Denon AVC-X3900H

Denon is arguably the king of affordable home cinema receivers. This might have something to do with the fact the Japanese guru neither rests on its laurels nor expects the market to gravitate naturally towards them. And in that vein, the maker has quietly made a few adjustments to two of its “X” series models - both the 9.4-channel AVC-X3900H (£1299), which I’m reviewing here, and wallet-friendlier 7.2-channel AVC-X2900H received DAC and power supply upgrades over their former 800-series counterparts. The plan here seems to be making incremental improvements to each multi-channel AVR platform while studiously keeping the manufacturer’s competitors at bay.

Most serious hobbyists and AV aficionados will be happy with the X3900H’s 9.4-channel aspirations. This configuration allows what is considered to be the minimum requirement to render true immersive audio in the home, specifically through a set of speakers in a 5.1.4 layout. But this time Denon has included four discrete subwoofer outs (so you have the potential to place one in each corner of the room), catapulting the device into serious AV territory. Splash out on another two-channel amp, deploy the spare pre-out line-level pair, and you can revel in nothing less than your own 7.4.4 picture palace. It’s all complemented by a software engine capable of decoding Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D (yes, free) and sharing them with all those lovely speakers. Even IMAX Enhanced is added to the roster of licensed attributes.

But don’t think for a minute that Denon shortchanges punters where general media and streaming options are concerned. The X3900H is preloaded with a cornucopia of methods to access tunes, along with the versatile HEOS platform for consolidating your preferred music services. If you have more HEOS-compatible devices dotted around the home, then multi-room audio becomes a luxurious reality.

SOUND QUALITY

Although I have a 5.1 set of Polk Signature speakers on hand which might be the most obvious partners for a mid-price receiver, I tether the Denon to my permanent M&K Sound satellites and a pair of subwoofers in a 5.2.4 configuration - this gives me a reference point from which to work. I am also the lucky recipient of a Dirac Live licence for the purposes of this review. So, rather than indulge the perfectly effective built-in Audyssey in-room correction system, I calibrate the environment with the “Full Bandwidth” iteration of Dirac Live (the more sophisticated Dirac Live Bass Management and ART regimes will have to take a backseat for the time being, but will be revisited at a later date). 

Keep in mind the bill for Dirac Live Full Bandwidth software (retrieved from the website) is  around £260 - not an insignificant spend relative to the X3900H’s £1299 price tag. You will also need to invest in an appropriate third-party microphone – I use the popular and oft-recommended UMIK-1 by MiniDSP.

When faced with a new AVR I always conduct a manual calibration at the outset, if possible. Many readers will be familiar with the process of measuring distances to speakers, triggering in-built pink noise test tones and levelling each channel to 75dB SPL (C weighting, slow) with, as in my case, a Radio Shack SPL meter. The difference between a non-calibrated and a manually tuned system can be startling. A jumbly sonic mess can be transformed after a 20-minute manual procedure into a tightly honed and articulate soundstage. And this proves to be the case with the Denon AVR.

After spinning up some Hollywood tentpole 4K UHD fare on a Panasonic DP-UB9000, deep bass cues infiltrate the fibres of my sofa and plant themselves firmly in my ribcage. Actors’ dialogue beds squarely and crisply in the centre channel while balanced ambience populates the surrounds and heights. Simply by dint of the limitations of 105 watts per channel output power (at 8 ohms, with two channels driven), the Denon will never achieve the dynamic window of stealthier, reference-grade AVRs - but then again, said AVRs are three or four times the price. 

After running and engaging Dirac Live Full Bandwidth the same chapters and sequences from the silver discs deliver a tighter bass envelope – now it’s a little less bellicose, perhaps, and a little less demonstrative, but the measurement curve confirms it’s closer to pristine. And Dolby Atmos height-based elements make themselves more obvious to the listener, while some brittleness and sharpness has been rolled off. 

But Dirac Live still can’t hide the inherent shortcomings of the Denon’s power output and associated dynamics. That’s why I suggest you tread carefully on this - is it really necessary for a mid-price receiver? And how much of a leg-up will you get over Audyssey or a manual calibration? These are valid questions. 

