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Denon is now shipping the AVR-X4800H AV receiver which was first announced in September 2022. That’s great news for home theater fans looking to elevate their cinema sound game beyond what’s provided by the best dolby Atmos soundbarsand it should also be of interest to gamers looking for a receiver that is fully compatible with PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles.
A standout feature of the AVR-X4800H, and one that would rank it the best AV receivers, support for 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz video pass-through on multiple HDMI 2.1 ports. Some previous models from Denon and other AV receiver makers offered either a single full-featured HDMI 2.1 input, or none at all, while promising that a full range of HDMI 2.1 capabilities would be added via a “future firmware update” .
The AVR-X4800H offers 8K and 4K 120Hz compatibility out-of-the-box, and other gaming features include support for Variable refresh rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). There is also pass-through support for all major high dynamic range formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR and HLG.
Denon’s latest receiver is similarly stacked on the audio side, offering Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced and Auro 3D sound processing. Built-in Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction lets you fine-tune the interaction between your speakers and listening environment for the best sound, and a firmware update that will allow an upgrade to Dirac Live room correction (at extra cost) is promised for the future. Having used Dirac Live and experienced the sound quality benefits, we find that last feature particularly appealing.
That’s not all there is to say about the AVR-X4800H. With 9 built-in 125-watt amplifier channels, it supports Dolby Atmos configurations that use up to four “height effects” overhead speakers. It also has four subwoofer outputs that can be controlled independently. Denon’s wireless HEOS platform is used for streaming, allowing high-resolution audio to be sent to the receiver via a Wi-Fi connection.
Analysis: Receivers with up-to-date HDMI 2.1 features have (finally) arrived
An irony with A/V receivers released in recent years is that many HDMI 2.1 ports with extensive features were missing to support the latest generation of game consoles, while numerous soundbars offer such support.
Anyone who buys Denon’s new receiver can use it well into the future
Models like Denon’s AVR-X4800H rectify that situation by letting you connect both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X with full pass-through of 4K 120Hz video, along with VRR and ALLM support. Oh yes, it also has both 8K video pass-through and upscaling from 4K video to 8K resolution to ensure compatibility with your future 8K TV.
AV receivers like the AVR-X4800H are pricey ($2,499 / £2,000 / AU$3,600) audio components you’ll want to hang onto for years – even decades – so it’s comforting to know they’re now available with a fully up-to-date -to-date feature set. Anyone who buys Denon’s new receiver can use it well into the future, or at least until virtual reality replaces all other forms of entertainment.
With four independent subwoofer outputs and both Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac Live support (in preparation), the AVR-X4800H can be used as the centerpiece of a perfectionist home theater, one with deep, perfectly tuned bass response. Those are the features that really make this receiver interesting and different from other options on the market, and we hope to get a chance to test it out in the near future.