THX rating is well worth the investment.

Remote is complex. DTS pathways not intuitive.

This receiver is nicely integrated into both an audio-visual and stereo audiophile system. Yes, I'm a geezer, and still have my direct drive Pioneer turntable from 1973. My JVC and Denon cassete decks are wired into a 3bx DBX dynamic range expander and DBX router. One of the joys of this receiver is that it easily accomodated the vintage Marantz 2500 receiver which drives two pairs of speakers (it's pumping out 250 watts/channel). It's driving a set of Klipsch Korner Horns as part of the AV setup, as well as a set of Wharfedale M500 rated for 250 watts. The Denon receiver then runs a Yamaha powered subwoofer, and a Boston Acustics SubSat-6 setup for the surround speakers. CD's are mostly processed by a JVC 100 disc center. DVD's are processed by a JVC 673 3 disc changer. The JVC HiFi VCR and Pioneer 46" projection TV are also integrated into this system.

And the Denon AVR 4800 handles all this equipment with amazing grace.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR 96, Marantz DP870. Marantz 2500. Yamaha CR1020. Yamaha CR640. Marantz 2020.

Clean Sound. Sleek Design. Powerful.

No internal amp for Surround EX. Heavy.

This is a great piece of equipment. Has probably the purest sound I've ever heard from a receiver. I just wish they would have included an internal amp for Surround EX. That's really my only complaint. I guess I'll have to go out and buy the Denon POA-5200 THX Ultra amp to accompany this thing now. I'm not terribly fond of the remote, but that really doesn't matter because I'm using a Philips Pronto. I would recommend you run right out and purchase this receiver. It'll be the last one you buy for a few years.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-DS777

Excellent build quality, reliability. Nicely balanced receiver for both movies and music.

None!

At $1350.00 from American Theater Systems (authorized Denon dealer and custom installer), this receiver can't be beat. It does have limited DSP modes but I never cared for them anyhow. It has a weak tuner (as do all denon receivers), but I listen to cd's anyhow. The remote also blows but I use a Philips Pronto remote, so again I didn't care. Everything else on this receiver pretty much blew me away. Although slightly better on movies than with music. I also purchased the Denon POA-5200 amp for surround EX. Oh my god! The pod race scene on the Japanese import of Phantom Menace on Laser Disc sounds insane. I don't care what any of you people say...this receiver and amp combo can't be beat at this price. And for all 3 of you true audiophiles out there ...hey go drop 10 grand on "quality" separates if you have the money. Me, I spent $1900.00 including tax and delivery for both the Denon AVR 4800 and the POA-5200, brand new, sealed, from an authorized denon dealer...and I'm happy.

Similar Products Used:

Denon avr 2800 and Denon avr 3300

THX Ultra, Very Clean Sound, OSD setup, flexibility and features.

Remote control.

Very quiet receiver. Have yet to hear the fans or any hiss, whatsoever! All products above that I have used, have all given me excellent sound quality, but the 4800 is an excellent blend of sound performance and features. Very satisfied with this receiver. I got an excellent price, but at $1,600, still an exceptional value. My opinion, nothing in this price range can touch it.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo txds-777, HK AVR 500, HK AVR-7000, Sony 777es

THX Surround EX,future sound format upgrade capability via eight channel inputs & outputs. Dual surround speaker mode. Amplifier assign function with an Denon POA-5200 power amplifier to choose front channels along with outside speakers of home

5 channel amplifier and not 7 channel.

I have enjoyed this unit very much from the time I set it up to present. Was able to add this unit along with the Denon POA-5200 for a total cost of $1860 inc shipping from bid.com. The addition of the POA-5200 completed the use of this unit by adding the capabitly of adding outdoor speakers and also having an unswitch ac outlet. By adding 2 additional Definitive Tech BP-2X speakers to my previous Def Tech surround setup will just blow one away when listening to EX encoded DVD's. The total system will just blow away one's sights and senses. Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-SV90PRO

Clean and Hi-Power Receiver, THX-EX

Solid State clean sound, no mellow tube stuff. Sub direct on/off for 2 channel.

This is clean receiver, hi power output, flexible conector ( analog and optical ) . clean sound for solid state, and the THD is little to hi, should be around 0.02% instead of 0.05% for direct 2 channel at 8 Ohm. and 1 Khz for 4-6 Ohm not good enough. however you colud buy POA-5200 for 4 Ohm speakers with THD 0.02%, should be connected to fron channel. with 4 full range speakers OSD adjustment not really convinience, wish they put sub on/off switch in front panel, instead go to OSD for spekers selection, beside that I have to switch connector from monitor 2 ( direct passtrough video ) to monitor 1 for OSD, that's not cool. overall sound quality not bad for < $2,000 Receiver.

A/V component:

DENON AVR-4800
DENON POA-5200
PSB Stratus Silveri ( Front )
PSB Stratus C6i ( Center )
PSB Century 600i ( Rear )
Audioquest Cable

Similar Products Used:

None.

