The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 385

Originally Posted by ccotenj

^^^

you aren't "expected to/supposed to" watch movies at 0db... very few do, as "reference" is VERY loud in the home environment...

Originally Posted by SoundofMind

Hi. Not sure if DRC is applied or not but it has been reported that on high-level model Denons it does not. Here is an interesting discussion
the topic you may already be aware of.

Unsolicited opinion: I think of "phantom center" as exactly the same phenomena as stereo, where a phantom image is created by equal level content from FR/L. For most speakers and rooms, the phantom effect is only experienced by one listener seated exactly in a very small "sweet spot". So basically there is no substitute for a real CC timbre-matched to FR/L for MC music and especially for film as it greatly broadens the sweet spot, making dialog far better for all seating positions, and allows for individual trim of CC content.

Originally Posted by mjg100

Yes to number 1 and on a lot of AVR's you get DRC dynamic range compression) with DD, but not all of them. If interested in the 4311, give me a call.

Originally Posted by batpig

actually #1 is NO. if CC is set to "none" then it will not appear in the channel level menus.

Originally Posted by rdgoins

Is there a way to have zone2/zone3 always ON when you turn on the main zone? With my older Denon's they would remain ON at startup until you turned them off. With this one regardless of if they were on prior to turning off the receiver, once you turn the receiver off and turn it back on zone2/zone3 are set to OFF. I want to control one of the zones using a wall volume control without having to click the zone on every time. Seems simple but I swear i cant figure out how to do it.

Originally Posted by graphicguy

Mike....I've been sliding different AVRs in and out of my HT for the last month (Best Buy/Magnolia isn't real pleased with me for the volume of returns).

I have a Pioneer Elite SC27 in my rack for comparison's sake.

I really like Marantz gear, too. I tried an SR7005. Very nice AVR, plenty of power, sounded great.

However, if I make a change, I'd probably lean towards the Denon 4311 for Audyssey XT32 room/speaker set up. It does a very nice job, especially with subwoofer set up. Network firmware downloading is pretty easy, too.

Best of luck!

Easy Setup With Automatic Room Acoustic Correction
Audyssey's advanced MultEQ XT32 room acoustic correction system features a microphone (included) to automatically measure the speaker configuration and provide acoustic tailoring for the best surround sound experience, and provides quick and easy setup.
The new Sub EQ HT processor provides subwoofer tuning, and can even provide separate processing for each of two connected subwoofers.

Originally Posted by Mike_WI

I'm looking at sub $2000 AVR's for a friends HT build...Any reason to pick the 3312CI over the 4311CI...price difference isn't a major driver

Originally Posted by jeffbar

I need to upgrade my AVR as part of a home reno. I am trying to find out if the Denon 4311 (or similar Marantz) can let me assign the amps the way I want for three zones.

Ideally, I'd like to use 7.1 in my HT room, but connect a pair of stereo analog speakers in both zone 2 and zone 3 without any additional external amps.

When I used the HT theater and watched a movie in 7.1, the speakers in zones 2 and 3 would not be in use.

Is this possible? Can I assign the amps thru the remote to reconfigure my setup as needed? Or do I need to a buy an external 2-channel amp? I am trying to find an AVR around $2000 or so with this capability.

Originally Posted by anonymouse99

There are only distinct 9 amps for 9 speakers on the 4311ci, if you want to hook up zone2 and zone3 without using additional amps, your main area would need to be 5.1/2. One of the two zones would need an external amp, if you're trying to do all this without having to plug/unplug speaker cables in the back (there are no additional speaker hookups to wire although that would be a nice feature in a receiver if it would be easy to implement by manufacturers).

Good luck

Originally Posted by SoundofMind

Hi. Is there some gotta-have-it feature on a 3312 that the 4311 doesn't have? For me, it's the other way round. XT32 and Pro calibration capable were must-haves for me. For others it might also be that it's the ONLY XT32 full 11.2 AVR out there, period (needs 2 ext amps for this though). IMO the 4311 remains the best value in top tier AVRs.

For happy hunting, see post below

Originally Posted by SoundofMind

I see AVS reminding folks to call for a price on the 4311 so they must have a few in stock. They have often been avail AFAIK for a very nice 20-25% off (so around 1.5 K) from authorized dealers (AVS, ABT, 6thAv, J&R, Electronics Expo, etc), but you must contact them directly for the best price.

