Denon AVR-X4800H AVR Review

[evert]

Can’t see why it wouldn’t.

I'm thinking since it's a 9 channel internal amp, can those be assigned dynamically or are they "locked" to a specific speaker.
If they are locked then my setup of 5ch in base layer and 4ch in heights will take them all.
If I can use main zone FL + FR and/or Zone 2 FL + FR I would be very happy.
And when I don't use Zone 2 those amps belong to the 9ch I have in the MCH layout.

Sorry to keep repeating =)

 

[techsamurai]

What can I buy to hold the audyssey mic on a mic stand? It would need to fit the normal screw and be flat so I can place the mic on it.

But if it's metallic, it's going to add reflections...

 

[phn]

What can I buy to hold the audyssey mic on a mic stand? It would need to fit the normal screw and be flat so I can place the mic on it.

But if it's metallic, it's going to add reflections...

I use blue tack...

 

[techsamurai]

I use blue tack...

Do you use a mic stand?

 

[SCG]

4800 for a nutty price of $1399 at Adorama. Details here: https://slickdeals.net/f/16969894-d...-receiver-1399-free-s-h?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1

Done and done for a new unit with free shipping, will be here Wed 10/11. Before this, the best deal I found was $1599 for open box with full warranty.

Have a X4500 config in 7.2.4 with Audyssey and works great but hear many good things about Dirac and want to try, but my X4500 works and also got it at a huge discount from Fry's Electronic the day before they went out of business.

So hard to justify the much higher price of the X4800 But at $1399 and with Paypal 6 months same as cash, it will cost $233 a month ($7.50 day) and I'll move the X4500 to the bedroom's 5.2.2 setup.

Looks like from the comment section of Slickdeals, they previously also had the X3800 for $999 a few times so worth checking back there now and then if that's the avr you want.

Has anyone compared the limited and full range Dirac on the X4800 (bought limited and then upgraded to full range) and noticed any room correction improvements?

 

[SCG]

DEQ is not about increasing "spl" at lower "volume", but about increasing spl of the low, and high frequency bands at lower volume bass to some extent on the so called "loudness curve/Fletcher Munson curve", though Audyssey emphasized that theirs are more accurate their the old Fletcher Munson, in various ways.

Audyssey DEQ is, like a lot of things, not perfect but it is a little more sophisticated than what a lot of people assume it to be "just" like loudness control, based on Fletcher and Munson's.

That's one of the things I'm interested in comparing with Audyssey and Dirac, I use DEQ for late night viewing and "normal" TV viewing (-55db to -42db on Denon volume, and have 12v triggers so subs always stay on). I can't remember exactly what I tweaked and by how much but I think I turned up the center channel and turned down all the surrounds slightly.

In any event, DEQ works well in my use case so interested in how Dirac does at night without DEQ. Worse case with dual capabilities of X4800 can run Dirac for movies/streaming and then switch to Audyssey at night.

 

[peng]

If Dirac is missing that, then at normal listening levels, Audyssey must be better even if it's not perfect.

I haven't tried DEQ but I've actually been wondering about the Fletcher Munson curve on my own because I was always surprised how my AVR became so quiet (different might be a better term) as the volume goes down.

In my living room, I have to turn down my volume massively at night as we have cathedral ceilings and I don't want to disturb the family sleeping upstairs. I'm curious to hear how DEQ sounds at night. I'm feeling that I might have to turn it off at night.

You can easily customize a target curve that approximte the DEQ effects for your normal listening level. It is not "dynamic" as such but it will do the trick for that volume position.

 

[SCG]

Apologies if this was answered in the thread already, but have you taken post-correction measurements of each to determine what the differences are between the two?

I posted my REW measurements in this thread a few months back. Just check on the first 10 pages or so.

I scrubbed this thread for your REW measurements and couldn't find them, maybe you posted to a different thread or forum, do you mind re-posting sir?

You can’t run Dirac with the mic that comes with the Denon because that’s an Audyssey mic. I did use a miniDSP UMIK-2 mic calibrated by CSL.

Also you stated that you used a UMIK-2 to calibrate Dirac on the X4800, is there a special reason you used the -2 vs -1 UMIK?

I don’t miss Audyssey at all and can’t wait to upgrade my living room X4700H with another X4800H to get Dirac in my living room as well.

Lastly fyi, did u upgrade ur lvrm X4700 to X4800 to get Dirac there too?

 

[rana_kirti]

looking to put in the extra for the x4800 over the x3800 but...

non engineer here. unable to understand graphs and data.

could someone please explain in layman terms how the x4800 with the same low quality DACs as the x3800 is Recommended where as the x3800 in Not Recommended...?

thanks.

 

[hiphop_odc]

I'm thinking since it's a 9 channel internal amp, can those be assigned dynamically or are they "locked" to a specific speaker.
If they are locked then my setup of 5ch in base layer and 4ch in heights will take them all.
If I can use main zone FL + FR and/or Zone 2 FL + FR I would be very happy.
And when I don't use Zone 2 those amps belong to the 9ch I have in the MCH layout.

