Denon X3800 shuts down

[highfigh]

The amp in storage was originally used in a Disco (gives you an idea how old it is). I have not had particularly good luck with old electronics they tend to have pernicious small/irritating problems, for me.

highfigh said:
"When the AVR turns on, how high is the volume? I recommend setting the Volume to -30 using the dB scale, not the 0-100 scale. This can be set in the Audio menu."

Probably around 50 on the 0-100 scale; it worked for a while, then would kick out for a moment... solved by disabling the 4 height speakers; which gave the powersupply more aviliable overhead, IMO.

Enjoy!

Hvae you looked inside, to see how much dust is covering the circuits?Was it cleaned out after being used in the disco? Dust accumulates moisture over time and that can result in damage to components. It also acts as a blanket and reduces heat dissipation.

 

[mtrot]

As I previously suggested to you, you need external amplification for your hard to drive Polk speakers.

An affordable and good recommendation would be to get three Outlaw 2220 monoblock power amps. This amplifier was reviewed by ASR and recommended. You can get each one for a discounted price of $300 at present from the manufacturer:

Model 2220

You've been looking for a rugged monoblock, at home with both music and movies. Maybe you've been looking for an amp that can be stacked and runs as cool as the other side of your pillow; look no further. 200W into an 8Ω load / 300W into a 4Ω load Choose the right number of amps for...

outlawaudio.com

Outlaw 2220 Review (Monoblock Amplifier)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Outlaw 2220 single channel amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $399. The look is simple but elegant in its slim form factor. I like that it is just heavy enough to give you confidence but not so much that you can't lift...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Interesting. I just ordered a 2220 for my center speaker, to be used with my Denon 4700. I already have a separate amp for my front L/R.

 

[ban25]

In a Home Theater use-case, the Center channel is almost always the most active. If possible, it's a good idea to get the Center moved to an external amp, as well as the FR/FL speakers, particularly if they are difficult to drive like your Polks.

 

[hemiram]

Thanks for the response, it sounds like i am in a similar situation... I think that, perhaps I will look in the old equipment storage and maybe drag another receiver out and hook them both up...
Enjoy!

At one point, I had a really weak Sony AVR running the front channels with it's built in amp, my bought in 1971 Panasonic SA-6500 receiver running the back L+R speakers, the old Pioneer amp running the left and right surrounds. I didn't have a center for a while and it was ok until I got it, then watching Predator one night, the Sony shut down repeatedly, and I soon replaced it with the Yamaha. I was using the original SVS speakers, I think they were SVS-1's?, and I can't imagine what the Sony would have done running, or attempting to run my old AR setup. My front AR-94's were run off, at first one Carver M-400 amp, then a second one, both monoed out. I had some pretty big surround speakers back then, AR-38's? Long time ago, so many model numbers. That setup really sucked up the power in my basement, which was large and had a lot of sound deadening. Sadly, a blown water heater over a weekend away from home, with the massive amount of humidity in the basement destroyed all my speakers due to warpage and one of the surrounds nearly cracked into two pieces and fell off the shelf! I moved all my equipment, it survived 100% to a spare bedroom. Sadly, another casualty of the water heater was my immense VHS tape collection. Hundreds of movies along with news footage from Vegas TV stations, and several T-120 cassettes of nothing but local Vegas ads from 1979 until early 1982. Some of those ads were amazingly strange.

 

[Happy Joe]

As I previously suggested to you, you need external amplification for your hard to drive Polk speakers.

An affordable and good recommendation would be to get three Outlaw 2220 monoblock power amps. This amplifier was reviewed by ASR and recommended. You can get each one for a discounted price of $300 at present from the manufacturer:

Model 2220

You've been looking for a rugged monoblock, at home with both music and movies. Maybe you've been looking for an amp that can be stacked and runs as cool as the other side of your pillow; look no further. 200W into an 8Ω load / 300W into a 4Ω load Choose the right number of amps for...

outlawaudio.com

Outlaw 2220 Review (Monoblock Amplifier)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Outlaw 2220 single channel amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $399. The look is simple but elegant in its slim form factor. I like that it is just heavy enough to give you confidence but not so much that you can't lift...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I am starting to like the auxiliary amps for the R700's idea more and more... Thanks...
If the Onkyo, which is currently on order, has the same or similar issues I will return it and probably get a pair of monoblocks (Looking at Outlaw and Emotiva).

Enjoy!

 

[Happy Joe]

In a Home Theater use-case, the Center channel is almost always the most active. If possible, it's a good idea to get the Center moved to an external amp, as well as the FR/FL speakers, particularly if they are difficult to drive like your Polks.

The current center speaker is a Klipch R34-C, I have tried assorted speakers in this position and they don't seem to be the main cause of the shutdowns.... Thanks.

I expect the upcoming changes to initiate an equipment rearrangement negating the need for a small center channel speaker below and in front of the TV; I will likely go to a much larger 3 way center speaker... eventually.

Enjoy!

 

[Happy Joe]

Hvae you looked inside, to see how much dust is covering the circuits?Was it cleaned out after being used in the disco? Dust accumulates moisture over time and that can result in damage to components. It also acts as a blanket and reduces heat dissipation.

Yep, I haven't looked, however when bringing old stuff online I typically vacuum out the dust bunnies and evict mama Spyder with her off spring....
However, I don't expect to excavate the old amp soon, or search out its 1/4" plugs, patch cords & adapters; at least, while there are so many more attractive options... (I was amazed that mono blocks are so, relatively, inexpensive...

Enjoy!

