Denon vs. Sony vs. Yamaha vs...?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I am looking to purchase a new AV receiver to my replace my very very old Pioneer VSX-D812.

I currently use this hooked up to a Sky HD box, a Topfield 5800 standard def PVR, a Pioneer DV-565A DVD player, a Sony PS3 (games and DVD + Blu-ray), a Core i7 920 PC with Radeon HD4870, and a Wii. That all switches through a JVC DLA-HD1 high def projector to an 80 inch screen, all controlled by a Philips Pronto RU 990 using RF, with X10 managing the lighting. Speakers are 7 x Kef KHT 2005.2s + a REL subwoofer.

A dedicated Blu-ray player will replace the PS3 for Blu-ray duties sometime in the future, followed by a refresh of the speakers – space and my dear wife preclude the speakers being too large.

The AV receivers I am considering are the Yamaha DSP-Z7, the Denon 4310 and the Sony STR-DA6400ES. Two grand is about the limit I have put on the purchase.

Some questions then, for you guys at What Hi Fi? Sound and Vision, and others on the forum, if you are so inclined:

Are there any other AV receivers I should be considering? I would like Internet connectivity for radio (DAB is not important), and to be able to stream my music collection through the receiver. Wired Ethernet and USB connectivity are already available at the back of the equipment stack, so wireless is not a concern.

I assume the STR-DA6400ES is sonically identical to the group test winning STR-DA5400ES? (I am interested in the DA6400ES because of its DLNA abilities).

Allowing for the fact that design and implementation can turn a silk purse in to a sow’s ear, what if any, are the relative subjective merits and drawbacks of the Faroudja processors in the Sony vs. the Anchor Bay in the Denon, as implemented?

Does the Denon 4310 GUI overlay content being displayed on the output device, or replace it, while in configuration mode?

Have you auditioned the Denon 4310 yet? Is it likely to be the subject of a review or group test in the near future? How does it fare against the Yamaha and Sony?

Apologies for so many questions, and thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[Tom Moreno]

Hi na51hog,

Very nice setup you're putting together. All the receivers you're looking at are quality products and you will probably find that differences are going to be minor characteristics that you would perceive as better of worse subject to taste. Do you have any idea as to what speakers you might be upgrading to in the future? If so I would suggest having a demo of each of the receivers with that speaker set as at this level you will probably be best choosing the model that best compliments your system package.

Regarding your Denon GUI question, you can change it in options but it will default to overlaying the GUI over your video image.

 

[Anonymous]

Tom,

Thanks. With regard to my speakers, my space is quite limited. The screen deploys electrically in to my living room bay window, with a blackout blind on the otherside. As a result I really only have space for bookshelf style speakers. Something like the B&W MT-25s might be right, but I am not sure if they will give me much of an mprovement over my current Kefs?

You are right of course, about auditioning the equipment, but info from pepole who do it for a living is always useful.

Regards

 

[Tom Moreno]

Very nice.

TBH I couldn't really say what difference there would be between the KEFs and the B&Ws as I haven't heard them. I would say that the receivers you are looking at are quite high-powered units and would be capable of driving speakers much bigger. Perhaps while still keeping to smaller size constraints you could look to some bookshelf speaker systems that are little bit larger than lifestyle speaker packages? If you're thinking B&W you could explore the 685 Cinema package or the CM5 Cinema package. In my opinion if you manage the step from lifestyle speakers to a bookshelf system you should reap the benefits of a fuller soundstage, and with the level of amp you are looking to invest in it's worth having a look and listen. Let us know how you get on, it'll be a fantastic system when you get it all sussed out and we'd like to see how you get on.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

If it helps, i'm running the Z7 with BW CM series speakers, with CM 1's on stands at the rear. I could not be happier with the set up and does everything i need including connecting all main content sources through HDMI. Z7 is DLNA certified and have played a little with streaming music, pretty straight forward to get up and running. I picked the Z7 up new for £1650 new and delivered. Probably had a similar short list to you, with a pioneer on there as well, but the looks, connectivity and performance of Z7 won out for me.

Overall, extremely happy and the Z7 match the BW well.

James

 

[TKratz]

Couldn't agree with you more Jimvicks! B&W and Yamaha goes really well together.

I recently auditioned Denon 4308, Sony DA5400ES and Yamaha DSP-Z7 for my B&W XT speakers (the tread should not be too far away). It is 3 fine amps, but the Yamaha came out on top for me as well.

It is a bit odd with the networking though, because here in Denmark the amp is wired. No DNLA available. Must be one more of these special UK things

 

[Anonymous]

just a quick comment on DLNA - my understanding is that this a standard for interoperability and content sharing, and does not mandate wireless. My Z7 is wired as well (not an issues for as like na51hog, my router is behind by AV stack) but is DLNA certified (see product bulletin.pdf @ http://www.yamaha-uk.com/av_amps_receivers/?product_id=231 shows the DLNA certification). Good news is that you are not missing out

 

[TKratz]

Ah, I see. I am just ignorant then!

No seriously, you learn something every day, and thats good.

 

[Anonymous]

Guys,

Thanks - this is very helpful - There seems to be a lot of votes for the Yamaha. I will try and audition the Denon and the Yamaha as a minimum. It's probably too early for reviews of the Denon, but I am not in too much of a hurry. Is the Yamaha GUI attractive and easy to use?

Thanks again for you input - appreciated.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

na51hog:

Guys,

Thanks - this is very helpful - There seems to be a lot of votes for the Yamaha. I will try and audition the Denon and the Yamaha as a minimum. It's probably too early for reviews of the Denon, but I am not in too much of a hurry. Is the Yamaha GUI attractive and easy to use?

Thanks again for you input - appreciated.

Hi na51hog

The DSP-Z7's GUI is attractive, well thought out and very easy to use. It's also addictive though as i can't stop tweaking!

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[TKratz]

I second that.

The GUI is very logical and easy to use, especially compared to the Denon IMHO.

 

[Tom Moreno]

TKratz:
I second that.

The GUI is very logical and easy to use, especially compared to the Denon IMHO.

I've read review after review complaining about Denon's GUI and I'm starting to wonder, am I the only person on the planet who doesn't find it tedious? I think it makes perfect sense and don't have any difficulties wizzing around it. But I'm starting to wonder if the guys who designed it and I share the same sort of undiagnosed geeky autistic savant brain????

 

[Anonymous]

I agree, i find the Z7 GUI very simple.

 

[Anonymous]

I am leaning towards the Denon for a number of reasons:

1. It's the newest so that has to be best right?

.

2. It has Dolby Pro Logic IIz processing - which I think means I have to buy a couple more speakers, so that adds to the fun!

3. And I read a review of the Yamaha which said that it made popping noises when switching between inputs. Not sure if that was a one off, or is a generally accepted issue?

I was signalled by Google Alerts (do you guys use the google alerting as it is very good? - http://www.google.co.uk/alerts?hl=en ) that the Denon website had a reference to the first Denon AVR 4310 review in a German magazine called 'Audio' (could find no trace of it on the web), and I quote

<<The AVR-4310 is rated "phenomenal; High End class; Performance King" in "audio" magazine. (08/2009)>> - http://www.denon.com/denon_reviews_awards/2009/07/avr4310.html

Does anyone at What Hi Fi? Sound And Vision know of the magazine, and where I might get a copy of the review (I assume it is in German)? Also, is the 4310 on your review schedule, and if so, when?

Thanks