Denon AVR-X8500HA -- regret purchase

[ScottWr]

So, I read great reviews of the AVR-X8500HA and decided to purchase it over an Anthem receiver, figuring the Denon was the bigger bang for the back. Serious mistake.

I will concede that the AVR-X8500H sound is entirely satisfactory.

But the user interface and remote are deplorable. It's as though Denon intentionally made the UI difficult to use. I It takes me literally 30 seconds to a minute to get it configured every time I want to change source and speakers (the receiver can support three speaker zones).

Plus, the Denon app and the HEOS app are atrocious -- actually, laughable. If I try using them, add another minute, again literally. (And sometimes the apps don't work.) This is whether I am using it for audio alone or for AV. The remote is almost useless, but it does have dedicated source buttons -- plus half a star. Did I mention that HEOS can only be used via the app? Minus two stars.

These are just my major complaints -- I have others (frequent stutters during digital source playback, no sound if sources/receiver/TV are turned on in the wrong order [solution -- turn on the Denon last]). And when you turn the AVR off (i.e. with the power button), don't forget to double check and make sure it is actually off...

Plus, the initial source/speaker setup was, again literally, a multi-day affair.

I should have returned it after the first week.

Conclusion: if you are using the AVR-X8500HA for one speaker zone and sources that require no app to use, go ahead and make a purchase. If you plan to use it for multiple speaker zones or for streaming or for movies, go elsewhere. For all the trouble of the GUI, I would price it under $2k0 -- remember every time you turn it on, you are going to endure a minute of frustration.

 

[EWL5]

You purchased an AVR that came out before Dirac made a splash the following year on the '22 AVRs (along w/spiffy new UI).

This is why I prefer to buy cars after a mid-cycle refresh: you get some new stuff and most of the first year kinks have been worked out!

 

[Palmspar]

Use the 1 2 3 and 4 knobs on the remote for fast source select.

 

[ScottWr]

You purchased an AVR that came out before Dirac made a splash the following year on the '22 AVRs (along w/spiffy new UI).

This is why I prefer to buy cars after a mid-cycle refresh: you get some new stuff and most of the first year kinks have been worked out!

The absence of Dirac is irrelevant -- I would have been equally dissatisfied by a Marantz Cinema 30 or a Denon AVR-A1H (both of which I considered and rejected for other reasons).

My error, and cause for regret, was in focusing on the feature set and amplifier quality (both of which are excellent on the AVR-X8500HA) while failing to realize that, for me, convenience and ease-of-use are equally important.

 

[EWL5]

The absence of Dirac is irrelevant -- I would have been equally dissatisfied by a Marantz Cinema 30 or a Denon AVR-A1H (both of which I considered and rejected for other reasons).

My error, and cause for regret, was in focusing on the feature set and amplifier quality (both of which are excellent on the AVR-X8500HA) while failing to realize that, for me, convenience and ease-of-use are equally important.

Ok. Hope having up to 4 independent sub outs wasn't appreciated either!

 

[peng]

In that case, keep in mind the Anthem you are considering, may not be better, could actually be worse, at least to some people.

 

[ScottWr]

In that case, keep in mind the Anthem you are considering, may not be better, could actually be worse, at least to some people.

You are absolutely right! I considered the AVM 90 but rejected it (luckily for me) on account of it being frankly overkill for my residence.

 

[ScottWr]

Ok. Hope having up to 4 independent sub outs wasn't appreciated either!

Oh, that's feature set. I wired the media room for a single subwoofer because two (or more) subwoofers would overwhelm the space.

 

[SuicideSquid]

So, I read great reviews of the AVR-X8500HA and decided to purchase it over an Anthem receiver, figuring the Denon was the bigger bang for the back. Serious mistake.

I will concede that the AVR-X8500H sound is entirely satisfactory.

But the user interface and remote are deplorable. It's as though Denon intentionally made the UI difficult to use. I It takes me literally 30 seconds to a minute to get it configured every time I want to change source and speakers (the receiver can support three speaker zones).

Plus, the Denon app and the HEOS app are atrocious -- actually, laughable. If I try using them, add another minute, again literally. (And sometimes the apps don't work.) This is whether I am using it for audio alone or for AV. The remote is almost useless, but it does have dedicated source buttons -- plus half a star. Did I mention that HEOS can only be used via the app? Minus two stars.

These are just my major complaints -- I have others (frequent stutters during digital source playback, no sound if sources/receiver/TV are turned on in the wrong order [solution -- turn on the Denon last]). And when you turn the AVR off (i.e. with the power button), don't forget to double check and make sure it is actually off...

Plus, the initial source/speaker setup was, again literally, a multi-day affair.

I should have returned it after the first week.

Conclusion: if you are using the AVR-X8500HA for one speaker zone and sources that require no app to use, go ahead and make a purchase. If you plan to use it for multiple speaker zones or for streaming or for movies, go elsewhere. For all the trouble of the GUI, I would price it under $2k0 -- remember every time you turn it on, you are going to endure a minute of frustration.

I don't have any issues with the Denon UI. Your issues with the sources having to be turned on in a certain order have to do with HDMI triggering, you can turn this on and off in the settings. This receiver has a crazy number of features, there's just no way to design a UI for so many functions that's immediately intuitive to everyone.

That being said, I 100% agree the HEOS app is embarrassing and worse than useless, because it wastes your time making you think it might do something before it fails to work.

