The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 611

I assume you are talking about a Blu-ray player?

All HD audio has to be "backwards compatible" with SPDIF connection. In the case of discs authored with Dolby TrueHD (or uncompressed PCM) there will be an alternate, standard 5.1 Dolby Digital track that will be played when connected via SPDIF for audio. With DTS-HD/MA soundtracks, they are built with a standard "DTS core" 5.1 track with "extensions" containing the additional info for the lossless track. With an SPDIF connection only the "core" will play so you will get standard DTS Surround 5.1.

short answer: yes

I would think that if it's related to the web connection that I would also be getting video issues, but the video optimizes to HD within seconds of loading a video...

Speaking of uncompressed PCM, I recently watched "No Country for Old Men" on BD, and the audio setup menu on the disk offered uncompressed 5.1. I chose this, and the 4311 displayed "Dolby Digital" while the movie was playing. Is that what it should do? Starting to wonder if there is a codec issue with my unit.

no, with a multich PCM uncompressed track the surround mode should be "MULTI CH IN" and the input signal should register as 5.1 PCM. I have this BD and it works like that for me. I would check the settings on the BDP before assuming it's a receiver problem.

wrt the DD+ issues on Netflix, you may want to try a microprocessor reset at some point. When you have some free time, SAVE your settings via the web interface (verify it's a "good" save and not all zeroes before proceeding), unplug for a few minutes, plug back in, reset the mp, and then re LOAD the settings. Hopefully that will clear out the cobwebs.

Thanks for you answer!

What I meant was does the 4311 send out the "core" DTS/DD 5.1 when I am watching a BD with HD soundtrack? Eg. if I had another old A/V-reciever would it recieve a DTS5.1 signal from the 4311's SPDIF out?
Edited by filkingian - 7/2/12 at 4:20pm

^^
No there is no HDMI--> SPDIF or analog down conversion.

Unfortunately the BD was a rental (I own none, other than the Spears & Munsil benchmark disk, not sure if there's uncompressed 5.1 on that one) so I can't retest.

When I first brought the Netflix stuttering issue to Panasonic's attention, they told me to change the HDMI audio out on the player from bitstream to PCM. While this worked to fix the Netflix 5.1 issue, my assumption is that I would need to change it back to enjoy the 7.1 Dolby/DTS decoding offered by the AVR while watching BDs. So, just a workaround. However, while it was set to PCM, the AVR DID show "Multi Ch In" as you say.

Did I need to change the BD player from bitstream to PCM for "No Country", or should it have still worked on bitstream, that is, I should have seen "Multi Ch In"? (I realize this Panasonic player may not be in your purview.)

Regarding the AVR reset, I have done it 2-3 times (and I bought it just a month ago) to solve a couple Net/USB lockup issues. (And unfortunately I didn't know about the web backup feature until after the first two resets, redid audyssey measurements each time.)

I know Netflix 5.1 still had the issue before and after the last reset/reload, maybe I can try it again, but test the Netflix issue before reloading my saved config file (i.e. test it with factory defaults).

Never tried unplugging the AVR during the reset process, so I will add that step. And for the reset, I assume you mean the one where I hold the "standard" and "DSP sim" buttons while cycling power? Would the reset using the cursor up/down buttons be more "thorough"?

Does your BD player not have any decoding capabilities? If so, just leave it on PCM and you'll be good to go.

It does, although I don't know how the player's decoder compares to the processor in the 4311.

At any rate, an update. I took a Roku to a friend's house and plugged it into his AVR 2311. I loaded up a Netflix segment that had a noticeable example of the audio issue I am concerned with, and indeed it was still there. So, apparently it's an issue with Netflix's streaming of DD+ (and not my AVR!) Again, the issue goes away if instead using optical (non-DD+) audio.

It's possible (and in my view, likely) that others are having this same issue, just not noticing it. It's fairly subtle. But once noticed, becomes apparent. As stated before, the best example I can give is during the beginning of the BG title sequence, where the female singers' voices just start. There is a kind of random fluttering effect in the high-end range of their voices. It can also be noticed in other hiss-like sounds that the microphones pick up, like someone shifting across a seat in a restaurant booth etc.

My guess is that Netflix may eventually address it, but who knows. Perhaps a faulty implementation/conversion to DD+? Above my pay grade.

I personally never use bitstream. Any bluray player out there should be able to decode anything you throw at it. I could be wrong tho, maybe the early ones can't do them all, but I would assume that would be addressed with firmware updates.

I always use bitstream and have never had a problem with it and that is through 3 different blu-ray players: 2 older Panasonics and an oppo 93.

I dunno, the only difference I've noticed between them is u get menu sounds with PCM.

Thinking of upgrading from Denon 3806 to a Pioneer sc-55 or 4311 after checking the specs of the 4311 it seems that the 3806 is a little heavier and has
more dynamatic power than the 4311 with just 7 channels not the 9 with the 4311. So power wise there would be no real improvement, just additional
hmdi 1.4 ports and airplay,networking as the 3806 has als24+ and burr-brown dacs. I am not sure more channels is worth the upgrade ?
Would the pioneer have the same quality Dacs as the Denons ?
Has anyone used the 3806 as an amp only ?
Outlaw 7 channel 125 or 200 watt upgrade ?

Wife and teens going on vacation so i can upgrade, they won't notice the change !!

