Head to Head Receiver Challenge. Spending $3,000 for Yamaha RX-A2010 vs Denon 4311ci

[bizmord]

Ok, so after deliberating about buying a better receiver to accommodate my new speakers and sub, .... after hearing 50% that receiver is a major part vs another 50% of people saying that it's not ... I've decided to see for myself if I need to spend $1,000+ on a receiver.

I am going to buy;

Yamaha Rx-A2010 = $1,400
and
Denon 4311ci = $1,500

to see if I hear a difference when compared to my current Yamaha rx-v465 receiver.

I will report my findings on this board in a week.

My questions for you guys is .... what should I look for?
First run everything flat? no EQ, etc?
Second test is to use those things like Audyssey and YPAO to see which one deals best with my room?

What else???

thank you.


P.S. I hate the fact that it will take at least 10 min to switch from each receiver. Especially since I don't use banana plugs and it's not that easy to get to the back of my receiver.


My System

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would compare them with all EQ, RC, DSP bypassed.

Use Stereo 2.1 or Direct 2.0.

I bet you can't tell the difference if you level match.

 

[bizmord]

I just want to see if sound becomes better if yamaha and denon sound about the same but better than my current receiver, i'll pick Yamaha just because i can get it on ebay cheaper

 

[PENG]

I agree if you try both pure direct and then with room EQ on you are covered. The only thing I would add is to be selective on the source material. I would use truly HD audio quality recordings only for any such comparison.

 

[avnetguy]

I would just test them as you plan to use them and with the common material you watch and listen. Play around with each AVR to see what sounds best to you, adjust things just as if you've bought it and had to keep it.

Steve

 

[bizmord]

I would just test them as you plan to use them and with the common material you watch and listen. Play around with each AVR to see what sounds best to you, adjust things just as if you've bought it and had to keep it.

Steve

Exactly. Great point.

 

[PENG]

I would just test them as you plan to use them and with the common material you watch and listen. Play around with each AVR to see what sounds best to you, adjust things just as if you've bought it and had to keep it.

Steve

I agree that would be a good tests for sure but wouldn't recommend "just", if you don't make sure you play the best quality of recording availabel you may be left wondering if the system has been pushed to their limits to reveal some possible audible (I doubt it though between those 2) difference.

 

[anamorphic96]

There should be huge difference and both models are great.

No offense. But your current Yamaha was the second from the bottom when introduced as well as being from the 65 series which was poor to begin with.

If it was me though I would go for the Denon due to Audyssey. That alone is worth it's weight in gold.

Nice choice in speakers they will love the new receiver.

 

[Send Margaritas]

If the Denon is better, that seems a 'can't lose' choice. I've got the A2010, and love it.

Really, you wanted both. Admit it.

 

[M Code]

Get the Yamaha...
Better built, fewer problems...

Just my $0.0.2...

 

[bizmord]

So .... final comparison ..... decided to buy 3 models to compare



Denon 4311ci
vs
Onkyo tx-nr818
vs
Yamaha rx-a2010


which one do you predict a winner?

 

[anamorphic96]

So .... final comparison ..... decided to buy 3 models to compare



Denon 4311ci
vs
Onkyo tx-nr818
vs
Yamaha rx-a2010


which one do you predict a winner?

Onkyo TX-NR818

 

[avnetguy]

which one do you predict a winner?

The one *you* like the best!

Steve

 

[cr136124]

So .... final comparison ..... decided to buy 3 models to compare



Denon 4311ci
vs
Onkyo tx-nr818
vs
Yamaha rx-a2010


which one do you predict a winner?

If you are planning on add a second subwoofer to your setup in the near future, then you will have to pick the Denon 4311 CI

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Send Margaritas]

If you are planning on add a second subwoofer to your setup in the near future, then you will have to pick the Denon 4311 CI

Just my 2 cents.

The Yamaha supports two subs too. (Front and back, Left and right, or both mono, as I recall).

 

[brianedm]

The Yamaha supports two subs too. (Front and back, Left and right, or both mono, as I recall).

I believe he was referring to xt32 being the best for calibrating dual subs.

 

[bizmord]

How much would you care about the Damping Factor? Someone told me that Denon is not great with it compared to Yamaha and Onkyo.

 

[Steve81]

How much would you care about the Damping Factor? Someone told me that Denon is not great with it compared to Yamaha and Onkyo.

Did that someone have anything to back that statement up with? Denon doesn't specify it for the 4311 that I see. I don't see many reviewers even bothering to measure damping factor at all (if that tells you how important it is...); for example on the recent AH review of the Emo UPA-500, I didn't see a single mention of damping factor. FWIW though, the closest analog I can find to the 4311 is a review here at Audioholics of the 4306; measured damping factor appears more than adequate here:

Denon-AVR-4306-damping.gif Full Screen Image — Reviews and News from Audioholics

Of course how applicable that is to the 4311 is another matter entirely. Wrapping things up though, here's the skinny on damping factor, courtesy of Floyd Toole:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/damptoole.htm

 

[bizmord]

So .... after playing a bit with Denon 4311 and Onkyo 818 .....

No offense to Onkyo 818 owners but that unit is going back.

To me, even though sound was pretty good from Onkyo ... compared to Denon 4311 I found the following...

Onkyo 818

1) Sound felt a bit too plastic. Don't know how to explain it but Denon just felt more real. Maybe it's all in my head but I was there with a friend and even though he liked Onkyo too ... he felt the same about plastic sound. Denon felt more natural

2) Unit is wayyy too big. Barely fit into the space I had.

3) Knob felt cheap. Not providing a paper manual made me feel as if they were trying to save money on every possible thing and that means that there could have been many other things that got little attention.

4) Color on display. Sorry but huge turn off. Who uses that 15 year old green color on display and then adds light blue glowing color on the knob??? These 2 just don't go together and it looks bad. I am not a designer, but believe me ,,.,, if you care how your unit looks at night .... colors are bad.

5) Running Audyssey gave similar settings as Denon but not identical. I think Denon set speakers to large but crossover to advanced at 40hz fronts, 60hz surrounds. Onkyo set everything to 40Hz.

6) Denon has this nice info on the screen .... on left side of it it shows you the source capability like .... if it's dolby 5ch or 7ch or stereo ... and on right side of the screen it shows what your receiver is outputting. I like this info.

anyway .... i am sure i did not give Onkyo a fair chance. I had it on for about 3-4 hours, did not read the manual ..... cause it was on CD .... and packed it back into the box. My heart just wasn't with it.

 

[Superfly]

keep the review coming.