Integra DRX-8.4

[spike99]

Currently considering Integra DRX-8.4.

In my current setup... I do have a separate amp for my L&R Front speakers.... and I have a 4.1.4 speaker setup (No Center speaker)

I'm also looking at the Marantz AV10 & Denon AVR-A1H. Not sure if these would be overkill due to my speaker count.
Ideally would like to stay with an AVR... but if there is a huge difference in separates (Marantz AV10)... Then I can consider going separates.

Does it make sense to go for the Integra DRX-8.4 ?

Thanks.

 

[ban25]

Currently considering Integra DRX-8.4.

In my current setup... I do have a separate amp for my L&R Front speakers.... and I have a 4.1.4 speaker setup (No Center speaker)

I'm also looking at the Marantz AV10 & Denon AVR-A1H. Not sure if these would be overkill due to my speaker count.
Ideally would like to stay with an AVR... but if there is a huge difference in separates (Marantz AV10)... Then I can consider going separates.

Does it make sense to go for the Integra DRX-8.4 ?

Thanks.

No difference with separates, and a 16-channel processor is definitely overkill for a 9-channel setup. As I always say, it's best to decide based on the features that you need.

Reasons to choose the Integra DRX-8.4:

1. If you want balanced/XLR pre-outs to your outboard amp
2. If you use Roon for high-res music streaming (or Chromecast built-in for 24b/96 FLAC)
3. If you want Dirac Live room correction (included) or Bass Control (paid upgrade)
4. If you prefer a solid Web UI and control system integration

Additionally, you can save a bit of money by going for the Pioneer LX805, which sacrifices only a few XLR outputs (still has FR/FL XLR outs for your current setup). If you don't need XLR at all, you can save even more by choosing the Onkyo RZ70.

For your use-case, I do not recommend the A1H or the AV10 as they are serious overkill in terms of channel count and they provide no additional features relative to the rest of the line up. Consider that between the X3800H/Cinema 50 and A1H/AV10, the feature set is identical apart from DTS:X Pro support, which is channel count dependent. So, I will instead give some reasons to choose the Cinema 40, as I think that best fits your situation:

Reasons to choose the Cinema 40:

1. You are looking to expand to 4 subwoofers in the future
2. You prefer the Marantz aesthetic
3. You are happy with Audyssey and/or prefer it to Dirac

Additionally, if you don't care about the Marantz aesthetic, then you can save some money by choosing the Denon X4800H, which is otherwise functionally identical. Or in fact, the X3800H.

Both the Integra and the D+M have a selective pre-out only mode that will disconnect the internal amps to your front channels.

 

[spike99]

No difference with separates, and a 16-channel processor is definitely overkill for a 9-channel setup. As I always say, it's best to decide based on the features that you need.

Reasons to choose the Integra DRX-8.4:

1. If you want balanced/XLR pre-outs to your outboard amp
2. If you use Roon for high-res music streaming (or Chromecast built-in for 24b/96 FLAC)
3. If you want Dirac Live room correction (included) or Bass Control (paid upgrade)
4. If you prefer a solid Web UI and control system integration

Additionally, you can save a bit of money by going for the Pioneer LX805, which sacrifices only a few XLR outputs (still has FR/FL XLR outs for your current setup). If you don't need XLR at all, you can save even more by choosing the Onkyo RZ70.

For your use-case, I do not recommend the A1H or the AV10 as they are serious overkill in terms of channel count and they provide no additional features relative to the rest of the line up. Consider that between the X3800H/Cinema 50 and A1H/AV10, the feature set is identical apart from DTS:X Pro support, which is channel count dependent. So, I will instead give some reasons to choose the Cinema 40, as I think that best fits your situation:

Reasons to choose the Cinema 40:

1. You are looking to expand to 4 subwoofers in the future
2. You prefer the Marantz aesthetic
3. You are happy with Audyssey and/or prefer it to Dirac

Additionally, if you don't care about the Marantz aesthetic, then you can save some money by choosing the Denon X4800H, which is otherwise functionally identical. Or in fact, the X3800H.

Both the Integra and the D+M have a selective pre-out only mode that will disconnect the internal amps to your front channels.

Thank you for your reply...

