Denon AVR-A10H 13.4CH AV Receiver Close to Flagship Level?

[gene]

The new Denon AVR-A10H ($4,699) is a slightly scaled-down version of the $6,500 A1H. If you only need 13.4 channels instead of 15.4, you sacrifice very little by choosing the AVR-A10H over its more expensive sibling. The A10H offers 150 watts per channel, 4 sub outputs, and Dirac Live capability.

As a member of the revered A-Series, the AVR-A10H boasts high-grade components, including a new ESS DAC array comprising nine “audiophile-grade” 2-channel DAC chips to maximize resolution for all 13.4 channels. Denon does not specify which ESS chips are used, but the AVR-A10H supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, so users of Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, and other high-res audio sources can stream to their hearts’ content without sacrificing audio quality. While the A10H’s 13 channels of amplification are rated at the same 150 watts as its predecessor (X8500H), the new receiver benefits from an upgraded OFC (oxygen-free copper) wound transformer engineered to provide exceptional sound quality, resulting in what Denon describes as “a significant performance upgrade.” The A10H also features premium gold-plated speaker terminals and a rigid, three-layer chassis designed to protect against vibration and interference, “significantly reducing noise,” according to the company.

This article gives detail info on the new Denon AVR-A10H and directly compares it to the flagship AVR-A1H.

Read: Denon AVR-A10H 13.4 Ch 150W 8K AV Receiver Tech Overview

 

[VonMagnum]

Shame about the loss of 7.1 inputs on all the newer D&M models.

I have a lovely Lexicon MC-1 plugged into my Marantz 7012, which with Scatmos expansion (11.1.8 near discrete total plus optional SH) gives me a beautiful Logic "11" mode for 2-channel music upmixing (nothing has been as great as Logic 7 for 2-ch music) plus Pro Logic/THX with 8-channel surround arrays (for Star Wars as it was heard in 1977/1982, although Logic 7 mode sounds better, very close to the 70mm mix).

You can grab Lexicon processors off eBay for pennies on the dollar (MC-1 was like $120 plus a 2nd one for $75 that had a dim display, but the original remote in great condition). The MC-8 Version 2 and MC-12 with the V4 software have PLIIx modes as well, which many lament are not carried on Atmos AVR/AVPs so you can pretty much have it all, but you really need the 7.1 inputs. People with SACD players probably lament the lack of inputs too.

Using Mini-DSP, I can even have the subwoofer room corrected for the Lexicon with 3 subs and a Crowson Actuator channel.

 

[gene]

Shame about the loss of 7.1 inputs on all the newer D&M models.

I have a lovely Lexicon MC-1 plugged into my Marantz 7012, which with Scatmos expansion (11.1.8 near discrete total plus optional SH) gives me a beautiful Logic "11" mode for 2-channel music upmixing (nothing has been as great as Logic 7 for 2-ch music) plus Pro Logic/THX with 8-channel surround arrays (for Star Wars as it was heard in 1977/1982, although Logic 7 mode sounds better, very close to the 70mm mix).

You can grab Lexicon processors off eBay for pennies on the dollar (MC-1 was like $120 plus a 2nd one for $75 that had a dim display, but the original remote in great condition). The MC-8 Version 2 and MC-12 with the V4 software have PLIIx modes as well, which many lament are not carried on Atmos AVR/AVPs so you can pretty much have it all, but you really need the 7.1 inputs. People with SACD players probably lament the lack of inputs too.

Using Mini-DSP, I can even have the subwoofer room corrected for the Lexicon with 3 subs and a Crowson Actuator channel.

SACD and DVD-A should be passed digitally via HDMI and bass management, level and delays done at the AVR for the best fidelity. I get why the multich inputs are going away on AVRs. Thry just aren't necessary for majority users.

 

[VonMagnum]

You don't need it or care about it so obviously no one else does either. Typical. More importantly, there's no ads to sell for it so who cares!

Early SACD players do not have HDMI. I know. Throw out your perfectly fine working old player and buy Marantz's ultra pricey new one for a mere $3000 (gotta have it!). What makes it worth $3k? The audiophile DACs inside? No, you're using HDMI to send the digital signal to the AVR. Talk about throwing money in the trash. But you know, ads pay the bills so gotta have it anyway!

I can add more EQ'd subs with a Mini-DSP easily enough, but I can't add 7-ch inputs.

Anyone who cares about high quality surround music won't be using DSU or Neural X as an upmixer. Auromatic is an improvement, but not even close to Logic 7. The fact you can now get a $6000 Lexicon used for a couple hundred bucks is a reason to grab a SR8015 (13.2) while they're still available for $2k or less. It still has 7.1 inputs.

