Denon x4400 and Amp Assignment

[Drunkpenguin]

I've been reading the manual and watching youtube videos all morning but I'm not quite getting this. My receiver has not yet arrived but I want to understand the proper connections for 7.2.4 before it shows up.

I have a 5 channel amp thats got more output than the AVR so I'd like that to run my main front 3 plus 2 extra speakers. The back of the AVR has speaker outputs for all 11 channels, but obviously 2 of the channels at a minimum will need to go through an amp. So can my 5 channel amp run any of the outputs I want? like say the traditional 5 speakers, center, fronts, surround left and rights? Then use the AVR to run heights and rears?

How does the AVR know if I'm using its built in amps or not? Is there a setting for that some place? Reading the manual makes me think I have to use the 9 built in amps, and use the external amp for 2 of the heights only.

 

[little wing]

Yes you can ues the preamp outputs on the back of the receiver to send the signal to your amp. I'm sure your receiver has preamp outs for at least the 5 main channels, and probably more. You should be able to use a combination of receiver amps and external amps to run 7.2.4. You might just have to wait untill you get the receiver and put your hands on it and run through the menus before it all clicks. But unless I'm missing something you shouldn't have a problem doing what your trying to do.

Oh and when you plug in your cable to the preout of the receiver, it knows to send the signal to the amp, cause it's smart like that.

 

[Leemix]

Its very likly itll be very easy to set up through the audyssey setup when you power it on for the first time, it should guide you through the process.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

Took a look at your manual, seems to be for 7.2.4 you'd use the 11.1 amp assign setting and use any combo of avr amp/external amp you want. That's what I can do with my 4520, albeit I don't have Atmos.

 

[Bookmark]

The pre-amp outputs are I believe live regardless of the internal AMP assignments. There are binding posts for all 11 speakers. I am just not entirely sure if you can just pick and choose all ones you might want internally/externally.

The top Denons/Marantz are more flexible on the amp assignments than the mid tier ones. There will surely be a combination to get you the 11 driven just that maybe a couple of the Atmos one will need to be externally amped.

 

[CaW]

If youre going to run a 7.x.4 setup then you all you need to do in auto setup is set whether you want to externally power the front L/R mains or the rear ceiling/Atmos pair. The auto setup will determine which speakers you have connected via feedback to the mic when it plays the Audyssey pings. All 11 pre-outs are active so you could externally power all the channels.

Personally I'd get a powerful amp for at least the front LCR array and then use the Denon's amps to drive the surround and ceiling/Atmos speakers.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I already have a 5 channel amp, hence the question. It's a 200w/channel Emotiva. Receiver should arrive tomorrow (finally!) so I'll see how it turns out. From my reading and the posts here it seems that I should be able to do what I'm hoping to do.

 

[PENG]

I've been reading the manual and watching youtube videos all morning but I'm not quite getting this. My receiver has not yet arrived but I want to understand the proper connections for 7.2.4 before it shows up.

I have a 5 channel amp thats got more output than the AVR so I'd like that to run my main front 3 plus 2 extra speakers. The back of the AVR has speaker outputs for all 11 channels, but obviously 2 of the channels at a minimum will need to go through an amp. So can my 5 channel amp run any of the outputs I want? like say the traditional 5 speakers, center, fronts, surround left and rights? Then use the AVR to run heights and rears?

How does the AVR know if I'm using its built in amps or not? Is there a setting for that some place? Reading the manual makes me think I have to use the 9 built in amps, and use the external amp for 2 of the heights only.

You got your answers, but I want to add that if you are using it as prepro, you should use the Eco mode that will allow it to run cooler. I tried it, as Denon/Marantz stated, if use as prepro only, there would be no effects on performance. I was able to hit 106 dB in my room with volume at 0, while Eco mode was engaged. In a sense, it works like a real prepro mode.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

When you say use it as a prepro, do you mean if I have an external amp for every channel? Cause I only have an amp for 5 of the 11. Would you still suggest eco mode? Also, this is in a dedicated theater so its only run for 2 hours at a time a couple times a week at best. Would I still want eco in those circumstances?

 

[PENG]

When you say use it as a prepro, do you mean if I have an external amp for every channel? Cause I only have an amp for 5 of the 11. Would you still suggest eco mode? Also, this is in a dedicated theater so its only run for 2 hours at a time a couple times a week at best. Would I still want eco in those circumstances?

