Explosive performance
The first Blu-ray to test with had to be
The Expendables 2 for its DTS Neo: X optimized mix.11.2-channel surround sound
and the Denon picked up the baton and ran with it. The opening sequence is an
absolute barrage of effects coming at you from every conceivable nook, cranny
and corner of the room. A truly immersive and three-dimensional experience that
the AVR-4520 delivers with stupendous clarity and power.
Back down on planet sanity, running the
Denon in standard 7.1 mode reveals even more about its sonic balance. While
older Denon AVRs boasted something of a gung-ho sound ideal for action flicks,
the last couple of years has seen a lighter, more refined and composed balance
across its range, even if they didn’t have the chutzpah of their forebears. The
new AVR-3313 still falls into the latter category but the AVR-4520 is quite
different altogether. Not only does it manage to retain the clarity, insight
and detailing of the AVR-3313, it adds a potent dynamic edge and renders bass lines
with a real physical punch. Here, Denon has nailed a best-of-both-worlds
scenario; it’s perfect for action and drama, kid’s animation and horror, movies
and music.
Explosive
performance
With Underworld: Awakening the sound of
Kate Beckinsale being frozen is crisply detailed all around the room, with each
effect coming out of an inly black silence. Skip forward and the escape scene
is the usual feast of gun battles and fights that the Denon infuses with
adrenaline. Fast-forward again to the scenes in the city and the AVR-4520 shows
off its ability to extract and present information from the disc in the most
revealing way; the ambient sounds of the city are enveloping and realistic,
doors slamming sound like real doors slamming, and each effect has a very
specific position in the room. The presentation is the brand’s best yet.
Switching to a DVD shows the scaler doing
an admirable job of making SD appeal like HD. Simon Pegg in Hot Fuzz appears
suitably harrowed when given the news he is being transferred to the country,
as the Denon sharpens up the outlines and his facial features nicely. In the
village shootout scene, fast-moving camera pans scroll smoothly. Even blown up
onto a 120in projector screen there are very few artifacts, or any blockiness
surrounding bright objects on dark backgrounds or vice versa. Moreover, the
vanilla Dolby Digital sound packs a real punch from the AVR-4520 even if it
lacks the sheer transparency of TrueHD material.
Setup
microphone included and Denon Remote
Operationally, the new Denon Remote App is
quite nice with a cool and stylish blue-black theme. The home page offers
top-line source selection and a big volume control, while selecting onboard
sources, such as the FM tuner or net radio, flips to a dedicated control
screen. In many respects you can see why Denon’s new physical remote control,
and many remotes supplied with networked AVRs for that matter, are becoming
pared down devices with less buttons and certainly no fancy touchscreen panels.
A remote control app is the way forward, and once you’re familiar with Denon’s
Remote App you might as well put the supplied handset in a drawer (although the
operation, look and feel of the Denon App isn’t the best in the business).
For music lovers the AVR-4520 is an
accomplished beast, and its ability to handle 192 kHz/ 24-bit will appeal to
those with high-resolution aspirations. Oddly, on the missing list is an
asynchronous USB input for connecting a laptop or similar computer device
directly to the AVR-4520’s DACs. You could argue that you can achieve a similar
outcome over network, but I still feel you should have the option to simple
hook up a computer to play music. Still, feed it a decent disc source –
especially the matching DBP-3313 using DenonLink HD – and you get a very
polished audiophile sound have a breathy open quality, much more akin to
affluent dedicated stereo equipment than a home cinema-flavored AVR.
Connections
Connections
Ethernet ease: The AVR-4520 provides a four-port Ethernet switch, which goes some
way to making up for its lack of built-in Wi-Fi
Seven ports for seven sources: There are six HDMI inputs on the Denon’s rear and one on the front
panel – one less than some AVRs costing a third of the price/ but do you need
eight HDMI inputs?
There’s company: Two of the AVR-4520’s HDMI outputs can be used to feed a pair of
displays simultaneously. The third is a discrete output for Zone 4
Speaker selection: As a 9.2-channel AVR, the Denon provides plenty of setup options,
from traditional 5.1 to 7.1 plus height/width. It can also output 11-channel
Neo:X audio – just an extra stereo amp…
Triumphant return
After ignoring the premium level of cinema
receivers in its last range (which topped out at the AVR-3312), Denon has
returned to the $3,000 (and beyond) category with an absolute star. The
AVR-4520 is a gorgeous, multi-talented machine that never stops impressing. Buy
with confidence.
On the menu
The GUI is new cleanly designed and easy to
follow – if lacking in a bit of visual flair. The same can be said of Denon’s
Remote App, which makes for a convenient, intuitive alternative to the supplied
remote control
The
GUI is new cleanly designed and easy to follow – if lacking in a bit of visual
flair
AV info
Product: Networked 9.2-channel AV receiver
Position: Denon's current flagship, above
the AVR-3313
Peers: Arcam AVR-400; Onkyo TX-NR5010;
Pioneer SC-LX86
The verdict
Highs: Superbly balanced sound; 11-channel
DTS Neo:X output; Ethernet switching; excellent features and setup wizard
Lows: No asynchronous USB input; control
App lacks pizazz compared to some
·
Performance: 5/5
·
Design: 5/5
·
Features: 5/5
·
Overall: 5/5
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Specifications
§ Dolby
trueHD: Yes, and DPL Iiz
§ DTS-HD
master Audio: Yes, and DTS Neo: X
§ THX:
No
§ Multichannel
input: Yes, 7.1-channel Phono input
§ Multichannel
output (claimed): 9 x 150W
§ Multiroom:
Yes, four-zone, one with dedicated HDMI
§ AV
inputs: 4 x composite; 4 x digital audio (2 x optical and 2 x coaxial)
§ HDMI:
7 x inputs, 3 x outputs
§ Video
upscaling: Yes, to 4K
§ Component
video: 3 x inputs; 2 x outputs
§ Dimensions:
434(w) x 421(d) x 195(h) mm
§ Weight:
16.5kg
§ Also
featuring: Four-port Ethernet switch; Spotify integration; AirPlay; setup
wizard; Denon Remote App; DenonLink HD; DLNA 1.5 certified; Audyssey MultEQ
XT32 and Audyssey Pro ready; FLAC decoding; MHL compatible
§ Denon
AVR-4520 price: $3,450
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