The ULTIMATE Home Theater UPGRADE! Denon A1H Review (15 CHANNEL AVR)

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 📌Considering the Denon? Find it here bit.ly/3PByGaY 🔌Catch our latest UNPLUGGED episode about speakers here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmXNhnhvps2FfLc 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.

[@TheBlackIdentety]

The Denon can do 105W with 9 channels driven.

[@KristiWright]

@@TheBlackIdentety Source?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

@@TheBlackIdentety Is that an official number because Denon didn't give us one.

[@KING_DRANZER]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Finally. Awesome man. Seriously been waiting for this from a long time. Really Awesome.

[@KING_DRANZER]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Three of the 4 SUB XLR Balanced outs can be routed to be used as Front LCR outputs as well. So for Music Lovers and for those who strictly want to run their fronts balanced that is a great feature. If you still be doing some testing. Do test it that way.

[@Ocho817]

“Recently divorced man with a personal trainer” OMG 😂🤣🤣

[@KristiWright]

You're welcome.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Kristi punched up that joke. I had a line about P90X, but she outdid herself with that one.

[@Ocho817]

@@KristiWright 👏👏👏

[@movie_av_impulse]

He got me with that one too @Ocho817

[@Audiomainia2310]

Kristi is too funny - good one girl!! On this receiver, for the price point I would still lean towards the Onkyo. At under $3000.00, with full spectrum Dirac Live ( minus bass management ) I honestly don't see from a strictly value or bang for your buck perspective how Denon can compete. A very niche product that requires a $700.00 software upgrade? Do you agree with the notion of diminishing returns?

[@chrishamilton5960]

Sounds like Denon should have included the full Dirac option out of the box for 6999 and called it a day. If you’re dropping over 6k those people are not necessarily price shopping, they just want the best.

[@sethmiller5413]

Geez, pay over $6K for this and have to pony up another $700 ish to get it to sound right???? WTF

[@SENCORE_ISF]

It would be fun in a future video to see you do a full DIRAC calibration

[@PaleVillian]

$7300! Nah, I’ll stay with my Onkyo RZ50… That’s a tad bit over my budget. Great review though Andrew.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I get it, and I thank you for watching all the same!

[@MrRocktuga]

I also have the RZ50 (I'd say that this channel definitely played a role in my choice), and I'm happy with it. This Denon has to be a better receiver, and just by looking at the internals, I have no doubt that it is. Would I be tempted to buy this Denon? Likely not, and I'd say that my speakers are much closer to the Denon price range than the Onkyo. But I personally have a hard time justifying that amount of money on any AV receiver, as everything AV related tends to suffer a lot more from obsolescence. I'd rather invest that extra money on external amplifiers, if more control over the loudspeakers is my main goal. I had bad experiences in the past with expensive and we'll built receivers, that died because of the digital signal path, and turned into heavy door stops 10 years after I bought them. 🙄 There's no right or wrong way of doing it. It all boils down to preference, but I feel that expensive AV receivers are the worst "investment" in home audio. Under normal operating conditions, any good loudspeaker will last decades without any sort of failure, so that's still where I put more of my money. 😉

[@sad_michael]

"this is no Costco SKU" look to my right stare at my Costco receiver 👁👄👁

[@bearblackhawk9362]

🤣🤣🤣

[@jeroenvanwesemael8556]

Great review!!! Makes me think: if the difference with Dirac is so big, does it make such a big difference with all Denon products? Will it also transform a 3800h as well??

[@jokerwonga]

Andrew, are you planning on doing the Denon 6800H? I’d love to hear how it plus bass control compares to the 7000es and RZ70.

[@Music.Movies.67]

You need to get a Arcam AV Receiver in for review, there one of the best sounding AV Receivers you can get

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Noted. We've requested them, and so far, none have materialized.

[@truwarrior22]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews I would have sent my AV40 for review if you were going to buy DLBC license lol

[@jaredhylton6591]

I have a flagship AVR30 that I would gladly lend you, but I am pretty sure you don't do that for many (probably good) reasons. If I am incorrect, and you would like it just let me know.

[@alternativemusicandbeyond6519]

Off topic, but I want to know if you're going to review any Cerwin Vega Home Speakers? Cerwin Vega in 2024 is actually made by Cerwin Vega. They "Cerwin Vega" bought back the home division back from Gibson Guitars.

[@jasons6499]

“Recently divorced man with a personal trainer” 😂

[@guystpierrecomposer]

I have the Onkyo 7100, what a deal! I use it in 5.1.4 with the included Dirac with triangle speakers and it is fantastic! (I have Lintons in the living room and Buchardt A10 in my professional studio. My advice… invest in room treatment and sofas ;)

[@andrewlee7228]

This vs an Anthem 1140? (I know you only reviewed the 740 but assume 1140 is similar/slightly better). I got the 1140 a few weeks ago coming from a Denon 6500 and I'm not in love with it

[@Greg.Siucrazyforaudio2016]

nad t758 best power for music !