Reasons to choose the Integra DRX-8.4:

1. If you want balanced/XLR pre-outs to your outboard amp
2. If you use Roon for high-res music streaming (or Chromecast built-in for 24b/96 FLAC)
3. If you want Dirac Live room correction (included) or Bass Control (paid upgrade)
4. If you prefer a solid Web UI and control system integration

1. In my current setup, I do have an XLR adapter going to my outboard amp. I'm not sure if there's a difference... but would prefer XLR for my L&R front speakers
2. I currently don't use Roon... I mainly use Apple Music with an Apple TV (4k). Is there a big difference between Roon and Apple Music ?
3. Yes, I am interested going with a company that has Dirac.... Will probably go with Bass Control.
4. Yes, I suppose a Web UI would be nice.

For your use-case, I do not recommend the A1H or the AV10 as they are serious overkill in terms of channel count and they provide no additional features relative to the rest of the line up.

Yes, I thought it was overkill due to the number of channels that I use. I'm wondering will it make a big difference If I added front Wide Speakers ?
The reason I was mainly considering the A1H or the AV10 was due to their DAC's. I wasn't sure how much of a sonic difference it would have.

Reasons to choose the Cinema 40:

I did consider the Cinema 40... But I thought that the Integra had better DAC's and hence was leaning more to the Integra.

 

[ban25]

Thank you for your reply...

1. In my current setup, I do have an XLR adapter going to my outboard amp. I'm not sure if there's a difference... but would prefer XLR for my L&R front speakers
2. I currently don't use Roon... I mainly use Apple Music with an Apple TV (4k). Is there a big difference between Roon and Apple Music ?
3. Yes, I am interested going with a company that has Dirac.... Will probably go with Bass Control.
4. Yes, I suppose a Web UI would be nice.


Yes, I thought it was overkill due to the number of channels that I use. I'm wondering will it make a big difference If I added front Wide Speakers ?
The reason I was mainly considering the A1H or the AV10 was due to their DAC's. I wasn't sure how much of a sonic difference it would have.


I did consider the Cinema 40... But I thought that the Integra had better DAC's and hence was leaning more to the Integra.

Roon is more about aggregating and organizing several streaming sources as well as a local music collection. If you just use Apple Music and are happy with it, there's no reason to change.

The DACs in all of these units do measure differently, but in terms of audibility? If you can hear a difference, it's probably broken. So I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're looking to add Front Wide speakers, then your best bet is the Cinema 30 or X6800H. The 11-channel options don't support them.

Will front wides make a big difference? I'd say it depends heavily on the content. There's an excellent thread on AVS showing the channel activity of various Atmos-encoded films. The wides are the 9th & 10th channels in the read-out:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/atmos-mixes-9-1-6-channel-activity.3292223/

If I were you, I'd probably look into adding a dedicated center first, though that mostly depends on how often you have multiple people watching.

 

[spike99]

Roon is more about aggregating and organizing several streaming sources as well as a local music collection. If you just use Apple Music and are happy with it, there's no reason to change.

The DACs in all of these units do measure differently, but in terms of audibility? If you can hear a difference, it's probably broken. So I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're looking to add Front Wide speakers, then your best bet is the Cinema 30 or X6800H. The 11-channel options don't support them.

Will front wides make a big difference? I'd say it depends heavily on the content. There's an excellent thread on AVS showing the channel activity of various Atmos-encoded films. The wides are the 9th & 10th channels in the read-out:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/atmos-mixes-9-1-6-channel-activity.3292223/

If I were you, I'd probably look into adding a dedicated center first, though that mostly depends on how often you have multiple people watching.

I'm not familiar with Roon... But yes, I do use Apple Music... and I'm OK with it.

I'll check out the thread about the Front Wide Speakers.

 

[dlaloum]

Currently considering Integra DRX-8.4.

In my current setup... I do have a separate amp for my L&R Front speakers.... and I have a 4.1.4 speaker setup (No Center speaker)

I'm also looking at the Marantz AV10 & Denon AVR-A1H. Not sure if these would be overkill due to my speaker count.
Ideally would like to stay with an AVR... but if there is a huge difference in separates (Marantz AV10)... Then I can consider going separates.

Does it make sense to go for the Integra DRX-8.4 ?

Thanks.

There is no substantive difference in quality between the 8.4 and the A1H/AV10

Main difference is going to be how many channels (subs), and the functions / features respectively.

The 8.4 will be more economical I expect - especially given the base Dirac licence is built in.

The D&M models will have Audyssey (and DynEQ)

 

[DBronx]

Hi Guys... I need help with something.

I occasionally want to listen to multichannel SACDs, but if I don't have the TV on, the audio will randomly drop out. Any suggestions on how I can listen reliably w/o the TV on?

