The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 70

Originally Posted by unclemat

Guys, when you review the receiver, please state what surround mode do you use, and more importantly whether DynEQ is on/off and what Audyssey mode is used (default vs flat).

My initial listening session (to music) indicates I prefer the Audyssey flat setting over the default.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

Yes, I normally use either Dynamic Volume Day or Evening. EQ always on, 11.2. I noted this in the first review and implied much in the second. As also discussed, I usually leave all other features as set by initial set up. For bad TV I will tweak and declare as such. To be specific: when signal in is 2.1 or 5.1 DD my usual processing is original signal processed to 7.1 PLIIx Cinema, processed to Audyssey EQ default, processed to Audyssey DSX H+W, processed to Dynamic Volume Day or Evening. Sometimes and when the kids are not asleep I'll ditch the Dynamic Volume. I am not exactly sure of the sequence between the Audyssey steps but in the end I don't care much.

Originally Posted by william06


Seattlehtguy, I enjoyed your reviews. I came to the 4311 from an Onkyo 5007 using all external amps. I have an 11.2 set up. I agree bassically first wides than heights and than rear (backs) so I thought too the back surrounds were unimportant. I agree the sub eq gives me the best base I have ever had I run two 18" subs one ads and the other a vellodyne . Last night I watched Valkyre the audio was amazing. Thee is a desert attack scene near the beginning. and a bomb shelter scene a bit later on. really shows off height wides and with rear surround the flyovers are sensational. I used dynamic eq dynamic volume and aud dsxHeight and wide. Just terrific. The other thing you notice with the xt32 is the small detail birds and other minor sounds you might not hear with other systems I also set it on proligicII cinema with cinema eq on. This does kinda make me wish I waited for the A100. I turn off auddsx when watching anything that is not recorded in at least 5.1. In that case the sound gets a bit of an echo. But thanks for your detailed review it is right on.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

I would love to hear from others, especially regarding the Sub EQ stuff and my observations of more audio activity in the back of my room. I need justification to improve my last crappy set of speakers (The Rear Surrounds).

Originally Posted by mariob33

My room is about 15 deep by 19 wide but was under the assumption that for true wides I didn't have enough front to pull it off successfully. How much front does one really require to pull this setup off? Are the degrees from seating position that crucial or does xt32 do a good enough job to offset any placement/ room dynamics?

Originally Posted by mariob33

Seattle, William thanks for the review/initial take. I am enjoying your inputs very much. So much so, that I am thinking of pulling out the old svs pb12 to pair with my ultra13. My initial thinking was to go back to 7.1 from my current heights + 7.1 via my 4810 at recommendation of a system calibrator. However, now I am thinking of dropping the rears and forcing the wides into my setup. If for nothing else a comparison on the affect. If folks don't mind would it be possible to post photos of your speaker setups? My room is about 15 deep by 19 wide but was under the assumption that for true wides I didn't have enough front to pull it off successfully. How much front does one really require to pull this setup off? Are the degrees from seating position that crucial or does xt32 do a good enough job to offset any placement/ room dynamics?

Originally Posted by noah katz

Yes, thanks for the reviews.

Looks like I'll be moving from 4810 to 4311 to deal with my very disparate subs (dual 18" sealed, and Danley DTS-10 tapped horn).

Most people can't properly place the Wides on their front wall; in order to approach anything like the correct angle they will move away from the front wall along the side walls.

Mine ended up 4' from either end of my couch, and even in the end seats they don't call attention to themselves but still expand the soundstage.

XT32 really can't help you here.

Originally Posted by william06


Probably if Chris from Ausessey were here hed slap me up beside the head I am having trouble with pics on my computer if I can get it it will . I have a mixed bag of speakers. I have just changed the heights and wides. My room is about 15 x 24 ft I have 2 def tech Bipold Heights and two deft tech wides. My mains are big JBL 4ways my center is a B&W L/c/r. My rears are Polk bi pole dipoles and my back are two Polks (center Speakers) Audessey does a really good job of leveling and blending all these together. Never seemed a problem to me. I have Two 18" subs a Velo and an ADS. My wides are about 4ft forward toe the mains on the side walls. the heights are about 3ft back and up behind the mains. Center under the screen . The surrounds are mounted on special shelves from the ceiling and the back on two tall bookshelves. All in all it sounds great and the backs do really help fill the room especiall when the heights kick in . Sounds amazing
The curtains hide a screen frame with a pull down daylite high contrast screen and masking system.

