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.

[@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 That unit has been outdated 4 times over!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!

[@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?

[@SENCORE_ISF]

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

[@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 ;)

[@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.

[@TheAmplifierfire]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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??

[@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!

[@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

[@wilfredohernandez2257]

Great review as always!! I have the X3800H with Dirac live & multi sub bass control as I have 4 subs and let me tell you that my system never sounded Soooo good with DLBC. Before DLBC the bass sounded boomy ! With DLBC the bass sounds tight and impactful.Well worth it.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

It would seem our experiences align then. Thanks for sharing!

[@maxpower78-15]

All right! Here we go! Coffee in hand!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Enjoy!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

@jamesmichael900 I saw some of your posts elsewhere on the Tubes of You, and I want to tip my hat to you for keeping certain situations and folks in check.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

@jamesmichael900 I would walk away. You were correct and made your point.

[@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

[@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!

[@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?

[@IOSALive]

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

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you so much!

[@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!

[@drummerKev]

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 😎👍👌

[@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.

[@violao206]

I just love your analysis of audio products. You certainly have the rhythm of a seasoned audio sales dude presentation. That was where I cut my teeth in sales as well. That Denon looks like it has incredible audio performance which flies in the face of my Hi-Fi 2.0 and 2.1 bias. Awesome presentation!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I’ve never sold hifi, sorry. But thanks so much for watching.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@sad_michael]

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

[@bearblackhawk9362]

🤣🤣🤣

[@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. 🙏

[@jamestindle2077]

You always present great, balanced, well thought out content.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I really appreciate your comment. Thank you for watching.

[@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. 😉

[@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!

[@ptg01]

My my..... stunning.. Amazing how much functionality and performance is packed on a receiver...

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Everything but the kitchen sink for this bad boy.

[@JohnWickFour]

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

[@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!)

[@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

[@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

[@CButti-x1s]

Good Sunday morning Andrew & Kristi. As a strictly two channel guy, I must say my eyes glaze over when I see the back of these 100.50.20 AVRs LOL. I'd hate to see the spaghetti of wires coming off the back of one of these fully kitted out! On a different note, have you guys been approached yet to review the just announced Mofi SourcePoint 888? As fans of the SourcePoint 8, it would be very interesting to get your take on this new floor standing version with the addition of two 8" woofers priced at a reasonable $5K. Keep up the good work!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Kristi has requested the new 888s, though I don't believe we've been given an ETA on their arrival.

[@KristiWright]

I hope they send a pair!

[@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.

[@saltaormina9404]

80 pounds! 💪💪 the porterhouse of receivers. LoL. Great review! I missed Kristi’s take at the end but look forward to your next episode! ❤️👍

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Check back this Friday!

[@orangecat5036]

Because it's heavy and expensive dosen't mean nothing knowing your sound quality style that you love does.

[@saltaormina9404]

@@orangecat5036🫶

[@justincrossley1913]

Denon manual specification 70.5 lbs my Yamaha avr rx z11 manual specification 74.15 lbs $575

[@frankpanis2748]

Very nice review and agreed on almost all points. I own the A1H for a year now and use both Audyssey MultEQ-X and Dirac Live Bass Control. Only sad that Dirac ART hasn't been released yet for D&M as this will the real game changer.

[@marklloyd4153]

Bravo . I totally agree . I’m still happy with the RZ50 I bought for $1300. I’m do happy with it I’m buying another for $1059 I found online but I’ll c if Crutchfield will price match . Thank you both . I hope you get a patreon account

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@joshuarowland3800]

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

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

No comment.

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@Nathan-mj1cy]

Entertaining review as usual Andrew. I traded up to a Cinema 30 a few days ago. That Denon boat anchor will not be on the top step for long…😂 And I agree, both the A1H and Cinema 30 should both come with at least the Dirac

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@rubinder2797]

Will you be making a review for the Bowers and Wilkins 801 Signatures?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Yes.

