The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 91

Got to see the a100 the other day. I didn't realize that there was a little metal flake in the finish. I know you better be ready to clean that thing every time it gets touched! Finger smudge monster! Didn't get to play with it, just on display and not hooked up yet. I did tap on the front face and it didn't sound like metal to me, but I'm probably wrong! I'll get to check it out later. Jeff T from Denon suppose to be there this month some time. The manager said they were going to hook it up to the B&W speakers they have on the floor, can't remember which model they are but they are some of the big ones. Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure they are the 802 speakers.

I've been drooling at the idea of getting this receiver to replace my Yamaha RX-V1800. I recently found out that my 1800 does not decode HDCDs, which I have several of. I have dual subs I'd like to EQ. I'd also like to be able to send the signals that usually go to my surrounds during multichannel music to my surround rears. Can the 4311 do that?

I'm a little concerned about the audio dropouts being reported in this thread. I have a Panasonic BD30.

The time or two I noted it in my posts drop out meant totally silent if audio and totally black screen if video.

So, I have some questions/impressions after a few weeks with the 4311.

1. Tonight the fan came on for the first time (at least first I noticed). I heard this buzz and figured out it was coming from the 4311. I put my hand on top and pushed a little on the top and the buzz stopped. As soon as I lifted by hand off the top the buzz started. I am hoping that this is an isolated incident. It appeared the top of the case was vibrating.

2. I have been getting the occasional audio drop out where I cannot get sound back without turning the unit off then on again. The source is my Dish Network 722.

3. I find the unit to sound pretty good. I am coming from a Sherwood P965 so it is a big upgrade. I had an A965 amp that I hooked up. The sound was noticeably better meaning it was a bit fuller sound.

4. I love all the features. I have used Pandora, network sharing, iPod and HD radio.

5. I like being able to fiddle with settings form my Web browser.

6. Audyssey sounds great for movies, but music I am not so convinced. It really bumps up my high frequencies to already bright speakers. For movies, it was nice, but music, I wanted more low end punch to make it sound natural. Fortunately, I can put it in Direct mode and bypass all of that.

7. The menus looks nice. I love the overlay. I thought I would love the overlayed volume control. It's nice, but I don't really look at it. I am planning on turning it off.

8. I tried to use the i/p scaler for the HDMI input for my sat signal and it did weird things. It could be a set up issue, but it made the images lag in a bit. I turned it off. Ileft it on for analog sources though.

9. I like that it just works. My P965 had more issues that were never resolved that I swore I would never own another Sherwood product again regardless of it's awesome Trinnov.

I am sure I will have more impressions over the next few months.

Are you sure it was the fans? Others have reported cabinet vibration/buzzing in a way that suggested it was from the transformer.

So the dropout seem to be related to Dolby Digital (2.1) being bitstreamed over HDMI for me. Never got dropout with PCM stream. Trying now bitstream DD over SPDIF (coaxial).

Thank you for the reply.

I was able to find a 4311ci in stock so that decision is taken care of.

As to why on question number 6, the BDP-09 has dual HDMI outs and I already have a 25 foot HDMI cable running from the cabinet the Blu-ray player will be placed in, through the crawl space, and up through the wall and connected to the Pioneer Plasma.

I still have the option to route it through the Denon but if I can eliminate any possible HDMI issues and don't need anything but HDMI pass through anyway, why would I want to run it through the Denon? This was one of the main selling points of the 09 together with the analog capabilities I may choose to use for audio anyway.

Bummer the multi-channel analog inputs can't used for zone 2.

Thanks again.

My replacement 4311 shipped out today... looks like the second wave has arrived.

Did you have audio dropouts as well?

Between the audio dropouts, disappearing GUI and occasional buzzing/vibration of the case I think I am going to return mine and request a replacement.

As you only plan on a 5.2 setup at this time, you also have the option of connecting the Zone 2 speakers to the Amp Assign/Surr Back posts and set them up as Front B and then you can pass HDMI audio to Zone 2, limited to the same source and volume as in the main zone however. Also remember you can pass S/PDIF PCM 2.0 to Zone 2 as well as analog.

I'm reading about various audio dropouts via HDMI.

I'm experiencing audio dropout from my TimeWarner HD8300 DVR tuner box connected to my 4311 via COAX and outputting Dolby Digital settings for audio out. I'd also use PCM but it looks like the 8300 only outputs stereo as I don't get surround as shown on the 4311's display.

I have to cycle power to the 4311 to get the sound back.

Anyone else having dropout issues with Coax in?

Edit. Other than the sound dropping out, there is no display of lost signal or anything saying switching modes on the 4311's display

Plagued by audio drop-outs as well. Happens most often when my daughter is watching Nickelodeon HD (I think it's DD 2.1, but I need to check when I get home). When you say 'Switching Surround mode fixes it', do you just mean the audio comes back for awhile, or this prevents audio drop outs from occurring? I've been switching the source back and forth to get the audio back (much to the chagrin of wife and child...), but it keeps dropping, I'd say once or twice every 30 min watchin Nick. Seems mostly stable on other channels and sources.

