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Integra DRX-8.4
- Thread starter Descartes
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ban25
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The 8.4 is a newer generation and a very substantial step up in build quality -- it's almost 50 lbs with very substantial heatsinks that keep the unit cool even in a tight cabinet. The real reason to go for it is the feature set: 6 40 Gbps HDMI 2.1, Dirac Live included, DLBC upgrade available, Roon Ready, Chromecast Built-in, AURO-3D, and a full Web UI. If you use external amplification, it has 5 balanced XLR outputs (LCR + Sub 1 + Sub 2) as well as 3 trigger outputs and 2 inputs to manage external amplification and other components. It's probably the most feature-rich AVR/AVP on the market outside of Storm and Trinnov.Good people, I'm in the market for a new middle-end AVR since my NAD T778 shat the bed, and I like what I'm reading about the Integras.
I have the option of a demo 5.4 @ R36k or a BNIB 8.4 @ R58k.
I have a 5.1 setup, not planning or able to go 7.1, is the 8.4 worth the extra 22k, or will I not notice any difference in sound quality, considering the difference in DACs between these two models?
thanks for any advice
There is no receiver on the market with more complete connections than the Integra DRX 8.4. The rear panel is perfect for all types of applications.
If I remember correctly, there is even a sub outlet in zones 2 and 3.
Last edited:
Indubitably it changes things....
But what it is doing also is correcting for Room/speaker interaction - so change is not necessarily a bad thing.
In my case, the "direct" vs Dirac listening notes included:
Dirac improves midrange clarity, vocals much more intelligible, imaging improved
was it different to Direct - yes definitely! - for the better.
Many also use the target curve as a fancy set of bass/treble adjustment knobs.... that is of course a matter of taste.
But I chose to more or less mirror the native frequency response of my speakers in my room - and the result was distinctly improved clarity.
If you have the time/patience I would strongly recommend experimenting with Dirac, my experience was that it provided substantial benefits.
New owner of the DRX 8.4. I just installed it, and I still have a lot of configuration/tuning ahead. I do have a question for the fellow members of the forum. I could not find Integra's DRX API documentation. Does anyone have it or know where I can access it? Thank you!
ban25
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You can pull up the web interface by browsing to the IP address of the unit (visible when cycling the front panel display or inside the Integra Control Pro mobile app) and entering 'ciuser' for both username and password. You might be able to inspect the web source or scrape the network traffic with wireshark or something similar to discern the API.
Hi, @ban25. Thank you for the quick reply!
Yes, I have been inspecting through Chrome Dev Tools how it communicates with the device. It does use digest auth, so I might implement a Python script to do what I need.
Before the Integra, I had a Yamaha receiver, which I automated some of its functions from my Home Assistant server. The most critical one that I need to implement ASAP is the Home Assistant automation that I have to turn on/off my subwoofer amplifier (no trigger port) based on the receiver's power status. I have been using a smart plug for years to achieve that, and it has been very reliable.
Again, thank you very much for your time in answering my post.