[@jasons6499]

“Recently divorced man with a personal trainer” 😂

[@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.

[@BalazsN-y4e]

Hi Andrew! Thank you for putting your time and effort into this review, much appreciated! The pure direct vs DLBC comparison was interesting to listen to, but it's not clear to me from the video if it was a 2.1 or 2.0 comparison. Did you run the Focals in full range in pure direct mode? If it was 2.1 in both cases, did you set the crossover point between the KC92 and the Focals?

[@markbourne4623]

Another great review. Thanks Andrew! I love your breakdowns of these products. Your detailed assessment of the products you review is not only relatable but is delivered in such a friendly and informative manner. It is this conversational and personal tone that you strike in your product reviews that, for me at least, make me a complete addict to your channel. I recently upgraded my system with a Marantz CINEMA 40 paired with a 5.1.2 Polk Reserve speaker package (R700s as front R and L, R400 centre, R200 surrounds and R900 heights) and a SVS SB2000 Pro sub. I sprung for the complete Dirac Live and Bass Control room correction upgrade for room EQ. And my god am I a happy little audiophile with my purchases! One question for you though. When setting up a 5.1.2 system, I struggled to find good information about where to best position the height channel speakers to get the best Atmos effects possible. I was hoping you might do a video that gives some guidance to those of us who are relatively new to this highly addictive hobby on where to place height channel speakers for a 5.1.2 vs 5.1.4 vs 7.1.2 vs 7.1.4 system? I know that room layout plays a big part of where to place height channel speakers (as well as influencing the positioning of your bed layer speakers as well). However, Dolby’s literature on best speaker layout for height channels has me scratching my head on where to place my height channel speakers to get the best out of Dolby Atmos. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your next video.

[@postjm9]

Honestly, I'm not sure height is worth it if you don't do at least 4. I ran with 2 for a year, and never felt like there was any 'presence' above me. Switching to front and rear height made a huge difference. (I have the Onkyo 7100, so it maxes out at 5.1.4).

[@markbourne4623]

@@postjm9 Thanks mate… I do intend to expand my 5.1.2 to 5.1.4 when my budget allows. As you note, and I concur with my own listening observations, having only 2 Atmos height speakers results in a somewhat anemic overhead sonic result. I’ve just gotta save up a bit more money before I expand my system. In the mean time, I am curious as to what the best placement for the 2 Atmos height speakers is.

[@bearclaw5115]

Your receiver can do Auro 3d. Well, upmixing in this country. I think Auro has the best layout for 3d sound because the speakers are placed where our hearing perception is most sensitive. If you can live with your height speakers 25-30 degrees directly above your mains and surrounds, it's the way to go. You can play ATMOS over the layout and it sounds great as well. But if you are limited to putting speakers in the ceiling go with a 4 channel height layer. Since you plan on upgrading to 4 eventually put your first two in the front, not the middle.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@jaymind]

I have two Denon 3800 and love them - Denon has just been rock solid snd dependable for years for me. They mostly get used as pre pros though as I power only my atmos and/or rears either them and let my Emotiva amps handle everything else. I’ve really wanted to try Dirac in my HT but the cost is just too much without knowing if it will make a large difference over Audyessy in a completely treated room. It would be great if you could try it first.

[@bearclaw5115]

I think you can try it and get a refund if you don't like it.

[@doug5433]

I love that at this price there’s no PEQ or Dirac included… but at least we have AM/FM in 2024 😅 Personally always loved the Yamaha Aventage receivers for your stated reasons; by far the most flexible option out there and more than enough grunt for most systems! Great video as always, thanks A&K!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@RaymondJohnson-c3g]

What do you think about the new avr-a10h I know it’s $2000 cheaper then big brother what’s the difference between these two receiver

[@whitecrowuk575]

Can’t wait for cinema 30 review. This is more sensible product for majority (once price drops 25-30%) 😅. I do hope Marantz releases AV20 processor. Something with more sensible price tag than AV10. Btw now that you do have Dirac it would be very interesting to revisit AV10 in comparison but probably not possible.

