Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[peng]

That is one way but I think another way is to use an online calculators if one does not, or just don't want to calculate it manually, the estimated power (or better still current) requirements for the worse use case scenario.

If the calculated value is well within, such as less than 50% or the amp's rated output, then there is no reason to not use the default setting. There isn't really much guess work involved, no need to ask questions (no harm to ask, but the questioners often could get their own answers easily) such as: I have 4 ohm speakers, should I get an amp?

 

[raykkho]

Has anyone added outboard amp for your 4800?

My LCR are active speakers, and I'm wondering whether there would be any measurable or audible difference if I added a 4-channel outboard amp for my side and rear surround speakers, leaving the 4800 for 4 height Atmos speakers only. For 4-channel amp I have the OSD HTX4150 in mind. My surrounds are 4ohm 87db.

 

[fritobugger]

Has anyone added outboard amp for your 4800?

My LCR are active speakers, and I'm wondering whether there would be any measurable or audible difference if I added a 4-channel outboard amp for my side and rear surround speakers, leaving the 4800 for 4 height Atmos speakers only. For 4-channel amp I have the OSD HTX4150 in mind. My surrounds are 4ohm 87db.

I got the cheap but well measuring Fosi V3 Mono for my front LR mains as an experiment. My front mains are Revel F208. I feel like it sound a bit better but not in big way. The main reason I am keeping the Fosi is to reduce the load on the expensive X4800H since it is in a cabinet and gets quite hot.

 

[OCA]

Has anyone added outboard amp for your 4800?

My LCR are active speakers, and I'm wondering whether there would be any measurable or audible difference if I added a 4-channel outboard amp for my side and rear surround speakers, leaving the 4800 for 4 height Atmos speakers only. For 4-channel amp I have the OSD HTX4150 in mind. My surrounds are 4ohm 87db.

Did you set FL/FR to pre-out only? Front mains are the only pair you can do that and it saves a lot of juice.

 

[fritobugger]

Did you set FL/FR to pre-out only? Front mains are the only pair you can do that and it saves a lot of juice.

Yes, that is exactly what I did.

 

[OCA]

Yes, that is exactly what I did.

I see. I guess 4800 is powerful enough to run other speakers on its own although 4ohm speakers may be problematic. No matter what you do, don't set the 4800 to 4ohm mode though.

 

[fritobugger]

I see. I guess 4800 is powerful enough to run other speakers on its own although 4ohm speakers may be problematic. No matter what you do, don't set the 4800 to 4ohm mode though.

To be sure the X4800H is plenty powerful for the F208 with a 4 ohm Dynaudio center and 4 ohm Dynaudio surrounds. I ran an X4200W for 7 years with the same center and surrounds with a couple of different mains before getting the F208 (first Mission M35i: 8 ohm but dips to 3.6 ohm and then Revel F36: 6 ohm but dips down to 3.8 ohms). The 4 ohm Dynaudio center has recently been replaced by an 8 ohm 3-way Paradigm.

Yeah, never put it in 4 ohm mode.

 

[EWL5]

Did you set FL/FR to pre-out only? Front mains are the only pair you can do that and it saves a lot of juice.

I don't think that's true. Like my 3800, the 4800 can assign "Pre-out Only" to any speaker grouping (not just the fronts).
See pg 239 of this manual:

https://www.denon.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-denon_northamerica_shared/default/dw180bcf2a/downloads/avr-x4800h-owners-manual-en.pdf

Additionally, both the 3800/4800 have no issues w/4 ohm speakers. This was proven by Amir's rigorous testing and member dlaloum's own experience playing his challenging Gallo Reference speakers first w/Crown amps and then the 4800 internal amps only.

Onkyo TX-RZ50 Review (Home Theater AVR)

I already have Arcam with DIRAC, not looking actively to change but this one gives me eARC compared to current ARC and that's my motivation really. I am looking for get a pre-owned one and so return may not be an option, that's why thought I will check here if there was any significant update to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[OCA]

I don't think that's true. Like my 3800, the 4800 can assign "Pre-out Only" to any speaker grouping (not just the fronts).
See pg 239 of this manual:

https://www.denon.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-denon_northamerica_shared/default/dw180bcf2a/downloads/avr-x4800h-owners-manual-en.pdf

Additionally, both the 3800/4800 have no issues w/4 ohm speakers. This was proven by Amir's rigorous testing and member dlaloum's own experience playing his challenging Gallo Reference speakers first w/Crown amps and then the 4800 internal amps only.

Onkyo TX-RZ50 Review (Home Theater AVR)

I already have Arcam with DIRAC, not looking actively to change but this one gives me eARC compared to current ARC and that's my motivation really. I am looking for get a pre-owned one and so return may not be an option, that's why thought I will check here if there was any significant update to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You are right, I got confused. What you cannot set is "speaker" only - turning off unused pre-outs.

 

[OCA]

Additionally, both the 3800/4800 have no issues w/4 ohm speakers

It depends on what you mean by issues. They sure will play. My C40 (slightly more powerful than the 4800) struggles to get the best out of my Kanta 2s. Although they're rated at a nominal 8Ω, their impedance drops to around 2.7Ω at roughly 100Hz, accompanied by steep phase shifts. It wasn't until I added a Michi power amp that they really came to life and sounded as they should.

