Denon AVR-X8500HA
Product Name: Denon AVR-X8500HA
Overall
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DESIGN - 90
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FEATURES - 94
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CONNECTIVITY - 94
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SOUND QUALITY - 94
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VALUE - 88
Summary
The addition of 8K capabilities have made this otherwise great flagship AV Receiver future proof and perfect.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos Decoding capability
- Powerful 13-channel amplification and excellent power output per channel
- Future compatibility with HDR/HLG content
- Audyssey MultEQ XT32 calibration system
- Admirable sound quality
- Full 8K pass-through and upscaling
- Perfect Auro-3D support
- Fluid playing experience for gamers
- Superb multi-room surround sound
Cons
- It is more expensive than most other models in this range
Denon AVR-X8500HA Review
Denon AV receivers are a highly favored choice for numerous home theater receiver enthusiasts. With superior quality and performance, Denon receivers surpass the expectations of customers. Today, you can find a wide range of products from different brands. That is exactly why many people are searching for the latest products from leading manufacturers of AV receivers. What about Denon? Among the long product line of the company, Denon AVR-X8500HA is the latest one available. This is the flagship offering from the company and an upgrade from the previous generation AVR-X8500H. How does this product perform? This Denon AVR-X8500HA Review explores the features and benefits of this model comprehensively to help potential buyers make an informed purchase decision.
Table of Contents
Denon AVR-X8500HA – Build and Design
The rectangular design of this AV receiver looks impressive. The black color adds a touch of elegance. It is not a lightweight product that can be lifted easily. The build quality needs special appreciation. Thick, solid materials are used to construct this product. A considerable block of aluminum on the front panel flap improves the look of X8500HA.
You can operate the control buttons smoothly. The back-lit remote control stays optimally responsive. The top-quality materials and solid construction make this product highly durable. Like other Denon models. the overall design looks attractive and inspiring. The company hasn’t done any special efforts to change the design of this model compared to previous versions like AVR-X8500H.
Denon AVR-X8500HA- Features
A remarkable feature is the all-zone stereo mode. This feature makes sure that all zones are in perfect sync. You can play music in three different rooms simultaneously. Dolby Digital surround processing features of AVR-X8500HA are EX, DD+, TrueHD, and DD. This product is compatible with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization. AVR X8500HA also supports DTS:X, DTS: X Pro, DTS-HD Master, DTS Express, DTS Neural:X, and DTS Virtual:X.
What about the HDMI features of this model? It comes with a 2.1 HDMI version. Other notable features include VRR, QFT, ALLM, and 4K/120Hz-capable input. This device supports 8K upscaling and 8K at 60hz passthrough. With these advanced features, this AV receiver lowers frame tearing and enhances overall accuracy considerably.
This model supports all ultra HD sources and TVs efficiently. Thanks to the HDCP 2.3 technology. With excellent HDR compatibility, this AV receiver offers improved picture contrast and brightness. It supports HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDR10.
Denon AVR-X8500HA is an eARC supported AV receiver. It comes with a front-panel USB port that can be used to perform audio playback from flash drives. AVR-X8500HA is compatible with digital as well as analog audio connections. You can find this product compatible with Auro-3D as well. This IMAX enhanced AV receiver never makes you feel disappointed when it comes to performing HDMI video conversion and recreating full dynamic range from supported sources.
The room calibration system of X8500HA is sophisticated enough to deliver the best results. The Audyssey system optimizes the performance of the receiver based on your unique acoustic environment. This model comes with the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 feature to ensure the ultimate subwoofer refinement.
You can also find a feature known as the Dual Audyssey Preset function on Denon AVR-X8500HA. It allows you to store, recollect, or switch between various Audyssey configurations. It is a highly useful tool to compare different configurations. Many people would like to use different speaker settings based on the moods or content types. If you are one of them, you can find Denon AVR-X8500HA highly beneficial. If you have to deal with layout or acoustic variations in a room, the preset function is an excellent option.
The signal-to-noise ratio of this AV receiver is 102 decibels. It comes with an input sensitivity and impedance of 220 mV. The DSD Sampling rates of this model are 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz. The sound formats supported by AVR-X8500HA are FLAC, MP3, AAC, ALAC, WMA, and WAV. Don’t worry about lag when you use this AV receiver. It also enhances stats efficiently. Thanks to the most refined ALLM and QFT features.