[@a.very.special.commenter]

Hey Andrew, great channel! When it comes to reviewing AVRs specifically, what aspects of the unit do you tend to favor? Is it surround sound? 2-channel music? industrial design? room correction? AV inputs? Seeing as how you’ve made the Sony your reference AVR, I’m guessing it’s surround sound. Be well A&K!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I do my best to weigh as many things and factors as I can. I try not to put my personal biases in the first position and instead do my best to provide what I hope is the proper context for any product we review.

[@Boxkerp]

I don't know if you didn't realize or just forgot to mention it, but the balanced outputs can be assigned to at least the front left and right channels, maybe all 3 front channels. Now if they are truly balanced, I have no clue.

[@aaronsacks3603]

As an owner of the A1H, can confirm the XLRs can be used for Front Left, Center and Right if not used for sub outs

[@NosEL34]

That's pretty cool. So do you LOVE the Denon? ​@@aaronsacks3603

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You are correct (according to the manual, page 249) and this was something I did not test, my apologies.

[@jaredhylton6591]

Kudos for how this was respectfully pointed out and graciously accepted by Andrew (as expected).

[@NosEL34]

Good video..love the enthusiasm today. Dirac is a hell'uva drug. I'm hoping PEQ starts becoming the norm for components in the future though.

[@KristiWright]

Thank you for watching!

[@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.

[@FNGyoutube]

Hi Andrew! Thank you for your excellent review Between these two flagship AVR amplifiers Denon A1H and Marantz Cinema 30, which one do you think the best home theater ?

[@arturo_lugo]

6:16 Whoa, was not expecting that TechnoDad reference at all! Great review as always, waited a long time for this one!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Techno Dad reference? We didn’t reference TD.

[@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.

[@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

[@navidmahmood876]

@12:00 this honestly seems like a business decision. Everyone’s aware that Dirac is better and if it isn’t behind a paywall, there won’t be anyone using Audyssey. Audyssey’s selling point is the multi eq-x at $200 which is cheaper than Dirac. I am curious about one thing though, tonally how is Dirac? Neutral? V shape? I’ve never used it so I’m not aware of how they “correct” speakers.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

If I had to try and quantify the curve DIRAC uses, it appears, at least to me, to most closely resemble the "Harman Curve". Raised in the bass, largely neutral in the mids with a little roll-off up top. DIRAC doesn't appear to use as much roll-off up top, but it's been a minute since I scrutinized the Harman Curve so I'm just going off memory.

[@thelowprofile9767]

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

[@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 ❤

[@westcoast708]

Absolute monster thx Andrew.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@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.

[@AlsoKnownAsAndrew]

I’m disappointed that the A1H doesn’t play well with a phantom center setup. I’d hate to have to go thru the trouble of finding a speaker line that includes a well engineered center channel (so few of them do). Have you experienced this deficiency in any other Denon/Marantz receiver of recent years? Has Denon made any statement to you regarding this at all? Thank you for another wonderful review A&K.

[@jaredhylton6591]

I made a full comment about this if you want to find it. Here is an abridged version though. I found similar reduced dialog volume on a 4700h when I toggled the center off. Upon much testing I finally found that all channels were dropping in volume by about 5 dB when I turned off the center. Turning all channel levels up by about 5 dB solved the issue for me.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

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

[@bearclaw5115]

Most people relying on phantom centers probably don't want/need 15ch anyway. I agree that most centers aren't great but there is a reason. A great center will have a three way design including a midrange driver but most speakers don't have dedicated small form factor midranges. Therefore the tonality will be different. I think they go with standard MTM designs for cost and tonality at the expense of some wave cancellations. In any case, most centers will beat out a phantom center while also giving you the ability to tweak the dialogue up or down.

