Home Theater 11.2.4 DTS:X Pro [Denon X6800H]

[DTSman]

Hello,

I am Nico from France. Home cinema's fan for almost 30 years. I often read this forum and more precisly Amirm reviews. Thanks for his work.

Here my home theater: 11.2.4 speakers with 9.2.4 processing drived by a Denon X6800H which just replaced a Denon X6700H.

Speakers:

• 3 fronts JBL Pro 4673
• 2 subwoofers JBL Pro 3635
• 2 front wide JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 60°)
• 2 surround side S1 JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 95°)
• 2 surround side S2 JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 120°)
• 2 surround back JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 140°)
• 2 front height JBL Pro 8320
• 2 top middle JBL Pro 8320

Amps:

• Denon X6800H
• Rotel RMB-1585 to amp 3 fronts and 2 subwoofers
• 2 Rotel RKB-650 to amp 12 surround and Atmos speakers

Sources:

• Zidoo Z9X
• Sony PS5 / PS3
• etc..

Display:

• Epson LS12000
• Cinemascope ScreenLine microperf screen 140" (3m55 base)

I wrote a tutorial to explain video calibration basic rules using ColorHCFR software avaible here (or here). Translation in english also available here

Also, here are some material reviews in which I had the opportunity to test in my home theater the last few years:

• Denon X6700
• Epson LS12000
• Sony XW7000
• StormAudio ISP MKII
• Lyngdorf MP60
• Marantz AV8805
• Denon X8500H
• Optoma UHZ65
• etc..

Coming soon upgrades:

• Adding 2 rear subwoofers JBL 3635 and use 100% of X6800 9.4.4 processing
• Testing Dirac BassControl and then Dirac ART if this option will be available for X6800

 

[patoulol]

 

[JSmith]

Here my home theater

Looking excellent mate, kudos.


JSmith

 

[DTSman]

11.4.4 speaker setup done by adding two rear subwoofers with basstrap (9.4.4 Denon X6800 processing)

 

[DTSman]

Also added bassTrap in the rear corners

 

[Andysu]

room looks nice , clever idea with JBL 8320 mounted on the rail track so they can be adjusted
where the pictures of JBL 4673 , i guess you not using dsp crossover for them

 

[DTSman]

room looks nice , clever idea with JBL 8320 mounted on the rail track so they can be adjusted
where the pictures of JBL 4673 , i guess you not using dsp crossover for them

Indeed 8320 speakers have often been adjusted for last years but today I think they have found their optimal location according to Dolby Atmos Home Theater Specifications and also Trinnov Speaker User Guide.

No I do not want use external DSP. I want to have the fewest components in the audio processing workflow. Only one D/A converter, only one audio processor (here Denon X6800). Now I am just waiting for Dirac ART option when will be available.

The 3 JBL Pro 4673 are hidden behin microperf screen. However I found old photos, the day I have receive those speakers in 2017.

 

[Andysu]

behringer DCX 2496 would improve them so have LF HF control , lower lows and higher highs less distortion , think about it , DCX , 2nd hand are cheap you have basic LCR so won't be anymore expensive , behringer NX3000D for bass cabs would be more than enough when set up correctly , behringer EPQ304 quad 4ch amp would be ideal for HFF horns as they are high sensitivity and with correct tuning/EQ as the horns typically would sound harsh , after simple PEQ filter is applied and its Q bandwidth widened and then -dB cut on certain peak frequency those horns sound marvellous

 

[DTSman]

Hello,
I recently purchased a Dirac BassControl multi-sub license for my X6800H.

After several AB comparisons between Audyssey (speaker preset 1) and Dirac (speaker preset 2), Dirac is more qualitative : a front scene with more nuances and especially the voices. Dirac also gives more the impression that the speakers disappear. It sounds like the last time I tested StormAudio MKII in situ.

Nota: The Dirac calibration is automatically sent to speaker preset 2. However, you can load 3 distincts Dirac presets in this preset. Which makes a total of 4 EQ presets:
- speaker preset 1 with 1 Audyssey EQ
- speaker preset 2 with 3 Dirac EQs and 1 with Dirac EQ Off

 

[risandipra]

Hello,

I am Nico from France. Home cinema's fan for almost 30 years. I often read this forum and more precisly Amirm reviews. Thanks for his work.

Here my home theater: 11.2.4 speakers with 9.2.4 processing drived by a Denon X6800H which just replaced a Denon X6700H.

Speakers:

• 3 fronts JBL Pro 4673
• 2 subwoofers JBL Pro 3635
• 2 front wide JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 60°)
• 2 surround side S1 JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 95°)
• 2 surround side S2 JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 120°)
• 2 surround back JBL Pro 8320 (angular positioning: 140°)
• 2 front height JBL Pro 8320
• 2 top middle JBL Pro 8320

Amps:

• Denon X6800H
• Rotel RMB-1585 to amp 3 fronts and 2 subwoofers
• 2 Rotel RKB-650 to amp 12 surround and Atmos speakers

Sources:

• Zidoo Z9X
• Sony PS5 / PS3
• etc..

Display:

• Epson LS12000
• Cinemascope ScreenLine microperf screen 140" (3m55 base)

I wrote a tutorial to explain video calibration basic rules using ColorHCFR software avaible here (or here). Translation in english also available here

Also, here are some material reviews in which I had the opportunity to test in my home theater the last few years:

• Denon X6700
• Epson LS12000
• Sony XW7000
• StormAudio ISP MKII
• Lyngdorf MP60
• Marantz AV8805
• Denon X8500H
• Optoma UHZ65
• etc..

