The ULTIMATE Home Theater UPGRADE! Denon A1H Review (15 CHANNEL AVR)
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📌 TESTING THE DENON AVR-A1H
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📌 DENON A1H REVIEW
00:00 DENON AVR-A1H REVIEW
00:59 CHANNELS, PHYSICAL & WIRELESS CONNECTIONS, HMDI, GAMING SPECS
02:41 MY DENON RECEIVER SETUP & SPEAKERS USED
04:04 ROOM CORRECTION: AUDYSSEY, DIRAC and MANUAL EQ
05:44 DIRAC BASS CONTROL: IS IT WORTH IT?
07:05 DENON A1H STEREO SOUND (with and without DIRAC)
08:48 DENON A1H RECEIVER FOR SURROUND SOUND
09:56 DIALOGUE PERFORMANCE
10:39 VIDEO SWITCHING/PERFORMANCE & REMOTE APP
11:56 WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
12:37 MINOR CEC BUG
12:58 COMPARISONS: DENON A1H vs SONY 70000ES
13:53 DENON A1H vs MARANTZ CINEMA 30
14:02 DENON A1H vs ONKYO RZ70
14:43 DENON A1H vs YAMAHA A8A
15:20 MY FINAL THOUGHTS
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#hometheater #denon #andrewrobinson
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
😀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 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qpqaiKhq1s62dok.html 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.
@TheBlackIdentety 2 ай бұрын
The Denon can do 105W with 9 channels driven.
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
@@TheBlackIdentety Source?
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
@@TheBlackIdentety Is that an official number because Denon didn't give us one.
@KING_DRANZER 2 ай бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Finally. Awesome man. Seriously been waiting for this from a long time. Really Awesome.
@KING_DRANZER 2 ай бұрын
@@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 2 ай бұрын
“Recently divorced man with a personal trainer” OMG 😂🤣🤣
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
You're welcome.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Kristi punched up that joke. I had a line about P90X, but she outdid herself with that one.
@Ocho817 2 ай бұрын
@@KristiWright 👏👏👏
@movie_av_impulse 2 ай бұрын
He got me with that one too @Ocho817
@Audiomainia2310 2 ай бұрын
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?
@sad_michael 2 ай бұрын
"this is no Costco SKU" look to my right stare at my Costco receiver 👁👄👁
@bearblackhawk9362 2 ай бұрын
🤣🤣🤣
@chrishamilton5960 2 ай бұрын
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.
@SENCORE_ISF 2 ай бұрын
It would be fun in a future video to see you do a full DIRAC calibration
@carloscastro2328 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
I appreciate your comment!
@bearclaw5115 2 ай бұрын
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!
@guystpierrecomposer 2 ай бұрын
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 ;)
@jasons6499 2 ай бұрын
“Recently divorced man with a personal trainer” 😂
@TheAmplifierfire 2 ай бұрын
I picked up this beast with the Denon 30% off sale this winter. What a steal.
@Garybologne3237 2 ай бұрын
I've been waiting for this! Looking to upgrade my x4400. Have a great Sunday all!
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Hopefully, you find the review helpful! Thanks for watching.
@jamestindle2077 2 ай бұрын
You always present great, balanced, well thought out content.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
I really appreciate your comment. Thank you for watching.
@baracudasmile 2 ай бұрын
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!
@violao206 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
I’ve never sold hifi, sorry. But thanks so much for watching.
@IOSALive 2 ай бұрын
Andrew Robinson, I love your channel so much, I just had to subscribe!
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
@bhavishyachandra 2 ай бұрын
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.
@JohnWickFour 2 ай бұрын
Great review sir. Glad I went with Anthem MRX-1140 8K and ARC 👍 This would have been on the short list also.
@jimalbruzzess2445 2 ай бұрын
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.
@arturo_lugo 2 ай бұрын
6:16 Whoa, was not expecting that TechnoDad reference at all! Great review as always, waited a long time for this one!
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Techno Dad reference? We didn’t reference TD.
