Hyperion APR-16 AV Processor Review

[PGAMiami]

Not denying that it's expensive, but it seems like an industry-wide phenomenon where there's a steep price increase when the channel count on a processor increases.

• On paper, this unit seems most similar to the Marantz AV10, and is priced similarly. The AV30 is a far better value unit for everyone who doesn't need more than 11 channels.
• The Anthem AVM90 does seem like better value ($6375 when Amir reviewed it 2.5 years ago). Uses ARC instead of Dirac - whether this matters, I don't know.
• The miniDSP is much cheaper at $3.5k - 16 channels at this price makes it a huge outlier. I suspect some people won't get past the HDMI specs: no 8K for their non-existent 8K media and source, only 3 inputs instead of 7, no ALLM for their gamer son, the suggestion of adding extra boxes like the HDFury Vrroom as a workaround. But it's undeniably the best value solution for certain people with a particular setup. I think a lot of people perceive it (unfairly or not) as a niche, audio-focused, DIYer product. I'm interested to see if integrators will install it for budget-conscious clients.
• Conversely, Trinnov/JBL is way more expensive!

Edit: I should add that the APR-16's inclusion of built-in Dante may be appealing for certain use cases. I think it's the main point of difference to the Marantz AV10?

Also important to note that for the most part DSPmini is sold direct with no dealer. Import tariffs and shipping is added on. Whereas Audio Control, Marantz, Trinnov … are sold through US dealers/distributors. Shipping and tariffs are already factored in. And some “value” has to be attributed to the support one gets from a US based dealer network. Also, not all dealers will sell at full MSRP. Some dealers may offer discounts on Dirac licenses for their customers. Additionally we have different priorities. In my case I prioritize excellent CEC control. I don’t want the complexity of a 3rd party remote. I also want the best possible stereo reproduction. I’m getting excellent results on a Denton 4800h with my TAD R1s and 4 subs. I don’t really have much room for much beyond 5.4.2.

 

[jhaider]

Edit: I should add that the APR-16's inclusion of built-in Dante may be appealing for certain use cases. I think it's the main point of difference to the Marantz AV10?

The Dante implementation is crippled to 2 channels, as I understand it. They apparently will have a much cheaper DPR-16 with 16-channel digital output at a much lower price.

 

[beeface]

Also important to note that for the most part DSPmini is sold direct with no dealer. Import tariffs and shipping is added on. Whereas Audio Control, Marantz, Trinnov … are sold through US dealers/distributors. Shipping and tariffs are already factored in. And some “value” has to be attributed to the support one gets from a US based dealer network. Also, not all dealers will sell at full MSRP. Some dealers may offer discounts on Dirac licenses for their customers. Additionally we have different priorities. In my case I prioritize excellent CEC control. I don’t want the complexity of a 3rd party remote. I also want the best possible stereo reproduction. I’m getting excellent results on a Denton 4800h with my TAD R1s and 4 subs. I don’t really have much room for much beyond 5.4.2.

I was thinking about the "control problem" in home theatres recently.

In an ideal world, every manufacturer would adhere to CEC standards, and an AVR/AVP remote would be designed in a way that it could do a reasonable job of navigating a cable box, media player, blu-ray player, etc.

In reality, CEC issues are not uncommon, and not all remotes are suitable for all devices. In Australia, our sole pay tv (cable) company uses colour-coded context-specific action buttons (eg. press yellow to perform x). Assuming these buttons even work via CEC, there's plenty of remotes (such as the APR-16's) that don't have the buttons at all.

CEC aside, there's much about current control solutions that seems janky to me. IR blasters stuck to the front of devices make me want to puke (hyperbole). I dislike that many expensive multichannel amps rely on 12v triggers. Some have RS232 - a start - but where is IP control? It's 2026, and these manufacturers are charging four or five figures for devices with medieval control implementation. Rant over

 

[RigorDude]

'Gosh, we came so close to a home run'......

With his objective measurements, Audio All-Star Outfielder Amir, 'Robs' another piece of gear of a home run.

I am hopeful the manufacturer can address the anomaly.

As someone noted immediately below the OP, the elevated noise level at low frequencies is still comfortably below the threshold of audibility. If it is not relevant for the sonics, why should we down-grade the unit?

 

[Labjr]

As someone noted immediately below the OP, the elevated noise level at low frequencies is still comfortably below the threshold of audibility. If it is not relevant for the sonics, why should we down-grade the unit?

Because it's $8K!

 

[RigorDude]

I said in measurements. Other than this low frequency thing we are chasing with APR-16, the HTP-1 loses to it across the board and with wide margin in a number of areas. They simply are not in the same class of execution.

