Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[Sal1950]

I wonder how many folks D&M turned off by keeping this philosophy?

I doubt there's been that many.
Most owners neither hear nor care about whats going on there.

 

[Marcel]

I upgraded from an X3500h to the X4800h and I have noticed 2 'regressions':
- When sending a signal to my Chromecast Audio (connected via optical) the X3500h would sense the signal, turn on and start playing from the correct input. The X4800h doesn't do this anymore or am I missing something very obvious?
- Nice to have but the X3500h would show the sampling rate of the incoming signal when pressing the info button on the remote. Has this been removed from these newer devices?

 

[Oddball]

Definitively agree and still use Audy as main DRC after all this time, although with the MultiEQ-X that I find worth $200. With great work that OCA has done, most of people should be more than happy with his various enhancements.

Will try Dirac once ART rolls out and bugs, if any, are ironed. DLBC did not really do magic in my room/setup.

I am pointing fingers to D&M though as they have control of many other things through their firmware. Just to add my favourite complaint yet again - lumpy low end crossovers and LPF extraction points of 40/60/80 hz. That's only 3 steps across the whole octave. Going in at least 5hz incriments and providing a choice of roll-off filter would be really nice.

 

[EWL5]

I doubt there's been that many.
Most owners neither hear nor care about whats going on there.

I've been in many forums where folks jump off the D&M ship for Yamaha or PAC. I would've jumped off myself if things hadn't gotten better w/the $20 "tax"!

D&M isn't doing themselves any favors by making the following the default on their AVRs:
1) MRC on
2) Loudness Management on (can only be changed when a Dolby codec is playing)

These are just off the top of my head. Why make the customer research how to make their system sound good by default?!!!

 

[Oddball]

I've been in many forums where folks jump off the D&M ship for Yamaha or PAC. I would've jumped off myself if things hadn't gotten better w/the $20 "tax"!

D&M isn't doing themselves any favors by making the following the default on their AVRs:
1) MRC on
2) Loudness Management on (can only be changed when a Dolby codec is playing)

These are just off the top of my head. Why make the customer research how to make their system sound good by default?!!!

Agreed. Different people need different things and some just like it simple and quick, but sounding good.

Sony is apparently doing well with their EZ line of AVRs as setup is easy and ends up with great sound in less than 10 minutes. The problem with Sony is that you can't really tweak much after that.

In the shrinking AVR market, I could see that D&M could benefit from better out of the box calibration without any additional tools, while keeping the endless tweaking possibilities with both Audy apps as well as Dirac, with soon to be ART on higher end models. They do need sales to keep them afloat and providing us with their excellent gadgets.

 

[peng]

If only they'd add a switch to turn off the rear channel level boost in DEQ most all would be well.

I no longer have my AVR-X4400H but I do remember the DEQ boost on the rear/surround channel was audibly less than what I was getting with the AV8801 it replaced so I think they might have been heading in the right direction. Your idea of a "switch", presumably you meant a software one would be welcome by most, I assume and should be easy to implement via FW. So may be more users request such a switch, or equivalent, will help D+M implement it. I say D+M because I am sure more people have the $20 App, that is D+M's responsibility. If D+M implement the feature/option, then Audyssey will most likely follow suit on their $200 app.

 

[Oniiz86]

I upgraded from an X3500h to the X4800h and I have noticed 2 'regressions':
- When sending a signal to my Chromecast Audio (connected via optical) the X3500h would sense the signal, turn on and start playing from the correct input. The X4800h doesn't do this anymore or am I missing something very obvious?
- Nice to have but the X3500h would show the sampling rate of the incoming signal when pressing the info button on the remote. Has this been removed from these newer devices?

@Marcel A 2019 Marantz SR5014 owner had discovered the same Sample Rate info being removed from the GUI, It does appear that they've broken something once again as I can confirm it's broken too on my 2018 Denon X8500H, it appears the engineering team fix one thing & break 4 other things unfortunately I've had luck with these email addresses [email protected] & [email protected], also you may want to try informing the Japan team here [email protected] as they'll inform their engineering team of this recent bug, in the past the Japanese team have been very receptive to feedback & have fixed the bugs that I've reported, please do remember to report this as the more owners do the quicker they can expedite a fix for this issue in one of their upcoming firmware updates.

 

[Marcel]

please do remember to report this as the more owners do the quicker they can expedite a fix for this issue in one of their upcoming firmware updates.

Thanks! I have reached out to them on both issues, although the first one maybe a limitation in the new hardware (just guessing really). Lets see if they respond.

