Build Quality, Sound, Power, Flexibility

None found

I bought this reciever in March. After 5 months of ownership, I can honestly say, TERIFIC!! Very pleased with the purchase.The reciever is DEAD QUIT. No hums, hisses or any sound when turned on and turned up! We are currently using this in a 11x14 room and for the most part have the volume set to -10. Not one time has the fan come on. The sound is fabulous. All dialogue is very clear with movies.No more huh, what they say? Music is extremely well played as well. Broad sound stage, warm sound, and great highs. Before this purchase, I was using the Yamaha. I thought I needed new speakers! The sound from the Yamaha was too Clean, too distant,and not very exciting at all. It was like eating a steak with no condiments whatsoever. This Denon woke up these Polks ls-70s and made them literally sing! While playing movies, all details of the soundtrack can be heard, from a pin dropping to the sound of an explosion without any strain whatsoever!! In my opinion, why buy seperates? I honestly cant see spending over 5000.00 when this unit will perform every bit as well. Being a "Bang for the Buck" shopper I am, the Denon AVR-4800 competes with the over 3000 dollar recivers. I have not made a mistake with this purchase and if your looking for a reciever, I cannot recommend this unit more!!!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Marantz

Lots of inputs/outputs; Clean sound; More flexibity than I ever imagined

Heavy; Need to purchase EX amp

I'm not going to say much about the receiver for there seems to be enough comments here to assess from. However, I will talk about something else-customer service. Had a problem early with the receiver. Circuit broke not allowing me to reset the receiver. The unit was at the service center for over a month due to a delay in warehouse moves at Denon's west cost operations. Contacted Denon directly to help expedite getting the parts to my service center, and they did. Denon even called me back to confirm. I've heard and experience some bad customer service with big brands, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Matched this unit up to M&K 750 System and I wasn't disappointed.

Price & Features (only receiver I found with THX EX under $3000)

Why can't manufactures make these things rackmountable? More and more custom installs utalize 19" racks, so why not make a $20 pair of ears for them? If Denon did this, they would be Number 1 in my book!

I actually moved away from separate components to this Denon.

Prior to upgrade:
Adcom GTP-600
Adcom GDD-1
Adcom GFA-7000

After upgrade:
Denon AVR-4800
Adcom GFA-7000

Speakers: (did not change)
All are B&W Series II
LCR6 (center)
605 (front)
DS6 (surround)

I still use my Adcom amp. However, I notice VERY little difference between Denon's amp and my Adcom.

I chose the AVR-4800 for it's features (I needed more video switching than my Adcom GTP-600 has) and because Adcom won't get off their asses and make a decent product anymore.

I only use this system for movies... And I feel it's perfect. TONS of video switching! (Somehow, I can never have enough!) :-)

I considered waiting for the AVR-5800, but it's almost twice as much cash...

Similar Products Used:

None.

Power, THX surround EX, Sound

None

I agree with Jeff, John, your review was on customer service not the avr4800.Ive had the 4800 for about 1 month and i could'nt be happier. Any comments on customer service should be on the forum.How can you give the overall rating one star when you dont even own the product. Read the review guidelines!!!!

Similar Products Used:

avr2400

Power, Smooth operation, Sound Quality, IR off axis capability, Volume control, quiet

SoSo Remote, Tiny Volume Indicator

I am thrilled by this magnificent piece of equipment. Very slick. In my irregular (and large) room, setting speaker distances individually is a blessing. 5.1 channel separation is spectacular. I haven't made the move to EX yet (will wait till Nov/Dec due to Florida heat), but it will be my Christmas present to me, as all accounts are that it is fabulous.

My rack does not face the seating area directly which was a major hassle with my Onkyo. Not a problem with the Denon. Sometimes feels like an FM remote. This thing has a much better memory than I. Changing inputs/modes/etc is a breeze. I find it has an understated attractiveness. My Onkyo looked like a prop from "Dune". In a similar way to the Sony 777ES, which was my second choice in this purchase. Loved the Warranty on the 777. Remote looked like more "fun", but something told me the Denon had the quality edge and sound edge. Hopefully it is not too soon to say.

This unit is very quiet! All music. No noise. I pushed it (and my ears) at full volume for a few seconds. It was painfully loud (Klipsch/Velodyne) but seemingly undistorted. My Onkyo, by comparison, at +1 db would be starting to sound strained (clipping?). The Denon seems to have an electronic equivalent of a govenor(sp), preventing excessive clipping. I don't know if this is the case, but it seemed like it.

I have, with several amps/receivers, been annoyed at overly "fast" and innaccurate volume control. The Denon is quite the opposite. It is reasonably slow and very precise, allowing much greater accuracy and control of volume. I love it.

