Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[Steve Dallas]

I guess I keep them too long, every AVR I've had has died on me.
The 6500 just died a couple of months ago I've sent it in for service and we'll see what happens. This was the first one where I had a fan on it and it was on there from day one and I never go above like -40, as my ears just can't take anything close to reference.
They can put whatever label they want on the box or suggest it's manufactured or designed wherever they want but if it's got a one or two year or three year warranty I don't care. Impress me with 10+ year warranty.

I don't think so. I have had Sonys and Yamahas last over 20 years. My 4700 died the first time just outside the warranty window. Had it repaired. Died the same way (amp fault) a year later.

 

[amper42]

I have a power meter on the whole system and with a black screen on the telly I got 157 watts with internal amps on and 119 with amps off. 38 watts doesn't seem like much of a difference but the temperature difference is significant. There was a small change in power factor from 0.80 amps on to 0.82 amps off.

That's really interesting.
With Denon 4700 in full pre-amp mode, Kill-a-watt reads 46W while idle and when the speakers reach 80dB levels. It's a steady 46W no matter what the volume control or mode setting is on the AVR.

 

[peng]

I guess I keep them too long, every AVR I've had has died on me.
The 6500 just died a couple of months ago I've sent it in for service and we'll see what happens. This was the first one where I had a fan on it and it was on there from day one and I never go above like -40, as my ears just can't take anything close to reference.
They can put whatever label they want on the box or suggest it's manufactured or designed wherever they want but if it's got a one or two year or three year warranty I don't care. Impress me with 10+ year warranty.

The 4800 is better in several ways, as listed by amper42. Imo, for real world use if one does not need those extra features, the 3800 definitely can save you a lot of money and provide the same or nearly the same sound quality. As I opined before, the less than 90 dB single point SINAD might be for an unknown reason that probably would not be repeatable on another test sample. The made in Japan thing, is not as important as it used to be, now that QS/QA practices are well established/monitored, but could be a psychological thing that one may value. Also, as you alluded to, made in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Mexico, USA, a few of them are all going to die a little earlier/prematurely regardless, there is also luck involved, and statistically. miniDSP is made in China/HongKong and they are just as reliable as comparable products made in Japan or elsewhere. I sold my 2X4HD after many years of use, never had any issue with it, except it ran hot even just idling.

If people want to pay more for Japan made AVRS/AVPs, and get more peace of mind then it is worth it for them. Case in point, people are paying a lot for Anthem's AVM90 and thought they were made in Canada but they were actually designed in Canada, they actually manufacture them in Asia (Vietnam iirc), obviously to lower the production cost, example labor cost in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia are lower than that in Japan, and Canada.

Marantz used to made their flagship AVP such as the AV8003, and my MM8003 8 channel power amp in China, but then labor costs in China had gone up so I assume there's no need for them to made in there anymore so since the AV8801 (that I owned), they started making the lower models in Vietnam and the flagship ones back in Japan. So, basically, people willing to pay higher labor cost now are happy, lol.. My made in China Marantz MM8003 has been a work horse, for many years now, hopefully will last for another 10 years despite their birth place.

 

[rvsixer]

Denon 4800 offers:
1. Dual line display and aluminum front panel vs plastic.
2. Proprietary Denon technology that upsamples digital audio signals up to 32 bits before digital-to-analog conversion.
3. Includes discrete circuitry to clean up digital timing errors across digital inputs.
4. Includes 7 rear HDMI 2.1 inputs instead of 6.
5. Provides 3 trigger outputs instead of just 1.
6. Features dedicated discrete pre-outs and matrix options to support a fully independent audio/video Zone 3.
7. Retains composite and component video inputs/outputs alongside video upscaling to HDMI.
8. Designed and manufactured in Japan at Denon's premium Shirakawa audio facility.

9. Monolithic amplifier boards vs shared amplifier board

Back to pre-amp mode on Denons, I keep seeing people mention that pre-amp mode turns off its associated internal amp, when pre-amp mode actually only disconnects an internal amp from its pre-out connector (all internal amps remain on). This is explained and diagramed in the various Sound United Training videos. I have tested this out previously, and recall my 4800's total power draw did not change significantly whether pre-outs were connected or disconnected from one or more of its monolithic (individual) internal amps.

From various Sound United Training AVC/AVR-x7/800 YT videos (Introducing the New Denon AVR-X2800H & AVC-X3800H, Introducing the Brand New Denon AVC-X4800H!,Denon / Marantz AVR/C Features: Pre-Amp Mode (x700 AVR's), etc.):

"Pre-Amp Mode disconnects a receiver's internal amplifiers when it is being used as an AV processor and all speakers are powered by external amplifiers. ":

 

[peng]

9. Monolithic amplifier boards vs shared amplifier board

10. 2 ch Stereo menu.