Denon AVR-X4500H Overheating

[bs1979]

Hello all!! New here and needing some help. I'm an amateur at home stereo, been tinkering for the last few years, but recently, have been able to spend some money and been getting more in to it. Back in May, I bought a pair of Klipsch Ref Premiere RP-8000F, a Klipsch Ref Premiere RP-504C W center channel, a pair of Klipsch Ref Premiere RP-500M W bookshelf speakers, and a Klipsch SPL-120SW. The receiver I chose was the Onkyo TX-NR696. Overall, I was very impressed. But recently, I decided to upgrade another stereo in my home, so I moved the Onkyo to that room to power a pair of Klipsch Ref Premiere RP-600M W bookshelf speakers and then purchased a Denon AVR-X4500H to replace the main setup. I went with the Denon for more power and more options. After hooking it up, I plugged in my phone to play music... I was very unimpressed... all speakers were so much more quiet... even the sub (turned to 70%) sounded extremely weak. So I started going through the settings, and as I did so, (the volume was at 60.5, so a little over half way up) I noticed the volume had gone down on its own. So I went to the receiver itself (which was on the floor in open air) was EXTREMELY hot. It had been on but for 4-5 minutes and only half way up on volume??? What am I doing wrong. When I had the Onkyo powering this setup, I could turn it up 95% for an hour straight and it would be warm... never an issue. Am I doing something wrong??? Bad wiring?? Levels set wrong?? Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

 

[lovinthehd]

You might have a lemon, but....

You aren't putting it on a carpeted floor, are you? That wouldn't be good for ventilation.

The speakers may not be at same volume level on each avr if you don't calibrate them (by running Audyssey on the Denon for example, or doing it manually). The volume scale is logarithmic, so for every 3dB increase on the volume scale you're doubling the power used, so percentage isn't very meaningful.

There have been reports of the 4500 running warm so external fans might be an idea if you keep it.

 

[bs1979]

No, I had it on a table during this time before putting it in the entertainment center, full ventilation. I just don't understand. The Onkyo did great, was just hoping to boost everything a tad more. And as a test, I even hooked up a 12 year old 85 watt Sony, it did just fine as well. I'm so lost....

 

[lovinthehd]

Maybe you did get a lemon. What was the temperature of the unit in use? FWIW the difference in power between the two avrs is very minor, less than 1 dB....

 

[mazersteven]

The Onkyo did great, was just hoping to boost everything a tad more.

The new receiver wasn't going to Boost anything a tad more. Those speakers are so easy and efficient to run. Placement and Room Acoustics would add more.

 

[PENG]

No, I had it on a table during this time before putting it in the entertainment center, full ventilation. I just don't understand. The Onkyo did great, was just hoping to boost everything a tad more. And as a test, I even hooked up a 12 year old 85 watt Sony, it did just fine as well. I'm so lost....

Is it a used, or refurbished unit. One thing to try first is to do a factory reset.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

The Denon 4500 runs HOT if ECO mode is not enabled. Turn on ECO mode by pushing the green leaf on the remote and the heat issue will be reduced.

ECO AVR-X4500H

manuals.denon.com

The problem with ECO mode is it reduces amplification by approx. half but helps keep the unit cooler. The external fans that I installed on top of my 4500 are shown in the link below. They do a good job at reducing heat and at the lowest setting they are quiet. At only $20, they are your best accessory for the Denon 4500. I tried other external fans but ended up returning them as they were not quiet.

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

 

[slipperybidness]

Note that Onkyo's have been reported to tend to run a bit hot too.

@bs1979
Can you help to tell us, how hot? My general rule is to place my hand on the top of the chassis. If it gets to be so hot that I cannot keep my hand on there for an extended time, then there is a problem. However, if I can easily keep my hand on there for 30 seconds or so, then there is no problem.

With that being said, I have also noticed that my Denon 4400 tends to run a bit on the hot side. But, my hand test says, no problem. What I find even more interesting/odd is that my 3500 does not seem to run nearly as hot as my 4400, even if I'm running the same speakers at relatively same levels. But, I'm not sure if the comparison is fair, because the 3500 is in a smaller room and has a little better ventilation. The 4400 ventilation is fine, just not quite as open as the 3500.

It should also be noted that I do not activate Eco mode on either system.

 

[bs1979]

Note that Onkyo's have been reported to tend to run a bit hot too.

@bs1979
Can you help to tell us, how hot? My general rule is to place my hand on the top of the chassis. If it gets to be so hot that I cannot keep my hand on there for an extended time, then there is a problem. However, if I can easily keep my hand on there for 30 seconds or so, then there is no problem.

With that being said, I have also noticed that my Denon 4400 tends to run a bit on the hot side. But, my hand test says, no problem. What I find even more interesting/odd is that my 3500 does not seem to run nearly as hot as my 4400, even if I'm running the same speakers at relatively same levels. But, I'm not sure if the comparison is fair, because the 3500 is in a smaller room and has a little better ventilation. The 4400 ventilation is fine, just not quite as open as the 3500.

It should also be noted that I do not activate Eco mode on either system.

Its hot enough that I cant keep my hand there 30 seconds.... also, the unit continuously keeps dropping the volume level because of the overheating. Example... I had it on 2 ch listening to music at volume level 80, and within 2 minutes, it had dropped the volume level to 66

 

[lovinthehd]

I've not heard of a unit changing volume on its own....

 

[mazersteven]

Its hot enough that I cant keep my hand there 30 seconds....