 

[Sal1950]

I've been in many forums where folks jump off the D&M ship for Yamaha or PAC.

That would be a mistake IMHO

Your idea of a "switch", presumably you meant a software one would be welcome by most, I assume and should be easy to implement via FW. So may be more users request such a switch, or equivalent, will help D+M implement it. I say D+M because I am sure more people have the $20 App, that is D+M's responsibility.

Yep, just like the MRC "switch"

 

[Oddball]

My previous post was in attempt to provide broader perspective to AVR market. And just to attempt to note where D&M could do better. Can’t say that my motivation is pure, but would like long and happy future for D&M to continue supplying their gear to the geaks.

They need to work on volume and that ain’t going to get better when people complete auto AVR Audy calibration and it sounds not compelling in lots of cases. Having D&M AVRs performing well with th initial calibration will enable them to bet better sales volume and work on high end products that many people here crave.

Most common complaint now is that people have ran the Audy and it sounds crap. So they go on forums for few good tips on o make it worth it. But I bet lots of people just return the darn thing and don’t engage in forums.

 

[gparaskevas]

Do we know if this is stereo or multichannel?

I think it's stereo. I haven't found any tidal multichannel albums. If you have any to suggest share the link.

 

[Fahzz]

I think you misunderstood Increments of 10hz like 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100. Thank god they don't go down to 10hz!

Over 100 the crossover choices can be the same as they are but under 100hz, the omission of 50hz and 70hz crossovers is a big issue for many speakers which have 40hz and 60hz low end frequencies. In fact, the vast majority of speakers bottom out at 40 and 60 and those would have recommended crossovers of 50 and 70, which Denon doesn't offer.

Just a quick note on this - maybe old news? A recent update to newer Denon AVR's added a 70hz crossover among other meaningful things besides the usual HEOS stuff. If you have automatic updates you might have it and not know it. Surprise!

 

[funkera91]

Hello guys, I see that nobody compared which one is better
Denon X3600h or x4800h in music and movies.
I believe that x3600h has better DAC AKM before the AKM fire of the fabric. What is your opinion?

 

[antcollinet]

Hello guys, I see that nobody compared which one is better
Denon X3600h or x4800h in music and movies.
I believe that x3600h has better DAC AKM before the AKM fire of the fabric. What is your opinion?

My opinion is any difference from the DAC is not audible.

 

[funkera91]

My opinion is any difference from the DAC is not audible.

So if there is not audible differences between those to models, the x4800h is better model?

 

[kyuu]

So if there is not audible differences between those to models, the x4800h is better model?

Better in what way? Whether one is better than the other depends on what your needs are in terms of features. Audio quality will be indistinguishable.

 

[Oddball]

So if there is not audible differences between those to models, the x4800h is better model?

Objectively it is a better model - has more features and most likely better built quality. Some of its features like Dirac, 2 more sub outputs and more advanced bass management could have (significant) impact to audio quality if used correctly. Difference in SINAD, as noted, should not be audible and features if unused would also not make any difference for you.

Also unlikely to find 3600H new, so would have to find a used one which is a whole separate matter.

 

[funkera91]

Better in what way? Whether one is better than the other depends on what your needs are in terms of features. Audio quality will be indistinguishable.

Yeah, for audio quality mostlyf for my point of view. About movies, I see the Dirac option, but I am still watching 5.1 . So in my option upgrade is not needed. I am still using my X3600h.

Objectively it is a better model - has more features and most likely better built quality. Some of its features like Dirac, 2 more sub outputs and more advanced bass management could have (significant) impact to audio quality if used correctly. Difference in SINAD, as noted, should not be audible and features if unused would also not make any difference for you.

Also unlikely to find 3600H new, so would have to find a used one which is a whole separate matter.

Thanks! I am using the x3600h and still works very well. Looks like Denon still made good quality products!

 

[Steve Dallas]

Hello guys, I see that nobody compared which one is better
Denon X3600h or x4800h in music and movies.
I believe that x3600h has better DAC AKM before the AKM fire of the fabric. What is your opinion?

I had the 4700 with AKM DAC until it died and have the 4800 now. I hear no difference in the DACs. I do love the Dirac option and control of multiple subs in the 4800.

 

[antcollinet]

So if there is not audible differences between those to models, the x4800h is better model?

yes, but at a significantly higher cost, than say the 3800. And only moderately more power - almost insignificant.

But if you are happy with your 3600, stick with it - absolutely no reason to upgrade unless the 3800 or 4800 offer features you need.