Denon announces first HDMI 2.1 receivers: 2020 X series

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Denon announces first HDMI 2.1 receivers: 2020 X series

ShinyChrome

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#272075 8-Jun-2020 15:47

Looks like only 1 port though! Apart from that, the only other exciting thing I could see was a new 'Pre-amplifier' mode that allows the internal amps to be disengaged, but doesn't really look like a whole bunch else.

As suspected, the majority of the range is being refreshed (X2700H, X3700H, X4700H, X6700H).

Given local history, I am guessing we maaaaaayyyybbbbeeeee might see them sometime 2021?

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#2500726 8-Jun-2020 16:32

I've got x3000 and quite happy other than quiet worry about 4k.

I havent tried 4k source yet but am planning on ps5 and maybe plugging in the 4k blu ray I bough a few months ago. Only 4k source is netflix. But might buy next generation atv

So one port achieves what exactly ? One input or is it just pass through.

If inputs are not 4k what's the point ?

8k sounds great but have the content protection encryption been decided yet or are you going to get a 8k pass through but only if not encrypted.

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#2500730 8-Jun-2020 16:43

One hdmi 2.1 input, the rest are all hdmi 2.0 input. Is there something you mis understood?

Dunnersfella

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#2500745 8-Jun-2020 17:42

8K copy protection is confirmed as HDCP 2.3

Through put is 48Gbps maximum, but Denon has confirmed their AVR's are 40Gbps maximum for the 1 x input, 2 x outputs.

This is following the trend found on the LG TV's for 2020.

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#2500764 8-Jun-2020 18:39

sm1ff: One hdmi 2.1 input, the rest are all hdmi 2.0 input. Is there something you mis understood?

I miss understand the point of it, since when we have xbox series x and a PS5, still stuck with the plug shuffle like in the old days of recievers limiting the number of ports that suppored hdmi 2.0 and similar. Add on a new 8k streaming box when those are out and its very inadequite.

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#2501257 9-Jun-2020 10:54

sm1ff: One hdmi 2.1 input, the rest are all hdmi 2.0 input. Is there something you mis understood?

Yes and no looking at one of the tables is listed several ports in 1080 capability row.

But my feeling was more.alomg the.lines of why have different spec ports in the first place. Some higher capacity than others.

Make them all 2.3 and pay the extra licensing fee.

I'm left with feeling they do this so I a couple of year they remake the same amp except.now has 2.3 in all ports

Dunnersfella

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#2501527 9-Jun-2020 14:29

I think it was just cheaper and quicker for them to retrofit a single input / 2 x outputs rather than re-design a higher spec'd HDMI board.

It's important for the marketing guys to be first to market, but it's more important for consumers to buy once, buy right.

There will be a lot of interest re: what comes out on Marantz's range in the future... or, for that matter, if there'll be a Marantz AVR range... considering the AVR market is declining rapidly due to the influence of sound bars.

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#2509895 22-Jun-2020 16:42

Long awaited E ARC compatibility.... or was that available on the 2019 models?

Dunnersfella

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#2509958 22-Jun-2020 19:36

eARC has been included on the 2019 models and even 2018 models - for both Denon, Marantz, Yamaha and 'I think' Pioneer / Onkyo.

It is a firmware upgrade, while some other features of HDMI 2.1 are definitely limited by the silicon.

However, some eARC implementations haven't been exactly stellar to this point... such is the norm with HDMI.

Movieman

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#2521484 12-Jul-2020 16:42

Dunnersfella:

However, some eARC implementations haven't been exactly stellar to this point... such is the norm with HDMI.

I have been assisting and advising a friend who is just getting his first Home Cinema system. I suggested the Yamaha RX-A1080 receiver, and that was what he was going to get until the B & W salesman at Online Hi-Fi made him an offer he couldn't refuse on a Denon AVR-X4500.

It was installed by "professional" installers and I called round the next day to help him tweak things a little. Now I have reached the point of this post. He bought an 86" LG NANO90 LCD/LED TV. I tried to talk him into the 77" OLED instead, but he wanted the largest screen he could get for his money. Both TV and Receiver are EARC capable. It took us two afternoons to finally get EARC working correctly between the two, and he can now watch the TV apps for Netflix and iTunes movies with Dolby Atmos when available. But it was a real mission to finally get it working.

I am sure that there are many people who plug everything in, and it just works. There are also many who have had problems, and actually given up on it, and bought an Apple TV 4K to run their apps on instead.

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Movieman

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#2521488 12-Jul-2020 16:59

I am thinking of upgrading my receiver to one of the new Denon 8K models. As I have only a 5.1.2 Atmos/DTS:X system, I thought that the Denon AVR-X2700H would fit the bill nicely.

I now see that the Denon AVR-S960H has just been released in the US, and is $US200 cheaper than the X2700H. It seems that there is very little difference between the two models. The X2700H has a Power output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive) 95 Watt, and the S960H 90 Watt.

If both models become available here, I may as well go for the S960H. Could be a while before we see them though.