Originally Posted by william06

Audessey set my center mains and both back and side surrounds at large and the heights and wides at small 80 hz the others a t 40. I have lfe set to both lfe and mains. at frist I was tempted to turn up the subs a bit but glad I left it alone. Base when called for is very strong but not distorted and tight. I also use a buttkicker but just rarely and it was off during set up. I reset audessey three times before I was completely happy. I do not like heights with most music but with classical and choral it is awesome. I tried a couple of concert videos with the whole shebang and again a u are there feeling. Most reg tv I just use 5.1 ith dsx dissengaged unles a really good recording. Lide seattle said csi. Mariob I hope those pics help but I know mostly it goes against the Audessey grain but Sound great. The biggest thing here for me is the x32 and subeq. best my subs ever sounded.

Originally Posted by william06

Seattlehtguy, I enjoyed your reviews. I came to the 4311 from an Onkyo 5007 using all external amps. I have an 11.2 set up. I agree bassically first wides than heights and than rear (backs) so I thought too the back surrounds were unimportant. I agree the sub eq gives me the best base I have ever had I run two 18" subs one ads and the other a vellodyne . Last night I watched Valkyre the audio was amazing. Thee is a desert attack scene near the beginning. and a bomb shelter scene a bit later on. really shows off height wides and with rear surround the flyovers are sensational. I used dynamic eq dynamic volume and aud dsxHeight and wide. Just terrific. The other thing you notice with the xt32 is the small detail birds and other minor sounds you might not hear with other systems I also set it on proligicII cinema with cinema eq on. This does kinda make me wish I waited for the A100. I turn off auddsx when watching anything that is not recorded in at least 5.1. In that case the sound gets a bit of an echo. But thanks for your detailed review it is right on.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

Here is my room. Note the black cans in front the Heights are near these and this pic is pre Heights. I will need to take new photos. I'll also put up the rack with the 4311 and Monster Power 7000.

You can see the in ceiling Surrounds just barely in the back of room pic. Also note, the rear surrounds are a bit too high. This sort of blends better with the In Ceiling Surrounds. Subs are pretty hidden and I have made a few changes to the room. Note, my screen is where the window is and is not centered exactly in the room. Thus EQ helps.

Originally Posted by william06

I reset audessey three times before I was completely happy.

Originally Posted by mariob33

My problem is that I am not using the full room for front stage. I stop at 19 which gives me about 4 feet on either size of my screen for front placements and my sub kitty cornered. One wide would be no where near a side wall.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

mattsplat, Yah, I have issues and love da power! I actually have three dedicated lines to the media room. 1 for just the projector. It's a Xenon Bulb Sony job and sucks quite a bit of juice. I have one for the rack and an additional line for the ancillary powered gizmos in the closet next to the rack. With my latest redesign, I took a very hot running Linksys switch out of the rack area and replaced with a Green cool running switch in the closet. Overall temp went down substantially in the closed rack space.

I am going to throw everything at my speakers this weekend and see how much power I do suck out of the wall, guns blazing. This is one of the reasons I just upgraded the Power Center, I wanted to know exactly how much current I was sucking. So far, the whole enchilada idles at 5.1 to 5.7 amps and watching TV at -15 db on the 4311 I get 6.6 to 6.9. I have seen my old Power Center hit the 12 amp light but it was a cheaper read out. My ultimate goal may be to run 2 dedicated lines to the rack (easy to do) and see if there is any difference. I highly, highly doubt it but I am in experimenting mode. Also, the Blue Read Out of the Monster Power, Blue of the Emo's and the Blue of the Denon just look cool. Totally stupid, I know but it makes me happy.

Originally Posted by lprager

William, why did you switch to the Denon from the Onkyo? What are the differences you notice, either sound or feature-wise?

Originally Posted by mattsplat

Anyone else having audio dropouts using the iPod Direct Connect? My iPhone plays for about 2-3 minutes, then stutters and drops out entirely. There's a percentage indicator on the display, not a clue what it's for (no reference in the manual that I can find), the song plays fine until that number hits 30%, at which point it drops to 0% and no audio.

On the phone with Denon tech support - been on hold a while now - we'll see what's up.

Originally Posted by noah katz

By reset do you mean you re-ran Audyssey EQ setup?

What did you do differently to get what you liked?

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

mattsplat, Yah, I have issues and love da power! I actually have three dedicated lines to the media room. 1 for just the projector. It's a Xenon Bulb Sony job and sucks quite a bit of juice. I have one for the rack and an additional line for the ancillary powered gizmos in the closet next to the rack. With my latest redesign, I took a very hot running Linksys switch out of the rack area and replaced with a Green cool running switch in the closet. Overall temp went down substantially in the closed rack space.