[@jaredhylton6591]

@bearclaw5115 my testing says the exact opposite of what you say. At least to my ears, in my room. My brand of choice, Paradigm, has among the best centers in the business (check some out). However, I always prefer their towers in phantom over adding a center. The most recent test I ran was Signature S6 v3 in phantom vs with a Signature C5 v3. To me, outside of the horrible under screen placement that I hate with conventional centers, I thinkn it comes down to the mids. Phantom has 2 7" mids playing the all important voices, while adding the C5 puts all of that super important info into a single 4.5" mid. Don't let the 3.5 way design with mid/bass woofers fool you, the mid/bass woofers would more accurately be called the bass woofers that play a little higher than the other bass woofers as they only play up to 600 hz. That little 4.5 is responsible for 600-2200 hz. I use phantom in a fairly high end Auro 3D theater, but I don't have 15 channels.

[@eriklindahl7376]

The say “muted” phantom center could be a few options in surround options. It does have stereo and center spread on as default if it’s like Marantz. More spread but perhaps less pin-point with lack of a center.

[@jaredhylton6591]

I made my own full comment on this elsewhere if you want to find the full one. I had what I wonder if it is the same "issue" on a 4700h and upon further testing found that when I turned the center off, every channel dropped around 5 dB. I cannot think of a single sonic reason for this "feature", but Denon's sister companies do sell a ton of centers.

[@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.

[@KASmonkeys]

Thanks for the review! I have one of these delicious babies in basic bed level speaker awaiting new room soundproofing. I just wanted to highlight that the huge reason I took out the CC for this, was the different modes you could switch between (Dolby ATMOS, DTSX: Pro, IMAX etc) switching on and off the different speaker (9.4.8) configurations (attached). I'll also make sure to upgrade the DIRAC! Thanks. I do have one question - Surely DIRAC is just better EQ control between everything. So how does it make things more dynamic and exciting?

[@Karto86]

It matches all the speakers and subwoofers into one coherent system (including managing impulse response).

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

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

[@jimalbruzzess2445]

Hello Andrew + Kristi, great review. Ya at this price your getting into marantz av 10 territory. Although that is only a processor. Still a great overall amp. Have a great week.

[@tehgman2]

Continuing the sony comparison, can it also handle the 801 d4?

[@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.

[@dudestpriest504]

I've been waiting on this review for months now

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Hope it was worth the wait!

[@GreenLoo]

I may be way off here - but wonder whether it would be useful to compare the 2 channel listening experience of surround receivers with dedicated 2 channel amps? Background: I owned an Onkyo RZ-50 and found 2 channel listening with it OK. When my usage changed to mainly music listening I exchanged it for a Yamaha R-N2000a (after your review and suggestion, Andrew) and must say the difference is much greater than expected. Loooove the Yamaha ❤

[@bearclaw5115]

Yes, a two channel amp will outperform a receiver at the same price point. Receivers need to do so much more in that budget. IMO, only the highest end receivers are suitable for 2 channel music playback.

[@charlesking678]

I totally agree that leaving dirac and audessy out for an expensive product feels like a miss. Just factor that into the price.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

#putitinthebox

[@Professor5180]

Could you shed any light on how the Denon A1H compares to the Marantz AV 10?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

The AV10 is just a processor so its ultimate performance is going to be reliant upon the amp you pair it with whereas the Denon is all-inclusive. As far as features go on the preamp/processor side of things, they appear to be very evenly matched.

[@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…)

[@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.

[@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.

[@hoopdyhop76]

Integra drx 8.4? Less independent sub channels at 2, but has XLR outs for subs and the front stereo speakers and center channels. Includes Dirac live and is half the cost. If you don’t need more than 2 independent sub channels I struggle to see where the Denon comes out ahead as its pre outs are not as nice as the Integra’s.

[@cristianciobanu341]

thanks for review! i was gonna ask you if there is a av receiver that came with dirac but you already answered, thanks!

[@Totalplonker]

Dirac is already paid for when purchasing an Arcam AVR