@PaleVillian 2 ай бұрын
$7300! Nah, I’ll stay with my Onkyo RZ50… That’s a tad bit over my budget. Great review though Andrew.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
I get it, and I thank you for watching all the same!
@MrRocktuga 2 ай бұрын
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. 😉
@wilfredohernandez2257 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
It would seem our experiences align then. Thanks for sharing!
@frankpanis2748 2 ай бұрын
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.
@ptg01 2 ай бұрын
My my..... stunning.. Amazing how much functionality and performance is packed on a receiver...
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Everything but the kitchen sink for this bad boy.
@drummerkev1627 Ай бұрын
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!
@westcoast708 2 ай бұрын
Absolute monster thx Andrew.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Thanks for tuning in!
@michaelcasper2613 2 ай бұрын
Very good thank you
@trinemortenskovgaard2790 2 ай бұрын
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!
@joseluisruiz3789 2 ай бұрын
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. 🙏
@markbourne4623 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
@@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 2 ай бұрын
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.
@cafiveohsrockbandremix9254 2 ай бұрын
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!)
@Nathan-mj1cy 2 ай бұрын
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
@philbert9117 2 ай бұрын
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?
@lonniefarmer7067 2 ай бұрын
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
@dragonstone6594 2 ай бұрын
Hey Andrew, great review as always. Seeing that some new AVR's these days come with multiple subwoofer outputs, like this Denon and the Marantz Cinema 50 for example. Can you test 1 subwoofer vs 2 vs 4 and see what the differences are? Would be an intereseting video. Thanks!
@user-ml9jj7bw5o 2 ай бұрын
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!
@NosEL34 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@dudestpriest504 2 ай бұрын
I've been waiting on this review for months now
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Hope it was worth the wait!
@jeroenvanwesemael8556 2 ай бұрын
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??
@efstro 2 ай бұрын
Hello Andrew - Thank you for another great review. I really appreciate the consistency and details of your reviews. Frankly, I previously considered Denon as a mass marketed brand, features over quality. Where as, I'm a quality of sound and design, boutique brand over mass marketed brand. I'm in the market for a new receiver and really appreciated your reviews of the Sony ES 7000 and the Anthem 740. I'm also looking to upgrade the TV to the Sony A80L or A95L. I currently have a Rotel RSX 1560 (about 12 years old), with B&W 805 D2 (I bring out for 2-channel listening), JL Audio F112, B&W CCM663 in ceiling speakers (4 in main media room (pair in front, pair in rear) (expect to use rear pair as Atoms heights), and B&W CWM 7.4 S2 (Center), pair in kitchen which is open to main media family room, pair in living room, pair in bedroom, , Apple TV 4K. Given these details and your experience, can you make a recommendation for a new receiver?
@cristianciobanu341 2 ай бұрын
thanks for review! i was gonna ask you if there is a av receiver that came with dirac but you already answered, thanks!
@totalplonker824 2 ай бұрын
Dirac is already paid for when purchasing an Arcam AVR
@DariusRosendahl 2 ай бұрын
Thank you for this review. Love your honest opinion! I was actually surprised by your enthusiasm of Dirac Live. Would you recommend it for buying it for the Denon X3800H as well? Ps. Shame Denon forces me to choose between a reciever and fixing my bathroom 😢💰
@justincollins6077 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for watching!
@marklloyd4153 2 ай бұрын
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
@sethmiller5413 2 ай бұрын
Geez, pay over $6K for this and have to pony up another $700 ish to get it to sound right???? WTF
@Nate.drill86 2 ай бұрын
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!
@jaredhylton6591 2 ай бұрын
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.
@TokeBoisen 2 ай бұрын
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
@jaysix8032 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
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.
@anoopthomas5830 29 күн бұрын
@Andrew Robinson I’m having a hard time deciding between Denon A1H vs Marantz AV10/AMP 10 combo. I prefer a less fatiguing sound signature yet dynamic and impactful one. Do you think Denon can provide 95% of the performance of Marantz without sounding bright / fatiguing? Also does Denon have a tighter and better bass performance than Marantz? Would love to hear your thoughts so it will be super helpful for me to decide. Thanks in advance!
