I like this Denon more than the other one with these Dentons. It's a bit brighter, livelier, and more dynamic, without sounding more edgy or harsh. It might even be better than the Sony

@davidcarr2216

Жыл бұрын

To my ears this Denon is more defined and focused than the more relaxed and fluid DRA800N, but it doesn't always seem to reveal more detail or have better imaging. Toss up kinda.. I definately prefer the Sony STRDG500 overall, wich bests both in textural character, and has a more naturally filled in midrange and better imaging depth and detail to me.

I find the DRA800H tobe a bit smoother sounding and I think I prefer it over the AVRX1600H. Just noticed that the Denon AVRX1600H is discontinued at Crutchfield. The Denon DRA800H Network receiver is available at $699

When it comes to speakers, I prefer demos with grills-on to achieve the dispersion desired by the speaker designers. I believe it is more accurate and avoids the accentuated brightness of grills-off.

@DougMen1

Жыл бұрын

These speakers are one of the very few where the grill wasn't just a cosmetic afterthought, and were designed to be used with them on. If you look at the frequency response measurements in examples from GR Research and Stereophile, the grills quite often do really bad things to the linearity of the speaker, causing awful dips and peaks in the response where the grill isn't really taken seriously in how it may affect the sound, and is only designed for its cosmetics, completely ignoring the very negative audible effects it causes. Diffraction effects from the grills frames quite often destroy the dispersion that you seem to think they enhance. I wish they were designed scientifically like that, but sadly it's usually not the case, even from very well known and respected companies

@stephenbailey9969

Жыл бұрын

@@DougMen1 Interesting point. Thank you.

@DougMen1

Жыл бұрын

@@stephenbailey9969 Yep, sadly, that's too often the case. Grills are mostly for WAF, and to protect the drivers from little (and big) fingers and pets. I may have over exaggerated how often the grills do serious damage, but, in spite of that, almost all speakers sound better without them on

@stephenbailey9969

Жыл бұрын

@@DougMen1 It would be interesting to test and ascertain which companies/models get their best sound with grills on. (At least the sound that the designers were hoping to achieve.) Perhaps my observation is colored by the impression that so many of the speakers these days seem tilted up, and are too bright for my taste. Bright and airy, but lacking in depth and texture. I guess tastes have changed since mine were formed five decades ago.

@DougMen1

Жыл бұрын

@@stephenbailey9969 A lot of that tilted up treble is to make them stand out in a quick showroom comparison. I think it's also to attract newbies, many of which are younger people who mistake that elevated treble for increased detail. I think they also like that smiley face V shaped overall response with the over processed pop, hip hop, and electronica they listen too. I guess it's good for explosions and other loud sound effects in movies and games too. I don't understand the ultra high end speakers with super hot and tipped up treble that many "audiophiles" love, like all the current B&Ws. A lot of people speculate it's for old folks who lose more high end the older they get. I'm one of those old folks, and I like a little bit of a treble lift, like with some Polks and Focals, but I find most of the B&Ws since the early 2000s to be unlistenable.