 

[peng]

Please be reminded, again, that 4 ohms speakers may or may not be an issue because it depends on multiple factors. Each individual use case/conditions should be considered separately based the user's listening habit, SPL requirements, seating distances, speaker sensitivity, phase angle, impedance vs frequency etc.

Example: User A (such as @fritobugger see post#2907 has 4 ohm speakers "To be sure the X4800H is plenty powerful for the F208 with a 4 ohm Dynaudio center and 4 ohm Dynaudio surrounds.", User B has 8 ohms speakers but has to use external power amp.

 

[DenonMate]

With a X4800 you can set each channel separately to preout and deactivate the amp section.
With my X4700 there is only all amps on with heights preouts, all amps on with front preouts or all amps off and all channels preout.
The X4700 gets very hot in all amps on mode (all 6 ohm speakers) . so I first switched to external amps for Fronts (2xFosi v3 mono); now going to full preout with additional 3eaudio A7 mono ((center) and 3eaudio PAM158 (8 channels based on 3eaudio A5 modules).
Even when I not buy one, would do the same with a X4800 regarding heat and amirs measurements.

 

[Fahzz]

Has anyone added outboard amp for your 4800?

My LCR are active speakers, and I'm wondering whether there would be any measurable or audible difference if I added a 4-channel outboard amp for my side and rear surround speakers, leaving the 4800 for 4 height Atmos speakers only. For 4-channel amp I have the OSD HTX4150 in mind. My surrounds are 4ohm 87db.

I use two Hypex NC252's For LRC with my 4800. I have no measurements, but my impression has always been that the imaging is better. Maybe placebo, but it's good placebo!

 

[Sal1950]

My LCR are active speakers, and I'm wondering whether there would be any measurable or audible difference if I added a 4-channel outboard amp for my side and rear surround speakers, leaving the 4800 for 4 height Atmos speakers only. For 4-channel amp I have the OSD HTX4150 in mind. My surrounds are 4ohm 87db.

What's your real concern here? it will work just fine. As is, the 4800 has plenty of muscle in the power supply and amps to handle the surround and height speakers without running out of gas. Will adding the OSD improve the sound, I very highly doubt it unless your running the system at extreme loudness levels.
What are your powered LCR's, how loud can they go? You didn't mention subwoofers, do you have any? Using a couple good subs and relieving the rest the bass load would probably be a better improvement move than the OSD.

 

[raykkho]

I got the cheap but well measuring Fosi V3 Mono for my front LR mains as an experiment. My front mains are Revel F208. I feel like it sound a bit better but not in big way. The main reason I am keeping the Fosi is to reduce the low on the expensive X4800H since it is in a cabinet and gets quite hot.

Cool, I'm actually using the V3 for my centre channel as well. I considered it for the 4 surrounds but such setup would be kind of unwieldy and practically as big as the OSD with the power supplies and everything.

 

[raykkho]

Did you set FL/FR to pre-out only? Front mains are the only pair you can do that and it saves a lot of juice.

Yes, LCR are set to pre-out.

 

[raykkho]

What's your real concern here? it will work just fine. As is, the 4800 has plenty of muscle in the power supply and amps to handle the surround and height speakers without running out of gas. Will adding the OSD improve the sound, I very highly doubt it unless your running the system at extreme loudness levels.
What are your powered LCR's, how loud can they go? You didn't mention subwoofers, do you have any? Using a couple good subs and relieving the rest the bass load would probably be a better improvement move than the OSD.

My LCR (ATC and B&W) are active/powered, have 3 subs so that shouldn't be that much of an issue. Just wonder if introducing an outboard amp to drive the 4 surrounds would bring noticeable benefits.

 

[DenonMate]

My LCR (ATC and B&W) are active/powereda, have 3 subs so that shouldn't be that much of an issue. Just wonder if introducing an outboard amp to drive the 4 surrounds would bring noticeable benefits.

If the X4800 behaves like the X4700 then yes. look at amirs measurements for amp vs. preout mode.

 

[raykkho]

With a X4800 you can set each channel separately to preout and deactivate the amp section.
With my X4700 there is only all amps on with heights preouts, all amps on with front preouts or all amps off and all channels preout.
The X4700 gets very hot in all amps on mode (all 6 ohm speakers) . so I first switched to external amps for Fronts (2xFosi v3 mono); now going to full preout with additional 3eaudio A7 mono ((center) and 3eaudio PAM158 (8 channels based on 3eaudio A5 modules).
Even when I not buy one, would do the same with a X4800 regarding heat and amirs measurements.

Yes, already set pre-out mode for LCR.

Incidentally, what do you think about the 3eaudio multi-channel amp you have? I suppose they are branded as Alsozone?

 

[Sal1950]

Just wonder if introducing an outboard amp to drive the 4 surrounds would bring noticeable benefits.

As mentioned before, I really doubt it. But as all things in Hi-Fi, if you think it will sound better, it most likely will. LOL
I ran my 4700 in full preamp mode with the 5 Adcom amps I've owned for a long time. The whole idea just made me comfortable.