Integra DRX-8.4 11.4 Channel Network Home Theater A/V Receiver with Dolby Atmos, Dirac Live Room Correction, Roon Ready, Works with Sonos, & Built-In ESS Sabre DAC

I completed this room recently after years of planning, and it's nothing short of astounding. This Integra DRX 8.4 is the perfect fit, and I was lucky enough to compare it to the new Sony ES 5000. While substantially more expensive, the Integra with Dirac Multi-Sub Bass Optimization blows the Sony away. When your wife can also easily tell the difference, you know it's not your own audiophile brain playing tricks.

The system this runs is a 7.2.4 with Elac Debut 2.0 fronts, center, and rears, with Elac Debut On-Walls on the sides and ceilings, and 2x SVS SB-2000 Pros. With these speakers, decent room treatment, and the Sony, everything sounded amazing, but the Sony only had one subwoofer signal. I had planned to equalize the subs directly with the SVS App and REW, however that wouldn't work ideally because Sony already "optimizes" the sub-signal, plus it's a science project. So I went with the Integra with 2 independent sub channels (ideal for my room that only has two subs), plus full Dirac and optional Dirac Bass Control. Having recently seen the difference tuning a NAD M23 ($6K stereo) with only Dirac limited, I thought this would be perfect. I was correct.

Setup and tuning was very straightforward, including with the Integra App and mic, although I did redo it with the MiniDSP UMIK-1 and a Mac due to that being Dirac's recommendation. I am now a full Dirac believer, as the tune, especially the bass, is simply incredible. I no longer need to have the SVS App open to lower and increase the volume like I did with the Sony. The response is simply even and works incredibly on movies and music, from classical to electronic. This complete system with the Integra simply eliminates the longstanding problem with bass-- it's always too loud or not loud enough-- on lesser systems. The bass also melts into the speakers just like they say.

In addition to a great remote and UI, I really appreciate that the Integra interprets and tells me on the display the signal it's receiving, so I know I'm actually hearing Atmos (the Sony gave me no such hints). This allowed me to discover that the Apple TV does not reliably send an Atmos signal when Airplaying to it from my phone, but does when playing music directly from the Apple TV app. It also showed me that when I play simultaneously to my Integra and two homepods in an adjacent room (great for parties), it's not playing Atmos, both for movies and music encoded in Atmos. This is not the Integra's fault, and I'm glad it tells me what it's receiving. I am hopeful it can upmix with Auro 3D in this scenario with the upcoming firmware.

One serious improvement to this Integra for some would be more than 2 independent sub-outs, but in my room this is irrelevant with just room for two subs, and the bass is nothing short of astounding with Dirac Bass Control. I'm sure I could improve the sound further with far more expensive speakers, and the Integra could easily drive them, but with a well-treated room, 11 matching Elac Debut 2.0s, powerful subs tuned independently, and full Dirac, any further improvements would just cost money. And in the truest test, I highly doubt my wife could tell the difference, so any improvements I hear would likely be marginal or justified in my head by what I spent.

A little more about the room... it's designed as an Art (Samsung Frame TV) and Music room, that obviously doubles for movies and video games. I'm glad I have the option for XLR inputs for instruments (which the otherwise equivalent Pioneer does not).

I look forward to "improving" this room's sound some day when I upgrade the Elac's and get the next iteration of this Integra, which will surely have Dirac's new Active Room Treatment (ART) that uses the surround speakers themselves to counteract and noise-cancel frequency response issues. Until then, bliss.

This is an exceptional AV receiver with high-quality performance for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.
One of the standout features of the Integra DRX 8.4 is the inclusion of Dirac, a highly regarded room correction technology. Also, DRX 8.4 offers the convenience of a web interface, allowing you to access and customize various settings remotely.
In direct comparison to the Marantz Cinema 40 (which I owned before) the Integra DRX 8.4 shines when it comes to sound quality. With its superior amplification, advanced audio processing, and meticulous attention to detail, the DRX 8.4 offers a more refined and engaging audio
In summary, the Integra DRX 8.4 is an outstanding AV receiver that checks all the boxes for audiophiles. Its combination of excellent sound quality, integrated Dirac room correction, convenient web interface, XLR connections, and robust build quality make it a top-tier choice for those seeking a truly high-end audio experience.