Need help selecting a new AVR

[lovinthehd]

Front wide right and front wide left is specific to the 6800? would this be for main speakers that can have a large distance between them i.e. 10'? I've never heard of that. I've only heard of the typical left and right channels.....

Wides were offered on some older pre-Atmos avrs (like my Denon 4520), but not as widely (pun intended) used in later models. FWIW I tried and my room I just felt wasn't wide enough for both L/R and wides.

 

[moves]

Wides were offered on some older pre-Atmos avrs (like my Denon 4520), but not as widely (pun intended) used in later models. FWIW I tried and my room I just felt wasn't wide enough for both L/R and wides.

What do you mean it wasn't enough? If it's old tech then wondering why would it be only on the 6800 model and not the lower end models i.e. 4800.. I could be wrong maybe they all have it. I just wasn't sure what the benefits of the 6800 have over the 4800 in terms of (configuring channels)

 

[everettT]

What do you mean it wasn't enough? If it's old tech then wondering why would it be only on the 6800 model and not the lower end models i.e. 4800.. I could be wrong maybe they all have it. I just wasn't sure what the benefits of the 6800 have over the 4800 in terms of (configuring channels)

Because of Auro 3D, which technically aren't wides but heights above the mains. Audyssey also has some soundfields for wides, as do Yamaha custom soundfields. if you're not gonna use the additional processing capabilities of the 6800, the 4800 is the way to go.

 

[moves]

Because of Auro 3D, which technically aren't wides but heights above the mains. Audyssey also has some soundfields for wides, as do Yamaha custom soundfields. if you're not gonna use the additional processing capabilities of the 6800, the 4800 is the way to go.

Are the heights above the mains a part of Atmos?

 

[everettT]

Are the heights above the mains a part of Atmos?

No, just the other proprietary formats I mentioned. I actually like Auro 3D but most won't run their setup as Atmos and DTXS are close to each other in layout options (that and the lack of Auro content) I have a couple of homes and one I have Auro setup that I can switch between the formats, not ideal but still enjoy them.

For Atmos the heights would be higher and moved further back towards the MLP. I wouldn't worry about those channels if Atmos or DTSX is your main objective.i just had extra speakers laying around that I could add to the Auro setup, primarily the VOG (voice of God speaker) speaker. DTS tracks sound better than Atmos in that system layout but enjoy Atmos in the other house.

Don't let all this distract you from your goal which is Atmos. The 4800 seems like your best choice, even the 3800. The 4800 just gives you some additional options if you ever decide to change for not much more money.

 

[Trebdp83]

What do you mean by configurable? All im used to is channel volume settings handled by the on board room correction.

The X6800H can process 13.1 channels. Those channels can be configured several different ways. If one is using an external amp to power the Front speakers, they can power and process the other 11 speakers with the X6800H in a configuration of their choice.

X6800H:

 

[lovinthehd]

What do you mean it wasn't enough? If it's old tech then wondering why would it be only on the 6800 model and not the lower end models i.e. 4800.. I could be wrong maybe they all have it. I just wasn't sure what the benefits of the 6800 have over the 4800 in terms of (configuring channels)

My room was too narrow for the spacing of the speakers to have an appreciable effect. The higher end models of avrs generally accommodate more older tech (like the older Denon & Marantz avrs used to provide a full set of multich analog inputs). Just evolution somewhat of consumer needs.

 

[TLS Guy]

Are the heights above the mains a part of Atmos?

No.

 

[lovinthehd]

Are the heights above the mains a part of Atmos?

Pre-Atmos use of heights in that case and it wasn't just Auro3d (which I never used) but rather Dolby PLIIz options (and Dolby PLIIz is largely gone)

 

[Kingnoob]

Pre-Atmos use of heights in that case and it wasn't just Auro3d (which I never used) but rather Dolby PLIIz options (and Dolby PLIIz is largely gone)

I tried Dolby PLIIz it worked ok when upstairs but I never got it to work when mains were too close to them downstairs. I don’t think it was really worth using over regular 7.1 … atleast on my avr maybe other ones gave them more power or sound spl. They didn’t do much maybe ok for sound effects like helicopter.

 

[Nondemo01]

I took a chance on a refurbished Marantz Cinema 30 and it's been my daily driver for over a year without issue. (And I mean DAILY. I work from home and it's on from 6 am until 5-6 pm.) I wanna say I paid $3500 for it. I assume it was a refurb due to reported HDMI handshake issues early in production. I run a AppleTV and stream via Airplay2 so nothing exotic. It's certainly overkill for what I'm using it for but it's been flawless so far.