Yes, but if you are only using it to power the height channels, I suggest you should still try the Eco mode and I bet you won't be able to tell a difference, assuming you set the crossover for the heights to 80 Hz or higher. I would think 100-120 Hz (or even higher) crossover for those would be better anyway.

In my opinion, you should always engage Eco, i.e. set it to "On", not "Auto" or "Off" if used as prepro or use it to power the height channels. It is not about energy saving, but about running cooler, for better longevity.

 

[Bookmark]

I think I mentioned this in another thread about the Denon/Marantz setup combinations available for a 7 channel external, which thought about after I initially posted here and had checked my manual for the Marantz.

The 9 out of 11 is not a generic pool. You can choose to assign some internally/externally but not any and all of them as you wish. If you externally amp the front 5, the option will not be there to cover the remainder. You will end up with either a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2. To then get the 7.2.4 you would still then need a stereo amp for the last pair of Heights/overheads.

What can be done is externally amp the front 3, use the remaining available external pair for one set of the height/overheads and then you can still set the Denon as a 11.1/7.1.4 layout. The surrounds, back surrounds and one pair of the atmos would then get done by the Denon.

It is not ideal but the front 3 are the heavy use ones so it should still work well. You can try it and if it's not doing the job, later on externally amp the rest if need be.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

Running setup mode now. For any future peoples, it asked me if I wanted to hook the front speakers or 2 height speakers to the amp. I chose front which allowed me to connect the amp the way I wanted to.

 

[Bookmark]

That's good, onwards and upwards

 

[Drunkpenguin]

Hoping to run calibration tonight if I have time, then its atmos fun! Thanks everybody!

 

[Bookmark]

I'm pretty sure you will come up with your own list of impressive films shortly

For now if you have any the following (all are Blu rays),this might give you somewhere to start.

7.2.2
Ready Player One
Rampage
Fast and Furious 8
Ghost in the Shell
The Great Wall
Kong Skull Island
Crimson Peak

7.2.4
Jack Reacher Never Go Back
Hunger Games, Mockingjay 1 and 2
Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them
Sucide Squad

Demos/Trailers Atmos and Dts:X
https://thedigitaltheater.com/index.php/dolby-trailers/

I watched some with only 2 front heights and some worked better than others. Since having all 4 it does actually work better and I will unfortunately have to re-watch some or all of these yet again.

Pretty much anything out of DC Comics seems to have an Atmos track. Also anything recent with Tom Cruise. Disney and it's affiliates by contrast has nothing on Blu Ray and apparently even some of the UHD discs have not been too impressive. I don't have any UHDs currently so I cannot comment.

Hopefully Peng won't be too far behind aswell.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I think the only one I have is John Wick, but I've heard thats a real good one.

 

[Bookmark]

The UHDs for John Wick 1 and 2 both have Atmos

Oddly in the UK, at least, on Bluray, the 1st has Atmos, which unfortunately I don't have, and the 2nd has Dts HDMA which I do.

Both are fine films and sounded great when I watched them before.

Oddly of the demos/trailers I linked, I did not notice a world of difference on the Amaze that everyone raved about. It sounded good before and still sounds fine. Two that did improve with the extra speakers were Dolby Silent and Leaf.

 

[PENG]

I think I mentioned this in another thread about the Denon/Marantz setup combinations available for a 7 channel external, which thought about after I initially posted here and had checked my manual for the Marantz.

The 9 out of 11 is not a generic pool. You can choose to assign some internally/externally but not any and all of them as you wish. If you externally amp the front 5, the option will not be there to cover the remainder. You will end up with either a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2. To then get the 7.2.4 you would still then need a stereo amp for the last pair of Heights/overheads.

What can be done is externally amp the front 3, use the remaining available external pair for one set of the height/overheads and then you can still set the Denon as a 11.1/7.1.4 layout. The surrounds, back surrounds and one pair of the atmos would then get done by the Denon.

It is not ideal but the front 3 are the heavy use ones so it should still work well. You can try it and if it's not doing the job, later on externally amp the rest if need be.

Obviously this is because the 4400 has only 9 channels of amp, to do 7.1.4 with a 5 channel ext amp one will have to step up to the 6400 or 8012.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

@PENG
Im confused by your statement. Did you mean without a 5 channel amp?

 

[PENG]

@PENG
Im confused by your statement. Did you mean without a 5 channel amp?

Sorry, I did mean with 5 channel amp, you cannot do 7.1.4 unless you do what Bookmark described in post#11. That seems like a good solution anyway. Nothing to worry about, just get ready to enjoy the best great little AVR $899 can buy.