The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 495

Nope.

I'm fairly agressive about installing firmware updates and since I didn't post about FPV 0006 I assumed it wasn't offered to me. However I just rechecked my version information and my 4311 now reports FPV 0001.

Since I'm not sure I looked after my network reset I don't know how long it's been reporting the "wrong" FPV. Perhaps that's why I'm constantly prompted for a firmware update.

Could someone with 0006 kindly post a complete set of module versions?

Here you go (assuming I wrote everything down correctly):

I installed Airplay the other day and found out quickly about it. My take is some people will love that idea to easily send music/audio from their iphone, ipod, ipad, itunes but for my purposes it was a feature I don't find a need for. What I did find out -
Airplay is very easy to use/setup. You literally install the upgrade to your 4311, connect your 4311 to the network, make sure it's got an IP on the same subnet and your Apple devices/software should find it automatically and add it as an option for output source.

I do mean that any Apple Idevice/software on your network will be able to access your Denon and output to it. That's the way Airplay is designed and on your Denon there is no way to disable the functionality once Airplay is installed. So if you have multiple people with Idevices/itunes you may want to make sure they understand the Airplay option they now have and how it works. I do wish there was a way to control access to it, or at least enable/disable it but that's just my take on it.

Anyways have fun playing around with it!

DOH!

After a review of the tape we find that FPV 0006 was released on 27-July-2011 to update the Ethernet image.

mea culpa.

Wanted to fess up and eat crow; I said the other day that in about 5 years HTPCs would overtake many AVR duties....well, after chatting with the folks over in the HTPC threads, the verdict appears to be that it may never happen. I found only two HDMI input devices; one with four inputs but only two channel audio supported and another with only one (but supported multichannel audio). A sad case for the HTPC becoming the source switching device.

In any event, I was wr.....wrrrrooo.......wwwrrroooonnn........wrong. (You'd have to be familiar with Happy Days to get that)

Oh, I know what Airplay is and how it works, and I have an iPad. I'm just not sure I'll actually use it much. I did play around with it briefly and it works. Time will tell if I actually use it on a regular basis or not given that I already have other excellent options to play my media (J River Media Center, for example) and I don't use iTunes other than to sync stuff to my iPad (which can only hold part of my media library).

Premise of looking at HDMI inputs is off base IMO. Content source going forward is not disc-based, it will be increasingly IP-based.

Your "cable box" or "blu ray player" is effectively now your Ipad 7 or your Kindle FIre 3 or whatever. So HDMI isnt the input source of of the future - wireless transmission of some content bought or streamed with its some variant of Amazon's DRM/Silverlight-Windows Media center/Itunes-Airplay

So be a "source switcher", what your receiver will needs is software based media player/ control functionality, not hardware HDMI input.

And the video output, well monitors themselves are increasingly networked as well. No high or mid range flatscreen sold brand new today without ethernet anymore. Many with wireless.

I wouldnt not look at HDMI as any kind of indicator for what the "AV receiver" of 2017 needs to be designed around. Not any more than anyone is designing around S-Video or component today. HDMI will be "legacy" at that point.

Speaking for North America not only is there no evidence to support this but there's significant evidence to the contrary. Even if you only include the minority population that has uncapped high-bandwidth connections the trend is moving the wrong way for BD let alone 4k programming via IP (you did say 2017).

Personally I'll be happy if BD lasts as long the DVD but IP isn't what's going to replace it.

I wake up everyday and pray what you just typed never happens..... Seriously, have you ever tried to stream 1080p in a home with wifi, Sonos, 4 cell phones, two Kindle Fires, three Bluetooth enabled phones with wifi, and RF 3D glasses? It's about bandwidth and intereference and no ( and I mean no wireless technology presently exists) device can pass HDMI throughput yet and in the foreseeable future. I just tried two of the latest solutions and had failure. How the flip can one hopefully pass 11.2 full digital (it's coming) 4K video over wireless? What you suggest slaps us in horrible mediocrity forever. Believe me, I have tried every wireless in home technology and all of them suck to one degree or another. I-Pad control of my HTPC via MyMovies, Remote and other software solutions usually just flat out blows chunks. I also have multiple WAP's so don't assume I have poor wi FI coverage.