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#2521510 12-Jul-2020 18:09

Movieman:

I am thinking of upgrading my receiver to one of the new Denon 8K models. As I have only a 5.1.2 Atmos/DTS:X system, I thought that the Denon AVR-X2700H would fit the bill nicely.

I now see that the Denon AVR-S960H has just been released in the US, and is $US200 cheaper than the X2700H. It seems that there is very little difference between the two models. The X2700H has a Power output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive) 95 Watt, and the S960H 90 Watt.

If both models become available here, I may as well go for the S960H. Could be a while before we see them though.

The power difference btw the two models is inconsequential. I haven't looked, but there may be some control differences btw the two Denon models (12v trigger, IR inputs, RS232 inputs, ethernet) Stuff like that. Check, if these features are important to you. Just a thought, you do bump up to Audyssey's highest level of room EQ @ the 3000 series (Audyssey XT32). Audioholics did a whole thing on what a great value the 3600 was I believe. Worth looking into.

I am just curious, how is your friend connected to the internet wireless or wired? Did he have enough speed to get both Atmos and Dolby Vision? I ask b/c I recently changed from the ethernet connection of a Roku Ultra (which was limited by the 10/100 ethernet in the streamer) to the Apple TV 4K and suddenly, I have both. I'm convinced that it was the gigabit ethernet in the Apple TV. My assumption is that his LG TV is likely limited to 10/100. So, I'm curious as to how he is connected and whether he can see both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos?

The 4000 series (that your friend bought) is pretty solid. I have a 4100 in the garage and a 4400 in the media room. With that said, I think that one hits the point of diminishing returns after the 3000 series from Denon. I was just after all the pre-outs that the 4000 series offered for external amplification.

Cheers,

Allan

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Movieman

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#2521515 12-Jul-2020 18:24

My friend is connected to the internet by wi-fi and is on a Fibre 100 connection. The main problem was the HDMI cable and the smart remote on the TV. Changed the cable and disconnected the smart connect, and everything going okay, including Dolby Vision/Atmos.

Dunnersfella

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#2521529 12-Jul-2020 18:50

Movieman:

Dunnersfella:

However, some eARC implementations haven't been exactly stellar to this point... such is the norm with HDMI.

I have been assisting and advising a friend who is just getting his first Home Cinema system. I suggested the Yamaha RX-A1080 receiver, and that was what he was going to get until the B & W salesman at Online Hi-Fi made him an offer he couldn't refuse on a Denon AVR-X4500.

It was installed by "professional" installers and I called round the next day to help him tweak things a little. Now I have reached the point of this post. He bought an 86" LG NANO90 LCD/LED TV. I tried to talk him into the 77" OLED instead, but he wanted the largest screen he could get for his money. Both TV and Receiver are EARC capable. It took us two afternoons to finally get EARC working correctly between the two, and he can now watch the TV apps for Netflix and iTunes movies with Dolby Atmos when available. But it was a real mission to finally get it working.

I am sure that there are many people who plug everything in, and it just works. There are also many who have had problems, and actually given up on it, and bought an Apple TV 4K to run their apps on instead.

LG's eARC implementation has been short of farcical to be fair...

From a lack of support of multi-channel PCM (video gamers mostly effected), through to a complete abandonment of DTS support (Blu-ray disc owners) and more and more issues with painful setup procedures for TV owners.

Sometimes the only way to get eARC to work is to manually reset the TV 2-3 times... then, only then, does it actually work.

I would also be interested to see if the 4500 can handle lossless Dolby ATMOS via eARC when a Blu-ray player is plugged directly into a TV. From what I've read, a lot of users in the US of A have seen only lossy ATMOS being passed back from their TV... and anecdotally, they only get true lossless audio via HDMI eARC after returning their AVR to a service agent.

Movieman

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#2521545 12-Jul-2020 19:27

LG's eARC implementation has been short of farcical to be fair...

Sometimes the only way to get eARC to work is to manually reset the TV 2-3 times... then, only then, does it actually work.

Yeah, we weren’t aware that LG had abandoned support for DTS. Tried to play a Blu-ray rip which had a DTS audio track, and it kept defaulting to the French audio track which was in Dolby Digital. Took a while for us to realise what the problem was lol.

His 4K Blu-ray player is connected directly to the receiver, so no problems with surround codecs that way.

Dunnersfella

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#2521589 12-Jul-2020 21:02

What surprised some while back was that the Sound United trainer was spruiking eARC like it was going out of fashion prior to their new AVR range being launched... I thought it was odd, especially as it has a host off issues.

However, once I saw their new range came with only 1 x HDMI 2.1 40Gbps input, I put two and two together and understood why they had to promote an alternate way of connecting sources. I'm picking as soon as Pioneer / Onkyo / Yamaha / Anthem etc release an amp with 5-8 HDMI 2.1 40Gbps inputs, they will struggle to move their products without offering up big discounts.

No one likes dropping money on old tech... and the AVR market is incredibly price conscious and sensitive to spec differences.

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