THX Cinema, 24bit 96k dacs on all channels; Great on music and movies

Pricey due to THX certification.

Click Here to get one for only $1394.99 *NEW*! Lowest price online!
DTS decoding with DTS "ES" compatibility
Composite and "S" video switching
Record output selector
Download the owner's manual and/or product literature
1 or 2 pre-outputs for connection to external power amp to drive 1 or 2 THX Surround EX surround back speakers
Automatic THX Surround EX and DTS "ES" detection by data bitstream flag
Manual Suround EX activation
Assignable power amplifiers let you use front L/R amps to drive surround back L/R speakers, pre-outs to drive external amp for main front L/R speakers
THX Ultra certified
Compatible with Denon's THX Ultra certified POA-5200 2 channel power amp
DTS decoding
7.1 channel pre-outs for future system upgrade
125 watts per channel X 5 channels
Dual Surround Mode Speaker Switching; one surround pair for music, another surround pair for movies
THX Ultra 5.1 and 4.0 post-processing
Real 24 bit, 96 kHz D/A conversion on all channels, featuring premium Analog Devices DACs (8 DAC channels)
Component video switching (2 inputs, 1 output)
Multi-Room dual zone/dual source pre-outs
DDSC-Digital Dual Analog Devices SHARC 32 bit floating point DSP processors
Real 24 bit, 96 kHz digital input interface
Learning and pre-programmed remote control with GLO-KEYS
7.1 channel inputs for future audio format (such as DVD-Audio, SACD multi-channel)
8 assignable digital inputs (5 optical, 3 coax); 1 optical output for digital recording to CD-R or MD
Analog stereo bypass for stereo analog sources
World's first THX Surround EX A/V Receiver
Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic decoding entirely in digital domain
7.1 Widesreen DSP mode, other DSP modes, including 5 Channel Stereo and 7 Channel Stereo
Video selector

Digital To Analog (DAC) Converters, AMP Section, THX EX

Would like to have level settings for speakers in 1/2 decibel increments..I believe Sony offers this feature

The biggest change Denon has made is to use Analog Devices DACs instead of Burr-Brown. Denon used Burr-Brown in the 5700 and now others are using Burr-Brown (Pioneer Elite, Yamaha). As soon as I played my first DVD using the 4800 I noticed a difference in sound over the flagship 5700. The Analog Devices DACs absolutely make a difference. I noticed more detail in every DVD I played. Dialogue was noticably clearer in Blade (blood bath club scene), first part of the Daylight tunnel scene, beach landing scene in SPR, etc. More detail was revealed in every DVD I played. Again, the beach landing scene in SPR, the Daylight tunnel scene, Super Speedway, The Haunting, etc. I was able to compare the Denon 5700 and the 4800 side by side. The 4800 won everytime. Power is equal to if not greater than the 5700. But the biggest difference is detail due to the Analog Devices DACs. The 5700 was overpriced. Just back out the differences (features and associated price) from the announced 5800 ($3800 MSRP) and you will see that the 4800 is a great value and should have replaced the 5700 and was purposely underrated in power so that the 5700's would not be passed over (hard for a dealer to sell an equal power receiver with less features than a lower priced lower model)! THX certification, plenty of inputs, DD/DTS and EX/ES to boot. Best in its price range and even beats some higher priced units. The 5800 with 2 DACs per channel will be absolutely stunning!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite VSX-09TX, Denon 3200, Yamaha DSP-A1, Denon 3200, Denon 5700

Looks great on paper

None that I know of, yet

I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed description of this product. However, I would like to know what a "real 24/96 digital interface" is? The last time I checked, there isn't any consumer products that have a true 24/96 digital interface, yet. As of two months ago, even the "pro" side didn't have a standardized, true digital interface. They use something known as "double-wide" and "double-speed" to transmit 24/96 material. S/PDIF, TDIF and AES/EBU can't handle the 96khz sampling rate (full resolution) that is needed for "real" 24/96 processing. Even processors that say they have 24/96 DACS, really only have 24/96 "capability". Meaning they can handle the signal, just not in its full resolution. If there is a new interface, please give details...this would be the first consumer product to have it, if it does. Since I haven't yet heard this product, I can only judge it by its white paper...which looks very good, by the way.

Similar Products Used:

Proceed, Lexicon, Citation, Acurus

Sound quality and build.

None

I posted an early review on this receiver with a promise of an update. I remain very happy with the sound. It is much more dynamic than the Yamaha it replaced. It also lacks the upper midrange glare of the Yamaha. I have moved up to the EX option with rear power amp. It is a nice upgrade which tends to solidify the rear part of the sound. Finally music is great on this receiver. Again, much better than my Yamaha. I am at a loss how Denon has produced such a great piece at its price.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 2095