I do not like HDCP but there is no artifact free technology coming in the next few years that can replace a cable. Why does Netflix stream 2.0 bad video? because comments like you just made get them to believe we are all slobs who can't hear or tell anything they throw at us. so, sorry to get all hot and bothered but the statement just made is made by someone who clearly has not attempted complex in home wireless solutions. None of this stuff works except Sonos. You may also be married to an IT pro of equal skill because my wife is from the world of telecom and she expects four 9 reliability In a consumer connection. You are lucky to get a single 9 for a day, oh heck too optimistic, try an hour.

Please never suggest this again, manufacturers may be reading and then we are all damned to tech hell.

Oh, everything applies to home gigabit, Cat 6 as well. I get a lot of stutters. Not so with a BD disc or file streamed direct from my HD attached to my Oppo BDP 93. network stuff just isn't there yet for true hi def/ hi fidelity media.

I'll have to agree with SeattleHTGuy on this concerning IP based media transfer. We also have Cat 6 throughout the house (with a bandwidth download average of 50 Mps), Gigabit routers, multiple streaming devices (12 - phone,Roku's, AppleTV's...) and can say that the cable cannot be substituted. I think it'll be a long time before that type of technology can catch up (and, keep in mind as SeattleHTGuy mentioned, it'll be 4k with 11.2 - as of now, that tech will also advance in the near future making it even more taping on bandwidth). Do we have an HTPC, yes - it's one of our 'sources' in our mecia room as is our main server that's kept in the office.

Seriously? The button press method on the 4311's front panel takes about two seconds, no more time than it takes to connect to the AVR through the web browser. And since some of the people in this thread were still on Firmware 0005, apparently knowing the actually FW # is useful.

I'd have to agree with that. Connected to my 4311 I have: a DirecTV DVR, PS3, HD-DVD player, LD player, an SACD/DVDA player, a DVD/VHS combo unit, and an HTPC. The vast majority of my content is now ripped and accessed via the HTPC, so many of those components I haven't used in over a year. I should get rid of DirecTV, it's not worth the price any more (or I could get cablecard). I do occasionally use the SACD/DVDA player because I can use it w/o turning on the TV, but could do w/o it. We do play some games on the PS3, but could be playing PC games instead. The rest of it could go and we wouldn't even notice. We could quite easily get by with the HTPC and amplification. Most of the other stuff is there because I've had it for years.


I can't really speak to the wifi issues... while we do have tablets & phones, I've never really had the need/desire to use them to watch stuff on them outside of the random youtube content or occasional missed episode of (something not worthy of a better presentation). But as far as gigabit: that's not a bandwidth issue. Stuttering is a very real problem, but it has more to do with drivers, software, and sub-par hardware, than the actual networking bandwidth. I have an OLD PC (one of the original P4s) that got repurposed into an HTPC for the bedroom (after putting in a reasonably current video card). It doesn't even have gigabit, but it does have a good integrated Intel ethernet NIC. I've never had stuttering on this machine (streaming full BR... I don't recompress them). I have had it on my newer gigabit connected machines (I believe both of them have Realtek), and it's taken futzing around with driver and Windows settings to get it fixed.

The problem isn't bandwidth. It's just that there are SO many things in an HTPC that can mess things up, and with so many variables it's hard to even find a good set of guidelines to get it all working perfectly. THIS is the HTPCs biggest shortcoming. Even people who are really good with computers have a very hard time getting it all working right. It's nearly impossible for the average consumer.

I'm just wondering if there's a thread somewhere for the Denon AVR-4311CI...

All this discussion of the (possible) future is interesting to some degree, but isn't there a better place to discuss it where it's more on topic?

Something is wrong with your setup. I can stream with no issues from my windows home server to my HTPC. TMT5's latest version fixed all issues for me. The network hardware isn't the issue.

