Which AVR to replace Denon AVR X2300W?

Nazca

Nazca

Nazca

Associate
Joined
14 Sep 2005
Posts
1,555
Location
All over.
My AVR has gone pop and can't be repaired.

Which new gen AVR is a good replacement? I'm running a 7.1 setup attached to a LG 4K OLED65B7V. I've got a blu ray, series X, Switch and PS5.

I might be looking at a HDMI 2.1 compatible TV down the line but I've heard a few issues with 2.1 lately. In the next couple of years I'll be drilling holes in the ceiling for an Atmos setup.

Cheers
 
Honestly it’s a bit of a weird time to buy a HDMI 2.1 AVR at the moment. The current lineup only really work when they are used in eARC mode, if you try to use them conventionally (as in 2.1 source to AVR then AVR to TV) they don’t work correctly. And as far as I’m aware the only resolution will be a hardware change, which so far hasn’t been announced.
 
Unlucky, I have the predecessor to yours (the 2200) and I've been eyeing up the the latest of the same model but u just think they're a lot for not much change. Obviously as you're looking to replace a broken one that doesn't really help but that's my thoughts. Can amps be claimed on house insurance?
 
Nazca said:
Oh gulp, bad time to have a broken receiver. Even if I wanted an AVR stock is almost non-existent.
Click to expand...

I bought an Open Box Denon X2700H. So far it's been really good. Obviously there have ben some issues with HDMI 2.1 but I don't have a console so that wasn't a consideration. It's really a matter of trawling the internet daily to see what you can find.
 
rare said:
Honestly it’s a bit of a weird time to buy a HDMI 2.1 AVR at the moment. The current lineup only really work when they are used in eARC mode, if you try to use them conventionally (as in 2.1 source to AVR then AVR to TV) they don’t work correctly. And as far as I’m aware the only resolution will be a hardware change, which so far hasn’t been announced.
Click to expand...

External adapter apparently free to any affected Denon/Marantz product in warranty period

https://www.whathifi.com/news/denon-and-marantz-announce-fix-for-4k120hz-bug
 
Does it have to be a Denon?

I've had 2 Denon receivers and disliked both. The last Denon was a 3600. I've had 2 Onkyos and they have both sounded superior to my ears. I currently have a TX-RZ840.

Appreciate this goes against common opinion but Onkyo's sound far better to me.

I have odd tastes :) I chose a Harmon Kardon AVR255 over the equivalent Denon of the time.
 
EddScott said:
Does it have to be a Denon?

I've had 2 Denon receivers and disliked both. The last Denon was a 3600. I've had 2 Onkyos and they have both sounded superior to my ears. I currently have a TX-RZ840.

Appreciate this goes against common opinion but Onkyo's sound far better to me.

I have odd tastes :) I chose a Harmon Kardon AVR255 over the equivalent Denon of the time.
Click to expand...
I rate Harmons. They do sound good. They've always been a bit of a leftfield choice because of the patchy distribution in the UK. No one ever seemed able to get the brand properly established here. Sad really, because in a toss-up between them and Marantz it's a close call IMO.

Onkyos do sound good too. They're just have this reputation for being fragile.
 
lucid said:
They're just have this reputation for being fragile.
Click to expand...

They had big issues with HDMI boards popping. I've had both the 818 and 840 in the same enclosure. I have two 80mm fans connected to the USB port on the amp pulling in fresh air.

I originally bought the Denon and compared with the HK. The HK GUI at the time was streets ahead of the Denon teletext and the Denon just felt cheap by comparison. They both ran my Quad surround sound setup.

Briefly tried a Yamaha which refused to play nice with the TV of the time so that didn't last.

Onkyo 818 ran flawlessly for years but I decided to try Denon again with the 3600 when updating the speakers to Monitor Audio in wall speakers and BK Electrical sub. . Just didn't like the sound at all after multiple calibration attempts.

Bought the 840 and even after the low level calibration instantly sounded better. I know Denon get plenty of love and full star reviews but they're not for me.
 
I think Denon get a lot of love for the same reason that Onkyo got a lot of love before the board issues. It's the on-paper value. Onkyo were always first with features. The first to have HDMI, and more power for your £; all sorts of things. But then the chickens came home to roost.

Denon is playing the same game it seems. More watts on paper, lots of features, but they run very hot, same as the Onkyos.

Way back in the late 90s, my first AV receiver was a Denon. The AVR3801. It sounded very exciting with movies, but music was a disaster. I've set up and calibrated lots of Denons since, including the old battleship AVR-4xxx stuff, but none of it moved me in the same way that HK and Onkyo and Yamaha has done.

I'd like ARCAM in my system, but they're too fragile too despite the price tags. It's all a bit of a minefield at times.
 
I went from a Denon to a Marantz to an Arcam.

Can say with confidence The Marantz sounded a lot better than the Denon for music but the room correct was crap. MultiEQ32 just always sounded better off rather than on, lost a lot of dynamic range and my family members described it 'tin headphones' ... although obviously my speakers never sounded like that. Just removed depth and some bass and rather then making it flat and neutral, just made it sound lifeless.

Upgraded to the Arcam and its in a different stratosphere. Music and stereo performance they are known for as top-tier in the AVR world.
DIRACT with a 10DB harmony custom curve is as close to HT perfection I'll probably get until if I get a Trinnov.

For films:
Arcam with DIRAC >>>>>> Arcam without DIRAC >>>> Marantz/Denon without EQ >>> Marantz/Denon with EQ


Arcam have HDMI 2.1 receivers they've announced with a hardware upgrade but they are pricey.



I'm personally not sold on HDMI 2.1; not really a massive need for me at the moment but I'm more into home cinema than PC gaming and I don't have a HDMI 2.1 compliant PJ anyway. Will likely upgrade slowly and would rather put money HDMI 2.1 processers/AVR cost in dedicated amplification or a subwoofer upgrade.




TLDR:
If you want an upgrade in sound quality, upgrade from D&M. D&M are AWESOME as in stable, full of features, easy to use, good firmware upgrades... but I've found out from my couple of months testing different processors, sound (which I feels matters the most) they are clearly inferior to the competition.

Used to think AVR and processors was all snake oil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom