Where is generally Denon placed in the market?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Where is generally Denon placed in the market?

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#128558 14-Aug-2013 20:22

I have been looking at this AVR-4520 beast mostly for future proofing (as in 15+ years) but was curios as to the Denon brand. I don't know much about them and while they don't appear to be low end I'm not sure where they sit with regards to home theatre opinions.

What are some thoughts or even personal experiences with Denon and do they have a good build reputation?

Also, as an aside, I'm looking at in-ceiling surround rear speakers with directional cones and a non-movable seating position. Do they do a better than good job of filling in the rear and giving a nice sound on a 5.1 set up?

Thanks.

Dunnersfella

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#878355 14-Aug-2013 20:25

Denon have been making hifi kit for over 100 years... the longest selling turntable cartridge of all time is in their stable too.
They are part of the same company as Marantz (D&M Holdings (Denon / Marantz Holdings)), and cater for everything from $2000 headphones to $10000 power amps, through to $70 ear buds and $600 AVR's.

So yeah, don't worry about the brand. Personally, I'd look at a power amp + pre-amp if you're looking to get 15 years out of anything... that way, if the pre-amp becomes out of date, upgrading the pre is relatively cheap, and the power should never need to be replaced (maybe re-capped). Just my $0.10.

mentalinc

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#878357 14-Aug-2013 20:28

lol future proof for 15 years....

Hate to try and list the new tech in the last 15 years..

HDMI, Blu Ray, 720p, 1080p, 4k, smartphones, broadband

who knows what will be in the next 15 years.

If your looking to drop 5k you might be better off spending 2.5k now then another 2.5k in 7 years time....

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sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878361 14-Aug-2013 20:37

Dunnersfella: Denon have been making hifi kit for over 100 years... the longest selling turntable cartridge of all time is in their stable too.
They are part of the same company as Marantz (D&M Holdings (Denon / Marantz Holdings)), and cater for everything from $2000 headphones to $10000 power amps, through to $70 ear buds and $600 AVR's.

So yeah, don't worry about the brand. Personally, I'd look at a power amp + pre-amp if you're looking to get 15 years out of anything... that way, if the pre-amp becomes out of date, upgrading the pre is relatively cheap, and the power should never need to be replaced (maybe re-capped). Just my $0.10.

That's an awesome answer and one I was hoping to get with regards to the brand.

Thanks for your advice. I have to be honest though, I love music/movies/gaming and am right in to setting up basic stereo systems with my TV, PS3, PC with network streaming etc but have never considered (for money reasons) a proper stereo set up so when it comes to pre amps, power amps, speakers etc I'm lost!

Is a power amp just that, power? Cause I really want something that can do 4 plus zones and I'm finding it hard to know what to do. All I need is 5.1 in the lounge and the other zones to run stereo (ideally with a separate source). When I came across this (and I have started saving...) I just liked it does all I want in one box. Multi zone, airplay, internet radio, networking and all controlled from a phone (big deal to me...)...

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878365 14-Aug-2013 20:43

mentalinc: lol future proof for 15 years....

Hate to try and list the new tech in the last 15 years..

HDMI, Blu Ray, 720p, 1080p, 4k, smartphones, broadband

who knows what will be in the next 15 years.

If your looking to drop 5k you might be better off spending 2.5k now then another 2.5k in 7 years time....

Hmm fair call! But I don't see myself buying a 4k TV in the next 7 or so years and don't see audio quality doing anything different to what I need now. Display and wireless technology will improve but my other devices will be hard wired so that should be ok. I also use Netflix and am moving away from blu-ray expect for my most favourite films. Gaming is the most important to me and the sound quality is what I'm worried about now and in to the future.

Broadband is def not an issue since we are semi rural...

kiwijunglist

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#878390 14-Aug-2013 21:20

Spending more to have tech that is less likely to go out of data usually doesn't work. Once you hit a certain level the value for money goes out the window. And in this situation you are better off spending less, then selling + rebuying new tech. Generally the new tech you buy is cheaper and better that what you would of originally had.