[@MasterofpuppetsBS]

Question for your next „review of the review“ in the new format: Would this AVR be good enough for stereo music listening? Or is extra hardware like an amp or streamer or Wim Pro 😄etc. needed for best results? Thanks =)

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Noted! Good question.

[@IanMacDonald-u1v]

Wow! What a beast of an AVR! Overkill for my own situation and budget but ... impressive! As you and I think others will agree though, WTF is up with having to pony up for the full Dirac suite?? I don't get it. Include it all Denon! Especially at this price point. Make it $7,300 and call it a day. Thanks for the full well rounded review yet again Andrew. Cheers!

[@bleachedwhale]

The brand "flagship" premium and extra cost for Dirac further convinces me to go ahead with the Integra DRX 8.4, which includes Dirac, Auro 3D, similar power rating and LCR + SW 1&2 XLR outputs for $3200 MSRP.

[@KristiWright]

*Shout out to my babe for the work he puts into every single video for y'all. Any guesses on how long a single video takes to put together?*

[@jasonallen1205]

20+ hours per video

[@KristiWright]

@@Game_Impala eat a bag, brandon

[@charlesking678]

Probably a week for each video.

[@fuzz_spl]

@KristiWright too funny!

[@larskristiangjertsen2582]

Not even gonna guess if its hours or days. But I like this channel for it's quality. Not the numbers of videos.

[@Nate.drill86]

A question I'd love to hear you tackle on Unplugged regarding bass management: what are your thoughts on Dirac bass management versus adding a MiniDSP 2x4? I use the latter with REW to measure and PEQ my two subs, and see it as a much cheaper option, but I wonder what I'm missing out on when I hear folks gush over Dirac. Thanks in advance!

[@carloscastro2328]

Still rocking an '03 Denon AVR-883 I picked up from a thrift shop back in my college days. Still a great sounding workhorse after two decades of service. Amazing what you can squeeze out of a well-built unit with a little research, care, and a Bluetooth adapter haha. All this to say, I've come to love Denon and am glad to see such a modern version getting great reviews from a creator I respect a lot. This video has me back to dreaming about my "someday" setup! In the meantime, I'll upgrade the turntable soon and continue to enjoy what I got. Thanks again, Andrew! 😁

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I appreciate your comment!

[@bearclaw5115]

It's more amazing what you've been missing out on. Receivers change fast. That unit has been outdated 4 times over! On one hand it's important to enjoy what you have. On the other your time on this planet is limited while money is not. But hey, keep watching because that is definitely fun AND free!

[@drew6815]

Thank you for SAVAGING Denon over the extra cost for Dirac. That is ridiculous, and they must learn. Dirac was included with my Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505. It sounds like many of these receiver brands should ditch their proprietary room correction for Dirac. It's clearly superior.

[@cszulu2000]

Dirac should be incl

[@trinemortenskovgaard2790]

Interesting review. Wish I had the money to buy this thing including the Dirac license... I do wonder though: I have the AVC-X8500HA and I am super happy with it. Running a 7.2.6 system. It has always sounded great but it made a night and day difference when I bought an Audyssey MultEQ-X license and calibrated my system (added a tilt and an increase in bass of around 4 DB). Bass is now super tight and there is an openness that I never achieved with the 20$ version of audyssey (audyssey multeq xt32). So unfortunately I will not be able to compare the 2 receivers or their calibration options. But I just want to mention that the more expensive Audyssey license is worth the money for anyone in the same boat as me Thanks for the great content that you produce!

[@jeroenvanwesemael8556]

Wow, what a price!! 😂 q: for 2 channel listening with normal speakers (not b&w 8 seties) what gives better performance, eversolo dmp a8 driving a very solis amp or this denon with dirac included? And compared to a high level gustard streamer?

[@cafiveohsrockbandremix9254]

Great review, Andrew! Your thoughts on the A1H pretty closely mirror mine on the new AVR-X6800H that I recently upgraded to. The only difference is I'm using Audyssey MultEQ-X at the moment, but I may now have to give Dirac a try. It's hard to believe it will sound much better but even if it sounds about the same I would say the X6800H is really excellent. Not sure if you'll ever get one in for review, but hopefully so (and hopefully you can convince Dirac to hook you up for the review!)

[@bendermac]

@andrewrobinsonreviews Wait... You've paid $650 for a review unit usage of Dirac? You're a mad man 😅 But I'm on your side: Dirac should be transferable and not for a single machine.