I am going to throw everything at my speakers this weekend and see how much power I do suck out of the wall, guns blazing. This is one of the reasons I just upgraded the Power Center, I wanted to know exactly how much current I was sucking. So far, the whole enchilada idles at 5.1 to 5.7 amps and watching TV at -15 db on the 4311 I get 6.6 to 6.9. I have seen my old Power Center hit the 12 amp light but it was a cheaper read out. My ultimate goal may be to run 2 dedicated lines to the rack (easy to do) and see if there is any difference. I highly, highly doubt it but I am in experimenting mode. Also, the Blue Read Out of the Monster Power, Blue of the Emo's and the Blue of the Denon just look cool. Totally stupid, I know but it makes me happy.

Originally Posted by mariob33

Hmm I didn't see the pictures. But I'm on a iPad and at times the app acts a little flaky. I'll look when I get home. Thanks for the input. Based on what you and seattle are saying sounds like its worth a try even if the speakers are not ideally placed. The initial plan was to use the A100 as a pre pro but I'm rethinking that now. I may even get the speakers going now with the 4810 and wait for xt32 for the dual subs.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

mattsplat, Yah, I have issues and love da power! I actually have three dedicated lines to the media room. 1 for just the projector. It's a Xenon Bulb Sony job and sucks quite a bit of juice. I have one for the rack and an additional line for the ancillary powered gizmos in the closet next to the rack. With my latest redesign, I took a very hot running Linksys switch out of the rack area and replaced with a Green cool running switch in the closet. Overall temp went down substantially in the closed rack space.

I am going to throw everything at my speakers this weekend and see how much power I do suck out of the wall, guns blazing. This is one of the reasons I just upgraded the Power Center, I wanted to know exactly how much current I was sucking. So far, the whole enchilada idles at 5.1 to 5.7 amps and watching TV at -15 db on the 4311 I get 6.6 to 6.9. I have seen my old Power Center hit the 12 amp light but it was a cheaper read out. My ultimate goal may be to run 2 dedicated lines to the rack (easy to do) and see if there is any difference. I highly, highly doubt it but I am in experimenting mode. Also, the Blue Read Out of the Monster Power, Blue of the Emo's and the Blue of the Denon just look cool. Totally stupid, I know but it makes me happy.

Originally Posted by william06

I have had no issues with the older Ipod I have direct with ipod usb. I have no issues with the net or pandora one. Pandora sounds great on this unit.

Originally Posted by mattsplat

So I talked to Kelly from Denon tech, very nice - she actually went and plugged an iPhone into a 4311 they had in the lab there to test it, no problems. She stayed on with me while I tried an iPod Classic and a thumbdrive, which both worked fine, so she suggested I call Apple ... which I may do.

For reference - whenever you're playing back a digital stream on the unit, that %100 number on the bottom right is the status of the buffer. My iPhone is a 3GS with iOS 4.1, you'll gradually see the buffer drop from 100 > 90 > 70 > 50 > 30, and it drops soon after that.

I got a friend's 3GS later and plugged it in, worked fine - SW version 3.1.3, go figure (the lazy non-updating bastage). Had him update it, it's plugged in now and running, we'll see what happens.

edit: It's version 4.1 that does it! After updating my friend's 3GS does the exact same thing ... so I'll be bugging Apple and updating Denon shortly.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

Here is my room. Note the black cans in front the Heights are near these and this pic is pre Heights. I will need to take new photos. I'll also put up the rack with the 4311 and Monster Power 7000.

You can see the in ceiling Surrounds just barely in the back of room pic. Also note, the rear surrounds are a bit too high. This sort of blends better with the In Ceiling Surrounds. Subs are pretty hidden and I have made a few changes to the room. Note, my screen is where the window is and is not centered exactly in the room. Thus EQ helps.

Originally Posted by mattsplat


So I talked to Kelly from Denon tech, very nice - she actually went and plugged an iPhone into a 4311 they had in the lab there to test it, no problems. She stayed on with me while I tried an iPod Classic and a thumbdrive, which both worked fine, so she suggested I call Apple ... which I may do.

For reference - whenever you're playing back a digital stream on the unit, that 100% number on the bottom right is the status of the buffer. My iPhone is a 3GS with iOS 4.1, you'll gradually see the buffer drop from 100 > 90 > 70 > 50 > 30, and it drops soon after that.

I got a friend's 3GS later and plugged it in, worked fine - SW version 3.1.3, go figure (the lazy non-updating bastage). Had him update it, it's plugged in now and running, we'll see what happens.

edit: It's version 4.1 that does it! After updating my friend's 3GS does the exact same thing ... so I'll be bugging Apple and updating Denon shortly.