The Lexicon MC-12 has bass management on its 5.1 inputs (ADC) and can apply all processing modes to it including Logic 7. It also has its own Room Correction. So SACD won't suffer. You can certainly pick one up fully loaded on eBay for less than that Marantz SACD player.

But then I'm talking to someone who put their ear level Front Wides on the ceiling....

 

[Trell]

… but you really need the 7.1 inputs. People with SACD players probably lament the lack of inputs too.

I for sure don’t miss them in any way or shape, and I’ve got over 140 SACD. The Oppo player is connected to my AVR using HDMI, and then I get proper bass management and room EQ.

My interest in the SACD is for the multichannel layer and only a handful are stereo only.

 

[lovinthehd]

I for sure don’t miss them in any way or shape, and I’ve got over 140 SACD. The Oppo player is connected to my AVR using HDMI, and then I get proper bass management and room EQ.

My interest in the SACD is for the multichannel layer and only a handful are stereo only.

While my Oppo can output 7.1 via analog, I only used that as a test on one of my Denons that does have the ext.in set of analog inputs, but find it better to use hdmi. I normally just use hdmi from the Oppo or a few different Sony bluray players (also primarily for multich SACD, stereo SACD I don't find particularly useful). My latest Denon (4700) skipped the ext.in inputs and don't miss them at all. YMMV.

 

[gene]

 

[stinga]

Is this the equivalent of a cinema 30?

 

[Trebdp83]

The A10H still has an unnecessary number of analog input ports, some of which could have been used for the 7.1 EXT IN. Denon/Marantz have dropped a few features many have liked over the years and one must pony up for a flagship model these days for certain features and amps that will handle difficult loads.

The 8015 was very well equipped and includes a universal remote controller. If they’d simply updated it with a full set of HDMI 2.1 40Gbps ports and another pair of sub pre outs for the Directional feature and left everything else alone, it would damn near have been perfect.

 

[PENG]

Is this the equivalent of a cinema 30?

Sort of, if you only need 11.4, the Cinema30 is equivalent. Those who need 13.4, then it isn't the equivalent.

 

[PENG]

The A10H still has an unnecessary number of analog input ports, some of which could have been used for the 7.1 EXT IN. Denon/Marantz have dropped a few features many have liked over the years and one must pony up for a flagship model these days for certain features and amps that will handle difficult loads.

The 8015 was very well equipped and includes a universal remote controller. If they’d simply updated it with a full set of HDMI 2.1 40Gbps ports and another pair of sub pre outs for the Directional feature and left everything else alone, it would damn near have been perfect.

More analog input ports are actually useful for those who need that many input ports. Ext. analog inputs are only needed by those who for not very good reasons, prefer to use their beloved older medium players that has the sort of legacy 7.1 analog outputs. Most people nowadays understand it is better to use HDMI for the benefit of DSP functions that Denon/Marantz flagship AVRs/AVPs that do have very good DAC performance, and offer, tons of DSP functions, one being room corrections that include Audyssey and Dirac Live as paid options.

 

[Trebdp83]

Few still want the 7.1 EXT IN but who the f#%k still needs that many two channel analog ports?

 

[lovinthehd]

Few still want the 7.1 EXT IN but who the f#%k still needs that many two channel analog ports?
View attachment 69341

2ch analog inputs are my least used for sure, but they can be handy for zone playback in some cases.....but am curious who still uses the rca video connections....

 

[Trebdp83]

The composite and component ports will be for those with older video devices lacking HDMI ports. There are laserdisc players and older DVD players still out in the wild. There are VCRs still in use by those with tubs of old porn. Hey, some are classics.

 

[lovinthehd]

The composite and component ports will be for those with older video devices lacking HDMI ports. There are laserdisc players and older DVD players still out in the wild. There are VCRs still in use by those with tubs of old porn. Hey, some are classics.

So you can connect your laser disc for video but not multich audio? VCR porn, lol.

 

[Trebdp83]

A laserdisc player could have a combination of audio outputs including analog, coaxial, optical and AC-3 RF outputs. They’d have composite video output with some also including S-Video output.

 

[lovinthehd]

A laserdisc player could have a combination of audio outputs including analog, coaxial, optical and AC-3 RF outputs. They’d have composite video output with some also including S-Video output.

I never owned one, was guessing

 

[Eppie]

Analogue ports are needed for vintage gaming as well. I still have a PS2 and Wii. Add a cassette deck, turntable and VCR for the grand kids to watch all of those Disney tapes and the analogue ports add up.