For its relatively modest price, though, the X3900H is a fantastic AVR. It must be something to do with that new 32bit DAC, because my stereo TIDAL tunes are as hi-fi -like and full-bodied as I’ve heard from any comparably priced receiver. Denon surprises me here. I’m hearing kick drums punch then decay, vocals centred and soaring, and violin strings pure and unfiltered. So the design team must have the music listener in mind, because there’s no hint of the shrillness, brightness and crudity that so often plague mid-price, PCB-stacked AVRs.

LIVING WITH the Denon AVC-X3900H

There was a time when quality audio components showed up with a steel fascia and cleanly milled aluminium volume and input knobs. Unfortunately that’s rarely the case now, and the Denon is no exception. So a plastic front plate it is, featuring a centre-mounted FLD (fluorescent light display) blue-text info screen that seems a bit congested and not always readable. But well-spaced buttons and a robust, heavy (12.5kg) housing make the X3900H feel like a relatively substantial piece of kit. A serviceable plastic remote with backlighting is par for the Denon course, too. And as always, the company plays a trump card with its super-refined on-screen menu system and start-up guide for novices.

No Denon AVR would be worth its salt without rows and rows of inputs and outputs adorning the rear steel panel. I’ve never needed to use more than two HDMI inputs, but the X3900H offers six, with two outs (one with eARC), and all sporting the 2.1 protocol for the latest video bandwidths, including 8K/60. Legacy equipment owners get reassurance from various analogue, digital, optical and coaxial inputs, as well as a moving magnet phono stage. The speaker connectors are not the best at gripping my two types of banana plugs though - there are a couple of occasions when the 3900h triggers its protection mode as a result.

Although TIDAL Connect is built into the HEOS interface, I still prefer to use the dedicated app - but that’s not to say the HEOS platform doesn’t provide a full-featured experience. Hooking up a pair of Denon’s ‘Home’ series of powered loudspeakers in other rooms yields flawless results - and don’t forget, like the majority crop of Denon’s AVRs the X3900H includes ‘zone 2’ capabilities for either listening to wired audio sources in another room, or sending an independent video signal to another part of the house from the HDMI Monitor 2 output. 

CONCLUSION

What components would I buy if I was just beginning a home cinema hobby? What would be the minimum requirement to get me on my way? I can think of no better place to start than with the Denon AVC-X3900H. It might not be the most visually sophisticated device – for this you might consider Denon’s sister brand, Marantz – but for sheer unbridled sonic welly and confidence, Denon has dropped a masterclass in mid-range AV performance. Both movies and music get served in full.

Denon’s rock-solid mid-tier AVR could easily kickstart an obsessive pastime for a newbie. Or, conversely, with carefully chosen complementary components, this latest black box could represent a significant upgrade over a tired soundbar or aging stereo system. Can I suggest you make a beeline for your nearest Hi-Fi emporium and seek out a set of appropriate loudspeakers?

LISTENING NOTES

Aquaman 4K UHD Blu-ray
As we journey in a sub through the kaleidoscopic world of Atlantis with Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, the sequence throws out plenty of sound-system stressors. The Denon negotiates the infrasonic rumbles with aplomb while cleanly delineating the electronic score and energetically thrusting darting sea creatures through the surrounds and overheads.

Tron: Legacy 4K UHD Blu-ray
Despite a mixed reception to this Tron sequel, the visually impressive light cycle chase gives the Denon a run for its money with Daft Punk’s score employing the entire speaker array. But the Voice of the Grid and games master Jarvis’s echoing announcements are delightfully clear and isolated from a busy sonic background. 

‍Revolutionary Road 4K UHD Blu-ray
The Denon manages to coax out the timbre and resonance of a lifelike piano from Thomas Newman’s haunting end title from this 2008 film. Forward at first in the soundstage, it gives way to a wide-cast and rich orchestral swell that fills the room.

Denon has hit the proverbial nail on the head with the X3900H’s price/performance ratio. Turn the living room into a makeshift cinema with arresting immersive audio, or bask in your tunes with surprisingly smooth, articulate and uncoloured fidelity for an essentially value-driven AVR.

You could try the Q Acoustics 5040 5.1 package, originally priced at £2475 (but now available for significantly less if you hunt around). Although we reviewed this “elegant-looking” package with “balanced delivery” back in 2024, it remains a cornerstone of the British manufacturer’s mid-tier range.