Denon are doing incredibly well at the minute, and the AVRX range is no exception with the outstanding AVRX2300 leading the way. We’re well aware that value as well as performance sits at the top of our customers’ wish lists. Read on to find out if Denon has scored a touch-down with this latest model.
Fear not, the Denon AVRX4300 is here and it ticks all the right boxes coming in way under the £1000 price point and fitting in nicely with Yamaha’s high end RXA range. Coming in with a massive 200W of power over a 9.2ch configuration or 11.2 processing, full 4K UHD support at 60HZ pass though as well as HDR and BT 2020, this is as close to future proof as you can get.
The fun doesn’t stop there, the AVRX4300 also features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support in a 7.1.4 configuration offering that incredible Denon sound in every single corner of the room, and an optional AURO 3D upgrade if that isn’t quite enough for you.
Multi-room is all the rage right now, and some of the smaller amplifiers are missing out on the action, but the Denon AVRX4300 takes full advantage of the HEOS multi room system allowing you to easily play your music throughout the entire home via the dedicated smart application. Simply add any Denon HEOS wireless speaker to each room of your home, open the app and press play. It’s that simple. You can even play a different song in each room of the home, or listen to your favourite hits in the bedroom, while your partner enjoys whatever they like in another room.
But before you think that’s the only way to wirelessly stream audio; though 2.4ghz/5ghz duel band wifi, you can fire music straight from your apple device via Apple Air play, or from any device via good old fashioned Bluetooth. The Denon has all bases covered.
Take a quick peek around the back of the unit and you will find 7 HDMI inputs (and one on the front) with full HDCP2.2 support and 3 HDMI outputs, allowing video in different rooms of the house, or three separate televisions in one room if you’re one of those people who cant decided what to watch…you know who you are!
The Denon AVRX4300 is available in black and silver
Down to how the AVRX4300 performs, unfortunately we only have a small listening room so couldn’t quite push the AVRX4300 as hard I would have liked, which in turn did reflect on the sound produced. We rigged ours up to a monitor audio Radius speaker system, and a Panasonic 58Dx902 television. This was quite handy as we previously had the AVRX2300 in the same room. Set up was beyond straight forward, the Audyssey MIC supplied made calibration quick and painless.
Once set up I stuck in a dedicated Dolby Atmos disc to really get a good idea how it would perform, we use a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration which for our little room is perfect, and while the AVRX4300 sounded fantastic, I wasn’t hearing much difference over the 2300, I was picking up on more subtle details at the lower end of the volume, but found my self having to almost try and pick them out, this does make sense as the 4300 is capable of so much more.
I was still given a fantastic sense of spatial awareness, a trait I imagine would be incredible in a bigger environment with a 7.1.4 configuration, the bass was notably tighter and more refined than the 2300, but again I was trying quite hard to feel the difference.
Moving away from a dedicated disc, I put in a copy of 10 Cloverfield Lane, a film with a Dolby Atmos sound track. Again I was extremely impressed with the 4300 – in the scene in the bunker as helicopters fly over head and something is banging from above I was very impressed, along with the very small details such as the sound of dirt falling from the ceiling which was just fantastic – the sound rolled from front to back with no gaps or dead spots.
I personally felt as though I pushed the 4300 as far as my space would allow and I wasn’t using a fraction of what it could offer, while it was still very impressive, and I don’t really have a bad word to say about it, then again I couldn’t fault the 2300 either.
The AVRX4300 would thrive in a bigger space, and I personally think if you’re buying this with the intention of squeezing it into a small space, I’d take a step back and give the 3300 or even the 2300 some serous consideration and use the money saved on some decent Atmos speakers, while its all well and good to buy the best your budget can handle, its not always the right move.
The AVRX4300 performed incredibly well, offering detailed sound, and a fantastic user interface and addition of HEOS is a god send, while it would be suited to a larger space it certain doesn’t offer a below par experience in a small environment. If you’re a little unsure then please feel free to give us a call and we can book you in and have a listen, the majority of our demonstration rooms are relatively small spaces, but certainly offer a good listening environment.
Click to find out more about the Denon AVRX4300 Atmos AV Receiver.
Author: Garrett, Plymouth store