What about the power supply features of this Denon AVR-X8500HA? It comes with a power supply of AC 120 V, 60 Hz. The power consumption of this receiver is 900 watts. The standby power of this unit is 0.1 watts. This model is good enough to deliver an outstanding home theater performance with your current speaker setup using the most advanced HDMI connection features.
When you compare this model to Denon AVR-X8500H, you can find extra features like DTS Virtual:X compatibility, advanced 2.1 HDMI version, VRR, ALLM, 4K 120Hz- capable inputs, and HDR10+ compatibility. Moreover, the video up-scaling of X8500H is 0nly up to 4K. Denon AVR-X8500HA can be up-scaled and passthrough up to 8K.
This AV receiver works perfectly with leading voice control agents such as Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Amazon Alexa. The product dimension is 17.1 x 7.7 x 19 inches (H x W x D). It weighs around 52 lbs. Denon offers a 3-year standard warranty for this model. You can enhance the warranty period up to 5 years.
Denon AVR-X8500HA – Connectivity
This AV receiver model has 8 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. When it comes to inputs, this AV receiver comes with 1 phono input, 8 audio-video inputs, 2 audio-only inputs, 3 component video inputs, 2 optical digital inputs, and 2 coaxial digital inputs. You can also find a multi-channel analog input on this device.
Denon AVR-X8500HA boasts 1 component video monitor output and 2 subwoofer outputs. You can also find 1 discrete subwoofer output and 1 multi-channel preamp output on this product. The removable power code of this model is IEC 2-prong. It doesn’t have any optical or coaxial digital outputs.
The built-in Wi-Fi makes this receiver highly flexible. You can listen to your favorite music from music services, networked computers, and internet radios. Built-in HEOS feature makes wireless music streaming incredibly effortless. Denon has introduced some new speakers recently. Denon AVR-X8500HA is compatible with these speakers to take your music listening to the next level. You can listen to your favorite music from any room without worrying about wires.
Denon AVR-X8500HA supports AirPlay 2 to help you stream from Apple devices directly. You can also listen to music wirelessly from other networked computers, tablets, and smartphones with the help of the built-in Bluetooth feature. The sound quality of MP3s and other digital files is efficiently improved by the Compressed Audio Restorer feature of this model. The total number of speaker terminals available on this model is 15. You can find a 15.2 multichannel pre-out as well.
Denon AVR-X8500HA – Sound Quality and Performance
This model comes with the most refined power amplifier design. It has a 13.2-channel amplifier that provides the much-needed power to deliver outstanding performance. You can convert this channel into a 7.2.6 or 9.2.4 system for a better listening experience. This model supports 15.2 channel processing. The power output per channel is 150 watts at 8 Ohms. It delivers 190 watts of power per channel at 6 Ohms. You can always expect a vibrant and accurate entertainment experience with this AV receiver.
AVR X8500HA achieves admirable operational stability with the help of low impedance drivers. The minimum impedance of this product L/R, center, and surround are 4 Ohms. It works perfectly with various speakers to produce exceptionally balanced and tonal sound.
Denon AV receivers are highly renowned for powering your surround sound system. This model takes this task to the next level. It offers the perfect balance you need for a home theater amplifier. When it comes to handling action-packed and loud scenes, this AV receiver lifts the performance as the situation demands. You can expect highly impressive punchy, brawny, and loud recreation of sound.
The scale of sound can be termed as immaculate. It is an ideal choice for large rooms. The sound effects will move around the room swiftly and effortlessly. Denon AVR-X8500HA makes you feel involved. You can come across a lid on the sound field of most AV receivers. This model doesn’t make you worry about this limitation. It goes above the anticipated boundaries and surpasses your expectations.
You can expect an extremely bassy and captivating techno soundtrack. The scattered dialogue comes across with absolute clarity. X8500HA always delivers an impactful sound. However, it maintains composure efficiently even when the sound goes to extreme levels. So you can enjoy a balanced listening experience with this model.
