Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[Sal1950]

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.

With only 2db difference between the AKM 4700 DAC and the new 4800 DAC, I expect only a Divinity might hear a difference.

 

[David_Alexander]

With only 2db difference between the AKM 4700 DAC and the new 4800 DAC, I expect only a Divinity might hear a difference.

Dirac DLBC with 4 independent sub outs, possible hints to upgrade to DART. You may not hear the difference between the two units running Audyssey. But only the 4800 will offer you Dirac.

But if Dirac or 4 independent sub outs do don't appeal, why change?

 

[Sal1950]

Dirac DLBC with 4 independent sub outs, possible hints to upgrade to DART. You may not hear the difference between the two units running Audyssey. But only the 4800 will offer you Dirac. But if Dirac or 4 independent sub outs do don't appeal, why change?

I'll never have 4 subs, 2 is the most I can get in this room (or need).
I'm actually quite pleased with the PC tuned, Audyssey + Editor app with my 4700H, if I thought I needed better I'd spend $200 for the Mult-X upgrade app.
To get a Dirac update, I need to buy at least a new X4800H ($2700) + at least another $700 for a full boat Dirac upgrade package. God only knows how much Dirac is gonna hose you to then upgrade to ART when it does finally come. Sorry partner,, but IMHO there's no way in hell I'd get $3400 or more improvement to swing over to Dirac, it's a good DRC app but it doesn't part the waters over everything else.

"Conclusions
I came into this review expecting Audyssey to not perform. That was my experience and that of formal blind testing of it years back. The out of box results of this "XT32" version was better than I remembered. Still, using the App is mandatory to properly incorporate a target curve with more bass and removal of "BBC dip." Once there, I had no issues with its performance and I think it comes very close to advanced solutions like Dirac and Anthem ARC.
I am happy to recommend Audyssey XT32 with use of Denon/Marantz app to customize it.

'Audyssey Room EQ Review'

Apr 21, 2020

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Audyssey Room Equalization. Audyssey is standard technology in a number of Audio/Video Receivers such as the Denon AVR-X3600H I recently reviewed. The standard version in the AVR is mostly all or nothing so I downloaded the Marantz/Denon Android App that for $20 lets you customize some critical aspects of it as you will see later.

My setup is my main music system which I would show you a picture of but it got so torn up with cables going everywhere to wire up the AVR which I am ashamed to show you. So see this picture from...

• amirm

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[Steve Dallas]

I'll never have 4 subs, 2 is the most I can get in this room (or need).
I'm actually quite pleased with the PC tuned, Audyssey + Editor app with my 4700H, if I thought I needed better I'd spend $200 for the Mult-X upgrade app.
To get a Dirac update, I need to buy at least a new X4800H ($2700) + at least another $700 for a full boat Dirac upgrade package. God only knows how much Dirac is gonna hose you to then upgrade to ART when it does finally come. Sorry partner,, but IMHO there's no way in hell I'd get $3400 or more improvement to swing over to Dirac, it's a good DRC app but it doesn't part the waters over everything else.

I was perfectly happy with XT32 in my 4700 in all scenarios. When I acquired the 4800, I calibrated everything again with XT32 with similar results. I eventually purchased a Dirac license on sale, then a DLBC license. I only calibrated it with Dirac for stereo listening on preset 2. Results were good, but not really any better than XT32, except for the freedom to set my target curve with more precision than the MultiEQ phone app. DLBC was a waste of money for me. It made almost no measurable difference and no audible difference in my setup.

TLDR: Dirac is fine, but not a huge improvement over XT32 to the point that I didn't bother to re-calibrate my multichannel preset with it. Being able to calibrate subs independently is a good feature. DLBC offered no benefit to my particular setup.

 

[IamJF]

Dirac will not be a night and day difference for a stereo setup. But it CAN be with a good working ART setup! Therefore you need at least some speakers at the back of the room which can produce significant bass.

No matter if you use 4 subs or not - ART will only work on amps with 4 sub outputs, these are prepared to run ART. So when buying a new amp the 4 sub outputs are mandatory for me.

 

[rageworm]

Folks, it's 40% off on amazon now in case you wanted one for a while like I did.

 

[NanoGuidingStar]

Folks, it's 40% off on amazon now in case you wanted one for a while like I did.

Should I get X4800H to replace my X3800H? Is this worth the upgrade? I bought this X3800H for $900 last fall.

 

[kyuu]

Should I get X4800H to replace my X3800H? Is this worth the upgrade? I bought this X3800H for $900 last fall.

I would say not unless there's a particular feature you're missing. There will be no sound quality difference between the two.

 

[Oddball]

Should I get X4800H to replace my X3800H? Is this worth the upgrade? I bought this X3800H for $900 last fall.

No, if you want to upgrade 6800H is your next stop.

 

[Oddball]

Unless the Made in Japan sticker, metal faceplate, cleaner preouts, or monolithic amps are important to you...no.

This is all minor stuff. Upgrade is IMO bigger than that. 3800h/4800h overlap in the D&M lineup is really confusing and almost redundant. But once you choose your ride, you just ride it through unless want to really upgrade.

 

[Oddball]

4800H is clearly a better choice, but not if you already have 3800h. And 3800h is the darling of the capitol as well. I think you did well as price difference in your case was affordable. In some markets 4800h sells for much more.