However getting a good poweramp as a separate component is a good idea, as it will only go out of date if you need more channels (and even then you could just add an additional poweramp). However you miss out on the convenience of having a more compact system with integrated amp, and possibly better remote support (depending on the poweramp's integration features)

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Batman

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#878395 14-Aug-2013 21:41

There's a 4308 on trademe for 1k if you dont need 3d passthru ... Saves you 4k ...

Dunnersfella

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#878398 14-Aug-2013 21:51

My advice...
A seperate pre + power for 5.1.
Every room from there only needs a small, network controllable 2 channel system. Sonos could work, but then, so could 3x Denon DN8 micro systems (Airplay / DLNA / interweb radio / App. control). I only suggest them so you can stick with one brand of App. to run everything.

An AVR2313 + a 5 channel power amp from Marantz / Audiolab / Rotel) + 3 x network micro systems would be cool, then replacing the pre-amp (AVR2313) would be relatively cheap if it does become out dated.

OR
Run zone 2 on the AVR2313 through an impedance matching switch box, so you can choose to play music in 1 to 6 different locations... heck, you could even run a 2 channel power amp into the zone 2 pre-outs of the AVR2313, then feed the speaker cables into the switch box, meaning that the 'zone 2' locations have their own power supply.

The possibilities are endless!

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kiwijunglist

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#878406 14-Aug-2013 22:03

I'd go for 7.1 or 7.2 I think we are unlikely to ever see more channels for home use, and you never have to worry about downmixing HD audio tracks. You can always pair with 5.1 speakers or 5.1 receiver + speakers if needing to keep costs down.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878422 14-Aug-2013 22:23

All good feed back. I want to avoid hardware (other than speakers in the other rooms) and I'm needing (wanting) 4 zones, 2 can be linked. I'm finding it difficult to find something that does this all in one box, maybe because that doesn't exist?

I can't seem to find anything for a decent price that does more than 3 zones. I don't like the idea of Sonos, and (ironically) seems way too expensive for what it does.

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878424 14-Aug-2013 22:27

kiwijunglist: I'd go for 7.1 or 7.2 I think we are unlikely to ever see more channels for home use, and you never have to worry about downmixing HD audio tracks. You can always pair with 5.1 speakers or 5.1 receiver + speakers if needing to keep costs down.

Yeah, I'm not even interested in 7.1, 5.1 is good. I was going to use the other two speakers (from the 9.1) for one room linked to the main stereo with two spare for another room later.

I don't know!

It's early days and I'm just gathering as much opinion and ideas as possible.

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878425 14-Aug-2013 22:28

joker97: There's a 4308 on trademe for 1k if you dont need 3d passthru ... Saves you 4k ...

Thanks man, I will actually keep an eye on Trade Me but I'm months away from buying something. Possibly 3-4 months (so new stuff may come out). I'm just gaging opinion and coming up with ideas.

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#878452 14-Aug-2013 23:08

sdav:
kiwijunglist: I'd go for 7.1 or 7.2 I think we are unlikely to ever see more channels for home use, and you never have to worry about downmixing HD audio tracks. You can always pair with 5.1 speakers or 5.1 receiver + speakers if needing to keep costs down.

Yeah, I'm not even interested in 7.1, 5.1 is good. I was going to use the other two speakers (from the 9.1) for one room linked to the main stereo with two spare for another room later.

I don't know!

It's early days and I'm just gathering as much opinion and ideas as possible.

with electronics/gadgetry there is no such thing as future proof ...

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#878583 15-Aug-2013 10:18

joker97:
sdav:
kiwijunglist: I'd go for 7.1 or 7.2 I think we are unlikely to ever see more channels for home use, and you never have to worry about downmixing HD audio tracks. You can always pair with 5.1 speakers or 5.1 receiver + speakers if needing to keep costs down.

Yeah, I'm not even interested in 7.1, 5.1 is good. I was going to use the other two speakers (from the 9.1) for one room linked to the main stereo with two spare for another room later.

I don't know!

It's early days and I'm just gathering as much opinion and ideas as possible.

with electronics/gadgetry there is no such thing as future proof ...

I would have through some things are more future poof than others though... What is the future for audio? If i can multi room and use my phone to control it as well as play the odd hd song then I imagine I would be happy for some time.