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