REVIEW: Denon AVR-4306 Receiver with HDMI

[ht_addict]

Following models use HDMI 1.1 and pass 1080p:

AVR-3806
AVR-4306
AVR-2807
AVR-5805MkII
AVR-4806CI – June release

Also the upgrades to 5805 and 4806 which start next month will add 1080p compatible HDMI inputs/output...

Gene, an chance off reviewing the 4806 and putting it through its paces? Also have you heard anything if an HDMI 1.3 upgrade will ever come about for the 4806 and up?

 

[Nick250]

Javier,

Clint is exactly right. Audyssey MultEQ is not a manual method of fixing things so it can't be used to manually fix the sub or any other channel. It's also important to point out that MultEQ is not a parametric equalizer at all. It does not use bands nor filters used in parametric EQ. The OSD in the reeceivers is a rough representation of what the MultEQ filters are doing, but remember that they use 512 points and cover many more frequencies than what is depicted on the display. Furthermore, the OSD doesn't show the subwoofer correction and so it's difficult to see what the filter is really doing there. We are working on some ideas of how to address this in future products.

[snip]

Best regards,
Chris
CTO Audyssey Laboratories

Chris thanks for checking here on AO and adding to the discussion. I had no idea Audyssey uses 512 points. As an owner of a 3806 are we talking the same implementation of Audyssey as on 3806 as on the 4306?

Regards, Nick

 

[audyssey]

Hi Nick,

Yes, the MultEQ XT filters in all the receivers we are currently in use 512 points (taps). The 2807, 3806, and 4306 MultEQ XT code is identical. The 5805 and 4806 also have the same software, but because of higher memory capabilities they allow for up to 8 measurement positions as opposed to 6 for the other models.

More info about the technology and our company background can be found on our newly-redesigned website.

Regards,
Chris
CTO Audyssey Laboratories

 

[Jeje2]

Denon AVR-4306 vs. Yamaha RX-V2600

Thx for the review Clint.

Now after looking at both (Denon & Yamaha) of these units - how would you compare them? (yamaha is ~30% cheaper)

Any opinios? Which would you prefer?
Are there any claear situations where you would consider one to better than the other?


PS. Would love a printer friendly layout in your reviews - I'm still oldfashioned and prefer reading technical documents (like these ) in paperform

 

[jgirado]

Thanks a lot Chris,

I didn't know Audyssey MultEQ is capable of correcting down to those low frequencies (subwoofer range).

If Audyssey IS capable of [sort of] soomthing/flatening the subwoofer, then there is no point of buying one with room EQ incorporated (I'm not pretending to have a perfect flat room response, only a good one to enjoy, and I value the 'less unneccessary pre-precessing in the path, the better' approach (also spend the same money for a better sub).

On the other hand if Audyssey is not enough, then I might gain buying a subwoofer with embedded EQ.

Since I don't know my room response at those low freq in advance, I have to flip the coin

Again, thanks a lot for the very good insight!

Javier,

...It will be most effective if there are huge notches or peaks at one frequency in your room that are beyond the limits of correction that MultEQ applies in the subwoofer (+9 dB to –20 dB)....

 

[dhoffack]

Thanks for the review clint,

I actually own the 4306, and I have noticed that same excessive hi frequency roll off with audyssey enabled. On my setup there is actually a slight increase in sibilance with audyssey enabled, but just slightly noticeable

I was also wondering if you thought that the 4306 could drive a set of 5 4 ohm speakers, at reasonable levels? Especially if I x-over everything at 80hz?

Thanks again for the review,

Dan

 

[zildjian]

I was also wondering if you thought that the 4306 could drive a set of 5 4 ohm speakers, at reasonable levels? Especially if I x-over everything at 80hz?

If my 3806 could do it, so should the 4306. I drove 4ohm main & center channels and 5 ohm surrounds (5 speakers) just fine at pretty loud levels. I also had the mains biamped using the 6th and 7th channels, the 3806 still did well. I've ended up going with 3 external power amps to drive everything now, just use the AVR as a prepro, but it did fine powering everything for those couple months.
Brad

 

[gene]

If Audyssey IS capable of [sort of] soomthing/flatening the subwoofer, then there is no point of buying one with room EQ incorporated (I'm not pretending to have a perfect flat room response, only a good one to enjoy, and I value the 'less unneccessary pre-precessing in the path, the better' approach (also spend the same money for a better sub).