I just finished writing the Python script for the first three basic functionalities that I need to automate. Please be aware that I'm not a professional programmer. Don't forget to replace the IP address. For reference:
import sys
import requests
from requests.auth import HTTPDigestAuth
import urllib3
params = {}
params = sys.argv[1:]
if not params or len(params) < 2:
print("ERROR: No parameters passed or less than two")
sys.exit()
if params[0] is None or params[0] not in ['status','control']:
print("ERROR: First parameter must be either 'status' or 'control'")
sys.exit()
if params[1] is None or params[1] not in ['main_power','main_poweroff','main_poweron']:
print("ERROR: Second parameter must be: for status -> 'main_power'; for control -> 'main_poweroff', 'main_poweron'")
sys.exit()
user_agent = {'user-agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/133.0.0.0 Safari/537.36'}
http = urllib3.PoolManager(headers=user_agent)
# Username and password for Digest Authentication
username = 'ciuser'
password = 'ciuser'
# API endpoint that requires Digest Authentication
#api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/websetup.htm'
if params[0] == 'status' and params[1] == 'main_power':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWRQSTN'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
data = response.json()
if data["ISCP"][0] == "!1PWR01":
print("Receiver is On")
else:
print("Receiver is Off")
if params[0] == 'control' and params[1] == 'main_poweron':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWR01'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
if response.status_code == 200:
print("Receiver powered On")
else:
print("ERROR: The request failed. Response status Code: {response.status_code}")
if params[0] == 'control' and params[1] == 'main_poweroff':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWR00'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
if response.status_code == 200:
print("Receiver powered Off")
else:
print("ERROR: The request failed. Response status Code: {response.status_code}")
http.clear()
import sys
import requests
from requests.auth import HTTPDigestAuth
import urllib3
params = {}
params = sys.argv[1:]
if not params or len(params) < 2:
print("ERROR: No parameters passed or less than two")
sys.exit()
if params[0] is None or params[0] not in ['status','control']:
print("ERROR: First parameter must be either 'status' or 'control'")
sys.exit()
if params[1] is None or params[1] not in ['main_power','main_poweroff','main_poweron']:
print("ERROR: Second parameter must be: for status -> 'main_power'; for control -> 'main_poweroff', 'main_poweron'")
sys.exit()
user_agent = {'user-agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/133.0.0.0 Safari/537.36'}
http = urllib3.PoolManager(headers=user_agent)
# Username and password for Digest Authentication
username = 'ciuser'
password = 'ciuser'
# API endpoint that requires Digest Authentication
#api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/websetup.htm'
if params[0] == 'status' and params[1] == 'main_power':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWRQSTN'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
data = response.json()
if data["ISCP"][0] == "!1PWR01":
print("Receiver is On")
else:
print("Receiver is Off")
if params[0] == 'control' and params[1] == 'main_poweron':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWR01'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
if response.status_code == 200:
print("Receiver powered On")
else:
print("ERROR: The request failed. Response status Code: {response.status_code}")
if params[0] == 'control' and params[1] == 'main_poweroff':
api_url = 'http://192.168.101.67/iscp_req.cgi?iscp=!1PWR00'
response = requests.get(api_url, auth=HTTPDigestAuth(username, password))
if response.status_code == 200:
print("Receiver powered Off")
else:
print("ERROR: The request failed. Response status Code: {response.status_code}")
http.clear()
ban25
Major Contributor
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Excellent work! I also use homeassistant and there is an entity for the media player (media_player.integra_drx_8_4), but it doesn't seem to expose device state outside of Roon or Chromecast.
Im selling my integra drx 8.4 but I can't seem to find anyone to buy it. Is there something im missing? Do people really not like this model? I have posted it two times for $1750 plus shipping. Its very clean, zero damage. Works perfectly. Wonder what im doing wrong.
Integra are less well known than Onkyo... perhaps mentioning it as the Premium version of the Onkyo RZ70 might help?
It took me a few weeks to get a price I was willing to accept for my DRX 3.4...
pollock0424
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Wow! That's a steal!! I paid 2x that for a new one about 3 year ago.
Try selling it to TMR audio and you'll get that $1750 easily, they can probably sell it for $2200 easy peasy..
I would be all over that if the 8.4 and Integras in general had Dirac ART... Here's hoping they get to add it.
That's because the RZ70 (on which the DRX8.4 is based) was going for $1700 last month brand new. That's a crazy price if you factor in that tariffs have been incorporated into the price! To add salt in the wound, Onkyo confirmed Dirac ART is not coming to the current gen of PAC AVRs but rather the new gen that is slated for 2027-2028 release.
I would say all those factors have a lot to do with bringing down the value of PAC AVRs collectively!
Wow! Bullet dodged!
pollock0424
Active Member
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- Jun 30, 2022
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- 140
Dirac is very over rated IMHO! ART sounds even more gimmicky.. DLBC is where I will stop pushing my luck with dirac. Having said that, Integra drx 8.4 is a beast and very well made.. couldn't be more happier with it.
There's much love for ART both here and over at AVS.
Not knocking your DRX 8.4 (which is a beast) but many have jumped ship to D&M due to FOMO. The resale value of the DRX 8.4 now simply reflects that.
ART is the reason why it's even worth considering Dirac. Before that I was using either Audyssey and OCA tools. Switched immediately after first ART reviews - flatter FR, better subs integration, reduced decay times. What's gimmicky about that?
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