REVIEW: Denon AVR-4306 Receiver with HDMI

[Nick250]

Are you using sub and if so how are you using bass management. Did you run Auto Setup? The Audyssey EQ can have a huge impact on the sound and needs a few tweaks in bass management after you run it. If are using Audyssey or any other tweaks trying setting the receiver to "no eq", and do a manual setup and see if that sounds better. Keep us posted,

Nick

 

[EdS]

Specka,
Which mode are you listening to music in (Pure Direct, Direct, Stereo, DPL-II, etc.)? If you're listening in Pure Direct or Direct, and assuming you have your speakers set to "Small", go the Advanced Menu for Direct mode setup and make sure you have the SW set to "LFE + MAIN". In the Direct mode, all bass below the x-over setting is lost unless SW is set to "LFE + MAIN". The 4306 should have more than enough power & control for your bass.

 

[twindeltatandem]

Just ordered

I've ordered the 4306 with the idea of replacing my current Sony E9000ES pre/pro and three old Carver M1.0t amps. (Up front I have self-amplified Paradigm Active-40's; all other speakers are Paradigm).

There's been some discussion of using the Denon as a pre/pro...I'm disinclined to think my 15-yr-old Carvers would be better than this AVR's internal amps. My current plan is to sell the amps on ebay to help pay for a second sub and some room treatments . Thoughts?

Of course, I'll hook the system up w/ the Carvers and give it a run.

TDT

 

[Nick250]

I think you are on the right track. It's hard to think that you would need more amplification beyond what is already in the 4306 given the Active 40's.

Nick

 

[RyanNL]

upgradeable?

Hi, I liked thereview so much, I registered myself (and I had a question which i liked to have answered by someone who knwos what they're talking about).

I'm just wondering about one thing: in the comparison chart the hardware upgradeable category is yellow. Can anyone please explain if the 4306 will have cards available just like the 5 series?

 

[Audioholics]

It can be factory/dealer updated if needed, though Denon doesn't have anything specific in mind IIRC.

 

[RyanNL]

thanks

Thanks for the quick answer Clint, I guess this feature and the web interface gives it the edge over the Yamaha 2700 for me (unless Gene comes up wih a review which states that the denon is blown away by the yamaha; but this seems very unlikely).

I was also considdering the next version (4307?) which should be introduced on the upcomming CES in january and on sale somewhere in april/ may 2007; but given the fact that the current version is firmware upgradeable I'm not expecting anything spectaculair to change which they couldn't 'fix' on this one: HDMI 1.3 is nice but not that bigga deal for me at this point (but hopefully it's upgradeable through firmware if I might need it in 2 years time or so).

And either way I need an AV amp yesterday so I was dreading the thought of at least 4 months without the new toy as I've got 5 disconnected speakers in my livingroom at this point.

 

[Tom Andry]

Nothing is more depressing than being surrounded by speakers and being forced to listen to your movies on the TV speakers. Just heartbreaking.

 

[RyanNL]

Own experience?

Tell me about it Tom.

I'm actually happy to spend my time at home working on my laptop just to avoid watching movies at home.....

Considdering I broke most of the traffic laws to get the 4 floorstanding speakers in my small car and drive them home 58 miles (of which at least 21 were a traffic jam) my anticipation is growing by the minute to fire them up with some serious power.

 

[kenhoeve]

on screen display

I have a 1080p display and output 1080i for TV and 1080p for dvd. I have no on screen display when running either because apparently the OSD is 480i and it cannot overlay on 1080. I am running everything via hdmi. This is totally unacceptable. I called Denon and they told me to run an s-video. Huh?

Is there anything I can do about this?

 

[Nick250]

I have a 1080p display and output 1080i for TV and 1080p for dvd. I have no on screen display when running either because apparently the OSD is 480i and it cannot overlay on 1080. I am running everything via hdmi. This is totally unacceptable. I called Denon and they told me to run an s-video. Huh?

Is there anything I can do about this?

Denon is telling you to run the OSD out from you receiver to the same video in that the HDMI is connected to. If you send the HDMI to "video one" then also send the OSD to "video one" as well. In theory that should provide the overlay. I have not tested this myself since I don't use HDMI so in my case I simply send the OSD signal to it's very own otherwise unused video input (input five in my case) and do my setup stuff that way. I think I use a composite connection, but I don't remember for sure, it really does not matter. In any case, when I want to make adjustments, I just click over to video five and I am all set do whatever tweaks or setup changes I want.

Nick

 

[jmrife]

With my 3930 set up with Denon Link 3 and HDMI, I am unable to switch video source to listen to a music disc and watch a game (component feed from HR10-250) on the plasma. Is this an hdmi problem I have to live with, or is there a switch I can open/close to make this work?

 

[ckg1999]

All,

I am trying to figure out the problem that I have. I have had it for a while, but now kind of getting on my nerves ;-).

My setup:

DirecTV HR20 HDMI -> 4306 -> HDMI to DVI cable -> Toshiba 51H83 HDCP

This setup works flawlessly.

However, when I connect a DVD player or any other device via Component -> 4306 -> HDMI to DVI cable -> Toshiba 51H83 HDCP tv, it doesn't work.

Any thoughts?

 

[plaver]

Have you assigned the component in , within the menu set-up

 

[ckg1999]

Yes, I have, since I can get the switching correctly on COmponent out.

Attached are the screen shots of my current config.

 

[plaver]

Yes, I have, since I can get the switching correctly on COmponent out.

Attached are the screen shots of my current config.

I have compared your set up with mine and the only differnece is the
resolution. If your screen can handle 1080i, I guess it can because you are outputing other sources

You may have a faulty AMP, my previous Poineer AMP AX4 would not allow through put from component to HMDI although it should have done. Just noticed my sig needs updating

 

[ckg1999]

You may have a faulty AMP, my previous Poineer AMP AX4 would not allow through put from component to HMDI although it should have done. Just noticed my sig needs updating

When i do throughput component to HDMI, the TV screen flickers a little bit. Denon said this was becuase the DVI cable could only ouput 480p (which i dont believe). If it is a faulty unit, I will have no problem returning it. Thanks!

 

[plaver]

When i do throughput component to HDMI, the TV screen flickers a little bit. Denon said this was becuase the DVI cable could only ouput 480p (which i dont believe). If it is a faulty unit, I will have no problem returning it. Thanks!

Before you go for a replacement, double check the DVi cable, Denon might have point.

 

[ckg1999]

Before you go for a replacement, double check the DVi cable, Denon might have point.

It is a brand new HDMI -> DVI from Monoprice. I have even used the expensive Monster HDMI -> DVI cable as well.

 

[WeAreSurrounded]

Check your setup again, try THROUGH for the Video Out Resolution !

When i do throughput component to HDMI, the TV screen flickers a little bit. Denon said this was becuase the DVI cable could only ouput 480p (which i dont believe). If it is a faulty unit, I will have no problem returning it. Thanks!

Denon rep tells you crap ! How come the same HDMI-DVI cable can handle the Direct TV signal (I presume you watch some HD programming ?) and can not signals from other inputs ?
Anyway, I think you missing something in your setup and misleading us a little here....
For example - according to your screen shots, NONE of your HDMI inputs is assigned. So how come you're sending the TV Direct HDMI signal through 4306 out to HDMI-DVI output ?
Please check your assignments again.
Also, it would not hurt to check the THROUGH option for your VIDEO OUT resolution setup, at least you'd know if it works with other devices