As to you getting "top notch audible performance," there we go again throwing out objective data and substituting personal opinion. That is not how we operate at ASR.

Clearly there are all manner of measured differences between these units. Can we assume that there is an audible difference between them?

 

[RigorDude]

Because it's $8K!

This thing looks far better-engineered and far more technically advanced than a myriad audio products (cables anyone?) that cost as much or more.

Disclosure: my “home theater” setup consists of a 42” Samsung, a $250 Sony Blu-Ray player and a Roku streamer. I’m totally satisfied.

 

[amirm]

As someone noted immediately below the OP, the elevated noise level at low frequencies is still comfortably below the threshold of audibility. If it is not relevant for the sonics, why should we down-grade the unit?

The signal is low frequency, the noise is not. It spreads across the full spectrum. This makes it much more likely to be audible especially if it modulates.

 

[Labjr]

This thing looks far better-engineered and far more technically advanced than a myriad audio products (cables anyone?) that cost as much or more.

Disclosure: my “home theater” setup consists of a 42” Samsung, a $250 Sony Blu-Ray player and a Roku streamer. I’m totally satisfied.

IMO, no processor is worth $8K. Before Chinese companies got in the business, DACs cost many thousands too. Now SOTA performance can be had for $50.

 

[RigorDude]

The signal is low frequency, the noise is not. It spreads across the full spectrum. This makes it much more likely to be audible especially if it modulates.

Sorry, I just don’t get it. Whether broad spectrum or narrow, the noise you’re measuring is always more than -100 db below signal and thus should not be audible. Am I missing something? Is broad-spectrum noise more audible at the lowest levels? As for modulations, wouldn’t at least some modulations —even inaudible ones — show up in the measurements?

 

[RigorDude]

IMO, no processor is worth $8K. Before Chinese companies got in the business, DACs cost many thousands too. Now SOTA performance can be had for $50.

In your opinion, what is the highest price that could be justified for a processor?

 

[amirm]

Whether broad spectrum or narrow, the noise you’re measuring is always more than -100 db below signal and thus should not be audible. Am I missing something?

Yes, it is called FFT gain. The noise floor that you see in FFT is some 30 to 40 dB higher than it looks, depending on FFT size.

 

[NTTY]

Why multi-tone is SOTA performance, but this one is measured badly, and next tests is -22 db in SINAD?

I don’t get it

As I commented after this post, it is not SOTA and shows the exact same elevated noise floor than what you see later. It looks nice but it is not high resolution. That’s typical result you get from a good PCM 16bits source, that’s it.

Multi-tone is perfect, therefore it will be perfect in playback of real media, no?

It is CD playback quality, so not exactly bad, but not what we get from a high resolution DAC in today’s standard.

p.s. I didn’t read all questions/responses, so advanced apologies if it’s already answered elsewhere.

 

[welwynnick]

Now SOTA performance can be had for $50.

Only with simple stereo DACs ( and even then, not quite ).

Certainly not with 16 channel processors with SOTA HDMI processing, SOTA surround decoding, SOTA immersive rendering, and SOTA digital room correction.

 

[NTTY]

To complement with tangible data, this is a view of "SOTA" performance DAC (Topping D50III) for that Multitone test (with dither at 24bits):

With that view, we could compute 135dB/6=22.5bits of distortion-free range.

Now the same DAC, but this time with dither at bit 17 instead of bit 24:

And now you can similarly compute 114dB/6=19bits of distortion-free range, as you see in first page. But the reality is that the above view is 17bits resolution only and since the dither takes one full bit space (the lowest bit is hosting the dithered noise), the above is 16bits real resolution. That means it is good for Audio CD, not more.

I hope it clarifies.

 

[prerich]

The signal is low frequency, the noise is not. It spreads across the full spectrum. This makes it much more likely to be audible especially if it modulates.

Ok I get it.

 

[Talisman]

I've decided to evaluate electronics using a standard that might not be well received here on ASR.
Once the transparency threshold is exceeded and with equal functionality, for me the rating is dictated by price.
Any DAC costing more than €500 is a "headless panther" to me if there are DACs with the same functionality and equally transparent for €50-100.
The same, and perhaps even more so, applies to AVRs, where the exorbitant prices of the top models are NEVER justified by performance, based on audibility.
The situation clearly changes if the models in question integrate advanced features absent from cheaper products.

 

[azzy_mazzy]

unfortunately in the AVR/AVP space functionality cost a lot of money.

 

[Labjr]

unfortunately in the AVR/AVP space functionality cost a lot of money.

So do Synergistic Research fuses.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Voted “not terrible,” but really wish a firmware update would fix the issues so I can revise it to “great.”