Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[kawauso]

Yes, I have had the Auromatic mixer in mind for a long time.... I have no Auro encoded material, and doubt I am likely to get any, but the mixer is of interest!

I had heard it mentioned about the 6 slots - which is great, and I will probably configure them as my "loudness" feature.

I've also ordered an RC1240 remote (from the X6700 ) which includes TV control...

Auromatic works fine even with a Dolby speaker layout,
but if you can, try placing a pair of front heights closer to the Auro-recommended position.
Ideally around 30 degrees, aiming roughly at the height of your head when you stand,
so that when you sit down, the sound image passes just above you.

If you have a speaker selector, you can switch between your Dolby heights and Auro heights,
measure each with Dirac, and save them into separate slots.

This site explains the Auro presentation very well:

Auro-3D "Auro-Matic": Preset and Strength settings and effects. (Brief look at Dolby Surround Upmixer and DTS Neural:X.)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

 

[DrStranger]

I'm not currently seeing the point of Sony 360...

We already have Dolby Atmos, DTS and Auro - all of which now have 3D spatial positioning encoding technologies.

Is this just another Sony Betamax situation?

Could be, but if the license and function is cheap (than DD or DTX, etc)/free and you can do "surround" with less speakers, I dont see it beeing something negative if its included and can solve a need request. I my self am chasing a solution with 3.0 since I dont have possibility with back or sealing speakers.

 

[fzst]

How about using the RC-1250 remote from the A1H?
It’s a bit heavy and has a cool metallic feel, which gives it a premium, high-quality impression.
View attachment 494092

is it backlight?

 

[kawauso]

is it backlight?

No backlight

 

[dlaloum]

How about using the RC-1250 remote from the A1H?
It’s a bit heavy and has a cool metallic feel, which gives it a premium, high-quality impression.
View attachment 494092

Looking for some TV buttons to turn on, control TV inputs, and navigate the Smart TV menus... the RC-1240 has those.

They were common on all the higher end AVR's 10 years ago, and now seem to have disappeared!

 

[fzst]

No backlight

Too bad, I really miss that on mine when watching a movie in a completely dark room...

 

[fzst]

Looking for some TV buttons to turn on, control TV inputs, and navigate the Smart TV menus... the RC-1240 has those.

They were common on all the higher end AVR's 10 years ago, and now seem to have disappeared!

My older remote (of the Denon 4400h) did have a lot of options/buttons indeed but was also very cluttered due to this, which a lot of people, who didn't use them anyways did not like, so I guess that's why Denon decided to leave those out in the newer gen AVRs. I personally like the more straigt forward design with less options but a button to turn the TV on and off could be helpful. On top of my wishlist would be bluethoth capability though, infrared is just so outdated and cumbersome - even if I only sit 3m away from the AVR with a clear line of sight, I still get errors a lot and I have to aim the remote straight at the receiver. A lot of people also don't have a line of sight to the AVR, for those it's even more of a problem... honestly, it's 2025, make that remote bluethoth already!

Does someone know if the Marantz remotes work with the Denons?

 

[kawauso]

My older remote (of the Denon 4400h) did have a lot of options/buttons indeed but was also very cluttered due to this, which a lot of people, who didn't use them anyways did not like, so I guess that's why Denon decided to leave those out in the newer gen AVRs. I personally like the more straigt forward design with less options but a button to turn the TV on and off could be helpful. On top of my wishlist would be bluethoth capability though, infrared is just so outdated and cumbersome - even if I only sit 3m away from the AVR with a clear line of sight, I still get errors a lot and I have to aim the remote straight at the receiver. A lot of people also don't have a line of sight to the AVR, for those it's even more of a problem... honestly, it's 2025, make that remote bluethoth already!

Does someone know if the Marantz remotes work with the Denons?

Is using a smartphone not allowed?
I have everything connected to my iPhone, so I can operate it anytime.
I still use the remote as well since it has its own conveniences.

 

[fzst]

I use the smartphone app as well but I think it's not a very good app and sadly the options are quite limited when you are using Dirac. I'd like to see D&M developing an app where you can change pretty much all settings that the AVR has to offer kinda like a mirror of the on screen settings menu.

 

[kawauso]

I use the smartphone app as well but I think it's not a very good app and sadly the options are quite limited when you are using Dirac. I'd like to see D&M developing an app where you can change pretty much all settings that the AVR has to offer kinda like a mirror of the on screen settings menu.

It seems that Marantz remotes can’t be used with Denon.

 

[fzst]

It seems that Marantz remotes can’t be used with Denon.

No? Too bad, those are nice and have a backlight.

 

[Dovydas]

No? Too bad, those are nice and have a backlight.

A10H has a backlight as well.

 

[dlaloum]

A10H has a backlight as well.

Also not TV buttons....

 

[kawauso]

No? Too bad, those are nice and have a backlight.

The button on the side lit up when I pressed it! I hadn’t noticed it before! (RC-1250)

 

[Dovydas]

The button on the side lit up when I pressed it! I hadn’t noticed it before! (RC-1250)
View attachment 494426

Yep, it took some time for me to find that button as well

 

[ivo.f.doma]

Looking for some TV buttons to turn on, control TV inputs, and navigate the Smart TV menus... the RC-1240 has those.

They were common on all the higher end AVR's 10 years ago, and now seem to have disappeared!

I use the Sofabaton U2, it has backlit buttons and an OLED display, and it also does macros.

 

[dlaloum]

I use the Sofabaton U2, it has backlit buttons and an OLED display, and it also does macros.

I had it on my shortlist.... but decided to go with the simple option! (also reports were variable...)

 

[EWL5]

I had it on my shortlist.... but decided to go with the simple option! (also reports were variable...)

Do you have any early thoughts w/just the 4800 running your speakers? I realize you haven't done a full calibration yet but you must be enjoying the new AVR by now?

 

[dlaloum]

Do you have any early thoughts w/just the 4800 running your speakers? I realize you haven't done a full calibration yet but you must be enjoying the new AVR by now?

No - I restrained myself - I want to have time to measure the existing system in situ before connecting up the X4800 and measuring it in turn without DSP...

I could not resist putting it on the rack... plugging it in and doing the base firmware update, then loading Dirac to check that my licences were in place and working.... - but that is as far as I went.

No dedicated "me" time in our open living space....

 

[kawauso]

No - I restrained myself - I want to have time to measure the existing system in situ before connecting up the X4800 and measuring it in turn without DSP...

I could not resist putting it on the rack... plugging it in and doing the base firmware update, then loading Dirac to check that my licences were in place and working.... - but that is as far as I went.

No dedicated "me" time in our open living space....

Did you place it on the rack with a soft touch?
How do you feel about the build quality of the X4800H?