Denon X4400H

[Ras777]

OK lots of great information here. Unfortunately after speaking to the tech department at Crutchfield they agreed with Peng’s initial assessment. Correct me if I’m wrong but if I want to power my fronts AND my center channel with the Emotiva XPA-3 I will need to purchase another amp. If I power JUST my fronts with my XPA -3 the Denon will power the center, 4 heights and 4 surrounds. This is what we came up with at Crutchfied so I returned the X 4400H and purchased the X6400H because I want use all three channels on my XPA-3 and did not want to get involved in purchasing another amp. So is this what you guys are trying to say? If not I apologize but this is starting to get very confusing especially after speaking with their tech department on numerous occasions.

 

[PENG]

Y FWIW customs does include the center options.

Okay, but not sure if the 8500 excludes the center, that's based on the table posted elsewhere, but as I said, not really sure. The 4520 is an excellent unit, I know because I have the AV8801, that's basically a twin on the processing side, except the Marantz has the stupid HDAM modules. The 4520's amp section is quite powerful too, though not quite as good as the older 4308, you have my spreadsheet, the data are all there. Even when that thing becomes totally obsolete on the processing side, it wouldn't hurt to use it as a power amp.

 

[lovinthehd]

OK lots of great information here. Unfortunately after speaking to the tech department at Crutchfield they agreed with Peng’s initial assessment. Correct me if I’m wrong but if I want to power my fronts AND my center channel with the Emotiva XPA-3 I will need to purchase another amp. If I power JUST my fronts with my XPA -3 the Denon will power the center, 4 heights and 4 surrounds. This is what we came up with at Crutchfied so I returned the X 4400H and purchased the X6400H because I want use all three channels on my XPA-3 and did not want to get involved in purchasing another amp. So is this what you guys are trying to say? If not I apologize but this is starting to get very confusing especially after speaking with their tech department on numerous occasions.

Interesting. I would include center in the term "fronts", though....where else would a center go? "Mains" may be a better way to describe L/R speakers. I still suspect this is more a software/firmware thing rather than hardware (leaving the custom option out). You also possibly gain better assembly in that the 6400 is made at Denon Japan vs the contractor in Vietnam....supposedly

 

[Drunkpenguin]

OK lots of great information here. Unfortunately after speaking to the tech department at Crutchfield they agreed with Peng’s initial assessment. Correct me if I’m wrong but if I want to power my fronts AND my center channel with the Emotiva XPA-3 I will need to purchase another amp. If I power JUST my fronts with my XPA -3 the Denon will power the center, 4 heights and 4 surrounds. This is what we came up with at Crutchfied so I returned the X 4400H and purchased the X6400H because I want use all three channels on my XPA-3 and did not want to get involved in purchasing another amp. So is this what you guys are trying to say? If not I apologize but this is starting to get very confusing especially after speaking with their tech department on numerous occasions.

You could have done it with the 4400. Did you watch the video I posted? Once you set the fronts (left and right) to amp assign then those 2 HAVE to have an amp. The rest of the speakers in the 11 speaker system would then be run off an amp OR run off the AVR, so center could also be on an amp at that point.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I wish my memory would have worked better earlier and could have saved you some aggrevation, but Im already doing exactly what you wanted to do, but with 2 extra amp channels.

At this point, Id probably just enjoy your 6400 and not worry about it tho.

 

[PENG]

OK lots of great information here. Unfortunately after speaking to the tech department at Crutchfield they agreed with Peng’s initial assessment. Correct me if I’m wrong but if I want to power my fronts AND my center channel with the Emotiva XPA-3 I will need to purchase another amp. If I power JUST my fronts with my XPA -3 the Denon will power the center, 4 heights and 4 surrounds. This is what we came up with at Crutchfied so I returned the X 4400H and purchased the X6400H because I want use all three channels on my XPA-3 and did not want to get involved in purchasing another amp. So is this what you guys are trying to say? If not I apologize but this is starting to get very confusing especially after speaking with their tech department on numerous occasions.

As I explained and apologized, my initial understanding wasn't quite correct. According to the onscreen menu, you should be able to use the XPA-3 to drive the LCR. It is true that you cannot re-assign the center channel to drive a different channel, but there is no need because all you need is to use the freed up FL and FR to drive the the 10th and 11th channel. As HD mentioned, it may not be a bad thing, the X6400H is superior, it just doesn't come with deep discounts like the X4400H and the SR7012.

 

[Ras777]

Great video Drunkpenquin! I wish I stumbled on that earlier. I have 60 days to make up my mind. Not sure its worth the extra cash. I heard X6400H runs hot but with the XPA-3 running the LCR I don't think this will be an issue. Once again I want to thank everyone for there input.

 

[Drunkpenguin]

The 4400 runs very hot. Hotter than my Emotiva XPA-5. Whichever model you get you have a couple options. Put an extra fan on the AVR or you can run them in lower power mode which is suppose to reduce heat and not effect sound much. I run on mine on normal power and figure the warranty is there for a reason.

 

[Ras777]

Interesting. Yes I have a couple of fans that I use on my Marantz I will utilize them on the Denon.

 

[PENG]

Great video Drunkpenquin! I wish I stumbled on that earlier. I have 60 days to make up my mind. Not sure its worth the extra cash. I heard X6400H runs hot but with the XPA-3 running the LCR I don't think this will be an issue. Once again I want to thank everyone for there input.

I used it as prepro only and it ran as warm as my AV8801 so I am using two small external fans. I have since set Eco mode to "on", that helps a lot but I have the fans now so I leave them on as well.

Unless you are not using any internal amps, you will limit the unit's power output if you turn Eco mode to "On".

 

[Ras777]

Why so hot? My Marantz 6007 runs warm at best. This is not a design flaw is it?

 

[Drunkpenguin]

I asked this question a while back and someone said "well, they cram alot in there!" Makes sense to me. But Im talking hot, like I could almost cook on it after a movie. But they have a 3 year warranty. Ill be ready to upgrade by then anyways. Mine also doesnt get daily use, its for movies only on weekends so I figure it should be fine. Denon claims it should be fine. So I dont worry about it.

 

[PENG]

Why so hot? My Marantz 6007 runs warm at best. This is not a design flaw is it?

That's a much older model with less powerful processing chips. Powerful processors made a lot of heat, take a look inside a desktop PC and you may see some big fans and heat sinks in them. Even my MacBook pro runs quite warm.

 

[Ras777]

Makes sense. Does this increase heat reduce the lifespan of the receiver?

 

[snakeeyes]

I asked this question a while back and someone said "well, they cram alot in there!" Makes sense to me. But Im talking hot, like I could almost cook on it after a movie. But they have a 3 year warranty. Ill be ready to upgrade by then anyways. Mine also doesnt get daily use, its for movies only on weekends so I figure it should be fine. Denon claims it should be fine. So I dont worry about it.

Warm up you coffee mug on there?

My Yamahas are cold so far. I’ll see what happens when I go from 5 to 9 speakers though.

 

[PENG]

Makes sense. Does this increase heat reduce the lifespan of the receiver?

If you can keep the hottest spot of the chassis below 40 deg C you should be fine. Otherwise, applying external cooling should help increase the lifespan. The internal protection of the unit, and that includes 2 thermostatic controlled fans, will likely be enough to safeguard the unit from heat related failure within the warranty period, unless it is abused.

 

[PENG]

Warm up you coffee mug on there?

My Yamahas are cold so far. I’ll see what happens when I go from 5 to 9 speakers though.

I doubt that would make much difference, may be 2 to 3 deg C at the most.