[@milanpopovic3416]

I could not justify the expense associated with this receiver as I use it once a week for a few hours. Instead, I got 6700, and it was at such a good discount that I could not resist. It is much better than my older 1600 unit but I still regret it, and should have gone for my fav Yamaha, or Sony. Don't get me wrong. It works, sounds great and it doesn't heat up as my old unit, but basic things that I use almost daily are a pain to use. In my Yamaha stereo setup, I connect usb drive with old converted records and tapes and it just works. Same with bluetooth devices - You connect to Yamaha stereo amp and enjoy the music. But with Denon, you have to be connected to the network and use menu (I don't leave it connected to the network all the time). To make things worse, half a way through connecting to usb or bluethooth, the display on the unit would dim (!?) and turn on the TV is a must, just to listen the music?!! I'm too lazy to factory reset it as it sounds great for movies, but still miss the siplicity that Yamaha provides.

[@gb3496]

At half the price ($6,499 vs. $3.298) - the real "winner" seems to be the Sony 7000ES.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Glad you picked up on that. I could make the same argument for the RZ70, too.

[@808lublabs4]

Same could be said for a 5000ES + external amp combo which could still cost less than the A1H and possibly sound even better.

[@thelowprofile9767]

Got an Onkyo 7.2 AVR for $25.00. I guess I’ll settle with this for a long while.

[@davonfranklin5158]

Had a Denon before it had Dirac available. Took Andrew's recommendation and got myself a RZ50 and I've been a fan of Dirac ever since. Audessy for me doesn't come close to Dirac and I can't see paying extra for Dirac when there are AVRs that come with it installed.

[@danielwander605]

Yea, Dirac Live Bass Control is the real deal. Makes multi sub calibration a breeze and does an incredible job.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Good to know! I love it for what it did with our single sub.

[@charleschin2612]

That denon receiver definitely doesn't worth the price even if it has 30 channels

[@bearclaw5115]

Something tells me you have no experience with this end of the market. Whatever receiver you have now, double or triple that budget and tell me you don't hear a difference, assuming you have some decent speakers. I thought $600 was all you needed to spend on a receiver until I spent more and heard what you get for it.

[@stevendoesburg6555]

Honestly, I think it is a little ridiculous that a 7k receiver does not include a dirac live license. Especially since it is so integral to the value proposition of the device. Just price it at 7300 with the license included as standard.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

100% agree!

[@toddpedersen6694]

Is your much loved Sony 7000ES a non-starter for home theaters with 2+ subs given the non-independent subwoofer pre-outs?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

It's not for me, but that's just me.

[@toddpedersen6694]

Appreciate it. Still trying to decide between that and the Denon 6800H

[@bearclaw5115]

@@toddpedersen6694 Unless you really want 15 channels which won't all be utilized at once (front wides only used in some codecs) you're better off with the 6800h. Spend the diff on speakers or subs!

[@toddpedersen6694]

@@bearclaw5115 it’s not the channel number I’m after, it’s @robinsonbrand ‘s professed appreciation for the built-in calibration features of the Sony, especially when compared on a price-to-performance scale to the 6800H with a full suite of Dirac Live licenses

[@38special4ever]

@robinsonbrand Since you have the ideal test scenario with the Denon, you have to compare the Audyssey ONE - REW optimization script written by Obsessive Compulsive Audiophile!

[@wage83]

Will a Marantz Cinema 50 improve his sound as much as this Denon with Dirac? Greetings from the Canary Islands

[@2loudspeakers]

Interested in hearing the answer to this too.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Good question, maybe Kristi can flag this one for further discussion.

[@bearclaw5115]

Probably not quite but still worth doing. This receiver is more capable of the bat.

[@johannesnel8060]

I always preferred the Marantz sound to the Denon, when it comes to music listening. At the asking price all room correction software like Dirac should be included. Would love to hear your views on how the Denon would compare with Marantz Cinema 30. Great to hear the Denon can drive the B&W 801. So the Cinema 30 and 40 would also be capable of driving the 801? How does the Denon amp compare to the Marantz flagship separate AV amps at $14 000? Thanks and keep up the good work. Johannes

[@bigjmacg]

What are your thoughts on the Integra DRX-8.4 11.4 Channel Network AV Receiver at $3200 smrp and 150w X11 Chanels seams a good comparison.

[@MichaelLaing71]

I have to say that with the exception of Marantz, all the home theatre receivers look like they were designed back in the 90's. Black and boxy, with very little that stands out looks wise.

[@bearclaw5115]

I actually like Marantz's old look better. But yeah, these Denon's need an update stat!

[@joshuarowland3800]

I see that new Klipsch/Onkyo sub in the background.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

No comment.

[@tfonias]

This DiRac business seems pretty scummy. Especially the lack of license transfer.

[@MisterJDee]

7k! And it’s not perfect? No way…. Manufactures have no excuse at this price!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Are you referring to the lack of DIRAC out of the box?

