Denon X4000 bum out of the box

[markw]

Keep in mind that when using speakers of vastly different efficiencies, the more efficient speakers will be "padded down" to match the least efficient speakers. IOW, those will determine the listening levels.

 

[Acoustat]

No, the Denon does not have to work hard if you are using it as a preamp. It is the power amp that has to work harder if the speakers are hard to drive, but that should not be a problem for the Carver that is rated to blow those speakers up to smoke well before it reaches its rated output.

I meant the bookshelf speakers required less work naturally, and I didn't want to push them harder.
The reason I applied the bookshelfs was just a test to prove the point that the mains were sucking a lot of energy.
The Denon pretty much reacted the same driving the mains itself, and easier to drive speakers would
require less MV setting which I referred to as work, since I suspect the pre-outs of the AVR would degrade
the higher the MV setting, which is why I was asking at what point does this occur.
I'm not going to worry about it any more, eventually I'll remove the Acoustats from the HT altogether but I've plenty of time
to play around with whatever rears I light on and could change my mind on that. They really are pretty awesome.
Maybe they should be removed from HT to preserve them a bit longer aye?

 

[Acoustat]

What are the trim levels? Can you tell us the numbers?

FL +5.5db @13'
C xx
FR +4.0 @13'
SR +3.0 @8.9' (S's are temp. junk)
SL +3.0 @6.1'
?

 

[Acoustat]

Keep in mind that when using speakers of vastly different efficiencies, the more efficient speakers will be "padded down" to match the least efficient speakers. IOW, those will determine the listening levels.

Correct, but really the "attenuation of the mains has not changed since I turned the Dyn Vol off.
But a good point, and amazing how it figures all that out. Impressive.

 

[Janusman_Qat]

Acoustat...got to read this thread now and I hope you have got your issues fixed...if not have you tried increasing the gain on your inputs?..You can access the menu through Denon SETUP button on remote - inputs - levels.

try increasing the levels...

 

[highfigh]

Incredible..
A 275 page operation guide but incomplete specifications..

Just my $0.02...

Because the vast majority of users will never read the manual, don't understand the specs and don't care about the specs. They read reviews of these and think they can connect it to just any speaker, which is clearly not the case, if the user would only look at the back of the receiver, next to the terminals, where it shows 6-8 Ohms, NOT 4 Ohms.

 

[highfigh]

To the OP- you posted that the Denon is getting hot- when you did the setup, did you select None for all of the speakers, or large? Is the Denon connected to any speakers?

Get the equalizer out of the signal path if you want to find out if this one has problems and I would also recommend connecting it to a different set of speakers in this attempt. As Mark (TLSguy) posted this receiver shouldn't be connected to these speakers, or any like them. These have a transformer at the input and it's extremely rare for a receiver of any kind to be happy about that- this is the reason he commented that it takes a very robust amplifier to handle these.

I would recommend doing a hard reset to the Denon and start over. Leave the audio as is, assign the inputs after reading the manual and unless you're using tape machines on a regular basis, leave the equalizer out of it. This AVR is quieter than the outboard equalizer and since it's not 1987, receivers don't have multiple tape loops with a dubbing switch- they made the decision to remove these because people stopped using them, so I would say it's time to let it go. Other than the tape inputs/outputs, I don't see anything that the AVR can't do, other than affect 16Hz and 32Hz, which most speakers can't produce, anyway. Subwoofers can do 32HZ, but very few can do anything with 16Hz, other than tear themselves to shreds.

Keep it simple and see if the Denon actually has problems, but don't attempt it with these speakers- they were never designed to be used with a receiver.