 

[ban25]

Hi Guys... I need help with something.

I occasionally want to listen to multichannel SACDs, but if I don't have the TV on, the audio will randomly drop out. Any suggestions on how I can listen reliably w/o the TV on?

Maybe try disabling HDMI CEC or eARC temporarily to see if that will help?

I don't listen to SACDs, but I do listen to my turntable through the balanced input with the TV off and have no issues.

 

[DBronx]

Thanks for the reply... I don't use CEC and I'll try the eARC,.

 

[Ssmokeyy]

Maybe he should try the anthem mrx740/1140. Arc software is amazing. Also I own the integra 8.4 and love it. Just works amazing unlike denon/marantz.

 

[tmukh]

Maybe he should try the anthem mrx740/1140. Arc software is amazing. Also I own the integra 8.4 and love it. Just works amazing unlike denon/marantz.

But the fan noise on the anthems….

 

[Descartes]

But the fan noise on the anthems….

What fan noises?

 

[tmukh]

What fan noises?

Anthem MRX 1140 fan noise

Hello! Does anyone noticed that the fan in the MRX 1140 is noisy? Is not a turbo jet engine, but you can definitely hear it during a film. I've also noticed that the fan doesn't seems to be thermal driven, or at least not always. What I mean is that when you turn on the MRX, the fan starts after...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Descartes]

Anthem MRX 1140 fan noise

Hello! Does anyone noticed that the fan in the MRX 1140 is noisy? Is not a turbo jet engine, but you can definitely hear it during a film. I've also noticed that the fan doesn't seems to be thermal driven, or at least not always. What I mean is that when you turn on the MRX, the fan starts after...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My AVM90 Fan never turns on!

 

[peng]

My AVM90 Fan never turns on!

As mentioned many times, it is unit dependent, it seems that some of the AVM and MRX have fan noise issues due to a) fan would turn on without the unit getting overly warm, and/or b) when it turns on, it is loud, enough to be heard in quiet scenes or all the time if sit not close enough.

Some units don't have the issue, because a) the fan won't turn on unless the unit is quite warm, b) when it turns on, it is audible but not loud enough to be heard unless one sits close enough.

Such behavior, imo, is indicative of two things, a) quality control issue, b) they used a low quality fan ( it is easy to see, there are photos posted in various forums/threads).

Here's one example of how the noise would sound like:

 

[Descartes]

As mentioned many times, it is unit dependent, it seems that some of the AVM and MRX have fan noise issues due to a) fan would turn on without the unit getting overly warm, and/or b) when it turns on, it is loud, enough to be heard in quiet scenes or all the time if sit not close enough.

Some units don't have the issue, because a) the fan won't turn on unless the unit is quite warm, b) when it turns on, it is audible but not loud enough to be heard unless one sits close enough.

Such behavior, imo, is indicative of two things, a) quality control issue, b) they used a low quality fan ( it is easy to see, there are photos posted in various forums/threads).

Here's one example of how the noise would sound like:

That is nasty and unacceptable! I would send the unit back to get it repaired by Anthem!

 

[ban25]

That is nasty and unacceptable! I would send the unit back to get it repaired by Anthem!

The problem is, Anthem pretty much denies the problem. If I owned one of those, I would crack it open and swap in a silent Noctua fan instead.

 

[Descartes]

The problem is, Anthem pretty much denies the problem. If I owned one of those, I would crack it open and swap in a silent Noctua fan instead.

Seriously that is absolutely obnoxious! Your dealer should help you with that situation!

 

[pollock0424]

If I'm using Chromecast with my Qobuz, I'm limited to 16bit, 44.1khz. Has there been any improvement in this ? I have been hearing complaints about Dirac delays not applicable if the sampling rates are different from the calibration sampling.

 

[ban25]

If I'm using Chromecast with my Qobuz, I'm limited to 16bit, 44.1khz. Has there been any improvement in this ? I have been hearing complaints about Dirac delays not applicable if the sampling rates are different from the calibration sampling.

I'm sure you're fine in that the content is most likely upsampled to 48 kHz when it goes through DSP. Try checking the Info button to see what's getting output.

Also, try some other tracks. Chromecast is capable of 24 bit / 96 kHz streaming so long as your source matches, and i have confirmed that with Tidal.

If you have Roon, you will be able to stream up to 192 kHz via Qobuz. I used to have both Qobuz and Tidal until last year and I was streaming quite a bit of high resolution jazz.