The **OFFICIAL** DENON AVR-4520CI thread - Page 33

I turn-off Dynamic Volume. I am finding that Dialog Enhancement really helps expose some quiet dialog (whispering).

Is there any Mac users that can report if its possible to send movies to the 4520ci via OSX such as Avi and other movie formats?

This may have been discussed, but I looked and did not find anything on it, and this is a long thread and I have read most, but not all in detail.

In just a few days of ownership of my 4250Ci, I have found the internet functionality very glitchy.

I have TIvo Premiere xl4 and it has some, with Pandora, which seems to work well.

On the Denon, I do think the sound quality is better, especially with Spotify, and perhaps with Pandora.

The menus seem kind of glitchy, on Pandora, and especially Internet radio, I find often I go by the menu I want, it flashes and goes right to the station, and when I hit back, next thing I know I am out entirely.

Also, the button functionality in Pandora seems to change every minute or two, sometimes allowing you to "add as favorite" and the next time I try 5 minutes later, that choice seems gone. (when you hit the option button)

Same is true of the skip track button, sometimes it is there, but most of the time, it is not.

Also I have not found a way to add any spotify stuff to the favorites.

I am disappointed that Spotify does not have any radio station functionality on the Denon. I had intended to try it and if adequate, was going to not pay for Pandora anymore and just have spotify which does seem to have slighlty better sound quality and the ability to save individual songs, but is about 3 times more expensive,

I wrote Spotify an email and they said Denon left the radio funcionality out when they wrote their app.
Edited by Tachy - 11/17/12 at 10:40am

The Pandora issue is known by Denon with a forthcoming firmware update to be released once resolved.

Or you buy an AppleTV and stream from that to your AVR.

If you have PS3 already, you can use PS3 media server like I do. Require 1Gig LAN for HD streaming tho.

Yes, any CRT or similar display like plasma could be at risk. Dim or turn off the display if there is in fact no screensaver.

With a more current plasma, this wouldn't be an issue; however, with your older Pioneer, you may want to change the [OSD - Now Playing] setting from the factory default of "Always On" to "Auto Off" (p. 133 OM).

I actually opened a case with Denon, asking for a way to turn the Denon logo off on sources that have no video signal. Waiting for a response.

and back to that "favorites" Internet choice listed under Internet radio. It does not seem to save Pandora stations which I hoped it was doing. I have many pandora radio stations and thought I could save my favorite 5-10 along with some Internet stations, but it seems it only saves one song from Pandora, not the station.

If you were going to save songs, it would be nice if at least you could put them in subfolders.

If you want a more elegant Pandora implementation, there are a number of other solutions, like Sonos. I have always felt that the network functions of most AVR's, including the 4520, are lacking.

I am starting to have some serious issues with my unit. HDMI is flickering on and off, showing colored snow on occasion. I've reset the microprocessor and it is still happening. The receiver operated normally for about 3 days, then this issue started cropping up. I have plugged in devices directly to my projector and they function normally. When going through the receiver, I start having the issues. Any thoughts or ideas?
Edited by Oven - 11/17/12 at 11:49pm

^^
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1334369/the-official-denon-avr-xx12-model-owners-thread/0_100#user_L24

Thanks for the information. After letting the unit sit overnight, I tried this power on sequence, and it works for about 10 minutes, then the issues start cropping up again.

Incidentally the audio never cuts out, only the video. I recorded what it is doing and put a video up on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujmzahye21Y&feature=plcp

Try replacing the cables.

I just replaced all the cables, no luck. Same issue. Recorded a new video, it was flashing green colors this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEWvzlaO_WA&feature=g-upl

Testing out the sound modes and on my Denon 3802 often would use one that was listed as 7.1 channel stereo which included my front channels, sides, back and my subwoofer I believe. I thought the 4520 version was the multichannel sound choice which seems to leave out the sub.

I am currently using the PLII Music which sounds I think the best but was wondering if I am missing another choice that is closer to the prior 7.1 channel "stereo"?

Check the front panel output display. I think you will see that you are using PLIIx, which includes the rear surrounds, which would make it 7.1. This should sound better than 7-channel stereo.

It is 7.1 and does sound the best when I am in my center listening area. The 7 channel stereo was more when I was walking around and doing things in different parts of the house. But I guess I will use it for now.

Also, I still cannot get my zone 2 to work properly, which I am using to go to my Pioneer wireless headphones.

I have the Denon 4520 inputs hooked up via digital output from my TIvo cable/DVR, and my DVD player. (using optical cable for my cable/tivo and coax digital cable from the DVD.

The Zone 2 analog out goes to the headphone analog in.

The only things I hear when I turn on zone 2 are the receiver generated audio such as radio, internet, pandora, spotify.

When I turn it to cable/tv, which is my tivo, all I hear is silence. If I listen to pandora from the Tivo I cannot use my headphones.

I tried running analog audio cables from my cable box to the Denon 4520 cable/tv in jacks, and still it did not work (kept the digital plugged in as well).

Do either the Tivo or the Denon receiver turn off the analog if it detects digital?

Is there an easy work around?

Zone 2 only passes "analog" connected sources, so with RCA red/white cables connected from the cable box it should work.

I just went from a 7.1 setup to 7.2, with the subs in opposite corners (right front and left rear).

Had some weird Audyssey settings which stayed the same through 2 set-ups.

With one sub, it set the volume at -4.5dB, which was just slightly light for my taste, but OK.

Once I added the second sub, it put both of them in the -9.0 to -9.5 dB range!

This was waaaayyy too little bass for my taste, and I had to bump up the subwoofer volume 4-5 dB.

Does this seem strange or not unusual Audyssey behavior?

I wondered if it was summation of the sound waves creating this effect, but that doesn't account for my perception of very little bass.

Also, it is interesting that the volume with 2 subs is exactly 2 times lower than with 1 sub (-9 vs. -4.5dB).

Not strange at all ... adding another sub typically adds at least 3-4db.

It's just that is sounded like so much less LFE output with 2 subs compared to 1, which I don't understand.

For example, with 1 sub, I would raise the subwoofer from -4.5 to -2.5 dB.

With the 2 subs, I had to raise it from -9.5 to -5.5 dB to get the same subjective effect.

It just seems like Audyssey is setting the volume too low with 2 subs.

Also, on my sound meter, the subs were measuring around 60dB with the Audyssey setting, as compared to 75dB with the other 7 channels.

That did work this time. Not sure why it did not work before. Thanks.
Edited by Tachy - 11/19/12 at 2:20am

Curious if anyone has tried the new firmware update that came out today, and if anyone knows what it fixes?

SPL meters generally are not that accurate with lower bass tones. Also note the primary goal of adding a 2nd sub is to "smooth" out the bass rather than to make it louder. Try adjusting to the level set by Audyssey for a few weeks. If after that period you still feel underwhelmed by the bass response, then simply bump up the "Subwoofer Level" setting 4-5db to suit your preference.

I would for an inexpensive alternative the Apple TV works great and sounds great streaming music in AIFF or ALAC with no glitches. It streams HD movies well as well. Hopefully one day it will be able to stream movies with the new audio codecs.

Great product.