[@risogbanan]

Want much better value? get a Denon X4800H and a nice 2-5 ch. amp..

[@totalplonker824]

It's the components within the AVR that's responsible for the quality of sound. So add a power amp is just going to give one more of what ones already got. One can always add to quality, but quality can't add to what's already been established! If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

[@bearclaw5115]

Depends. If you want the 15 channels then no. And the 6800 sounds better as well. There is no one answer for everybody.

[@markdemariassy8685]

I struggle to see the value of monster AVRs like this. If you use all the channels, then it's going to be underpowered and regardless, for the money you could get better value going the pre-pro route.

[@postjm9]

I'm not saying I'd ever buy such a thing, but: As far as "all channels driven," I kind of get why most companies don't list that stat. How often do you need to pump 100W into a height channel or rear surround? Not all channels are used equally. Most sound, even in atmos, comes from the front three speakers. (and the sub, but that's got it's own amp 😊)

[@TheAmplifierfire]

I picked up this beast with the Denon 30% off sale this winter. What a steal.

[@annnonymous952]

I know everyone is different but to me, $7K is obscene for an AVR that doesn't include so many of the things I feel are dealbreakers like DIRAC. If sound quality were my only concern, I'd be buying a gently used Arcam every day of the week and three times on Sunday. Denon doesn't even come close. The Onkyo RZ70 or even the RZ50 would be my choice over this as well for options like DIRAC and being able to use high end players of older video formats. I've got too many VHS bootleg treasures etc. to let go.

[@bearclaw5115]

This machine is kind of a special unit not really intended for a mass audience. Plenty of better options for most people. The RZ50 while a great value is nowhere close to this receiver. Look at the insides and weight specs!

[@unstablenetwork4744]

Andrew, your feelings of anger and frustration over Dirac being a license and not a service is understandable. If the full bundle was included in a higher priced unit, no one would notice.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4a7p2Svl72Fibsfeature=shared

[@unstablenetwork4744]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Loved the video. It caught me off guard to hear you and Kristi addressing my comment in the episode. Looking forward to the next.

[@WhisMui]

Hi did you see new Sony HT-A9 M2 (theatre quad)? I wait for review.

[@rafaelfranco7041]

Is this a review of the Denon or Dirac. My point is if Dirac makes that huge difference, then do I need this receiver or any receiver with Dirac will be the same?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

It stands to reason that any AVR with DIRAC + bass management capability would see an improvement. However, if the AVR is less powerful, or if its amplifier section and/or power supply are not to the same standard as the Denon here, you may not experience the same control, separation or level of dynamic impact described, even if you use DIRAC.

[@abkse]

Would the RZ 50 like benefit over the standard DRIAC

[@abkse]

Nvm you touched on the 70.. thanks

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4a7p2Svl72Fibsfeature=shared

[@jjguillen65]

Andrew was like wtf when paying for Dirac and finding out it doesn’t transfer to other a/v receivers lol that had me laughing 😂. I do believe if you’re paying for something you should be able to do what you want with it. And that transferring it to other receivers.

[@billhayes5047]

Now you are talking. If you can revist the 3800 with full dlbc . I'm running full support with multisub. Modest setup. 4 svs 3000 sb's. Emovtiva ax2. = 7.4.4 and it's heaven

[@YouTob.]

What do you think is better? I have Denon AVR 7200WA, adding EVERSOLO A8 as a DAC? Or Replacing 7200WA with A1H? I listen 80% stereo

[@bhavishyachandra]

Nice job as always Andrew & Kristi! Was wondering how it compared to the Anthems. I just got an Mrx 740 and absolutely love it with my 703 s2, HTM71s2 combo. I fortunately have none of the CEC issues you had.

[@henrikhengerics6782]

If I recall correctly Andrew did not see a great difference in sound quality between Marantz cinema 40 vs 50. At least for the price difference there was not a lot of gain in sound quality. Power and channels are the big difference. I am curious whether the situation will be the same between the cinema 40 vs 30. Due to the Sony AVRs higher line up not being available in EU the Cinema line is what interests me most. Choosing between Denon and Marantz, i would rather take Marantz (sound signature). Marantz Cinema 50 is the cheapest option (as far as I know) that has 4 independent subwoofer outputs. That with Dirac Live Bass control multiple subwoofers and for the future ART is something really special. It is really maddening, that the license for Dirac if once bought cannot be used on different equipment. Not at once, but if using one AVR and buy a license for Dirac, then buy a new AVR (old AVR decommissioned) , why the license cannot be used only the new AVR if the old AVR license is not being used anymore. For a reviewer such as Andrew having the need to buy the Dirac license each time for a new review sample is simply not feasible. And I would have really liked the take on the Cinema 50 and Cinema 40 capabilities when Dirac Live Bass control multiple subwoofers used as here with the Denon A1H.