I've never experience a unit that gets that hot that I couldn't hold my hand on the top.

If it's well vented with proper airflow around it and not being driven limits Beyond its capabilities then I can see no reason why it would get that hot

 

[slipperybidness]

Its hot enough that I cant keep my hand there 30 seconds.... also, the unit continuously keeps dropping the volume level because of the overheating. Example... I had it on 2 ch listening to music at volume level 80, and within 2 minutes, it had dropped the volume level to 66

Yeah, something is wrong here!

That is 2 strikes against this unit, and either 1 of those separately is likely a problem.

Time to start seeing about a repair or replacement unit. This was purchased new? From an authorized dealer?

 

[VMPS-TIII]

I put all my speakers on external amps and set the Denon 4700 Receiver to preamp mode and it still ran warm to the touch. I added $20 dual fans (AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan) to the Denon 4700 and the Monolith 7X and they are both running amazingly COOL. Love it when a plan comes together.

I set fans on the low setting which is very quiet. They are keeping the amp and the receiver cooler than I expected. Thank you @PENG for the link to the fans!

Next, I found a Surge protector with 15A, 1800 watts capacity and 4230 Joules of protection plus two USB charging ports. This allows me to plug the Denon 4700, Denon CD player, Monolith 7X and USB fans into one surge strip. I can disconnect all power to these devices when not in use AND they all get power together when I'm ready to use them again.

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

 

[slipperybidness]

I put all my speakers on external amps and set the Denon 4700 Receiver to preamp mode and it still ran warm to the touch. I added $20 dual fans (AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan) to the Denon 4700 and the Monolith 7X and they are both running amazingly COOL. Love it when a plan comes together.

I set fans on the low setting which is very quiet. They are keeping the amp and the receiver cooler than I expected. Thank you @PENG for the link to the fans!

Next, I found a Surge protector with 15A, 1800 watts capacity and 4230 Joules of protection plus two USB charging ports. This allows me to plug the Denon 4700, Denon CD player, Monolith 7X and USB fans into one surge strip. I can disconnect all power to these devices when not in use AND they all get power together when I'm ready to use them again.

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

Heat really doesn't bother me, other than I'm in Texas and any extra heat into the room can be a big disadvantage in the TX summer. Fans won't help on that.

Yeah, I know that heat will shorten the life of electronics. My general sentiment is that by the time that happens, I was likely due for a new AVR anyway.

 

[PENG]

I put all my speakers on external amps and set the Denon 4700 Receiver to preamp mode and it still ran warm to the touch. I added $20 dual fans (AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan) to the Denon 4700 and the Monolith 7X and they are both running amazingly COOL. Love it when a plan comes together.

I set fans on the low setting which is very quiet. They are keeping the amp and the receiver cooler than I expected. Thank you @PENG for the link to the fans!

Next, I found a Surge protector with 15A, 1800 watts capacity and 4230 Joules of protection plus two USB charging ports. This allows me to plug the Denon 4700, Denon CD player, Monolith 7X and USB fans into one surge strip. I can disconnect all power to these devices when not in use AND they all get power together when I'm ready to use them again.

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7, Quiet Dual 120mm USB Fan, UL-Certified for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

You do set Eco to "On' right. You should take advantage of that feature to help it run a little cooler, when are using preamp mode. Regardless, you know I am a firm believe in those quiet fans even if the unit is not running too warm. More cooling = longer trouble free life as long as you don't cool it too much, like anything else, too much of something good could be bad.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

You do set Eco to "On' right. You should take advantage of that feature to help it run a little cooler, when are using preamp mode. Regardless, you know I am a firm believe in those quiet fans even if the unit is not running too warm. More cooling = longer trouble free life as long as you don't cool it too much, like anything else, too much of something good could be bad.

@PENG - When you use "Preamp" mode on the Denon 4700 the ECO function is no longer selectable. From what I can see it automatically sets it to ECO ON, but since you can't change the ECO setting (in preamp mode) it's hard to confirm.

 

[PENG]

@PENG - When you use "Preamp" mode on the Denon 4700 the ECO function is no longer selectable. From what I can see it automatically sets it to ECO ON, but since you can't change the ECO setting (in preamp mode) it's hard to confirm.

I wouldn't mind that feature at all, though I always prefer more flexibility than less but I understand such fool proof feature would benefit many users. However, if this is the case, why would Gene mention this in the SR8015 review, may be I should watch that video again in case I missed something he said.

This is the second restriction that your X4700H has, relative to the X4400H (and likely X4500H too), the first one you mentioned was about the amp assign feature, that one I have hard time understanding why they would make it different.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

I wouldn't mind that feature at all, though I always prefer more flexibility than less but I understand such fool proof feature would benefit many users. However, if this is the case, why would Gene mention this in the SR8015 review, may be I should watch that video again in case I missed something he said.

This is the second restriction that your X4700H has, relative to the X4400H (and likely X4500H too), the first one you mentioned was about the amp assign feature, that one I have hard time understanding why they would make it different.

If you take the Denon 4700 out of "preamp mode" and set it in any other "amp assign" setting - then the ECO button works as expected. You can change to ECO ON, OFF or AUTO. It's only when you select preamp mode in amp assign that the ECO button can no longer change settings. When you think about the function of the ECO button that makes perfect sense.

You won't see this on the Denon 4400 as it does not offer "Preamp" mode.

 

[M Code]

AVR has the output stage set incorrectly...
Take it to a Denon tech service center and have it properly adjusted, if under warranty should be done gratis..

Just my $0.02...