@johannesnel8060 2 ай бұрын
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
@bleachedwhale 2 ай бұрын
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.
@jjguillen65 2 ай бұрын
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.
@michaelsabin5767 2 ай бұрын
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.
@YouTob. 2 ай бұрын
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
@danielwander605 2 ай бұрын
Yea, Dirac Live Bass Control is the real deal. Makes multi sub calibration a breeze and does an incredible job.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Good to know! I love it for what it did with our single sub.
@charlesking678 2 ай бұрын
"A recently divorced man with a personal trainer!" Lol. When I got divorced this was totally me!😅
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
I had a slightly different line written. Kristi added that bit for y'all.
@a.very.special.commenter 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
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.
@Victor43377 2 ай бұрын
@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!
@johnnydardenne7840 2 ай бұрын
Hey Kristi and Andrew, top review but can yo u make the comparison with an Integra Av 5.4 or 8.4 , thanks Kr John
@alternativemusicandbeyond6519 2 ай бұрын
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.
@dragonstone6594 2 ай бұрын
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!
@joshuarowland3800 2 ай бұрын
I see that new Klipsch/Onkyo sub in the background.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
No comment.
@truwarrior22 2 ай бұрын
How about a video comparing Dirac bass management vs DLBC for single sub? 😊
@snowinokinawa 2 ай бұрын
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…)
@saltaormina9404 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Check back this Friday!
@orangecat5036 2 ай бұрын
Because it's heavy and expensive dosen't mean nothing knowing your sound quality style that you love does.
@saltaormina9404 2 ай бұрын
@@orangecat5036🫶
@justincrossley1913 2 ай бұрын
Denon manual specification 70.5 lbs my Yamaha avr rx z11 manual specification 74.15 lbs $575
@barnabas8686 Ай бұрын
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.
@jaymind 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
I think you can try it and get a refund if you don't like it.
@user-ej3ii8zm2b 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Kristi has requested the new 888s, though I don't believe we've been given an ETA on their arrival.
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
I hope they send a pair!
@MarcusMaximus909 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
I appreciate that!
@tehgman2 2 ай бұрын
Continuing the sony comparison, can it also handle the 801 d4?
@jimpeek7967 2 ай бұрын
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
@justinbyrne5736 2 ай бұрын
You need to get a Arcam AV Receiver in for review, there one of the best sounding AV Receivers you can get
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Noted. We've requested them, and so far, none have materialized.
@truwarrior22 2 ай бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I would have sent my AV40 for review if you were going to buy DLBC license lol
@jaredhylton6591 2 ай бұрын
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.
@EdwardNygma1980 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
The 8015 is a fantastic-sounding receiver. Thank you for watching!
@bearclaw5115 2 ай бұрын
I have the 8015 too and love it as well. Never tried room correction yet but I guess I should!
@dawidlelito 2 ай бұрын
great review. I'm waiting for you to take Trinnov to work
@EdUwadia 2 ай бұрын
Great review,Andrew. Are your concerns about the video processing with the A1H unique to this receiver, or did you notice similar issues with the Marantz you reviewed last year or the Sony and the Onkyo?
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n7uIqZSqx762g40.htmlfeature=shared
@bigjmacg 2 ай бұрын
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.
@davonfranklin5158 2 ай бұрын
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.
@SloDwn1135 2 ай бұрын
It’s fortunate for me I’m not physically exposed to equipment like this. I find I’m envious just from learning about it.
@ddcrocky3831 2 ай бұрын
Andrew, when you ran Dirac, did you change anything in Dirac, or did you let Dirac do its thing and upload it to the receiver
@Wandering_Outlaw 2 ай бұрын
So here's the deal right now I have a Denon S-970h driving my Martin Logan foundation F2 towers, a Martin Logan Motion XT C100 Center, Klipsch RP 502S II and RP 500SA II along with two Martin Logan Dynamo Subwoofers what AV receiver would you recommend to someone who is wanting to upgrade to a 5.2.4 Atmos set up if they had a budget of around 2k?
@chebrubin 2 ай бұрын
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.