Coming soon upgrades:

• Adding 2 rear subwoofers JBL 3635 and use 100% of X6800 9.4.4 processing
• Testing Dirac BassControl and then Dirac ART if this option will be available for X6800

Could you please explain more about
1. How to balance the volume level of S1 and S2
2. Where you are pointing those speakers (to a single point) or are you using Reference Level Point area per Dolby Cinema setup ?
3. Does Dolby Surround Upmixer utilize Wide Channel? (For Stereo or Multichannel Non-Atmos Source)
4. By using multi-speakers surround + Wide, Which do you prefer for Upmixing? Auro/DSU/or DTS X Pro?

Thanks. Lovely setup.

 

[DTSman]

Could you please explain more about
1. How to balance the volume level of S1 and S2
2. Where you are pointing those speakers (to a single point) or are you using Reference Level Point area per Dolby Cinema setup ?
3. Does Dolby Surround Upmixer utilize Wide Channel? (For Stereo or Multichannel Non-Atmos Source)
4. By using multi-speakers surround + Wide, Which do you prefer for Upmixing? Auro/DSU/or DTS X Pro?

Thanks. Lovely setup.

Hello,
1 - Same signal sent to S1 and S2. I use an external amp with 1 input and 2 distinct amplified output
2 - All surround and Atmos speakers are pointing main listening position. According to Trinnov recommandations : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qFpM5c9_n_0PU6EcW-J5qFvf4QDWqjg3/view
3 - Yes Denon/Marantz use last DSU algorithm which is able to use Front Wide speakers for any source. Just missing the ability to use DSU with Atmos nativ to feed Front Wide. For instance DTS X Pro (i.e Neural X) is able to mix DTS:X with Neural X to feed Wide speakers. Or Auro3D is able to mix AuroMatic to use surround rear speakers with Auro3D native.
4 - I prefere DTS X Pro: more precise, more "object sound". DSU give a more "diffuse" sound. In practice I use Neural X with all DTS sound and LPCM sources. DSU for all Dolby sources and Auro3D for movie stereo 2.0. And to finish no processing for stereo music.

 

[DTSman]

Regarding video part,

Last 2024 upgrade was to replace Epson LS12000 with Epson QB1000.



At 85% I get 83Nits (i.e 24Ftl). It is similar to JVC NZ800 at 100%
At 100% I get 95Nits (i.e 27Ftl). It is similar to Sony XW7000 at 100%

Nota: Beyond 85% the QB1000 is very noisy! More than a JVC or Sony.

With my previous LS12000 I got 60Nits at 85%. Difference of 23Nits, a significant gain.
Nativ contrast is about 4000:1. Very similar to LS12000.
With dynamic laser "normal" contrast increase to 10.000:1 and then 20.000:1 with speed mode. I prefere "normal" mode with no pumping issue.

Interpolation low mode is still efficient. Normal mode is better hovewer still continue to generate artefact with quick move.

Some screenshots












Out of the box QB1000 has correct result without many changes. It is far away from the last JVC NZ900/800/8/7 I have recently measured (Fortunately JVC autocal tool able to get very good result).

Gamma:


Niveaux RVB:


Température:


CIE 709:


Luminosité CMYRGB:


DeltaE saturations:


BT2020:


L'EOTF for ST2084 with the new DTM enable is similar to static ToneMapping set to 7.
DiffuseWhite à 19Nits pour MaxL de 83Nits


Here EOTF ST2084 with static ToneMapping set to 1which favors brightness to the detriment of details in the highlights.
Diffuse white à 34Nits pour maxL de 83Nits


Except for some 4000Nits movies like Aquaman, I prefere static tone mapping instead of DTM.

DTM and LLDV OFF


DTM ON:


DTM and LLDV OFF


DTM ON:


DTM and LLDV OFF


DTM ON:

 

[risandipra]

Hello,
1 - Same signal sent to S1 and S2. I use an external amp with 1 input and 2 distinct amplified output
2 - All surround and Atmos speakers are pointing main listening position. According to Trinnov recommandations : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qFpM5c9_n_0PU6EcW-J5qFvf4QDWqjg3/view
3 - Yes Denon/Marantz use last DSU algorithm which is able to use Front Wide speakers for any source. Just missing the ability to use DSU with Atmos nativ to feed Front Wide. For instance DTS X Pro (i.e Neural X) is able to mix DTS:X with Neural X to feed Wide speakers. Or Auro3D is able to mix AuroMatic to use surround rear speakers with Auro3D native.
4 - I prefere DTS X Pro: more precise, more "object sound". DSU give a more "diffuse" sound. In practice I use Neural X with all DTS sound and LPCM sources. DSU for all Dolby sources and Auro3D for movie stereo 2.0. And to finish no processing for stereo music.

Thanks for this explanation.

I've been trying Trinnove guideline for some times and that the guidelines are quite acomodative for various setup (I found that "cross-firing" L/R mentioned there really helps).

Are those sitting in the rear seats overwhelmed by the surround ?

 

[DTSman]

For ours "little" home theaters we cannot get the same sound quality for all seats. For instance better sound for MLP and sound with more loundness and surround for rear seats.

So I create 2 distincts EQ with Dirac (and before with Audyssey). One for MLP and a second one for rear seats. I can easily switch between those EQ with Denon X6800.