Originally Posted by ccotenj

@mike...

if the extra dollars "don't matter", i'd be inclined to pop for the 4311, especially if the possibility for dual subs exists...

i had an av7005 that i absolutely loved... great unit, does everything it is advertised to do, no quirks and roxk solid out of the box...

but my a100 is a superior unit... ime/imo, xt32 is worth the coin...

there's also a few more features on the 4311...

and of course, it has an amplification section... which ime, has proven to be rather robust...

Originally Posted by jeffbar

...I could use the 3310 but I think that would require adding 4 external amps to achieve my goal. Maybe I can buy a second 9.1 avr and have each receiver cover one additional zone. More wiring runs and controls but easily doable.

Originally Posted by dirk1843

Is the AVR-A100 still available as new production?? ..This month though HomeTheaterMag did a review of the matching BluRay unit...which made me wonder if the AVR-A100 was still out there.

Originally Posted by SoundofMind

Post more specifics about what material you want to pipe to the zones (source, and whether it's connected analog or digital) the ohms & how many speakers are in each zone, if the two zones are always playing the same thing (and if so, if the two zones need separate volume control). This will determine the wiring and equipment options (like a speaker impedence match/vol control). As FM mentioned, it's quite possible an inexpensive used integrated amp or receiver will expand your 3310 (or a 4311) to give you the flexibilty you want.

Originally Posted by jeffbar

I could use the 3310 but I think that would require adding 4 external amps to achieve my goal.

Originally Posted by jeffbar

Would I have to switch to RCA plugs instead so I can listen in zones 2 and 3?

Originally Posted by jeffbar


My aim is plain vanilla, SoM. I just want stereo music in my new kitchen and on my new outdoor deck after the addition is completed. Preferably powered and/or controlled by one receiver and one remote (I now have a Harmony One).

The speakers on the deck are likely to be outdoor Def Techs or something similar in the $500-$600 per pair range. I would use the deck speakers 30-40 times a year, at most.

The kitchen speakers will be inwalls that are similarly priced. I would use them everyday when getting dinner ready.

All three zones will never be on at the same time unless i have a big party. The kitchen and great room speakers might be on together occasionally. Most of the time I would be using only one zone.

The new great room/home theater, for its part, will do everything HTs do. My current speakers, however, are too big to get WAF (floor-standing Dahlquists and a circular SVS sub).

As such I will buy inwall or onwall speakers (8 ohm likely) and install them during construction. I am figuring $500 to $800 per each front three speakers, less for the back surrounds. Plus a good midlevel sub.

There is a remote chance I would buy slim floorstanders (Mythos), possibly with built-in amps (Def Tech BP).

I mainly listen to music stored on my PC hardrive (lossless flac) or via Internet radio services such as Rhapsody and Pandora. I have a wireless Squeezebox Duet system, with a wifi box connnected to my avr. I'll uprade to Sonos at some point, perhaps as part of the reno.

The Squeezebox receiver is now connected to my avr via digital audio and it works fine in the main zone.

Would I have to switch to RCA plugs instead so I can listen in zones 2 and 3?

Originally Posted by SoundofMind

I assume you're not shopping, but just curious? AFAIK it's indeed a limted edition so there's really not many to be had anymore. So mine must be worth more every day, not less. On the other hand, there's really little to recommend it over the 4311 for most folks, and the 4311 is readily available discounted and is a top value, as I mentioned above.

Here's the one my search turned up: new @ 2.3K shipped, sold by "though" (?!) on ebay.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

I would steer you to a good 7.1 AVR such as the 3311. Then spend all your money on the Sonos system. I have both the 4311 and Sonos. There is no comparison, not now, not in the future, not ever. The Sonos interface is lightyears ahead. The little powered portables will rival equipment much more costly than themselves.

IMHO getting the 4311 or pretty much any AVR to do great distributed audio is a project full of futility if you can't get friends, wife, kids on board. Sonos does that for us.

Originally Posted by anonymouse99

Your surround back is assignable - so you could use speaker cables for zone2, and either run like a/v rca cables or speaker wire to zone3. If you run a speaker cable, you'll have to collocate your zone3 amp with the 3310.