[@techsamurai11]

Well, I upgraded from a Marantz Sr8002 to the Denon 4800H. Even when powered by the 8002, the 4800H sounds good but the 8002 made you cry. The only improvement is HDMI 2.1 and slightly better voices from the center from Audyssey XT32. I think I could get the same sound but I don’t know the curve that I need. But if I could get 8002 sound from the 4800h, it’d beat anything that weighs less than 100lbs as the 8002 was up there with 75lb and 100lb AVRs that cost $5,000-$7,500 20 years ago.

[@bearclaw5115]

I have the 7015 and 8015. The Cinema 40 and 30 are basically spruced up versions. The 7015 sounds good until you hear the 8015. And you can pick one up for 2,000 to 2,500 right now. Only real downside is the lack of Dirac. So yes, there is likely a large difference between the two and audible to most viewers of this channel.

[@grayfool]

I'm, Dirac can only be fully implemented on ONE device? Are they serious?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

They are very serious.

[@grayfool]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Wow!

[@bearclaw5115]

I go the opposite way and think that the license should stay with the unit and not the owner. This would help resale values and make it easier to stomach the price. Dirac is only slightly more consumer friendly than the mob. They need real competition!

[@drummerkev1627]

I’m a bit of a Denon super fan. I’ve had the last five flagship receivers from Denon. The 4520CI, X7200W, X8500H, A110 Anniversary edition, and now of course the A1H. I still have my A110 for our Master Bedroom. I’m running a 9.2.4 configuration with a Emotiva XPA-5 for my L,C,R and two in ceiling Atmos speakers that are B&W’s which require a little more power hence their 90db efficiency rating. The rest of my speakers are Klipsch Reference (the older reference speakers which are far better than what they’re making today). That said, the A1H right out of the box just radiates power! I’ve become all too familiar with Denon’s dak’s, capacitors, and power supplies over the years and I have never personally owned much less experienced this kind of power from Denon. Excellent receiver in all respects, and yes, Dirac Live is an absolute must if you really want to see what your investment can actually achieve. Magnificent AVR!

[@LEMON48]

Absolutelly agree , badass piece of equipment 😎👍👌

[@richardmyers7181]

Andrew i am waiting on the denon avrx 6800h 5months now i agree with you dirac should be built in as always you and kirsti give an excellent show truthful and honest many thanks and keep going

[@bryanjones9952]

At this point I think we have gone way overboard with the amount of channels in home theater...maybe I need a bigger house to appreciate that many speakers.😁

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I don't wholly disagree. Nine channels are plenty for me, and even then, I may only use seven of them 90 percent of the time.

[@MarcusMaximus909]

I follow and subscribe to many many hifi/AV youtubers! ..so time to wax lyrical about you Andrew...your reviews are so well presented , informative and articulated in fact id go as far to say you are the best of the best i love your presentation format! Of course behind every good man is a great woman in your case its @kristiWright i love her input behind the camera the fantastic duo! Keep up the great work!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I appreciate that!

[@jaysix8032]

Andrew I'm glad you are championing Dirac coming with such expensive AV gear as standard! I found after spending tall cash on our last receiver (Marantz 50), as much as I wanted it, I have held off on buying Dirac. At $649 the price certainly is not cheap for Bundle Offer Single, which would be the one that would make sense if one is diving into this. I assume you would also need a quality mic (miniDSP UMIK-1 $140-ish). You appear to be sold on the technology and that's good to see that it is more than the next gimmick. Is any manufacturer offering this as standard (now or soon) in the below $2500 category? BTW, love your show and look forward to every episode.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks so much for watching. Many manufacturers offer DIRAC as standard (minus the bass control). Denon/Marantz are the only two, to my knowledge, that don't offer ANY versions of DIRAC out of the box. It's a real head-scratcher.

[@LLNYRN]

Being "A Recently Divorced Man", I guess getting a Personal Trainer will be way cheaper than that BEHEMOTH of a Receiver! 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭

[@fuzz_spl]

Where does this fit in the market? It seems at this price point, are purchasers really going to use the internal amplification on this unit? Or are they likely to already have external amps that they’ll pair with it? It seems like for $7k, you could get more value for the money with a Pre/Pro and outboard amps? I know the AVM-90 from Anthem is around $7500 without amplification, but if you’re spending $7k, what’s a few k more for separates, right?

[@chebrubin]

Please please Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Signature 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker (Midnight Blue Metallic). Some say this is trickle down tech from the 805s. Pleaee incerment external amps to the Emotiva to their Reference Differential 3 channel amplifier. It will help Dirac and all these PEQ type processors sing and soar to new heights. Heavy duty PEQ or Dirac or Audessey dips and peaks correction means sometime +10db extra headroom needed and the Emotiva Reference Differential 3 x channel will feel like a Krell.

