Avoid Buying Denon AV Receivers 100%

[shanroam]

I would say that avoiding Denon receivers is also not going to solve these kind of problems.
The onus to blame is for some part is on us, the customers, we want an AVR to connect to LAN, bluetooth, etc. and do all functions that computers do. For example why would an AVR need an update unless it has different types software updates to it?

A good ole simple balls to walls AVR ole school would beat the crap out of most of these new fangled receivers. This goes across all AVR companies and all models, not just Denon.

Just an example why would we need AVR to bluetooth music to it? Can't we just connect analogue cables to do the same? Yes more troublesome but safer.

Just an opinion which is dying its death in this mad rush for modernization in receivers. For background my Denon AVR 3803 is running from 2004. Bought it used then.

I kind of agree with you in some sense. I think the regular purchase should be without the update feature and you get a device which stays with all its digital perfections and imperfections till the end. But you may, with an option (may be also a token price) and an agreement opt for update feature knowing fully well that this may brick your device if things do not proceed "normally".

 

[amedius]

MY STORY : I bought 2700H denon 6 months ago .. today I came to know there was an update for my avr and update it from the app

For unknown reason it says update failed and struck on boot loop with red light (no power or network fail from my side) .. its 100% their OTP fault

so after a long research I came to know flashing the update from usb is the only solution to get back to normal again ..

WHICH DENON STOPPED USB UPDATES (only forcing everyone to OTA) .. If fail you have to visit service centers and they gonna replace your motherboards

While on other hand brands like Yamaha are offering usb flashings too

Just Imagine if my AVR is out of warranty and indian customer service offer to replace motherboard instead of doing usb flashing .. it gonna cost me 50% of AVR

I bought Denon since most people in this group suggest me this brand . . This is Dark side of Denon .. Hope everyone get to know ..

I Tried calling ProFx and other customer cares nobody going to provide me this firmware to flash via usb .. I got my lesson learned by hard way

Hope new people wont get trapped into Denon like me after reading this !

** Now I have to pay for shipping for and get replaced motherboard for a silly software solution **

Similar story of mine. My Denon AVR got stuck during update and since then it's now become a showpiece.

 

[Vinod.R]

The update feature is a major pain, not particularly related to Denon only. The biggest problem is the online update. If the current goes, net connectivity goes, if anything goes wrong during the update, WELCOME BRICK.

I wish we could have a USB update option, so that the entire update can be loaded to the AVR directly via USB avoiding the net connectivity and other issues. Of course the power going off is still there.

 

[Nitin K]

The update feature is a major pain, not particularly related to Denon only. The biggest problem is the online update. If the current goes, net connectivity goes, if anything goes wrong during the update, WELCOME BRICK.

I wish we could have a USB update option, so that the entire update can be loaded to the AVR directly via USB avoiding the net connectivity and other issues. Of course the power going off is still there.

For the Marantz avr, I would go to their authorised center MZ, and take the updates on a pendrive for approx 2 years. Later on took my chances updating via the ethernet cable from the router to the avr.

 

[rwnano]

Don't update your receiver's. In fact if possible to separate the analog audio outputs from the digital smart update able component... please do separate out the two. For audio I use a 23 year old receiver. As a steamer I use a laptop running Linux. I update my laptop. I don't touch my receiver. The receiver companies are crap at software updates and Linux updates. Beware.

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

With AVRs, it’s hard to consider one brand worse than the rest. In the last 10 years, I had two failed Onkyos, 2 Marantzs, one Harman Kardon and a Yamaha. I bought all of them second hand, and in all the cases, was picked up from someone who had never repaired them prior to it. While sending them for repair, I checked with the technicians if it was previously opened and they said no. I had a NAD which survived lot of torture and had no issues. But looking up online, the same NAD had Failed for lot of people.

Each one failed in a different way. In the same period I had lot atleast 25 integrated amps from all these brands (some real low end, some yesteryear hi ends) without any problems.

Right now I have a Denon x3300 which has an update pending. I have no plans in updating it even though the AirPlay doesn’t work for me right now the front panel recently started acting up crazy, however via remote it works fine for now. After reading all the stories online, I decided to live with it until it completely fails.

 

[hifimaddy]

In the same period I had lot atleast 25 integrated amps from all these brands

 

[rwnano]

With AVRs, it’s hard to consider one brand worse than the rest. In the last 10 years, I had two failed Onkyos, 2 Marantzs, one Harman Kardon and a Yamaha. I bought all of them second hand, and in all the cases, was picked up from someone who had never repaired them prior to it. While sending them for repair, I checked with the technicians if it was previously opened and they said no. I had a NAD which survived lot of torture and had no issues. But looking up online, the same NAD had Failed for lot of people.

Each one failed in a different way. In the same period I had lot atleast 25 integrated amps from all these brands (some real low end, some yesteryear hi ends) without any problems.

Right now I have a Denon x3300 which has an update pending. I have no plans in updating it even though the AirPlay doesn’t work for me right now the front panel recently started acting up crazy, however via remote it works fine for now. After reading all the stories online, I decided to live with it until it completely fails.

Nice experience

 

[Nitin K]

If the avr is old and working fine, then not a compulsion to update.

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

If the avr is old and working fine, then not a compulsion to update.

Yes. Do not touch it. Or try to fix issues with which you can live with

 

[Vinod.R]

One should not compare integrated stereo amplifiers with AVRs. Both are different beasts. One is more simplistic compared to the other. More chips, more channels, more unnecessary features, bluetooth, redtooth green tooth, Wifi etc.

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

One should not compare integrated stereo amplifiers with AVRs. Both are different beasts. One is more simplistic compared to the other. More chips, more channels, more unnecessary features, bluetooth, redtooth green tooth, Wifi etc.

Yes.agree on this. It’s not fair even. I didn’t mean integrated are made better. I just meant they lasted longer for me. Mostly due to the fact that they are built with less parts, resulting less possibility of failure. Also heat dissipation is

 

[SatMumbai]

I do not think that, the update bricking is isolated only to Denon. My Sony 9005 series TV bricked during an update. The TV could not be reanimated so I sold it off as defective / spares. Since then I am very carefully about the updates. I try to put all the devices on Ethernet and not run an update when there is a slight potential of power outage. I do not really understand the WiFi being the culprit but I have seen that it is. These devices could download the entire program and then update the device. I think the newer devices are doing it. The current Sony OLED that I have does the download and goes ahead with the update when I turn off the TV ! It is really practical. I have several Sonos products and they seem to be more resilient with the updates.

 

[fusebulb]

Yes I have Denon X1600H within few months of purchase Wifi and Bluetooth stopped working
I tried to reset it to factory settings but still does not work
Denon Service Center is not reliable

 

[Vinod.R]

I have one small idea for companies which face these problems and headaches. Of course the cost will be more. Make it a simple two box solution. All updates, wifi etc on a single module which clicks on to the main unit of the AVR. When updates are required, remove this module, update it and then re-attach it to the main AVR. Might solve above problems and bricking. If this module gets bricked, just replace it with a new one which is not bricked. I hope someone picks it up!

 

[fusebulb]

there has to be an easier solution than that...at least resetting to factory settings should be easy enough to do, but even that is a complicated process, most of the times it fails, and no clear instructions in the manual