@fuzz_spl 2 ай бұрын
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?
@kjbunnyboiler 2 ай бұрын
Afternoon Andrew & Kristi 👍👍
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Morning KJ! Thanks for watching!
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
Hi KJ!
@kjbunnyboiler 2 ай бұрын
@@KristiWright 👍👍
@bombayteddy 2 ай бұрын
Is a review of the B&W 801 in the pipeline? Also, if/when you review the Marantz Cinema 30, please compare it to their SR8015 since its essentially the same machine, currently available at half the price!
@alicksedgemore7537 2 ай бұрын
Love your videos! Where did you get those black and chrome chairs?
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Thank you! If you refresh the video, you'll see a "product" pop up at the beginning. I had Kristi tag the chairs in the video. Ours are vintage however the link will take you to them!
@alicksedgemore7537 2 ай бұрын
Thank you! You and Kristi keep up the good work!
@maxpower78-15 2 ай бұрын
All right! Here we go! Coffee in hand!
@jamesmichael900 2 ай бұрын
Doing the same!
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Enjoy!
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
@@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.
@jamesmichael900 2 ай бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews That entire situation is so far gone. Did you see his reply? 😂I'm still deciding if I should reply. I don't know who is dumber? Him or the people offering him a leg up on that crucifix he's building.
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
@@jamesmichael900 I would walk away. You were correct and made your point.
@jamesoneill5810 2 ай бұрын
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 ❤
@txerapng 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Denon makes some really great gear and the A1H is no different.
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
Morning!! Oh, cassette tapes, the memories! Thank you for joining us!
@txerapng 2 ай бұрын
@@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 2 ай бұрын
@@txerapng That's cool! Would love to see the artwork.
@txerapng 2 ай бұрын
@@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
@charlesking678 2 ай бұрын
I think this is a cool product. Wish the dirac was included, but I don't see the market for a super avr like this being much. The market for this are serious audiophiles and most will be in dedicated theater rooms. At that point most will be looking at separate pre/pros. Can yall do a comparison with the marantz av10/amp10 combo.
@monijam1 2 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video, the A1H seems like a real beast. However if you get the opportunity, would love it if you reviewed the Integra DRX 8.4 receiver it seems like it truly has everything (including XLR pre-outs for the LCR channels & 2 subs) and is half the price of the A1H!
@ChiefGutmaster 2 ай бұрын
Latest Integra / Pioneer / Onkyo only have 11 channels. Can't have front, mids and rear heights AND surrounds with back surrounds (that's 10 channels right there and you still need your fronts and center). Unless, you use the pre-amps with an external amp for whatever channels you left out. Possible, but less elegant.
@doug5433 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@jeroenvanwesemael8556 2 ай бұрын
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?
@thelowprofile9767 2 ай бұрын
Got an Onkyo 7.2 AVR for $25.00. I guess I’ll settle with this for a long while.
@harisjaved1379 2 ай бұрын
Hi Andrew! What’s that cabinet you are using! I want it !!!
@MasterofpuppetsBS 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
Noted! Good question.
@craigosterberg5045 2 ай бұрын
Thanks
@eriklindahl7376 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
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.
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
*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 2 ай бұрын
20+ hours per video
@KristiWright 2 ай бұрын
@@Game_Impala eat a bag, brandon
@charlesking678 2 ай бұрын
Probably a week for each video.
@fuzz_spl 2 ай бұрын
@KristiWright too funny!
@larskristiangjertsen2582 2 ай бұрын
Not even gonna guess if its hours or days. But I like this channel for it's quality. Not the numbers of videos.
@drew6815 2 ай бұрын
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.
@KASmonkeys 2 ай бұрын
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 2 ай бұрын
It matches all the speakers and subwoofers into one coherent system (including managing impulse response).
@andrewrobinsonreviews 2 ай бұрын
Check out today's Unplugged episode for a response to your comment! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n7uIqZSqx762g40.htmlfeature=shared
@WhisMui 2 ай бұрын
Hi did you see new Sony HT-A9 M2 (theatre quad)? I wait for review.
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