Sorry to keep repeating =)

I think you need a extra Amp. But you can just buy a cheap class D for that and let's it power two of your atmos channels

 

[phn]

Do you use a mic stand?

Yes, bought the cheapest one available and found out it has a different sized binding screw. Blue tack to rescue.

 

[Mausse]

Audyssy’s Dynamic EQ is FUNDEMENTAL to a Hi-Fi experience once you get the tonality of your system just right.

Can’t think that Dirac can compete with it. I had it before with a miniDSP and while correction wise it’s better it will sound perfect on only sound level. And you never listen at only one sound level.

I was suprised how much better it sounded. Couple last years everybody was telling to leave all EQ settings to "off" including DEQ. That's probably why I never bother with it.

 

[popej]

Couple last years everybody was telling to leave all EQ settings to "off" including DEQ.

DSP and acoustical calibration changed rules. Despite this, some people persist in their beliefs.

If we consider Dirac, why do people buy Denon for it? Wouldn't be Onkyo or Pioneer more reasonable choice?

 

[EWL5]

DSP and acoustical calibration changed rules. Despite this, some people persist in their beliefs.

If we consider Dirac, why do people buy Denon for it? Wouldn't be Onkyo or Pioneer more reasonable choice?

For me, the RZ70/805 is too expensive (even with DL included) and the RZ50/505 is software limited per Amir's observation to protect the weaker amp. The perfect Onkyo/Pioneer for me is something b/w the two but it doesn't exist. I had 3 Pioneer AVRs in a row before the 3800 broke the streak!

If I end up paying for DL on my 3800 (waiting until BF), then it brings me back to the original retail price of the 3800, which I can live with.

 

[EWL5]

looking to put in the extra for the x4800 over the x3800 but...

non engineer here. unable to understand graphs and data.

could someone please explain in layman terms how the x4800 with the same low quality DACs as the x3800 is Recommended where as the x3800 in Not Recommended...?

thanks.

4800 advantages over the 3800:

1) Made in Japan
2) AL32 processing (32-bit extension and 192 kHz sampling), which can lower noise floor
3) Clock jitter reducer

The 4800 was a steal at a price that I just about paid for my 3800. I would have bought it w/o question if I didn't already have the 3800 (price is back to $2499 now so hopefully some of us got in on the deal).

 

[peng]

Just made an order for one of these.
I don't suppose it can run 5.1.4 in my living room and power zone 2 in my kitchen without external amps?

Obviously not at the same time, but otherwise it should be able to, check the owner's manual first for sure. In any other case, unless you need a lot of power for zone 2, 2 ch class D mini amps are cheap, less than $100.

 

[peng]

4800 advantages over the 3800:

1) Made in Japan
2) AL32 processing (32-bit extension and 192 kHz sampling), which can lower noise floor
3) Clock jitter reducer

The 4800 was a steal at a price that I just about paid for my 3800. I would have bought it w/o question if I didn't already have the 3800 (price is back to $2499 now so hopefully some of us got in on the deal).

Your 3800 is still going to be just as good sonically though. All the advantages you listed are just nice to have, but not audible, not without using the eyes anyway lol..

 

[techsamurai]

what cables would you recommend for interconnects - I was looking at the monolith 3ft RCA but with their square top but I might not be able to fit them in the AUX2 section of the Marantz8002 (AUX2 bottom middle) - those connections are much closer together compared to the 4800h. It's going to drive me mad if that happens and I have to return them and buy new ones...

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[peng]

what cables would you recommend for interconnects - I was looking at the monolith 3ft RCA but with their square top but I might not be able to fit them in the AUX2 section of the Marantz8002 (AUX2 bottom middle) - those connections are much closer together compared to the 4800h. It's going to drive me mad if that happens and I have to return them and buy new ones...

Monolith RCA Cable - Silver - 3 Feet Chord, 24K Gold Plated Connectors, AL foil, OFC Copper Braided Shield

Read reviews and buy Monolith RCA Cable - Silver - 3 Feet Chord, 24K Gold Plated Connectors, AL foil, OFC Copper Braided Shield at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more.

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I would just buy their regular types.

Or the slighly better ones such as:

Still bulky, but should fit.

 

[techsamurai]

I would just buy their regular types.

Thanks, I bought both types so I can connect the LCR to the external amp and use the other ones for surrounds.

I'm curious to hear the 4800H - it's been 15 years since my last Denon and that audition lasted 1 week. I'll definitely set it up on day 1 to give Denon a fair chance to redeem themselves.

I watched a review of the 3800H (so funny to hear the same things I thought 15 years ago especially vis-a-vis the Marantz, they really don't change the AVRs much, it's just a DAC here and a HDMI board there) and also another comparing the 3800, 4800, and RZ50 and his findings were interesting.