 

[TLS Guy]

I took a chance on a refurbished Marantz Cinema 30 and it's been my daily driver for over a year without issue. (And I mean DAILY. I work from home and it's on from 6 am until 5-6 pm.) I wanna say I paid $3500 for it. I assume it was a refurb due to reported HDMI handshake issues early in production. I run a AppleTV and stream via Airplay2 so nothing exotic. It's certainly overkill for what I'm using it for but it's been flawless so far.

You made a wise choice. Those units made in Shirakawa Japan have superb build quality. I bought an AV 10 five months ago, and it is the first multichannel front end that is of comparable quality to the rest of my system. Other units are absolute junk compared to that series of units.

 

[lovinthehd]

You made a wise choice. Those units made in Shirakawa Japan have superb build quality. I bought an AV 10 five months ago, and it is the first multichannel front end that is of comparable quality to the rest of my system. Other units are absolute junk compared to that series of units.

So now you're a factory QC expert? LOL

 

[TLS Guy]

So now you're a factory QC expert? LOL

I know real quality when I see it.

 

[PENG]

You made a wise choice. Those units made in Shirakawa Japan have superb build quality. I bought an AV 10 five months ago, and it is the first multichannel front end that is of comparable quality to the rest of my system. Other units are absolute junk compared to that series of units.

I would agree with just one exception, that the made in Japan thing is now an outdated conception imo. As long as the Cinema 30 is made by Marantz, Masimo of Harman, I won't consider the manufacturer location is a factor, because I trust they would impose established QA/QC standards in the host countries. In fact I might prefer that they made it in Vietnam, Malaysia or even if back to China if they would pass on the cost savings.

That's not to say I don't share your view on the potential counterfeit electronic parts that might get used in some cases, that's why it is important that the manufacturers themselves have to do their due diligence.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You made a wise choice. Those units made in Shirakawa Japan have superb build quality.

The bigger issue is that it is REFURBISHED vs NEW.

Would you get a refurbished AV10 vs a brand new AV10?

 

[Nondemo01]

The bigger issue is that it is REFURBISHED vs NEW.

Would you get a refurbished AV10 vs a brand new AV10?

Here's what I learned from friends in industry that "make things". During launches for new products that are considered niche, there are often buys that get returned for a bunch of non-damage related issues. In this case, I am assuming it had to do with HDMI handshake problems that were discussed in many forums. Because I don't have elaborate setup requirements, I took a chance and saved some cash. Electronics fail within the first year if at all and I got it direct from Marantz so their 1 year warranty was fine. So for ME, the savings were worth it. If you're asking about a product that hasn't been reported to have "issues" (read-user error or user expectations), I'd probably not do it because whatever went wrong, might have been via damage. My $.02.

EDIT: I should mention that my refurb didn't come with ANY of the original packaging. It had all the "stuff" but came in a plain single double-wall box without any of the "normal" experience type stuff you'd get buying new. (Styrofoam, silk covers etc.) But what I got is over $1000 off a product that I have enjoed DAILY for well over a year.

 

[highfigh]

I know real quality when I see it.

What difference(s) did you actually see?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Here's what I learned from friends in industry that "make things"…I am assuming…

I assume nothing.

Here’s what I’ve learned from buying 4 Refurbished Denon’s - they ALL FAILED. One of them literally went up in smoke AFTER I had sent it in to Panurgy NJ for repair.

But everyone’s experience is different. The risks are higher.

So for a long time after my bad refurbished experience (and I’m NOT the only one here on the forum), I sounded like sour grapes just like how TLS Guy sounds like sour grapes after his new Marantz 7706 died.

Sure, bad luck can happen to any of us. No doubt. That’s life. Sh!t happens in life. But refurbished complex electrical components probably have a higher risk.

Speaking of LUCK, I just had a flat repaired on my front left tire a couple of weeks ago. Today, I am now at the Hibdon Tires store getting a flat repaired on my rear right tire.

So I am not feeling very lucky.

 

[Nondemo01]

I assume nothing.

Here’s what I’ve learned from buying 4 Refurbished Denon’s - they ALL FAILED. One of them literally went up in smoke AFTER I had sent it in to Panurgy NJ for repair.

But everyone’s experience is different. The risks are higher.

So for a long time after my bad refurbished experience (and I’m NOT the only one here on the forum), I sounded like sour grapes just like how TLS Guy sounds like sour grapes after his new Marantz 7706 died.

Sure, bad luck can happen to any of us. No doubt. That’s life. Sh!t happens in life. But refurbished complex electrical components probably have a higher risk.

Speaking of LUCK, I just had a flat repaired on my front left tire a couple of weeks ago. Today, I am now at the Hibdon Tires store getting a flat repaired on my rear right tire.

So I am not feeling very lucky.

Well, I spent 23 years jumping out of airplanes for the Navy and assumed they were packed correctly over 2.5k times. Anecdotal evidence is all I have and so far, knock on wood, solid investment. I'd recommend to anyone looking to save some money without going used. My $.02.