StereoNET: Denon AVR-X4300H AV Receiver Product Review

JANUARY 2017

DENON

AVR-X4300H N E T WO R K AV R E C E I V E R

REVIEW / DENON / AVR-X4300H NETWORK AV RECEIVER

Denon

AVR-X4300H

9 CHANNEL FULL 4K ULTRA HD NETWORK AV RECEIVER WITH HEOS

Distributor: QualiFi $2,999 RRP

Introduction It was back in the early days of DVD that I first

At that time the home theatre market was

brand that stood head and shoulders above

encountered a Denon receiver. There I was

rapidly gaining momentum and with Audio

them in terms of sound quality.

making myself comfortable on a friend’s lounge

Video Receivers (AVRs) being the only way to

as he loaded Contact into his newly acquired

get digital surround sound at home, it seemed

DVD player, and turned up the volume on his

like every manufacturer was producing AVRs.

Dolby Digital equipped Denon Receiver.

Roughly 16 years later and most, if not all those cheaper offerings have long since disappeared from the market. Their

Already a long established and well-

manufacturers have since focused their

Much like Jodie Foster’s character in that

respected name in audio, Denon was quickly

attention elsewhere.

movie, I had a life changing experience that

establishing themselves as a brand offering

day. Granted… meeting the alien incarnation

quality AVRs with the latest developments in

of your dead father is kind of a big deal, but

surround sound decoding. Sure, there were

so was experiencing my first DVD!

cheaper offerings available, but Denon was a

The Denon name however, is still synonymous for offering quality AVRs with innovative technology.

“The Denon name is synonymous for offering quality AVRs with innovative technology.”

As of today, Denon has 12 AVRs in their range,

Ultra HD (4K/60 Hz full-rate pass-through,

also supported, with the X4300H capable of

starting with the entry level X520BT, all the

4:4:4 color resolution, HDR and BT.2020), the

decoding FLAC, ALAC and WAV files.

way to up to their flagship AVR-X7200WA. The

X4300H can decode the newer Dolby Atmos

subject of our review, the AVR-X4300H is an

and DTS:X soundtracks. If you want to take

upper-mid range AVR with an RRP of $2,999.

things a step further, the AVR-X4300H can

The AVR-X4300H is a 9.2.2 channel AVR,

also be upgraded for Auro 3D.

The AVR-X4300H is equipped with Audyssey’s ‘platinum’ XT32 room correction software. With the inclusion of Sub EQ HT in the Audyssey XT32 suite, it provides DSP

which means it can support 2 front speakers,

With built in HEOS Wireless Multi-Room Audio

tailoring of two subwoofers and 4 times the

1 centre speaker, 2 rear speakers, 2 rear

Technology, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Internet Radio,

sub filter resolution than found in Audyssey’s

back speakers, 2 subwoofers and 2 overhead

Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and network

XT room correction software. This means

speakers. Add an external 2 channel amplifier

audio streaming, the AVR-X4300H is ready

better control and stronger tighter bass for

and it can be expanded to an 11.2.2 AVR (4

to become the hub of a Multi-Room Audio

dual subwoofer setups.

overhead speakers). In addition to supporting

system. High-resolution audio playback is

“You’re greeted with a rather slick and easy to follow GUI”

What’s in the Box? The review unit was finished in a black coated

has 11.2 pre-amp inputs for connection to

aluminum chassis.The front panel of the

external power amplifiers. Network connection

X4300H (finished in black brushed metal),

can be accomplished either by cable, or

has a large volume dial located on the right

wirelessly without the need for adaptors.

hand side of the LED display and another smaller dial to the left of the display for input selection. All buttons (with the exception of the power button) are housed behind a pull down flap.

The AVR-X4300H’s remote is a little on the larger side (which suited me just fine), but fitted quite snuggly in the hand. Unfortunately the remote is not back-lit and lacked a dedicated button to toggle the X4300H’s LED

The AVR-X4300H, has seven assignable

display on and off. I know I’m being a little

HDMI inputs with 4K/60Hz full-rate pass-

picky here, but I find ambient light a distraction

through (4:4:4 resolution, HDR, BT2020)

and the ability to access this function quickly,

and two HDMI outputs. There’s also a set

without the need to go into the AVRs onscreen

of component video and composite inputs,

menu would be very useful.

along with five analog audio inputs and optical and composite digital inputs. The X4300H

Setup The included quick setup guide prompted

The AVR-X4300H features two independent

me to connect the AVR-X4300H to a monitor

subwoofer inputs, critical for determining

(TV or projector) via HDMI and follow the on-

correct distances, levels and room correction

screen instructions. Firing up the Denon for

with two subwoofers.

the first time, you’re greeted with a rather slick and easy to follow GUI, which guides you through everything from speaker and source connection, through to calibration (more on that shortly).