Which is why AVR's will become more like PCs - they won't ever be as flexible as a full-blown PC, but that means they won't ever be as complex as a PC either.

Actual 4311 question

I just bought this beauty and have a question re: bi-amping. I know 99% of the people here think it's worthless to use the receiver's unused amps channels for this purpose, but that's not what I am considering. My question is - I have an older AVR-4306 that will not be used after I install the 4311. Is there any value at all to using it to bi-amp the front L/C/R channels? Is this even possible?

Forgive me - bi-amping is one of those areas I just have trouble wrapping my arms around.

System is 7.2 - Paradigm Studio Reference speakers all around. Adding the second sub with the 4311 (pretty excited about that!).

Thanks for your thoughts.

^^^

no. no value...

but then again, you already knew that...

honestly, this is a testament to how stable and "boring" the 4311 has become. There are really no more undiscussed bugs or setup issues, so it's just a bunch of dudes talkin' shop now

my thought: don't put a square peg in a round hole. if you are concerned about not having enough power for your L/C/R channels, sell the 4306 and buy an Emotiva XPA-3 and move on with your life.

Thanks gents - sometimes I fall prey to the "ooh that sounds cool" factor when deep down I do know better...

Appreciate the responses!

Suppose I deserved that thumping LOL

Or they all just given-up ??
What about the phase flipping when switching between full range and 40hz Xovers ? This is not a problem for most, but for those who like to setup there mains for stereo music and then switch bach to a 5.1 plus with Xover for HD movies, it was a pain.

Not to mention there are at least a few of us who cannot get the receiver to save the config/settings. (But it has been discussed a number of times )

yup... it's a GOOD thing that we don't have bugs to discuss... it's a mature product, with (mostly) mature owners (myself excluded )...


share!!

He didn't say there aren't any bugs. He said there aren't any undiscussed bugs.

Ok, here it goes.....I have been looking for a new pre pro for the last 2 months. I was seriously contemplating the Marantz AV 7005 or the Integra DHC 80.3. I listen to BD movies and concerts (lossless) 50% and 50% CD, SACD. The Marantz AV 7005 for $1500 has decent reviews - (2 channel playback was a bit weak, but Audessey MultiEQ XT only). The Integra DHC 80.3 costs $3600 Canadian (that is not a typo) has excellent Video processing, Audessey MultiEQ XT32, loaded with far too many extras.

The lack of XT32 on the Marantz and the CRAZY price here in Canada for the Integra has made me stop and re think the situation.

Here is my set-up:

- 60" Pioneer Kuro
- Integra 7.6 AVR HDMI 1.1 (acting as a pre pro) for now
- Parasound Halo A51 Amp (5 Ch amp)
- Elac FS 247 speakers 5.1 set up, in a HT/ living room ( room needs good room correction)
- OPPO 93 BDP

I am looking for the best sound possible from this pre-pro/AVR. Other functions like built in apps, streaming are not so important to me. What also made me look at this AVR/pre-pro is the fact I have a ZONE 2 (2 speakers in the backyard) which is now, is still powered by the interna amps in the Integra. If I buy a dedicated pre-pro, I would need to get another 2 ch amp to power that zone 2, since a dedicated pre-pro has no power amps.

So, with this AVR/pre-pro I assume I can have my 5 speakers in the main zone runing off of my Parasound Halo A51 and run my Zone 2 with the 4311 internal amps. Yes? If so, can one disable the other 7 amps in the 4311?

Also, what makes this AVR/pre-pro different from other AVR's in terms of its pre-pro mode setting?

Any help or recommendations on the above questions would be great.

Thanks in advance

Paul

^^^

yes it can... very well, as a matter of fact...

it disconnects the amp section from pre section (i.e. doesn't send a signal)... the amps are still "hot"...

you may find that the 4311 alone will be enough for your speakers...

One would only guess that the 4311 being the status quo for the masses, there willing to turn a deaf ear..

And and well deserved, 4311 is a fine unit, but not prefect...
Can't beat it for the street price..