The **OFFICIAL** DENON AVR-4520CI thread - Page 76

The benefit of the GAME setting would likely only apply with a video source. However, the take away should be such that as the note has not changed in several years, the delay issue will have not either with the 4520CI.

I stopped by one of the local Best Buys (Downers Grove IL South) the other night to see if they had the 4520 and they told me the same thing about it being deleted from their system. The guy I talked to said it may be because it is higher end than what they usually carry at that store and they are shifting all of the more expensive units to their design centers. Chicago was the closest store that had one but I may take a ride down one day next week to check out the design center, he said it was pretty nice.

I expected the 4520 to sound like my Onkyo and the Denon 4311 I had for a short while. My subjective experience is that both sound and video are better. The question is whether the difference is real or not. I don't want to start using subjectivist terminology in describing the difference and don't know how to objectively describe it. I can say the interface is better, that its nice having an ethernet switch built in, that its nice that it can handle higher bit rates, remote triggering of amps is better, as is the absence of relay clicking and faster HDMI switching, but none of these things is as important to me as the subjectively improved audio and video.
Edited by Theresa - 1/19/13 at 4:07am

One subjective observation is that the 4520 has more dynamic range, even when using it as just a pre-pro, which is what I do. One thing that may have contributed to this is that I added a crossover slope of 12db/octave at 60Hz to my mid-woofers (with a miniDSP) to complement the 12db/octave slope that the Denon has at 80Hz. This has reduced the strain on the midwoofers so that they can get louder at frequencies at and above 80Hz without distorting.
Edited by Theresa - 1/19/13 at 5:08am

Not likely as it was just released a few months ago. I checked with my local Magnolia store and they indicated it was still an active SKU with no indication of being deleted. In fact, as its replacement may not be released until Oct 2014, it will likely be around quite some time before being discontinued.

Thanks SOM,

I very much agree on SQ improvements. I was curious about DL. I do have the A100 with Audyssey Pro and agree on it's benefits.

Well, back on topic for the actual thread (sorry for being OT). I'm still following this thread just to keep updated on Denon's latest.

I just tried this out

1. Using a HDMI signal from the Blu-ray player the signal on the main zone is slightly behind the sound on zone 2. I was playing a music track and using multi channel stereo listening mode. Same situation with stereo mode. This is very obvious when Zone 1 and Zone 2 are in adjacent rooms. My family room is the main zone . The kitchen has another set of speakers that are hooked to zone 2. The family room and kitchen make up one large room.
2. Using an analog signal both signals are not 100% in sync either. The main zone is very slightly behind zone 2 maybe by a few milliseconds. You have to listen very carefully to hear it. In scenario 1 it is very obvious. I tried multi channel stereo and stereo in the main zone. Same result.

Hope this helps.
Edited by nsaldanh - 1/19/13 at 10:15am

Batpig,

I just set the main zone to game - multi channel stereo and it does help. I don't detect any signal lag using HDMI or analog.

Thanks!

Improved real world usability is also an important factor. Don't be too quick to dismiss that.
These are all good observations and points to the overall quality of the unit.

Was it the Onkyo or the previous Denon that clicked alot with HDMI switching?

Were you using "Multi CH Stereo" or "All Zone Stereo" as these are two different settings? The "All Zone Stereo" will actually pass the HDMI audio from the main zone to Zones 2 and 3.

It was the Onkyo.

Exactly what you said.

Hi guys
I just opened the boxs this morning on our 4520 and Oppo 103......I have played with it all day and we sit down and actually watched a Time Warner (DVR 8300) taped recording of Last Resort as I needed a break...Wow what a difference from my 7500 Marantz. She looked over at me and said with surprize" it sounds like were at the movies!!..It sounds incredible, the difference is making me feel better about spending the money. Can't wait for a real movie...Now with my problem...I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get my 2nd zone to play. Its "says its on" and the volume goes up and down, but no sound. I tried it with the Odyssey, ( telling it I had surround backs, when really it doesn't) and they play during the test, but no output on the zone itsself. I have it set up with 7.1, ,with heights, but no back surrounds,, 2 subs..My 2nd zone is going into the place where the surround backs would be going if I did indeed have them....What am I doing wrong?
Edited by ss3740 - 1/19/13 at 4:54pm

Audyssey only applies to the main zone. Also only analog, network, or USB audio will pass to Zone 2, unless you use the "All Zone Stereo" surround mode.

Thanks
I just tried to hook up components from the Oppo to the Denon,but maybe the Oppos outputs on the analogs were turned off, but it at any rate, it didn't work. I switched Denon to multi channel stereo on both main and Zone, and that didn't work. Must be "All Zones Stereo" is buried a little deeper. I will get the book out tomorrow and try to find where you change it at, as I'm off to work tomorrow at 5 bells so it will have to wait ..But thanks for the direction

I know...ridiculous. Still I just ordered my 2520 from La Jolla Best Buy today and she said it is deleted from the system but the sku was active and it can still be ordered. Although there were zero in any of the stores or warehouses around socal so I am thinking best buy is up to something with these, who knows what. I doubt it is Denon's plan and they better wait at least until 2015 to make its replacement since mine will be here on Wednesday, I'd hate to find out they were planning a short production of these units.