I believe I got a sweet deal on this unit through the netmarket.com purchasing service. Bottom line, delivered, I saved $1,000 off the local dealer's regular price. I ordered on Sunday and received on Wednesday. Check them out, they sell just about everything. Wait for a "coupon" deal though, for a purchase of this magnitude.

Two thumbs up. This is a beauty. If you are looking in this price range - Just Buy It! You'll be glad!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Pioneer

Sounds awesome, great design

I dont have one

When I heard this receiver it blew me away. Actually I do not own one but that is why I am posting this message. I currently have a Yamaha RX-V2095 (two months old). I am wondering if anyone out there is willing to trade their Denon AVR-4800 for my unit. Of course I will negotiate a trade difference for the price of the unit. Let me know and thanks (all you lucky Denon owners...)

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V2095

Inputs,features,quiet and power

remote

I started off looking for a seperate pre/pro after I sold the Yamaha RX-V2092 which was a very good receiver.I was considering the Marantz AV-9000,B&K Reference 20 and a few others.After doing my homework and weighing my options,I decided on going for the Denon AVR-4800.I own a Sherbourn 5/1500 so I figured I could assign the amps in the Denon for the EX feature if I decide to use them.
After I got everything hooked up and calibrated with Avia and Radio Shacks SPL meter.I was REALLY impressed with how defined the sound was and how quiet it was.As good as the Yamaha was,the Denon outshined it easily.The ease of use and all around performance was better than what I expected.The only thing I am disappointed in is the remote.For such a well thought out piece of equipment this is,they could have done A LOT better than what they did with the remote.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V2092

Lots of features. Easy-to-use front panel.

Remote. Quality.

I've had the 4800 for about a week and have been happy with it playing stereo through a pair of temporary 8 ohm speakers. I recently bought a pair of Martin Logan Aerius' and a Cinema center channel and upon hooking up the center (6 ohms) and powering on the 4800, I set off the overcurrent protection circuitry and thereafter, even with all speaker loads disconnected, the amp would fail to power on. Hopefully just a bad amp that made it through QA. Luckily the online vendor from which I bought the amp will exchange it (www.UnitedOnlineShopping.com) - they've been really good about it. Be careful in dealing with non-authorized dealers, however.

I was happy with sound clarity and the available inputs on the 4800. Here's hoping that the replacement can drive my new speakers...

Build,sound and switching quality

big

I love my 4800, no complaints. The direct mode is great for music with the receiver adding or subtracting nothing from the audio source. Five channel is wonderful for casual listening and the home theater mode is amazing. Contrary to what some people seem to think, this is the cleanest and quietest receiver around. What hiss is he talking about, there is no hiss, every magazine review of the 4800 and 5700 talks about how clean and quiet they are?

Great receiver, in fact it is almost perfect.

Build quality, features I'm still discovering, s-video galore, THX ULTRA & EX

Remote isn't horrible but could have been better in appearance and function. You need an external amp to have full THX EX compatibility

My search for a HT set up began soon after realizing a DVD player pipped through TV speakers sucks (hey I'm new to this stuff what can I say)So the search began for a Home Theater Set up....or at least a receiver and a few speakers. Basically I went with the reviews from this site and Consumer Reports. I knew I wanted alot of inputs (even if I had nothing to input yet....the ability to expand in the future was important), a quality product, flexibility of set up, relatively easy to use and DTS and Dolby D decoding.

After about a month of reviewing, reading etc. all roads seemed to be pointing to Denon. The Sonys were ok but are really massed produced nothing special receivers. Yamaha sounded good but I heard stories/read reviews about them frying. HKs had some good features but lacked others and the reviews were never consistently good....they seemed to have their own following of devoted users. The Denon products I checked into had consistently positive reviews. I decided against the 1800 specifically because it had no s-video. Ultimately I went with the AVR 4800, spending more than I originally was going to($3500 Canadian just for the receiver) but I have no regrets. Movies and music sound clean, I can't hear any hiss, even when I have it turned up. Its definitely a receiver that alows alot of room for growth with numerous inputs (including multiple s-video)and the ability to be upgaded. Just be aware that to take full advantage of the THX EX feature you must have an external amp. There is a THX Home Cinema feature that will function without the amp but the system is not THX EX compatible out of the box unless you have/get an amp.

To sum up my ramblings....I'm extremely happy with the AVR 4800. Being new to this game did I need to spend this much on a receiver with features I'm not even taking advantage of at this point? Honestly no, but at least they're there when I am ready to expand our set up......I won't need to get a new receiver because I've run out of input jacks, want more power etc. Bottomline...If you can afford this receiver buy it....I don't think you'll be disappointed just like most of the other people that have reviewed it.

Similar Products Used:

Looked at Denon 1800 &3300, higher end Sonys, HK and Yamaha