[@michaelsabin5767]

Have you seen the CEC issue with any other Denon / Marantz receivers? I see it occasionally on my Marantz SR6015 and Samsung q90R. I think it is most noticeable when going from SDR to HDR content or when the content resolution changes.

[@thobekanikhoza4038]

"...recently divorced man with a personal trainer." 😂

[@txerapng]

Great sunday everyone, I have Denon gear from the 90s and it just keeps on working, one of the best cassette decks i've heard. Sadly, had to let the amp go.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Denon makes some really great gear and the A1H is no different.

[@KristiWright]

Morning!! Oh, cassette tapes, the memories! Thank you for joining us!

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright you need to see my collection of tapes, I’ve been getting into them more and more the last years. The thing is, I actually record my own tapes and design the artwork and booklets that come in them, I print it all and cut the paper and everything. A lot of people would be surprised at the quality they actually can deliver when listening on great equipment and when you record it yourself.

[@KristiWright]

@@txerapng That's cool! Would love to see the artwork.

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright I just adapt regular 1:1 artwork to the aspect ratio for cassette tapes, the more creative part is doing the booklet part and designing the lyrics inside of the J-Card

[@chebrubin]

I just think we are missing the point 👉 with these prices and heat. Customers need to get the better Maranatz AV10 and Dirac and select amplifiers. You can't apply all this EQ and custom curves taxing internal amplifiers that suffer from channel separation under load compared with 2 x external multichannel amplifiers.

[@jscol34]

Thanks Andrew. I received my Denon A1H in Feb 2024. It is a definite, solid improvement over my previous Yamaha RX-V2085 however one would expect it to be at multiple times the cost of the Yamaha. Built like a tank. Anyway, I have just used the free Audessy software with the A1H to date. The price of the Dirac Live software was a real shock to me when I went to potentially purchase it, so I refrained from doing so. It was really helpful to me for you to call out that the investment in Dirac Live is absolutely worth it, taking the A1H to a whole new level. Obviously right now, I am not getting all of the A1H's potential potency, clarity and separation. Now I will need to pony up a further $700 USD for it but glad to know it is worth it.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for watching!

[@snowinokinawa]

How do Room Correction Subwoofers mate with the likes of Dirac Bass Control? For example, a Martin Logan Sub with the built-in Anthem Correction, would you advise running ARC on the subs followed by Dirac Bass Control or are they mutually exclusive? (I wonder what the KC92’s mating call sounds like…)

[@gnd144]

Denons appearance looks dated/90s, wish they would do a exterior refresh. That aside,.... its loaded with features.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I 100% agree! Denon needs a facelift, or at least their flagship model does.

[@AdamSchellenberg]

They do have an older look, but they’re clean enough to have some real timelessness to them.

[@jamesoneill5810]

I disagree it's old school build quality or do you prefer the Golf ball design of the Marantz

[@gnd144]

@@AdamSchellenberg Denon looked better in the 1980's with the DRA series, i owned one. It was beautiful, and the exterior tone controls, lit volume dial, and appearance was far superior then that of today. I agree they are clean sounding.

[@jaredhylton6591]

So Andrew, I think the phantom center issue that you found with the A1H is the same one that I referenced in one of my comments that was featured on the Unplugged where phantom center was discussed. It was my a bit over the top "conspiracy theory" comment about my experience with Denon. Mine was on a 4700h. Initially I came up with the same conclusion as you and dusted off a conventional center for the first time in a while for more than just testing and left it. As I found with that receiver, dialog sounded recessed when I went phantom. After a couple of weeks of being less than impressed with my fairly high level Paradigm Signature v3 center I went back to testing and found that what in fact was happening was the entire signal was dropping around 5 dB when I deactivated the center. So yes, dialog volume and therefore intelligibility was dropping, but it was happening along with everything else. Maybe conspiracy theory was a bit harsh, but hard to explain why that "feature" exists. The one explanation that I came up with is that the group that owns Denon sells a whole lot of center channel speakers...... I am very curious if you were experiencing the same thing on the A1H or if this a new "attack" on phantom center by Denon. I solved my 4700h problem initially by going back to phantom, but raising all channel volumes around 5 dB. I then solved it better by switching back to Anthem. Later, I found it even better when I switched to Arcam, specifically the flagship AVR30.

[@EdwardNygma1980]

Excellent review. A bit out of my price range. I did get the Marantz SR-8015 a couple of weeks ago. I love it and for now ( 😉). I wonder how Audyssey MQX compares to Dirac on the Denon. I love it for my Marantz. Gives me so much more flexibility.

[@KristiWright]

The 8015 is a fantastic-sounding receiver. Thank you for watching!

