Questioning a decision

[yancey1000]

A few months ago I bought the Denon AVR 4520CI for $400. It's a 150 watt, 9.2 channel receiver with 11.2 channel processing, which I considered a great deal at the time. The receiver is in mint condition with everything included, he even threw in two 20mm cooling fans. I'm questioning my decision based on DTS Neo X and Audyssey DSX being formats not being used in movie soundtracks today. Did I make a big mistake or is this receiver a worthy addition to my collection? I would like to hear from owners and people familiar with this receiver. I understand that, what sounds good to me is what's important, but on movie night with guest, that's a different story. Thank you in advance.

 

[lovinthehd]

Sounds like a good deal to me. What I use in my main system. DTS Neo X and Audyssey DSX aren't movie codecs, they're ways to matrix multich audio. Similar to upmixing with Dolby PLIIx or PLIIz, just a different algorithm. Has more to do with what speaker format you want to use with what source material.

It won't decode the immersive soundtrack codecs like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, nor does it have the processing/speaker outputs for such, as it precedes that tech but will handle everything up to that (like Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD-MA). If you did want an avr capable of current 4k tech or the Atmos/DTS:X formats, you need a newer avr.

 

[yancey1000]

I'm running a 9.2 channel setup with front wides right now. Will add a 2 channel amp for front heights later. The 4520 will upconvert video to 4K and has the ability to pass a 4K signal. Thanks for your input, I'm starting to feel a little better about my decision.

 

[lovinthehd]

Curious, assume are you already using the 4k features? It passes all 4k content? I don't think it does...but I don't have a 4k screen (one reason I went with a 4520 a while back, also no intention of drilling into my ceiling at this time for speakers). I ran a 9.4 speaker setup for a while but felt my room was too narrow for the wides so just went back to 7ch (using rear surrounds). Might try front heights next time I rearrange things....

 

[yancey1000]

Curious, assume are you already using the 4k features? It passes all 4k content? I don't think it does...but I don't have a 4k screen (one reason I went with a 4520 a while back, also no intention of drilling into my ceiling at this time for speakers). I ran a 9.4 speaker setup for a while but felt my room was too narrow for the wides so just went back to 7ch (using rear surrounds). Might try front heights next time I rearrange things....

It's 4K at 30 hz not 60 hz not sure what difference the hz makes, but hell, I'm only using a 1080p TV, so I really can't tell. I'm going by the owner's manual.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

$400 is a great discount over the original price! I will let the experts here talk about the other virtues / vices of this AVR.

 

[lovinthehd]

It's 4K at 30 hz not 60 hz not sure what difference the hz makes, but hell, I'm only using a 1080p TV, so I really can't tell. I'm going by the owner's manual.

4k is meaningless if you have a 1080p tv (I use one as well). It will be a very limited 4k with the 4520, tho. Not really useful.

 

[yancey1000]

4k is meaningless if you have a 1080p tv (I use one as well). It will be a very limited 4k with the 4520, tho. Not really useful.

The owner's manual says that it can pass a 4K signal, so doesn't that mean that I can hook a 4K ultra high def Blu-ray player to it and have that signal passed to a 4K tv? That would be a great feature for the future.

 

[PENG]

Curious, assume are you already using the 4k features? It passes all 4k content? I don't think it does...but I don't have a 4k screen (one reason I went with a 4520 a while back, also no intention of drilling into my ceiling at this time for speakers). I ran a 9.4 speaker setup for a while but felt my room was too narrow for the wides so just went back to 7ch (using rear surrounds). Might try front heights next time I rearrange things....

My AV8801, a pseudo clone of the AVR-4520CI, could upscale everything to 4K 30 Hz, but you are right, it couldn't pass 4K movies because it does not have HDCP2.2. The OP probably is talking about upscaling, that it can do.

 

[lovinthehd]

My AV8801, a pseudo clone of the AVR-4520CI, could upscale everything to 4K 30 Hz, but you are right, it couldn't pass 4K movies because it does not have HDCP2.2. The OP probably is talking about upscaling, that it can do.

Still a moot point without a 4k display to take advantage of any legacy upscaling...

 

[lovinthehd]

The owner's manual says that it can pass a 4K signal, so doesn't that mean that I can hook a 4K ultra high def Blu-ray player to it and have that signal passed to a 4K tv? That would be a great feature for the future.

If you have a decent 4k bluray player it will have dual hdmi outputs, one for audio for the avr, another for your display. HDMI and HDCP requirements are different for actual content. I wouldn't expect an avr without the latest HDMI/HDCP protocols to be much use.