 

[hemiram]

There are a lot of good deals on new amps out there and a ton of cheap plain looking older ones on Ebay. If they aren't pretty they are usually cheap. My one friend's current setup is a couple year old Marantz, AVR with a cluster of 20-40 year old power amps running the speakers. The speakers are where he spends the $$$, I can't remember the name of them, but they are like 250 pounds each for the front L+R, and the center channel speaker is huge too. In my apartment, even the old SVS-1's I have stored now are overkill.

 

[Happy Joe]

There are a lot of good deals on new amps out there and a ton of cheap plain looking older ones on Ebay. If they aren't pretty they are usually cheap. My one friend's current setup is a couple year old Marantz, AVR with a cluster of 20-40 year old power amps running the speakers. The speakers are where he spends the $$$, I can't remember the name of them, but they are like 250 pounds each for the front L+R, and the center channel speaker is huge too. In my apartment, even the old SVS-1's I have stored now are overkill.

I am getting increasingly antique, and while I am not rich, I would rather purchase new equipment, with a warranty than get some one else's technical problems cheap/my experiences with fleabay were not good.
Thanks for the thought, though.
I personally like the, even harmonic, tube sound but getting replacement parts has been an issue for more than a few decades.
Some old stuff like good antique furniture is vastly superior to newer items: I may have mentioned a current project to rebuild/resurrect my treasured NHT 2.5I speakers; they had a sound very similar to the R700's but without the power requirements/expense/shutdowns.. Unfortunately they were blown, several years ago by a poorly conceived/implemented room equalization program (s**y is a four letter word) on a then new AVR design.

Enjoy!

 

[Verdinut]

I am starting to like the auxiliary amps for the R700's idea more and more... Thanks...
If the Onkyo, which is currently on order, has the same or similar issues I will return it and probably get a pair of monoblocks (Looking at Outlaw and Emotiva).

Enjoy!

If I were you, I would forget about Emotiva products. They don't have good after sales support and haven't been very reliable for support or parts after the warranty period.

 

[PENG]

I received Twisters, yesterday;
all went well until one of the "Big Tornado" scenes with Atmos enabled... whereupon the Dennon x3800h shut down for a relatively long period;
This firmly establishes, in my mind, that the X3800 is simply not up to the task of powering 5 speaker (down from 7) surround sound when the speakers consist of the polk R700s in front and Klipsh R26F A's as rears.

Fortunately I have a RZ70 on order (due in about a week); If it too proves to be inadequate for the task I will likely be forced into multiple amps or receivers...

Performed some preliminary background research into amplifiers ; Noticed that an old, familiar name popped up... Crown.; although it seems totally absent from the audio web pages.
Are there any recommendations for audiophile amps in the 300 W/ch range that come to mind? ...I have been long distracted from Audio as a hobby but old age is leading me back to it....

Thanks in advance...

Enjoy!

A 3 channel power amp for the front 3 channels will cost you less and add more current capability for those Polk speakers. The RZ70 is a very powerful AVR than the AVR-X3800H, but "loudness" perceived, being not linear, the RZ70 will be like turning down the Denon by 1-2 clicks on the volume dial, all else being equal. It really isn't a good way to deal with your issue, acquiring a 3 channel amp is.

For $140, fix the center channel:
Fosi Audio V3 Mono Amplifier Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

For $700, fix the R700, in fact any speakers you might upgrade to in future:
Buckeye Amps

Power amps are better in longevity, so when time comes to upgrade the AVR, the amps can stay, that's way I no longer think expensive AVRs, or even AVPs are good options nowadays, when new and improve features keep coming, rendering AVP features/specs outdating very quickly and would almost become obsolete within 5-7 years.

If you can sell your X3800H for $1,000 then the RX70 could be a cost effective solution too, albeit not a good solution as explained, and you will lose the very effective Audyssey XT32 (if you use the $20 app), 4 sub-outs, though the RZ70 includes Dirac Live, bass control is a paid option iirc.

 

[Happy Joe]

Thank you for your suggestions; however I' going to wait for and try the onkyo. Every thing is in the works and the onkyo has probably already been shipped.

Enjoy!

 

[Happy Joe]

If I were you, I would forget about Emotiva products. They don't have good after sales support and haven't been very reliable for support or parts after the warranty period.

Thanks! for the info, the potential list is rapidly dwindling to outlaw amps...

I discovered last night that the x3800 does not seem to have problems when run totally flat (all speakers & all channels)...
Indicating, to me, that it is on the ragged edge.

Enjoy!

 

[Antares]

Thanks! for the info, the potential list is rapidly dwindling to outlaw amps...

I discovered last night that the x3800 does not seem to have problems when run totally flat (all speakers & all channels)...
Indicating, to me, that it is on the ragged edge.

Enjoy!

Flat? As in Audyssey's Flat curve?

 

[Happy Joe]

Flat? As in Audyssey's Flat curve?

Actually I mean flat; no boost any where (at any speaker) at any frequency(including audacity; I checked when I was trying to get a predictable shutdown)... It probably reset itself that way after one of the Twisters) shutdowns....
..or perhaps I have gremlins, or poltergeists...

Enjoy!

Edit; for now I'm leaving it an just enjoying music and movies with no adjustments for speakers or environment... My listening room is pretty neutral (according to the clap your hands and listen to the room by ear and listening experience). I did recently hear some high frequency reflections and remedied them by moving a highly reflective panel and applying a couple of 2' x 4' pieces of acoustic foam onto the side walls next to the front L & R speakers.

Enjoy!