 

[Madhuski]

odd, in that ease of use is usually a strength of Marantz/Denon

 

[Will P]

Hmmm.. and a very low customer rating on Amazon too - 3.6 out of 5 stars for a flagship receiver.

38% of the owners gave it 1 or 2 star.

That's actually the lowest rated receiver on amazon. The rest of the receivers are 4.3 stars and above.
Marantz Cinema 40 for example is 4.9 out of 5 stars; Marantz Cinema 30 is 5 out of 5 stars.

What happened to Denon?

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X8500H-13-2-channel-AV-Receiver/dp/B0799N687K/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&sr=1-4

.

 

[squared80]

So, I read great reviews of the AVR-X8500HA and decided to purchase it over an Anthem receiver, figuring the Denon was the bigger bang for the back. Serious mistake.

I will concede that the AVR-X8500H sound is entirely satisfactory.

But the user interface and remote are deplorable. It's as though Denon intentionally made the UI difficult to use. I It takes me literally 30 seconds to a minute to get it configured every time I want to change source and speakers (the receiver can support three speaker zones).

Plus, the Denon app and the HEOS app are atrocious -- actually, laughable. If I try using them, add another minute, again literally. (And sometimes the apps don't work.) This is whether I am using it for audio alone or for AV. The remote is almost useless, but it does have dedicated source buttons -- plus half a star. Did I mention that HEOS can only be used via the app? Minus two stars.

These are just my major complaints -- I have others (frequent stutters during digital source playback, no sound if sources/receiver/TV are turned on in the wrong order [solution -- turn on the Denon last]). And when you turn the AVR off (i.e. with the power button), don't forget to double check and make sure it is actually off...

Plus, the initial source/speaker setup was, again literally, a multi-day affair.

I should have returned it after the first week.

Conclusion: if you are using the AVR-X8500HA for one speaker zone and sources that require no app to use, go ahead and make a purchase. If you plan to use it for multiple speaker zones or for streaming or for movies, go elsewhere. For all the trouble of the GUI, I would price it under $2k0 -- remember every time you turn it on, you are going to endure a minute of frustration.

Just return it?

 

[Brambo67]

As I'm not experienced with alternative brands recently, apart from an older Onkyo before, but I'm very happy with my current Denon AVC-x6800h. Like I was before with the 3700 and 4700. They sound great, are super easy to setup, now both with Audyssey as well as Dirac and the app isn't great but works. I do the whole remote thing without the physical box but through the app and it works almost always. I dunno which brands provide better user experience through UI and/or app. What I read on fora is Denon/Marantz do a good job. As I didn't setup my current 6800 using the TV screen I also dunno whether the UI is an improvement. I used the Audyssey app as well as the Dirac app and both setups work great with the Denon. I'm curious to know which brand gave you a better user experience.

 

[peng]

Hmmm.. and a very low customer rating on Amazon too - 3.6 out of 5 stars for a flagship receiver.

38% of the owners gave it 1 or 2 star.

That's actually the lowest rated receiver on amazon. The rest of the receivers are 4.3 stars and above.
Marantz Cinema 40 for example is 4.9 out of 5 stars; Marantz Cinema 30 is 5 out of 5 stars.

What happened to Denon?


View attachment 436387

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X8500H-13-2-channel-AV-Receiver/dp/B0799N687K/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&sr=1-4

.

I never go by those stars if there are so few reviews (only 9 for the C30). Also, keep in mind that at the level of the C40, 30, or even 50, buyers conscientiously, presumably, and willingly spent huge premium price for the technically and practically equivalent Denon models, so they are going to enjoy their preferred aesthetic and likely skewed by the perceived (yelp, imo most probably due to bias/Placebo effects) better Marantz sound. The lower Denon models should get more stars because people pay much less, consequently tend to be more easily satisfied, all else being equal. As usual, that's jus my take, obviously ymmv, ommv..

 

[livinon2wheels]

It seems to me based on what I have read and my own personal experience with a hopelessly flawed emotiva MR1L that most of the problems in todays receivers boil down to issues with the HDMI interface which in my experience is a total mess. How do we get a modern AV receiver that uses only legacy connections and therefore totally avoids the HDMI quagmire? Who makes one you can buy TODAY? I am DONE with HDMI and all the problems it brings to the table. If I have to go buy old legacy gear used on ebay I am willing to do that if I cannot get new gear that is HDMI free.

 

[Owl]

I have the Denon S660 AVR, and for my simple needs it works fine. I just turned off all the HDMI triggers and use either Toslink from the tv or coaxial from the blu-ray player. HDMI is mostly an option.

 

[Mort]

How did you feel about your last AVR?

 

[Owl]

This is the first one I ever had. It did take me three months of experimenting, pushing all the buttons and turning all the dials. You have to remember there are dozens of feature packed into one device, I'm not sure any of them are completely satisfying.

 

[Miker 1102]

I think HEOS is embarrassing considering the price we pay for these units. The WIIM interface is extrodinary for a product that cost me 300 dollars. I just am unsure your other complaints are not more subjective based in your own experience. The Denon I am using with just the Aud32 and the 20 dollar app sounds incredible to me. I have used Dirac Live and just dont think the difference is that amazing. I do, however, believe people who say the bass control is what makes a huge difference. The set up and UI was pretty simple to me. I am no engineer and have a very simple understanding of sound measurement but I think Denon hits the balance between price and value. For multichannel music it is just a joy for me to hear my favorite albums in Atmos or upmixed.