[@bearclaw5115]

I have the 8015 too and love it as well. Never tried room correction yet but I guess I should!

[@Victor43377]

@Kristi I know it's off topic but are TTs from AVID and Michell snake oil? Any chance you can compare their entry level Ingenium and/or Tecnodec vs Cambridge Audio's TT, Technics, or AT LP140. Thanks!

[@SloDwn1135]

It’s fortunate for me I’m not physically exposed to equipment like this. I find I’m envious just from learning about it.

[@jimpeek7967]

I bought the Sony 5000 Es receiver best I have heard for movies but for music a good 2 channel system is still considerably better for sound stage and holographic presentation

[@jamesoneill5810]

I have the X8500HA it runs extremely hot l love it, a 13-2 channel with most of what the A1h has and at half the price,l am still thinking of where to add another pair of speakers as l am only running a 7/2/6 ....it was £5999 its now £4799 ie $6000 ill wait another year or so...then may think of letting my X8500ha go ❤

[@Garybologne3237]

I've been waiting for this! Looking to upgrade my x4400. Have a great Sunday all!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Hopefully, you find the review helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@mikemmikem2758]

I have the Denon 3700h that runs hot enough to fry an egg so I only imagine how hot this is going to run. I fully resolved this issue with a cooling fan from ACIfinity.

[@lanla6838z]

3800h doesn't run hot. But you can smell the components

[@Dave-zk4fv]

I also have a 3700 but if you can afford, adding external amplification helps it run incredibly cool. I have an Emotiva XPA5 so my 3700 just runs 2x Atmos speakers. Don’t even think I need my fans anymore.

[@LEMON48]

My A1H in 7.1.4 with front bi-amp is barely warm even at 75 volume level and power consumption is around 100 Watt !!!!!! But 4 ohms front speakers cousing this , on 8 ohm is much hotter.

[@JohnWickFour]

Great review sir. Glad I went with Anthem MRX-1140 8K and ARC 👍 This would have been on the short list also.

[@joseluisruiz3789]

Man this is such a nice receiver but out of my pocket league lol. So i still purchased a new receiver today online and went with the Sony Premium ES 13.2 CH 8K A/V Receiver Model: STR-AZ7000ES My trusty Yamaha Aventage RX-A1070 gave up wanting to play 4K video and keeps giving me HDCP2.2 errors when it was working fine for so many years. I guess for owning it for 8 years thw RX-A1070 did its job. I upgraded to 6 Atmos speakers so ive been looking for a receiver upgrade for a while now. Anyway, thank you so much for that Sony Video you did. It convinced me to go with it as my next receiver. 🙏

[@philbert9117]

Another fantastic review:-) I have a Marantz Cinema 40 here that I am very happy with. A friend actually owns the A1H and loves it. Audessey has done a good job with our rooms, but we’d both love to dip our toes into the Dirac pond. However the idea of spending $700 to do that and have the license locked to a single Marantz or Denon receiver is ridiculous. I understand that Dirac can be purchased and used on a laptop instead. Could you talk about that a little in your follow up with Kristi next week?

[@CraZnes]

Sony 7000es! I keep telling people about this receiver, and the sound and presence it produces is unlike anything I've heard. Have the Polk Reserve speakers delivered over the next few days, and I cannot wait for this pairing to come together. As always appreciate the review!

[@ddcrocky3831]

I wish dirac was easy to use like audyssey that's bult in am not that tech savvy

[@IOSALive]

Andrew Robinson, I love your channel so much, I just had to subscribe!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you so much!

[@dragonstone6594]

Now that you have the A1H, can you do a video comparing amount of channels? Like 5.1.2 vs 5.1.4 vs 5.2.4 vs 7.2.4 vs 7.4.4 vs 7.4.6 What are the pros and cons and if more is better. Would be a sick video!

[@zakblue]

Man this thing is so overpriced.

[@rangerscoach]

i always want anthem mrx comparision on sound quality this would be vs the 1140 and i just havent heard much better sound than when an anthem has a toroid transformer and is fully arc calibrated.

[@themafia3119]

$7300 (inc dirac) for an AVR is way too much. I have this unit and whilst it is great, there's just so much on the market you could buy to match the performance and save so much money. Infact, I'd save that money and spend it on room treatment to improve furthermore! Just my 2 pence.

[@MyFatherLoves]

This receiver can be had used (open-box) for $4k with multi-year warranties available for peace of mind at an extra cost.

