Anyone use the Denon or Marantz apps to control a receiver?

[IronWing]

I'm looking at replacing my old school receiver. Two models I'm looking at are the Denon DRA-800H and the Marantz NR1200. I'm trying to simplify the user experience for playing music from a USB attached HDD. The apps look promising if they allow one to pick music to play that lives on the HDD. Anyone use the apps? Like them? Hate them?

Denon DRA-800H 2.1-Channel Network A/V Receiver

Buy Denon DRA-800H 2.1-Channel Network A/V Receiver featuring Up to 100W per Channel at 8 Ohms, HDR UHD Pass-Through, HDMI with 3D and Audio Return Channel, 5 x HDMI-In / 1 x HDMI-Out, Built-In Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 Connectivity, Virtual Assistant and HEOS App Control, Front-Panel...

www.bhphotovideo.com

Marantz NR1200 2.1-Channel Network A/V Receiver

Buy Marantz NR1200 2.1-Channel Network A/V Receiver featuring Up to 75W per Channel at 8 Ohms, 4K UHD Pass-Through, HDMI with HDR, ARC, 3D Support, 5x HDMI-In / 1x HDMI-Out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 Connectivity, HEOS Connectivity, Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Control, Front-Panel USB...

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[Brainonska511]

I've used the Denon app to stream music from my phone via HEOS. It's okay. Some limitations on the streaming from phone/network drive if not using a separate service: playlists limited to 300 songs.

There is also a separate app that acts like a remote. Not sure if playing off a USB would be different (ie, not needing the HEOS app).

 

[IronWing]

I went with the Marantz NR1200. It seems to do everything I want it to. It has a couple quirks though.

It has an optical TOSLINK so I hooked up the CD player through that. But… the receiver only recognizes the TOSLINK on the "TV audio" input, not on the "CD" input. So it works, just on the wrong input. CD players have had TOSLINK output forever so this is pretty stupid. I can't really detect a difference in sound quality between the CD player's DAC and the receiver's DAC so it is a moot point anyway.

The USB works fine except that it is not available as an input selection on the receiver; one has to use the remote to access the USB drive. It's a weird break in consistency.

Controlling the receiver through HEOS works but is limited. Marantz should combine the HEOS app and AVR Remote app to simplify life. AirPlay works.

 

[WilliamM2]

I went with the Marantz NR1200. It seems to do everything I want it to. It has a couple quirks though.

It has an optical TOSLINK so I hooked up the CD player through that. But… the receiver only recognizes the TOSLINK on the "TV audio" input, not on the "CD" input. So it works, just on the wrong input. CD players have had TOSLINK output forever so this is pretty stupid. I can't really detect a difference in sound quality between the CD player's DAC and the receiver's DAC so it is a moot point anyway.

The USB works fine except that it is not available as an input selection on the receiver; one has to use the remote to access the USB drive. It's a weird break in consistency.

Controlling the receiver through HEOS works but is limited. Marantz should combine the HEOS app and AVR Remote app to simplify life. AirPlay works.

Read the manual. You can assign the optical input to any source. By default it's the TV.

 

[IronWing]

You are correct! Going through setup, I saw coax listed but not optical.

 

[IronWing]

Controlling the receiver via the app is growing on me. The HEOS app is basic but sufficient. Of all the settings on the AVR remote app, the only one that would be really useful on the HEOS app is the A/B switch.

 

[doanster]

I use the Denon app on Android and it works but the experience is slow and buggy. Usually I just pick up the old school infrared remote after that.

 

[Oyeve]

You and your fancy apps. I'm still rocking my Denon 3805.

 

[bigboxes]

You and your fancy apps. I'm still rocking my Denon 3805.

I've got the 3802. It still sounds soooo good. New turntable this year. Been buying vinyl for the first time since the 80's. The remote still works. Built like a tank.