^^
The biggest difference would be that the 3806 uses the original version of MultEQ XT while the 4311CI uses the more advanced MultEQ XT32. Also note, they both weigh 38# and the 4311CI is rated at 140W while the 3806 is rated at 120W, so although you could use it as an amp only, it's not likely to be any more beneficial then simply using the 4311CI on it's own, unless of course you want to extend to 11.1, then an external amp would be required.

The only part of this I can comment on intelligently is that I just went from a 4311 using a 200w/channel NHT Power 5 amplifier to a new setup where I removed the Power 5 amplifier. My speakers are inefficient NHT 2.9's and an AC-2 in the middle. My main use is HDTV/Blueray. I have heard no degradation of sound by removing the separate amplifier. I use NHT side speakers and a james emb-1200 sub and use the pro-kit to tune audyssey XT32, just for completeness.

As someone else has noted, I think that Audyssey XT32 makes the biggest, clearly noticeable difference in sound.

Speaker hum from front left speaker.

Hi,

I have just connected my new 4311 to my Arcam P7 power amp, ran Audyssey and it warned me that my front left was out of phase.
I checked Audyssey website and it advises this can happen and you can ignore, which I did.

Issue I now have = if I turn my power amp on 1st I now hear a hum/crackle from my front left speaker, when I turn on the 4311 this disappears.

My speakers were silent when I had it connected to an Anthem MRX300
I simply exchanged the MRX300 with the 4311 and reconnected the existing interconnects to the preouts.
I checked the speaker/amp connections and they're connected firmly as expected.(Nordost z plugs)

Any ideas what might be causing this?

I ran Arcam tech support today and they advised me this can happen if the processor has a ground/earth issue or where the processor emits a small electrical charge even when powered off. The advised owners of their 2 channel stereo amps sometimes report similar issues and it's always the processor that creates this issue. They stated it does no damage to the speaker.

Anyone have any advice?

^^^

judging from what you've said, i'd agree with the arcam rep, it's a ground loop of some type...

no, no damage to your speakers...

Those two issues would cause me to quadroople absopositively verify the integrity and correct polarity of the connections through the FL signal chain. If all is correct, then I wouldn't turn on the power amp first. BTW, if it has a 12v trigger, you can use the 4311 to trigger it On/Off.

I discourage the use of AVRs as a power amp as speakers can easily be blown that way. My advice is to sneak the 4311 in there replacing the 3806. It's unlikely you'll need an ext amp with the 4311 if you don't need one now. After it's all calibrated and you've had a chance to really crank it up. If you hear any distortion whatsoever in the peaks let us know.

Since it goes away when the AVR is on I do not think it is a ground loop. I think it likely the AVR's output is not low-impedance when it is off, allowing "noise" to leak into the power amp. This would not be all that unusual, but if it only happens in one channel it is possible there is a problem with the AVR or interconnect. I would swap the IC at the amp (with everything OFF!) and see if it switches to the other speaker. If so, try swapping ICs and see if it follows the IC or stays with the AVR. If it is just one channel then you may need to get it serviced.

However, it is not all that unusual for the preamp output to be undefined when the AVR is off. Normally I would never turn on the power amp before the AVR; the rule is to turn on low-level sources first, power amps last, and reverse the order when turning off.

^^^

that's a good point don...

^^^ I'm entitled to one a year...

Any experience with the 4311 and 6 ohm speakers?
The company shows an increase of THD to 0.7% from 0.05%. Unless that's a typo.
TIA, Tom

A higher THD is generally used to indicate a higher power output (which is why you often see cheap HTIB setups advertising 1000W @ 10% THD). The 4311CI (as are all Denon AVRs) is very capable of running 6-ohm speakers, with the 4311CI additionally being equally capable of running 4-ohm speakers. Note also that any THD < 1.0% is imperceptible by the human ear, so a moot point in this instance.

Having put up height speakers, I had almost run out of tweaks to do with the 4311 and then realized that there is a phono input. I hooked up my 25+ year old turntable and can now access my large vinyl collection and apply processing: PLII-X or PLII-Z. There are some LPs that will never see the light of day on CD and even less likely on SACD such as Reference Recordings or Sheffield Lab - that sound awesome. So my vinyl collection isn't quite dead yet.

To add to jd's comment, the concern would be that the additional power and high current draw required by low ohm speakers, especially if they are inefficient, would cause some clipping when operating at reference (very loud) levels, or even cause amp protection mode shutdown. But the 4311 handles speakers down to 4 Ohm very well, with no degradation of SQ. Though I have an external amp from my 4310 ownership days to drive my 4 Ohm, 89dB sens Dali speakers, I disconnected the Emotiva to test the 4311's amps and it sounded just fine. Many folks have posted similar findings.

Need some help

1) I notice the sound level is not as good/loud as before is there a good diagnostic to check out sound levels on this unit? I made sure all the cables are plugged in tight already.

2) When I power the unit on the unit's front display I see a message "Update" (possibly "Upgrade") show up for a second or two and the it's gone. I have the airplay upgrade and when doing a FW check it say's I'm at the latest. Is this normal?

I have been running the 4311 with my M&K S-150's for a year. The S-150's are 4 ohm. I had run them with a 3808 and with a 5800 before that. The top line Denon receivers have no trouble running loads to 4 ohms. Relax and enjoy the great sound!

That message indicates you have already upgraded to the new firmware.

1) can you be a bit more detailed than that? did you run audyssey?

2) it likely says "upgrade", which means that the airplay upgrade has been done... that's normal...