[@LEMON48]

@@MyFatherLoves Where ? for sure not in EU

[@themafia3119]

@@LEMON48 I'm getting rid of mine. Practically new. £3800

[@TokeBoisen]

It's a bit interesting hearing someone describe DIRAC making that much of a difference on a flagship receiver. On my own NAD T758 V3, decidedly budget in comparison, DIRAC is a gamechanger, but I always assumed it was an outsized improvement because the receiver might not be the end-all in sound quality on its own. It's great to hear it also has great utility in higher end systems

[@baracudasmile]

Andrew Thank You! I am still a novice, and learning. The biggest lesson I learned last year was I bought the STR AZ3000ES last year thinking I had plenty of growth, yet when using the Sony RS5, SW3, and Sony center lift, which are all self powered, I assumed incorrectly that the channels driven would be a bonus. The Sony RS5s actually have two channels each so four are consumed of the 9.1 channel receiver. Sony center lift also consumes a channel. I have been seeking a solution to my problem and decided to order STR AZ7000ES which also comes with a full set of preouts. I should have a 6.2.6 system when complete. You confirmed with your review I made the right decision. Thank You!

[@truwarrior22]

How about a video comparing Dirac bass management vs DLBC for single sub? 😊

[@LEMON48]

Never again any f.... Denon products !!!! my A1H it broke after 2 weeks , memory for the Audyssey calibration stopped maintaining settings after disconnecting the power supply and now only service can help !!!!! 6000 Euro spend for a junk. From now Denon is my enemy

[@isak6626]

Please let us know how that Kef KC92 performs! And how about the new Denon X6800H for those or us who can't stretch it all the way to the A1H?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I wish I could help but we have not tested the X6800H.

[@isak6626]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews I hope you get the chance to! As far as I know, the Denon X6800H is the only 17 channel AVR (13.4) that is reasonably sized. The X6800H fits in a "normal" AV cabinet, while the Marantz Cinema 30 and the Denon A1H does not. At least not in the AV cabinets that are commonly available in the Nordic countries (yes, the U.S. makes everything bigger). Yet, the X6800H has all the bells and whistles, at least on paper.

[@mikestewart2912]

that's crazy that Dirac isn't transferable, i have Dirac from my NAD update, was hoping to use it on my cinema 40. and 80lbs for a A/V is insane, thought 40lbs on my T775 was heavy, wow. at the end of the day I'm happy with my cinema 40.

[@milanpopovic3416]

The software industry is on the roll, and pretty soon you will have to pay a monthly or yearly sub if you want to use it. Very few perpetual software licenses are left..

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4a7p2Svl72Fibsfeature=shared

[@cjt74]

If you ponied up for the Dirac software license why didn’t you get the similar license for Audyssey’s MultEQ-X for windows? It’s like having a Mini-Dsp for all channels except, unlike the mini, Audyssey’s new software add on doesn’t limit you number of target curves and or EQ filters allowed. For the enthusiasts who dives deep into manual calibrations with REW and measurements the upgrade for the Audyssey license is absolutely worth it. If there are any Denon or Marantz owners out there who think they don’t need the upgrade, do a before and after measurement of your speakers response. You’ll see that the “automatic calibration” basically sets levels and gets speaker distance correct. SW distance, which is really timing, is off sometimes. BTW, Audyssey’s phone app is misleading at best. Add the software and you give yourself complete control. I’ve never used any Dirac software before but I’ve heard it’s time alignment is superb. I’m just not sure if it is gives you the ability to manually import target curves from REW like the Audyssey upgrade.

[@MrHusern]

I support this comment :). I have a Marantz SR7013 and will be buying the MultEQ-X software soon. Two of my biggest reasons is better control and I can import PEQ files from REW to MultEQ-X :).

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4a7p2Svl72Fibsfeature=shared

[@bearclaw5115]

Ripewave Audio (YT) did a comparo of all these room correction software systems. I forget which receiver he used. Might have been the Cinema 30. Short answer was that Dirac came out on top. I didn't want to hear it because of the expense but his opinion was that Dirac was clearly better. MultiEQ-X for windows was better than regular Audyssey but didn't sound quite as good as Dirac when he was done fiddling with it.

[@DanielWelsh-vz9ls]

Money hog 😢$$$

[@jacksonfro]

I bring this up because I noticed it in older Denon’s as well… what’s up with the 6 ohms? Maybe I’m ignorant but are there a bunch of 6 ohm speakers out there that I don’t know of? I worry it’s misleading - can it handle 4 ohm speakers by itself or not? Would love to hear others’ thoughts on this or help to educate me.

[@bbjrss]

Hello Andrew did u hear any hiss noise at DTS virtual x mode in Denon receiver at higher volume in an ideal condition. Is it normal and did you get any pop noise in the speaker when you change the sound mode.

[@BostonMike68]

Recently divorced with a personal trainer on TRT

[@lonniefarmer7067]

Thanks! Sounds like this A/V is all that and a box of chocolates, but thanks for the warning about the heat as that is a concern for me. I steered away from separates in my home for heat reasons. Funny how the Sony does hang in there. lol