The AVR-X4300Hs easy to follow GUI made the Audyssey calibration very simple. Denon have left nothing to chance here, with the onscreen display showing exactly where the included calibration microphone and stand

The X4300H has a total of 11 rows of speaker

should be placed during the process. Denon

binding posts (22 in total). Rather than opting

have even gone as far to include a cardboard

for top/bottom (red above black) placement,

microphone stand, should you not have your

Denon have placed the binding posts in a

own. Audyssey did set my front bookshelf

single row (red next to black). With this type

speakers to large (as has every other type of

of configuration you have plenty of room

calibrations software I have used), but it was

to work when connecting speaker cables.

simple enough to change them back to small after the calibration was complete.

“Denon have left nothing to chance with the AVR-X4300H Receiver.”

Performance My 5.2.2 home theatre

quite manage to capture the

The Prometheus Blu-ray is

dialogue remained clear without

(5 speakers, 2 subwoofers and

same sense of ‘space’ that I am

another film with reference quality

the need of enhancement.

2 overhead/presence speakers)

used to in this scene, there was

audio and video. The DTS-HD

is typically powered by a pre/

a greater level of detail on offer

soundtrack is underpinned with

power combination, consisting of

from the X4300H.

some serious bass, giving it

an AVR connected to an external five channel power amplifier. I find this type of configuration gives me plenty of power to drive a range of different speakers, with the ability to swap in and out AVRs as new formats become available.

With the Yakuza still in tow, the action moves to a bullet train, where there’s a showdown between Wolverine and the Yakuza. Once again, I was greeted with a detailed presentation, with excellent

a strong sense of dynamics.

True to form, the AVR-X4300H delivered a very detailed presentation, its excellent channel steering placing me right in the middle of the storm which takes place shortly after landing on the alien planet LV-223.

As the AVR-X4300H is going to need to drive the multitude of speakers found in your typical home theatre, it was time to disconnect the power amplifier and connect the X-4300H directly to my speakers. The AVRX4300H turned in an admirable performance for an AVR at this price- point, easily filling my room

With my favourite demo Blu-ray

channel steering as bridges and

in one hand (The Wolverine) and

signs whipped by Wolverine and

Bass performance was top

dynamics to create an immersive

a handful of Reece’s peanut

his opponent, fighting to stay

notch, with clear, tight bass that

home theater experience.

butter cups in the other, it

atop the roof of the speeding

only further enhanced the already

was time to settle in for some

bullet train.

dynamic soundtrack. Whether

serious listening…

There’s a lot of sub engagement

Early in the movie there’s a chase

in this scene and the AVR-

through the streets of Tokyo,

X4300H delivered clearer, tighter,

complete with gun touting Yakuza

and quite frankly the best bass I

and a roof-top hopping ninja.

have heard in my home theatre

While the AVR-X4300H didn’t

to date.

it was in the middle of the alien storm, or in quieter scenes, such as Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and David’s (Michael Fassbender) confrontation in the hallways of the Prometheus,

with a sound that had enough

While of course it didn’t possess the same level of dynamics or control as when it was connected to an external power amplifier, this level of performance is going to cost a lot more than the AVRX4300H’s $2,999 asking price.

Conclusion Denon’s AVR-X4300H put in a

musical, however at its heart the

classy performance. Not only

X4300H is a home theatre AVR,

is it capable of decoding all the

made to bring out the best from

latest audio standards that 4K

Hollywood Blockbusters and in

UHD and Blu-ray has to offer,

this regard, it excels. Match it

it provided a detailed, dynamic

with the right speakers and you

performance with excellent

will be in for a rewardable home

channel steering. The inbuilt

theatre experience.

Audyssey XT-32 room correction software is more than up to the task of taming dual subs, resulting in top-notch bass and greater dynamics.

If your speakers are not the most sensitive, or you simply want to take things up a notch, add a five (or seven) channel power amplifier and it will take the AVR-X4300H’s

Some may consider the AVR-

already excellent performance to

X4300H’s neutral sound not as

a whole new level.

HEOS: The Heart of Your Multi-Room Audio Featuring the HEOS architecture,

iPhone users), I was prompted to

the AVR-X4300H and AVR-

connect my phone to the HEOS3

X6300H are Denon’s first two

speaker with the provided cable.

AVRs to include multi-room

From there the HEOS 3 took over

wireless streaming compatibility.

the setup of my multi-room audio

With the AVR-X4300H or AVR-6300H already a wireless

setup, automatically finding and logging into my home network.

music zone, simply add other

After logging into Spotify through

HEOS products (such as

the HEOS app I was up and

wireless speakers and sound

running, enjoying two zones

bars) throughout your home to

of audio from both the lounge

create more independent and

(courtesy of the AVR-X4300H)

controllable audio zones.

and the kitchen area via the

During the review of the AVR-

portable HEOS 3 speaker.

X4300H I also received a HEOS

At the time of writing, QualiFi

3 wireless speaker. Getting the

informed us that with the

X4300H and HEOS 3 wireless

purchase of the AVR-X4300H,

speaker setup for multi-room

you will also receive a free HEOS

audio was a simple affair. After

3 wireless speaker valued at

downloading the HEOS app

$499 RRP.

from the Google Play Store (also available from the App store for WORDS: Tony Obrien