Stanny

Interesting, It may be. I shut it off and turned it back on and it went away. It was the first time it happened or that I noticed. It was a noise closer to the front of the display. I'll keep an eye on it.

Without getting into the forbidden price talk zone, i would like to know folks' opinions of which of the Denon authorized internet sellers is the best. I am planning on buying a 4311 this week. From the Denon website, the following are the authorized net sellers. The thing that i care most about is the return "attitude" (official policy + practical approach/flexibility) if something goes wrong with the unit down the road (i.e. being good about giving me a replacement unit vs sending me to denon after the official return period is over). But other criteria matter too (how well sales staff is trained/experienced, etc):

a. ABT
b. Crutchfield
c. Electronics Expo
d. J&R
e. Listen Up
f. Modia
g. OneCall
h. 6th Ave
i. Vanns
j. WW Stereo

Overall i am most interested in the great (must try) and the horrible (must avoid). As of now my best price quote has been from Vanns but i am not wedded to them.

Thanks,

I ordered mine through WW Stereo. The gentleman I spoke with (Ira) was very professional, and seemed knowledgeable, although I didn't really put that to the test as my only questions were "how much" and "how soon". The price he quoted was as low as any I've seen mentioned, and their return policy seemed reasonable. No complaints so far. A ship date earlier than 11/12 would be nice, but that's not really a vendor issue--they can't ship what they don't have.

+1 for WWS - mine was one of the first batch and it arrived about a week later than those from some other resellers, but they gave me a great price and were very easy to work with. That said, if you can get a better deal & terms elsewhere, go for it!

Nice to know: that may work. I do need to power a minimum of 4 and as many as 6 pairs of in-wall speakers connected to a Niles MCA-10A Speaker/Amplifier Selector/Matching System, and had planned to use a Crown CE4000 amp but if the internal amp can do the job, simple is better and I get the benefit of the subs in at least in the main room. I'm using an old stereo receiver to drive the in-walls now.

Thanks.

How about AVS?

They don't turn up as a seller on Google's shopping results, they're not listed as one of Denon's authorized online retailers, and there's no indication on the AVS store site that they've heard of the 4311, so they just didn't show up on my purchasing radar.

In retrospect, I would like to have supported the host of this great forum, but it didn't even occur to me until one of their people posted in this thread, which happened after I ordered. I'll keep them in mind next time.

Why don't you just PCM it then?

Obviously the amp wont be doing the decoding, but I am not sure if thats such a big deal?

AVS is an authorized Denon reseller, however, is not listed as an on-line e-tailer as they don't have an on-line ordering method, rather just sell by phone.

Switch surround mode brings the audio back. Eventually it will drop out again.

I noticed one thing. Actually Path of War's audio track is reported as 2/0/.0 on the Audio Input Signal page of the menu. However the front display lits "FL", "FR", but also "S". Manual does not explain it. A manual for a Sony receiver (link here) says "S" may mean either monaural surround or "surround components obtained by Pro Logic processing".

I am not getting dropouts with plain stereo (just FL+FR lit) audio tracks. Or multichannel PCM, DD 5.1 or HD for that matter.

Likely just a glitch as the "S" would be the LFE input which isn't in the DD 2.0 track being reported as being received.

Glitch where? There is separate LFE indicator for LFE input. The track is shown as AC3 stereo by the player. Most other DVDs with AC3 stereo show just as FL/FR, not FL/FR/S.

I found another movie I have (Goodbye Lenin) with stereo commentary tracks that are show as FL/FR/S. Testing to see if audio drop outs.

EDIT: yeah, just a couple of minutes later and audio has dropped.... so far I'd say it has something to do with FL/FR/S. I am going to try coax input now.

Sorry, my mistake .... although still likely a glitch as the "S" should actually be for a single side surround speaker (ie 4.X).

It's not an hdmi issue. It happens to me with optical spdif and hdmi.
All our TV watching is encoded in DD stereo and is being converting to PLII Cinema by the4311. For me it doesn't happen at predictable intervals.

I can't say for sure if it happens with uncompressed HD audio but I think it did drop when watching Kill Bill which is encoded in LPCM. I'll post back if I can verify uncompressed audio drop out (over hdmi obviously). We haven't been watching a lot of movies lately though.

Yup, got drop out via coax as well....

I am mystified by why so many people are consistently mystified by this. The sub distance setting is correct. Your powered sub introduces an approximately 4 ms delay in the signal.

AJ

Agree on everything. Why not though, keep the Bryston Amp for your fronts? You have the flex here to have fun.

Never a single drop. I have the exact same Panny. Recognize that a lot of the chatter is first week trial stuff. I believe most issues will be resolved. Not all ,but most. No BD30 issues at all...... Ever.....