Audyssey doesn't have a lot of resolution below 100Hz so a sub with a built in PEQ will be far more flexible. Realize EQing a sub will flatten a primary seated area and do almost nothing beneficial for other seated areas. This is why employing 2 subs is even better at smoothing out modal response for a wider listening area. Passive treatment is also much more effective at improving the bass response in your room and correctly positioning the subs and listeners is of paramount importance.

 

[jgirado]

Thanks! NICE!! Now I have to consider buying TWO subs
OK...May I follow the Audioholics review/recommendation and buy 2 x Rocket ULW-10 w/room EQ (in place of one Infinity which is one of the reviewer reference subwoofer and it also has room EQ).

I now thanks to you and the others who kindly answer my questions have a much better idea of what to pair with my speakers and the Denon 4806.
Javier

 

[gene]

OK...May I follow the Audioholics review/recommendation and buy 2 x Rocket ULW-10 w/room EQ (in place of one Infinity which is one of the reviewer reference subwoofer and it also has room EQ).

Welcome to the wonderful world of Audioholics where upgrading and spending money never ends

You don't have to have a separate EQ for each sub. Running both subs in mono off a single PEQ like the Velodyne SMS-1 or AV123 Rdes will do the trick nicely.

Check out our review of the Velodyne SMS-1 for more info.

 

[jgirado]

Now I understand your quote "...
Welcome to the wonderful world of Audioholics where upgrading and spending money never ends.."

The SMS-1 [already read the review] cost around 600$, Almost the money I am planing to spend in one/two subs! (~$800).

Hummmm...I better check Audiogon/eBay. May I can buy a new SMS-1 and a couple of good used subs

 

[abetaque]

Video Results

Hey everyone - please excuse my basic questions here... I'm kind of new to this stuff. What do all of the "failed" results mean relating to the video processing? Do these results apply only if upconverting a video source? If I input HDMI and output HDMI, is the receiver doing any video processing at all, or is it merely passing the signal straight through to the monitor? Am I better off by-passing the receiver for video purposes and just running straight to the monitor?

Thanks!

 

[Geno]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Audioholics where upgrading and spending money never ends

I recently upgraded to a 4306 (from a 3805), and am pretty ecstatic about its performance, but have some questions about MultEQ. My auto setup yielded results similar to the test (Many of my speakers were set to LARGE). I really thought the software had badly "read" my room, but haven't had a chance to repeat everything. Is this a common result with the auto setup?
Also, my DVD-2910 has speaker setups/levels/distances similar to the receiver. Should I leave these alone and let the receiver do the setup? Seems like the redundancy will only screw things up beyond belief.
Even after this upgrade, I have money left in my bank account. I think it's God's way of telling me I have more upgrading to do...

 

[noah katz]

Hi Chris,

From the review:

"It seems ever since we discovered the lack of bass correction below 100Hz in our AVR-5805 review, the Audyssey fix has tapered off the high end response while still NOT addressing bass frequencies below 100Hz adequately."

I don't know what to make of your not addressing this.

Is the statement correct, or is MultEQ a hit-or-miss proposition depending on the receiver model and/or firmware?

I've seen mostly positive comments, with a smattering of naysayers, with the 3806 and 4308; I believe I've read nothing but positives on the 4806.

Thanks

 

[gene]

I don't know what to make of your not addressing this.

Is the statement correct, or is MultEQ a hit-or-miss proposition depending on the receiver model and/or firmware?

I've seen mostly positive comments, with a smattering of naysayers, with the 3806 and 4308; I believe I've read nothing but positives on the 4806.

Thanks

Please be patient until Mark Sanfilipo and I can publish a full test report of the Audyssey system. I am waiting on speakers which should be here in the next 30-45 days.