Both of them will be able to do Dirac ART which is what is apparently the next big thing around the block.

 

[EWL5]

Should I get X4800H to replace my X3800H? Is this worth the upgrade? I bought this X3800H for $900 last fall.

Nearly a lateral move. A big upgrade would be using external amp(s)!

 

[NanoGuidingStar]

Thank you all for your enthusiastic responses. I initially had two main considerations.

First, the display on the 4800 provides more comprehensive information, including the currently active channels, and it shows the audio decoding format and signal source using two lines of text. This is a small detail I overlooked when purchasing the 3800. On the 3800, the display cannot show the active channels, and since it only uses a single line of text, part of the information gets cut off.

Second, the internal power amplifier module design of the 4800 uses a separate layout for each channel. Compared to the integrated design of the 3800, this gives the impression that the 4800 may offer better durability over long-term use, and its thermal performance should also be better I guess.

As for whether it's made in Japan or Vietnam, I believe this only has a psychological impact—there shouldn’t be any significant difference in actual usage.

Regarding the difference in power output, when listening in two-channel mode, the 125W vs. 105W should result in some noticeable difference. However, in multi-channel listening scenarios (or what’s referred to as All Channel Driven), the difference is essentially negligible.

I’ve already purchased Dirac Live Room Correction (Full Band) + Bass Control for the X3800H. If I decide to switch to a different unit, I’ll inevitably have to repurchase the Dirac license, which would become an additional expense for me. Moreover, it’s still unclear when Dirac will offer its next discount.

Regardless, after considering everyone's perspectives, I've decided to drop the idea.

 

[DMill]

Nearly a lateral move. A big upgrade would be using external amp(s)!

It would possibly be an upgrade to use external amps. But even then, youd probably just have more amps and it would likely sound exactly the same. IMO

 

[dlaloum]

It would possibly be an upgrade to use external amps. But even then, youd probably just have more amps and it would likely sound exactly the same. IMO

That depends totally on the speakers... (with my speakers, appropriate external amps on the mains provided definite audible improvements - but they are difficult to drive speakers, with capacitive tweeter and impedance minimum of 1.6ohm)

 

[NanoGuidingStar]

Regarding external amp usage on 3800, looks like several posters here missed the 3800 preouts start giving out at 0.8V (according to its review here). Make sure you understand the consequences of this and make the correct external amp choice, or the "upgrade" may be moot. 4800 is more robust in this regard, and should drive most amps to full rating.

 

[dlaloum]

Regarding external amp usage on 3800, looks like several posters here missed the 3800 preouts start giving out at 0.8V (according to its review here). Make sure you understand the consequences of this and make the correct external amp choice, or the "upgrade" may be moot. 4800 is more robust in this regard, and should drive most amps to full rating.

I think you are severely misinterpreting the test results!!

Here is the output test:

What this tells us, is that optimal performance is achieved at 0.8V, at which point SINAD is measured at 92 to 95db

However as you can see on the chart at 300mV SINAD is still a very acceptable 90db, and at 2V we have SINAD of 86 to 87db - again just fine!

This of course does not tell us what the max V output is (whether it can drive the 3V or 3.5V that some low gain power amps might need)

However throughout the range measured, the pre-outs are showing excellent results

Keep in mind that if you are set up for maximum peaks at 1.5V or 2V - then your average level will be way down from there... more like around the 0.8V - where its performance is optimal.

The place you really really want that high SINAD, is in the quiet parts of any recording, where any noise component will become obvious and won't be masked by the music/audio...

This is a pretty good measured result - in fact it betters many far more expensive AVR's - you need to go to flagship hardware costing many times the price of these, to better this result!

 

[popej]

Regarding the difference in power output, when listening in two-channel mode, the 125W vs. 105W should result in some noticeable difference.

It is about 0.76dB more. You need 10dB to perceive twice the volume, 3dB is like a bit louder. The threshold of audibility is about 0.3dB, but that needs a good test method, like instant switching. I guess, you wont notice 0.8dB at all.

The measured power difference is even less than computed from specification.

 

[EWL5]

As for whether it's made in Japan or Vietnam, I believe this only has a psychological impact—there shouldn’t be any significant difference in actual usage.

For whatever reason, I've noted more posts of folks w/reliability issues of "made in Japan" Denon 4800 and Marantz units vs the "made in Vietnam" 3800. This is just my observation from being on threads in AVS, Reddit, and here (no shade on the 4800 intended).

 

[EWL5]

It would possibly be an upgrade to use external amps. But even then, youd probably just have more amps and it would likely sound exactly the same. IMO

Adding external amp(s) has at least the following benefit: any power not used by the offloaded channels can be used by the internal AVR amps (assuming AVR has a true pre-out capability). The reason L/R or L/C/R are the most offloaded channels is because they generally have the most content and are the best signals to go to a device that has only one job. I have my L/R channels going to an XPA2 stereo amp, which is considered a very strong amplifier. If it was a weaker, cheaper amp, then I may have the surrounds going there.

I find dedicated amps to be universally useful as they can be repurposed despite multiple AVR/processor changes. The amps in most mass market AVRs are what most would consider "weak sauce" compared to good, dedicated amps!