Denon AVR-X8500HA

[Eppie]

Just watched the video unboxing on the Denon AVR-X8500HA. What a beast! Checks all the boxes and surprisingly good support for legacy devices.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yep. If anyone we’re getting an AVR, the Denon 8500 would be among the best overall, especially in the measurements department (THD+N 0.0007% per ASR).

Or if you (@flyboylr45) were waiting for the ATI AVP but couldn’t get one since ATI hasn’t released it yet or if you wanted the Storm AVP but didn’t want to commit all that money yet, then the Denon 8500 could be a good temporary fix to hold you over for a minute.

 

[flyboylr45]

Yep. If anyone we’re getting an AVR, the Denon 8500 would be among the best overall, especially in the measurements department (THD+N 0.0007% per ASR).

Or if you (@flyboylr45) were waiting for the ATI AVP but couldn’t get one since ATI hasn’t released it yet or if you wanted the Storm AVP but didn’t want to commit all that money yet, then the Denon 8500 could be a good temporary fix to hold you over for a minute.

Happily waiting with the 8500.

 

[Verdinut]

Yep. If anyone we’re getting an AVR, the Denon 8500 would be among the best overall, especially in the measurements department (THD+N 0.0007% per ASR).

Or if you (@flyboylr45) were waiting for the ATI AVP but couldn’t get one since ATI hasn’t released it yet or if you wanted the Storm AVP but didn’t want to commit all that money yet, then the Denon 8500 could be a good temporary fix to hold you over for a minute.

The Denon 8500 could indeed be a good fix in the meantime, so would the 3700 for some people. It's also possible that even someone might just stop waiting for the ATI AVP because those two AVRs can do an excellent job when set to a preamp operation. IMO, AV electronic equipment changes so frequently that you may just keep what you have until new features require that you upgrade.

 

[Pogre]

The Denon 8500 could indeed be a good fix in the meantime, so would the 3700 for some people. It's also possible that even someone might just stop waiting for the ATI AVP because those two AVRs can do an excellent job when set to a preamp operation. IMO, AV electronic equipment changes so frequently that you may just keep what you have until new features require that you upgrade.

There's a war on AVRs!

I'll tell ya, if you use one as an AVP and get a separate amp I think you can get a lot of life out of a decent avr and economy of scale makes them a less expensive option in most cases. Something like the 3700 (or the Yamaha equivalent with preouts) is all most folks would need. I just use my SR6011 as if it's an avp, had it over 5 years now and not a hint of problems. It doesn't even run hot because I turn on eco mode. I'll bet I can get at least another 5 years out of it, or until I'm forced to upgrade due to changing tech or something.

 

[ryanosaur]

There's a war on AVRs!

I'll tell ya, if you use one as an AVP and get a separate amp I think you can get a lot of life out of a decent avr and economy of scale makes them a less expensive option in most cases. Something like the 3700 (or the Yamaha equivalent with preouts) is all most folks would need. I just use my SR6011 as if it's an avp, had it over 5 years now and not a hint of problems. It doesn't even run hot because I turn on eco mode. I'll bet I can get at least another 5 years out of it, or until I'm forced to upgrade due to changing tech or something.

The only issue is if you have Balanced Amps... you need those XLR Preouts that Denon does not offer.

Otherwise I woulda been hard-scoping this!

 

[Pogre]

The only issue is if you have Balanced Amps... you need those XLR Preouts that Denon does not offer.

Otherwise I woulda been hard-scoping this!

Oh XLR preouts... pft. Pshaw. Sheesh...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There's a war on AVRs!

Some people will go as far as buying buy cheap or no-name AVP just to have that “separates“.

But I think AVR is just as good, especially a $4600 AVR.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Happily waiting with the 8500.

Life is hard.

 

[Verdinut]

The only issue is if you have Balanced Amps... you need those XLR Preouts that Denon does not offer.

Otherwise I woulda been hard-scoping this!

With my Denon AVR-X3700H set in the preamp mode, I use RCA to XLR unbalanced cables on the QSC amps without any problem.

 

[ryanosaur]

With my Denon AVR-X3700h pre-outs, I use RCA to XLR unbalanced cables on the QSC amps without any problem.

The Hypex Amps I will be switching to can operate with rca to xlr but are really designed for balanced input.

 

[Verdinut]

The Hypex Amps I will be switching to can operate with rca to xlr but are really designed for balanced input.

The QSCs I'm using are also designed for balanced connections. They are used in Cineplex theaters.

 

[PENG]

The Hypex Amps I will be switching to can operate with rca to xlr but are really designed for balanced input.

Using good rca to xlr cable such as Monoprice premier series, there will be no loss in quality , according to the Hypex datasheet "

" as confirmed by Hypex. So Verdinut would have no issue at all because the 3700 can output at least 3 V without increased distortions.

If you have Marantz AVR then you may have to be more careful, even then it is only an issue if you can hear the effects of less than 0.1% THD, most people can't, though the noise may be noticeable by some, under some conditions.

 

[ryanosaur]

Using good rca to xlr cable such as Monoprice premier series, there will be no loss in quality, as confirmed by Hypex.

Really. This would please me. I had been under the guidance that the non-balanced connection would be somewhat detrimental to final performance.
Thank you.

 

[PENG]

Really. This would please me. I had been under the guidance that the non-balanced connection would be somewhat detrimental to final performance.
Thank you.

Sorry I exaggerated a little, will edit my post for better accuracy. It actually says "

", so yes that implies some loss of benefit of balanced..

For completeness, and if you want to build your own cable, below is page 17 of the NC400's data sheet, but it obviously should apply to your UCD series (that's what you bought right?)

 

[Golfx]

Using advice I gleaned from @PENG on ASR, I began using a Denon AVR (A110) as a prepro for a year while I waited for the iteratively delayed Anthem AVM90. I used rca-xlr interconnect cables from March audio for LCR hypex monoblocks. But for surrounds and heights I used a multi8 hypex amp from Nord audio that had switchable rca/xlr inputs. The small cost of adding the switching ability was easily absorbed by not having to buy rca-xlr interconnects as my current rca-rca interconnects worked just fine.