With my luck they would be.

For some reason it's hidden under the Internet Radio settings (p. 80).

When I bought my 4520 a month ago from an Orlando area Magnolia store they did not have it in stock and had to order it from a local Best Buy warehouse. It was shipped to the store in 2 business days. The Magnolia employee told me that Best Buy is no longer stocking the high end units in the store. They did not even have one to demo. Maybe it's their new business plan -- where they want to conserve their cash and get back to profitability.

There's no high end audio store (that I am aware off) in the Orlando area. As such I end up buying equipment based on reviews here on AVS. In any case most of the Best Buy employees are not adequately trained on all the equipment that they sell, so forums such as AVS are invaluable!

Hello.
I have a strange issue with my 4520,was trying to connect my new projector x-35 to hdmi 2 output (tv is already on hdmi 1) dual display is already chosen in setup,but when projector starts tv screen goes blank and projector says "no signal" have to remove projector hdmi 2 cable and restart 4520 to go back to normal,if i connect the cable again tv screen goes blank and no signal to proj,what i am doing wrong here : (

nsaldanh,

Maybe you're looking for the wrong kinds of suppliers.

A quick Web search found several high-end audio/video merchants in Orlando. Their Web sites do seem to be oriented toward providing home installation services, but that's to be expected, since that's where they'd make the most money. That's the case in my area, too: the local A/V merchant where I purchase my A/V equipment also provides home, business, and automobile A/V installation services.

Some I found are
http://www.audiovideoinc.com/
http://www.sounddesign.us/
http://www.outofsightinc.com/

Of course, I have no experience with any of these vendors, but I hope this helps a little.

Does the projector work when the TV is not connected at all?
Have you tried connecting the projector to HDMI 1 and the TV to HDMI 2?

My suspicion is that two displays have different video capabilities and the 4520 is trying to output the least common denominator signal, but neither display device can easily change to accept that signal. In other words, it's an EDID problem.

The 4520 might be the best receiver in its category but I don’t consider it an audiophile unit. I wish this unit was a pure HDMI switching processor/preamp with clean power supply without any built in amplifiers.
The best way to go is by investing in permanent external power amps matched with your speakers so you don’t need to worry about timber matching and bad surprises every time you’re forced to replace your old receiver when it becomes obsolete
Although I’m using a super clean and powerful amplifier for my main front speakers, I’m considering re hooking my old AVR-5803 to the new AVR 4520 and using it as a seven channel amp through its pure EXT-1 or 2 analogue inputs. Unfortunately, this will not solve the lack of purity coming from the new 4520.

I’m using OPPO-103 for blu ray playback but kept my old 27lbs. Denon Universal DVD-5900 for cleaner SACD payback using the AVR-4520 EXT IN analogue interface. The playback is not as clean as it used to be when I used the AVR-5803 but still better than using the OPPO’s HDMI for SACD playback.
If anyone is using my SACD analogue configuration with the 4520, there is a bug I reported to Denon. The auto switching doesn’t work with EXT IN. In other words, you need to manually set EXT IN instead of AUTO in order to listen to SACD.

Having said all that, I must admit I do love the learning remote control on the 4520. I managed to program all my components including the projector, my side Sampo TV monitor and the light dimmer in my home theater although such components are not listed as an option. There is a trick to make the remote accept learning odd components: First you chose a fake component target on the remote control, then enter an arbitrary code from the Denon user manual for that particular category, then re-program it using the LEARN procedure.

Cheers!

Projector works fine if i connect it direct to oppo 103 or tv box,tried swapping between hdmi out 1&2 but no luck : ( tv is a sony newer 929 model and proj is the newest jvc one,those should be capable of all kind of pic resulotions i guess,anyone running kind of my setup with no issues??

Selden,

I''m mostly a DIY when it comes to audio. I have actually used one of these companies at work where they wired up our board room. They do good work, but are very expensive.

I already have my house wired and all I was looking for was to audition receivers and speakers. This company does not stock anything. They have lots of brochures and they make suggestions based on what you are looking for.

They are appropriate for people who want nothing but the best and want someone else to do everything for them. I would rather spend that money on equipment.

Some years ago Tweeter/Sound Advice used to carry a decent line up of equipment. Sadly they went out of business.

nsaldanh,

Have you considered asking your contact at the company you previously contracted with if they know of any appropriate stores in the area?
Since they don't have a stocked showroom, I'd expect them to be willing to share information. They wouldn't be losing business and would be keeping a customer happy -- potentially leading to additional business for their primary product due to word-of-mouth advertising.

Considering the size of Orlando, I'm very surprised there aren't some quality A/V retailers nearby. We have two in our local area, and our population is much smaller.

Good ideas Selden. I will check.

I know that they mostly install Integra receivers, Sony Blu Ray , Panasonic TVs and Monitor audio speakers.