The sound imaging of this Denon AV receiver is appreciably solid. You can experience an amazing three-dimensional impact while listening to even two-channel recordings. As you turn the volume to the highest levels, it never falls short in terms of grunt and drive. Thanks to the meticulously crafted power supply. It provides all channels adequate juice to stay stable when dealing with demanding situations.
The recently launched Denon AV receivers are highly popular for their subtle detail and amazing clarity. This version goes one step above with added power and muscularity. AVR-X8500HA blends detail, clarity, power, and muscularity harmoniously to redefine the standards of sound output in AV receivers.
The sounds of punches are recreated precisely with immaculate impact. When glass breaks, you can experience it. The sound is incredibly piercing and real. Many AV enthusiasts say that it is hard to find a better-balanced home theater amplifier. It always stays powerful. You can always experience the punchy impact. Denon AVR-X8500HA model is flexible enough to be big scale and loud whenever needed.
The sound effect of this model is pretty engrossing while playing large-scale panning sequences. You can feel even the minute differences. The fast movements are captured with unbeatable precision. You can even detect the location of a flying object with your eyes closed. This model works into the subtleties and nuances of the soundtrack with effortless ease. So the sound output always stays crisp, clear, articulate, and pleasing.
A top-quality AV receiver responds perfectly to the ever-fluctuating sound variations. The sound output of this Denon model is pretty convincing and real and adapts perfectly, based on the newly emerging situations. It handles everything efficiently, including high-pitched whimpers and gradual loudness progression. When there is an intense scene, this receiver conveys the tension perfectly to make your listening experience immersive.
The rhythmic precision of this model is highly impressive. It comes with unbeatable agility. The best high-end AV receivers add liveliness and attitude to dialogue. This model does not make an exception. With its adorable expressiveness, Denon AVR-X8500HA meets your expectations perfectly. This receiver makes you feel engaged when it comes to watching movies and listening to your favorite music.
A succinct and dynamic sense of momentum can always be associated with this model. With the launch of this product, Denon has taken sound quality to another level. Offering a composed and balanced sound output, X8500HA puts up an excellent performance. You can always expect the best value for your money.
Verdict
Pros
- Dolby Atmos Decoding capability
- Powerful 13-channel amplification and excellent power output per channel
- Future compatibility with HDR/HLG content
- Audyssey MultEQ XT32 calibration system
- Admirable sound quality
- Full 8K pass-through and upscaling
- Perfect Auro-3D support
- Fluid playing experience for gamers
- Superb multi-room surround sound
Cons
- It is more expensive than most other models in this range
Final Words
This model is the latest AV receiver launched by Denon. If you are on the lookout for a highly powerful and functional receiver, you can choose Denon AVR-X8500HA. The surround sound decoding feature makes it a unique product. Another remarkable feature of this model is its future compatibility with HDR/HLG content. If you compare this model with Denon AVR-X8500H, you can find many more advanced features.
The sound quality of Denon AVR-X8500HA surpasses your expectations in many different ways. With excellent HDMI features, this model makes your listening experience highly engaging. The high channel power rating enables this device to drive any speaker setup easily. The 13-channel amplifier generates enough power to deliver outstanding performance. The connectivity features of this product are the best in the industry. It also offers superior video performance.
Denon AVR-X8500HA creates astonishing surround soundtracks. It calibrates speakers to optimize the audio performance based on the acoustics of your room. You can stream your music collection from computers, smartphones, and other digital devices effortlessly. Further, you can control this device using voice agents such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.
All these aspects suggest this model is a feature-rich and functional AV receiver. Compared to AVR X8500H, this AV receiver comes with extra features like DTS Virtual:X compatibility, advanced 2.1 HDMI version, VRR, ALLM, 4K 120Hz- capable inputs, HDR10+ compatibility, and 8K up-scaling and passthrough making it a future proof receiver. It is also more powerful than primary competitor Marantz SR8015.
What about the price? Let us make a price comparison between AVR-X8500HA and AVR-X8500H. You must pay slightly more to buy AVR-X8500HA. However, the features and benefits outweigh the price difference between these two models. If you don’t mind spending a little more to buy a better-equipped AV receiver, you can opt for Denon AVR-X8500HA. It can be said without a shadow of a doubt that this model is one of the best around, in terms of features and performance.
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