Home Cinema Amp for up to £1k

[sidicks]

I’m updating our home cinema system to incorporate a 4K projector and therefore need to update the amplifier to accommodate this signal.

Currently I have a Denon AVR-4306 amp which has done the job well (if anyone has a good home for this, please let me know), so I’d normally be looking at the equivalent from that manufacturer, but I’m open to suggestions.

My dealer has suggested a Marantz which was £1,600 but now discontinued, hence the reduction to around £1k.

Currently only have a 5.1 set-up, but am considering adding some additional speaker to benefit from the latest sound processing modes.

Any suggestions?!

Thanks

[legzr1]

By amp do you mean integrated receiver rather than a power amp?

Difficult to go wrong with a Marantz, Denon or Yamaha with the latest codecs and support.

Personally I'd rather have DTS-HD and TrueHD 5.1 done well than 11.1.4 atmos thrown together with the budget divided by twice as many amplifiers and speakers. Other opinions vary.

[sidicks]

legzr1 said:

By amp do you mean integrated receiver rather than a power amp?

Difficult to go wrong with a Marantz, Denon or Yamaha with the latest codecs and support.

Personally I'd rather have DTS-HD and TrueHD 5.1 done well than 11.1.4 atmos thrown together with the budget divided by twice as many amplifiers and speakers. Other opinions vary.

Thanks - I already have some a decent quality M&K 5.1 set up, so it’s whether it is worth adding additional speakers, given that the room layout is not ideal I.e ‘cathedral ceiling’ and lots of ‘hard’ surfaces.

Cheers

[B17NNS]

It's last years model (and around half price) but it's bang up to date.

http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/denon-avr-x6300h...

[sidicks]

B17NNS said:

It's last years model (and around half price) but it's bang up to date.

http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/denon-avr-x6300h...

Thanks. Looks a bargain, but what does it do better than the Denon AVR-X2400 or AVR-X3400, given the limitations of my set-up?! Would I actually notice any difference?!

[B17NNS]

If you go to Denon's website you can do a model comparison.

It's 11 channel so you've got the option of two additional rears plus 4 ATMOS if you wanted.

https://www.denon.co.uk/uk/product/homecinema/avre...

[legzr1]

sidicks said:

Thanks - I already have some a decent quality M&K 5.1 set up, so it’s whether it is worth adding additional speakers, given that the room layout is not ideal I.e ‘cathedral ceiling’ and lots of ‘hard’ surfaces.

Cheers

M&K sing on the end of power.

In your position I'd seriously consider an investment by going for something like the amp mentioned above and adding a 5channel power amp at a later date using the Denons pre-outs.

I split mine up into a pre/processor and power amplifiers(s) some time ago meaning only the pre needs changing/moving on when the codecs inevitably change. Invest in good power now and it will be with you for life.

You've just missed a pair of cracking Sunfire amps on avforums. The five channel version added to a very recent Denon with everything required at £300 would be around the grand mark and make a fine sounding system.

[kingston12]

sidicks said:

Thanks. Looks a bargain, but what does it do better than the Denon AVR-X2400 or AVR-X3400, given the limitations of my set-up?! Would I actually notice any difference?!

It looks as though the Audyssey room correction is Multi EQ XT rather than XT32 on the X2400. Upgrading to an AVR with the latter really improved the integration of my subwoofer.

I am surprised that feature hasn't gone further down the range. I have an X4000 which had it from 2013 that had it.

The other main difference is the higher power and better quality of the actual amps in the higher range AVRs. The 4306 was probably the equivalent of the 6300 in it's day. Whether you'd actually notice too much of a difference is down to you and your speakers!

I find that the X4xxx series is a good compromise, and it always helps if you can get your hands on the previous model. The X4300 seems to be about £870 at the moment, and the equivalent Marantz is £899.

As long as the AVR you buy has HDMI ports that are HDCP 2.2 compliant, you will be fine. All of the 2016 and 2017 models should do, so be to grab a bargain if you can.

[sidicks]

B17NNS said:

If you go to Denon's website you can do a model comparison.

It's 11 channel so you've got the option of two additional rears plus 4 ATMOS if you wanted.

https://www.denon.co.uk/uk/product/homecinema/avre...

I think the likelihood of me every getting to an 11.2 set-up are remote, so think the X4300 does enough for me!