 

[VonMagnum]

More analog input ports are actually useful for those who need that many input ports. Ext. analog inputs are only needed by those who for not very good reasons, prefer to use their beloved older medium players that has the sort of legacy 7.1 analog outputs. Most people nowadays understand it is better to use HDMI for the benefit of DSP functions that Denon/Marantz flagship AVRs/AVPs that do have very good DAC performance, and offer, tons of DSP functions, one being room corrections that include Audyssey and Dirac Live as paid options.

For not very good reasons? Have you ever heard Logic 7? If you had, you wouldn't be saying that, IMO. That was what was awesome with 7.1 inputs. You could keep your $6000 MC-1 or $11,000 MC-12.

Many lament these companies cheaping out and not licensing PLIIx on their Atmos models. DSU is just not the same for music upmixing and it's nowhere near as configurable and configurability is key to getting great 2-channel music upmixing in your particular room/setup.

I had a Technics AC3 decoder for years that sounded like crap playing surround music. The DC-1 is a revelation by comparison, even in Pro Logic 1 mode, let alone Logic 7.

There's something cool about listening to soundtracks exactly as they were originally heard too. Outside of the rare 70mm theater, Star Wars was Dolby Surround with banks of surround arrays. Return of the Jedi was the first movie ever shown in THX! There's no option on modern AVR/AVPs to play back the original soundtracks as they were actually heard to recreate that sound precisely as it was rendered in 1977 and 1983. Lexicon processors had both to professional specs. You can even set up a set of THX dipoles if you have a set lying around unused on modern formats (send it to an external amp and it'll be used with the THX mode. It can also do banks of surround monopoles as well. I use 4 pairs of monopoles for THX mode in a 24' long room. It becomes a miniature Dolby Surround and THX theater, not some 5.1 home theater! 13 speakers are used in THX mode with dialog lift engaged (17 with optional Surround Heights and Rear Heights copying the side surrounds for even less directivity).

DSU/Neural X have nothing in common with these original modes. The HD & 4K transfers of the Despecialized/Original theatrical films are in their original theatrical glory in THX. It's a time machine to a galaxy far far away from Lucas' nightmare changes...

Like was said, they could have made room for the 7.1 inputs. They could have gone one farther like the Lexicon MC-12 did and digitize the 7.1 inputs so DSU, Auromatic and Neural X could be applied to them (MC-12 could process its 5.1 inputs with Logic 7) as well as bass management and room correction. They obviously let people like you influence their thinking.

The irony is 7.1 inputs would let someone add however many stereo inputs the AVR plugged into it allowed (8 sets of line level RCA inputs on the MC-1, for example). It's obvious that gets you beyond what's offered plus allows any number of older processing modes by Meridian, Lexicon and even Dolby themselves (PLIIx) to be utilized as well.

 

[PENG]

For not very good reasons? Have you ever heard Logic 7? If you had, you wouldn't be saying that, IMO. That was what was awesome with 7.1 inputs. You could keep your $6000 MC-1 or $11,000 MC-12.

That is your subjective, ie. biased preference/reason, so yes a good reason for you in that sense. To me, a good reason is more than that, but again, agreed, for you it would be a good one.

Like was said, they could have made room for the 7.1 inputs. They could have gone one farther like the Lexicon MC-12 did and digitize the 7.1 inputs so DSU, Auromatic and Neural X could be applied to them (MC-12 could process its 5.1 inputs with Logic 7) as well as bass management and room correction. They obviously let people like you influence their thinking.

The irony is 7.1 inputs would let someone add however many stereo inputs the AVR plugged into it allowed (8 sets of line level RCA inputs on the MC-1, for example). It's obvious that gets you beyond what's offered plus allows any number of older processing modes by Meridian, Lexicon and even Dolby themselves (PLIIx) to be utilized as well.

I think it is their marketing decision, probably made a balanced one, between features that are not needed by most potential customers so they decided to invest on features they know are far more popular, that they knew would help sell their products. I have had AVRs, AVPs, like many others on this forum, HD is one for sure as he sure has it's Denon 4520, and likely have other older AVRs too. The last three I got rid of within the last couple years, two Denon and one Marantz have those and I had never felt the need to use the 7.1 analog inputs, might have tried once or twice and found that there was nothing to gain but a lot to lose in terms of wire spaghetti cluttering things up so for me, I was actually quite happy to know D, M, Y, A all discontinued those in the last two years.

I admit I was a little disappointed to see them go, but that's really just nostalgia, I guess.. Somewhat like VHS, Hi8, but I actually miss those every time I felt like watching those old tapes, and regretted that I threw the Sony Hi8 VCR out years ago, just spent a little fortune getting a few Hi8 tapes converted to digital.