Denon AVR-3313CI Control Experience??
TurnipTruck
Posts: 1,485
Greetings,
Since Yamaha has taken away some of my favorite nuts and bolts of control, it's time to find an alternative.
Has anyone had control experience with the AVR-3313CI from Denon? What I am most interested in is how it deals with list browsing for multiple zone operation.
With the Yamaha, its three zones could each be independently listening to a browsable media source (Net Radio, Pandora, iPod, etc.) The feedback and metadata from each source is delivered discretely per source, allowing all three zones to browse their unique sources simultaneously.
Reading through the Denon protocol, I don't see how it would deliver the browsing data independently per media source. there seems to be only one set of status commands that is applicable to all sources.
Thanks.
Since Yamaha has taken away some of my favorite nuts and bolts of control, it's time to find an alternative.
Has anyone had control experience with the AVR-3313CI from Denon? What I am most interested in is how it deals with list browsing for multiple zone operation.
With the Yamaha, its three zones could each be independently listening to a browsable media source (Net Radio, Pandora, iPod, etc.) The feedback and metadata from each source is delivered discretely per source, allowing all three zones to browse their unique sources simultaneously.
Reading through the Denon protocol, I don't see how it would deliver the browsing data independently per media source. there seems to be only one set of status commands that is applicable to all sources.
Thanks.
0
Comments
I just did an experiment, the main zone is on DVR, and zone 2 is on the HDRadio.
I get meta data back from the tuner for the HD Radio stuff, but as there is only one tuner there are only one set of commands for it. I guess you have to track where it is being used.
If I set Zone 2 to iRadio (internet radio) I get the meta data back as well from the NSE Command.
If I set the Main zone to HD Radio, I now get the metadata back from that, as well as the NSE data back from the zone 2.
Just like there is only one tuner, there is only 1 NET/USB connection. The tuner treats them the same, and that connection is for all the internet services as well as any network service. SO trying to use an internet radio in one zone and the USB ipod in another zone is not going to work.
If you have teh Denon USB Dock, then there is a separate set of commands for that and I believe you would be able to use that in conjunction with a netwrok based service.
The Yamaha receivers still make great multi-room, browsable media players. It just bothers me that they took away some of the most basic features that make for a good integration experience.
The 3312 does connect to Pandora, but when you leave to go a different network based source, you get an Are You Sure page up on the onscreen GUI, but no notification of that out the control ports. I'm doing everything on teh touchpanel with no monitor, so I have to figure out a way to get around that.
My purpose in working with the receivers is to be able to provide a low-cost, browsing media server for systems that don't step up to an MMS.
I have an appointment with an Onkyo soon to take it around the block.
Oh well, shoemakers children
For $700 you can get a rack mounted Vortexbox capable of 3-5 independant streams at the same time, 3 analog audio outs plus 2 more via usb DACs if you really need 5, could be 3 Pandora, stored music, i-radio, MOG, Spotify, or a few other internet services or any combination of services.
As far as the Denon goes if you're controlling via AMX you know when you're changing sources and on what zone and you can additionally query the source for the main or sub zone so you parse what comes in and you should already know what to do with that info. I wouldn't think the Yamaha does it much differently.
@HDRADIO:
@PANDORA:
@NETRADIO:
....etc.
You won't be impressed with the Onkyo unless they have changed the protocol within the last year or so.
EDIT: actually, the one for 3312 looks almost identical. I will try that.
The control protocol is identcal between Marantz and Denon (barring available surround modes), and the web UI is identical. The amps are definitely different, so probably the preamps are too. I've noticed this as well in the disc player lines; they are consolidating the control sections so they are all the same. This is a good thing, IMO. You pick the hardware device based on how it sounds, what you want to spend (though equivalent Denon and Marantz are pretty much the same price), and what features you want, and the control is all interchangeable.
We have been using Denon for years and they are great to control. That said, I almost never use them for media streaming. They are just not that good at it. They are good at being AV receivers.
You should hire a professional. I know someone who has Denon code! :-)