Basically what I am saying is below 100Hz you will most likely achieve more accurate and predictable results with:

1) No Audyssey Muti EQ at All
2) External PEQ system (operated below 100Hz) with manual calibration (ie. SMS-1, Subs with built in PEQ, etc) to compliment Audyssey
3) Building bass traps
4) Adding an additional sub for a 2 sub system with proper placement
5) Repositioning the loudspeakers and/or listeners
6) All of the above

Careful usage, and interpretation of results must be applied with Audyssey just like any EQ system out there. Don't expect to just hit a button and achieve Audio Nirvana. It WON'T HAPPEN!

 

[noah katz]

Gene,

"Basically what I am saying is below 100Hz you will most likely achieve more accurate and predictable results with:

1) No Audyssey Muti EQ at All..."

Well, yes.

Don't you agree that it's a big difference from what Audyssey claims?

Thanks

 

[jazzyjez]

This is my first posting here - I'm glad to have found a high-end forum with some intelligent discussion!

Clint, thanks for your excellent and informative review of the 4306 – this is just at the price/performance point that really interests me as I am currently searching systems to upgrade from stereo to multi-channel.

One question though… do you know if the receiver supports RDS? This is always something I’ve looked for, yet this option does not show up in the specifications. It does on the upscale 4806, and more relevantly, it does on the UK version of the 4306. Did you observe it during your testing? If so, then it’s there but not advertised, otherwise it’s been deliberately disabled on the US model – which is annoying – and why would they do that anyway. Perhaps this is considered an outdated feature now that we have XM and Sirius, but I do still listen to FM and find RDS quite useful.

 

[noah katz]

BTW Chris, I don't mean to be a thorn in your side; I've been getting ever closer to getting a 4306 or 4806, the #1 reason being MultEQ, and this has stopped me in my tracks.

 

[gene]

Gene,

"Basically what I am saying is below 100Hz you will most likely achieve more accurate and predictable results with:

1) No Audyssey Muti EQ at All..."

Well, yes.

Don't you agree that it's a big difference from what Audyssey claims?

So far Audyssey has been unable to prove their effictiveness in bass correction below 100Hz to our satisfaction. The problem with FIR filter implementation at low frequencies is dealing with long latency issues which can be in the order of 100's of milliseconds and is clearly audible. Massive amounts of processing power would be needed to overcome it which I am uncertain if the system integrated in the 5805 and other receivers is capable of.

This one of the reasons I prefer a manual PEQ for bass correction combined with passive room treatment and proper subwoofer/listener positioning.

I am hopeful that Denon/Audyssey would eventually offer an option in the future to disable Audyssey below 100Hz or at least at the subwoofer output so a properly certified installer can use tools such as PEQ, subwoofer/listener placement and passive room treatments to smooth out system bass response.

To Audyssey's defense, NO AUTO EQ to DATE that we have seen remotely does accurate bass correction. The Velodyne SMS-1 Auto EQ for example usually achieves worse results than no EQ at all.

I've been getting ever closer to getting a 4306 or 4806, the #1 reason being MultEQ, and this has stopped me in my tracks.

That is a ridiculous reason to NOT purchase a product. Thats like saying you won't buy a new car because it has Cruise Control. The 4306 is a phenominally good receiver, perhaps the best in its class. The Audyssey feature is icing on the cake and does NOT define the product. Most receivers/processors have less accurate auto EQ's or none at all!

 

[noah katz]

"That is a ridiculous reason to NOT purchase a product. Thats like saying you won't buy a new car because it has Cruise Control. The 4306 is a phenominally good receiver, perhaps the best in its class. The Audyssey feature is icing on the cake and does NOT define the product. Most receivers/processors have less accurate auto EQ's or none at all!"

It's not ridiculous if that's the only reason I'm choosing Denon; one man's Cruise Control is another man's sophisticated independent suspension system.

I personally don't hear the supposed differences people talk about in electronics, which BTW always seem to vaporize with blind testing, yet the improvement my HK635's EQ makes is instantly perceivable.

But it doesn't finish the job on the bass; it helps some but there are some obvious peaks left.

I don't doubt your experience with MultEQ, but many have said it's done wonders for their bass, as many have reported the same for HK's EQ.

The hit-or-miss nature of these systems is frustrating.