think they could manage something like this in the year 2024... sheesh.

A dedicated connection from Windows PC -> TV and a separate audio connection to the DENON it is then.

Should be able to keep the ARC connection to the AVR and run a dedicated HDMI cable from the PC to the TV.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

Should be able to keep the ARC connection to the AVR and run a dedicated HDMI cable from the PC to the TV.

Yeah that's what I did, although I had to tell Windows to clone the display.
Otherwise it would think that I have 2 4K screens connected.

 

[JW001]

Depending on what you consider bells and whistles... With an AVR such as Denon x4800h, I have a 5.2 home theater, a second zone stereo on the patio, the Audyssey XT32 room correction with an option to switch to Dirac Live, HDMI CEC to control the whole system (TV, AVR, Apple TV streamer, bluray player) with the Apple TV bluetooth remote, and no need for separate amplifiers.

I think you missed I was responding to someone's question "what if Denon and marantz were no longer around?"

What I wanted to say is: 1) "bells and whistles" of the AVR are actually very useful features 2) AVR world does not end with D&M going out of business.

 

[steveoat87]

I am having difficulty using the X4800H using the Benchmark LA4 as part of a HT bypass setup. I have the LA4 input set up for HT Bypass but am not getting any sound through my front speakers. I currently have a 7.1 setup. All the other speakers are working but the front speakers. What settings do I need on the Denon to make this work?

 

[ban25]

I am having difficulty using the X4800H using the Benchmark LA4 as part of a HT bypass setup. I have the LA4 input set up for HT Bypass but am not getting any sound through my front speakers. I currently have a 7.1 setup. All the other speakers are working but the front speakers. What settings do I need on the Denon to make this work?

Check the following:

1. X4800H FR & FL pre-outs connected to LA4 inputs
2. LA4 turned on and set to HT Bypass mode
3. LA4 output connected to external amplifier and the amp is turned on
4. Speakers properly connected to external amplifier binding posts
5. X4800H volume level and FR/FL trims set sufficiently high to be audible considering the gain structure of the external amp (you can try running room calibration)

That should be enough to get sound through to your speakers. Once you have that, you can set up the triggers from the Denon to the LA4 to the amp to get everything to turn on and off in a chain.

 

[EWL5]

I am having difficulty using the X4800H using the Benchmark LA4 as part of a HT bypass setup. I have the LA4 input set up for HT Bypass but am not getting any sound through my front speakers. I currently have a 7.1 setup. All the other speakers are working but the front speakers. What settings do I need on the Denon to make this work?

Assuming your front speakers are using the external amp, did you make sure to select "Pre-out Only"? If it's like my 3800, there is a voltage change for those channels that are pre-out only!

 

[Opal]

I am on the fence. For a pre out set up, is this still the best AVR at this price point?

 

[peng]

I am on the fence. For a pre out set up, is this still the best AVR at this price point?

If only for pre outs, the 3800 at $1,000 seems to be the better value. Or the C50 if you are in the part of the world where it’s price to almost the same price point or no more than $200-300 more. Same for the 4800 though when it goes on sale with huge discounts. Obviously if you don’t need some of the features, the RZ30, or 70 might be better.

 

[Opal]

If only for pre outs, the 3800 at $1,000 seems to be the better value. Or the C50 if you are in the part of the world where it’s price to almost the same price point or no more than $200-300 more. Same for the 4800 though when it goes on sale with huge discounts. Obviously if you don’t need some of the features, the RZ30, or 70 might be better.

I dont mind paying $300 more for made in japan and better build quality. So i am fine with the price of X4800H

 

[peng]

I dont mind paying $300 more for made in japan and better build quality. So i am fine with the price of X4800H

Of course, but then it gets not too meaningful about what's consider by others as "best", because we don't value the same things the same way. By the way, if you can get the 4800 for only $300 more, then even for me, made in Japan or not, it would be a no brainer!

 

[Acerun]

The $20 app also has the ability to tweak the channels, such as front left and right independently, I doubt if too many users knows that, because to do that one has to use Ratbuddyssey, or similar software, or script such as those @OCA could write, easily (if he hasn't yet). As far as I know, the $200 MultEQ X does not have such feature, likely because Audyssey, like Dirac Live, want users to tweak channel as pairs only. That's a shame, they should trust people who do such things know what they are doing, that is, won't do more harm than good.

You can tweak per channel in the $200 app

 

[peng]

You can tweak per channel in the $200 app

Yes, but not at launch time. Not sure when they made the change. Regardless, it can do it now and that, imo, is a good thing.

 

[gparaskevas]

Hey everyone,
New owner here. Very pleased with 4800 featureset so far. I am now thinking of purchasing the Dirac bundle. I know its better and more capable than Audyssey. Anyone have any tips on that? Should I go for it? I am using 5.2.0 setap with neuman speakers and planning on adding 2 atmos speakers this year. My living room is lightly treated for mid/high frequencies.
Thank in advance.

 

[Brambo67]

Hey everyone,
New owner here. Very pleased with 4800 featureset so far. I am now thinking of purchasing the Dirac bundle. I know its better and more capable than Audyssey. Anyone have any tips on that? Should I go for it? I am using 5.2.0 setap with neuman speakers and planning on adding 2 atmos speakers this year. My living room is lightly treated for mid/high frequencies.
Thank in advance.

Yes, I do A-B comparison with Audyssey and Dirac and much prefer the latter. Of course in an ideal world you can achieve equally good results with Audyssey but 'from scratch' without any room treatment apart from curtains and a lot of wood I suggest Dirac.