So, what would you like in a receiver? What do you want? More importantly, what do you suppose you will need a yr from now? {Two} years? Three? Are you curious about the most recent protocols, like Apple’s new iTunes AirPlay? If you’re only shucking out $200, $300, $500 for a receiver, it’s possible you’ll effectively anticipate to upgrade every year or three. At that worth level, for many, it’s virtually an impulse buy. However you already know you’re not getting the latest options, the most effective amps, or all the current expertise and parts which are available. But if value is all that issues and you’d moderately take a $500 hit each couple of years moderately than a $2000 one and hope that your receiver maintain you cheerful long sufficient to justify the price, that’s as much as you.

 

Finally, you will be tempted. You’ll see a new receiver come out and take a look at the characteristic set and suppose, “My God, it is full of stars,” (or one thing to that effect). You’ll take a look at the bank, bear in mind you’ve got bought a bonus verify on the best way, and begin value looking for B-stock. However right as you are about to pull the set off, you could have a second of panic. Do you have to do it? Do you have to spend all that cash? Will you’re feeling like a new man the subsequent day or will you’re feeling like sitting in the bathe, totally clothed, crying?

 

After which, on top of that, Denon not too long ago announced help for Apple AirPlay, the corporate’s new wi-fi audio protocol that may support a number of products across the board. In line with the Denon web site:

 

Coming in the Fall of 2010 is a planned upgrade that gives Apple iTunes AirPlay compatibility that lets you stream your favourite music to the AVR-4311CI

 

Denon is aware of who you are and is attempting to push you over the edge. The brand new Apple iTunes AirPlay compatibility is only one operate that reveals the company is staying on top of technology and monitoring what’s really sizzling in the industry. The replace will not require any {hardware} changes, only a firmware replace by way of the included Ethernet port. In the event you’ve acquired an Internet connection, you have to be able to go and streaming music to and from AirPlay appropriate gadgets might be possible. Is that this the next step within the answer of entire house audio? We’re undecided, however it will be fascinating to see what other producers choose up the torch and carry it along.

 

We reviewed the Denon AVR-4311CI some time back and were impressed with it’s staying power. Denon has one-upped the 4310 with it is newly announced (delivery in September) AVR-4311CI. This receiver can have all of the options of its predecessor and a few you have (and we’ve for that matter) never heard of. Let’s begin with what you know.  For starters, the brand new AVR-4311 is 10wpc more highly effective than its predecessor (up from 130wpc to 140wpc) whereas Denon also packed in two more amplifiers so now you can run simultaneous entrance top and again channels to make the most of PLIIz decoding.  In contrast to many manufacturers today packing in additional features and amplifier channels, Denon clearly did not compromise high quality right here as evident by the new AVR-4311CI weight increase of 4lbs to accommodate a much bigger energy supply.  Denon makes use of discrete amplification for all channels as you possibly can see within the dual rows of heatsinks flanked by a big E-core transformer at the center.

 

The inclusion of two additional inside amplifier channels over the AVR-4311CI’s predecessor makes this receiver a real 9.2 channel system.  This offers the person and the installer much more flexibility to use the additional peak/width channels now available for in the superior processing of the newest DSPs or simply extra flexibility when powering extra zones of audio.  Denon also claims the AVR-4311CI is expandable to 11.2 channels to deal with any future formats wanting to add audio system to the ceiling or the lavatory so you don’t miss a beat while doing your business.

 

After all the Denon AVR-4311CI may have all the newest audio processing for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby ProLogic IIz, and Audyssey DSX. Such processing is accessible at value factors much below the the $2000 asking value of the AVR-4310CI. The receiver is networkable with access to Internet radio, Pandora, and Flickr in addition to DLNA certification for streaming content material from local computers. The AVR-4311CI features dual parallel HDMI outputs and a number of HDMI inputs (six on the again, one on the entrance) that have all been upgraded to the HDMI 1.4a spec. As you’d count on at this value point, there are a slew of inputs and outputs including three part video, a number of digital audio (both coaxial and optical), IR ins and outs, 12volt control, RS232, and help for up to three zones of audio.

 

Denon has again included top-of-the-line video upconversion ability by way of Anchor Bay Applied sciences VRS processing to HD quality (up to 1080p/24/60). They’ve also included a constructed-in HD Radio, DENON Hyperlink 4th (a single cable solution for these with other Denon components), that includes HDMI Clock Management – when using the HDMI interface for A/V output for Blu-ray playback together with Denon Hyperlink, Clock Jitter Control provides the Grasp Clock and Jitter reduction to be dealt with by the connected Denon A/V Receiver/Processor.

 

What’s new? Properly, there is a lot. First, Denon has made the AVR-4311CI as person and integration friendly as possible. For upgraded iPod/iPhone efficiency, the AVR-4311CI is ‘Works with iPhone’ certified which implies it can access your content from your iPod/iPhone through a USB cable fairly than a separate dock. For integrators, they will entry the receiver’s menu’s over the Internet (reducing the number of costly house visits) and in a primary-of-its-type transfer for the corporate, Denon is now creating (and publishing on its dedicated CI Portal) its personal full Crestron distant management modules. As well as, the brand new AVR-4311CI has Control4 Certification for smooth integration with all Control4 IP-based home automation and etertainment systems. It’s also officially “Appropriate with Windows 7,” guaranteeing full compatibility with the updated ‘Play To’ functionality of the brand new Microsoft operating system.

 

{Two} extra options have caught our attention. First, the Denon AVR-4311CI is the first receiver to include Audyssey’s MultEQ XT 32 Room Correction, with 32 occasions the decision high quality of the present MultEQ XT system. With the addition of Audyssey’s new Sub EQ HT, the AVR-4311CI will present users with the very best level of audio playback quality even in essentially the most demanding of listening environments. This could enormously increase the receivers skill not solely to offer a top quality listening experience, however to integrate more seamlessly subwoofer(s) into the system.  The AVR-4311CI is the primary Denon Audyssey enabled system that will present the person the choice to simultaneously calibrate all subs with a single correction curve to ensure the best integration possible.  This is what we advocate when calibrating a number of subs and we have requested Denon to implement this feature for many years.  See Residence Theater A number of Subwoofer Set-Up Calibration Guide

 

Lastly, the AVR-4311CI has a function that we have only seen on other receivers before (Yamaha RX-Z7 and RX-Z11)  - Pre Amp Mode. For years we’ve been suggesting to our readers that they get a receiver with pre-outs so that, in the event that they really feel the need, they will add an amp later. Devoted separates had been (for a very long time) out of the attain of most shoppers and had been (until lately) often missing some of the most recent features. Opponents of utilizing a receiver as a pre amp typically sited multiple causes (not all of which had been valid ) for not using one. Denon has addressed all that with their new Pre Amp Mode. Now, the external amplifiers might be disconnected from the power supply section, thereby allowing all different operating elements to receive the purest energy and likewise eliminating any chance of “noise” from the amplifier part infiltrating and potentially degrading the audio/video paths.  In a brilliant move, Denon has allowed the  Pre Amp Mode non-compulsory setting through which selected amplifier channels may additionally be configured for multi-zone use, whereas the principle zone amplifiers are shut down. This gives users a tremendous amount of flexibility in establishing their system in a variety of ways without compromising constancy or features.

 

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