specka Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Hi All, Some time ago I bought a Denon AVR 4306. It cost me over $4000 back then. A few years back I was flashing a firmware upgrade when the connection was lost and the unit 'bricked'. I got a quote for repair, it was $800. At that time the AVR was probably worth $1000 so I purchased a new Yamaha with all the current bells and whistles like 4K passthrough etc. The thing is, this Denon is an absolute beauty and has stacks of power (140W per channel from memory). I'd like to be able to gift it to my old man as he's got some nice Whatmough speakers but currently driven by an old bottom range Yamaha AVR. He has no need for 5.1 etc, I reckon the Denon would drive those speakers beautifully in 2ch. I never quite understood how a firmware flash could result in such catastrophic damage, but I do appreciate any work requiring soldering etc must be a real challenge with these modern units. Does anyone have any suggestions for cheaper repair or thoughts on whether its worth trying to salvage this AVR? Thanks Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Wagon Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) Firmware is an instruction set that tells the hardware how to behave. Corrupt firmware = hardware that doesn't know what to do. I have no idea what the denon uses as a firmware chip. Maybe it could be reflashed using a 'programmer'. Maybe it could be 'hotflashed'. Maybe it could be a replacement firmware chip, this can either socketed or soldered. $800 sounds like a rort. But, It could also be that the entire board needs to be replaced. Have you searched 'the net' for possible cures ? Have you asked denon about options ? Just some ideas....... EDIT, think of the failure it as a lobotomy Edited September 6, 2015 by Green Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Wagon Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-receivers-amps-processors/1433845-denon-avr-4306-broken-firmware-upgrade.html http://denon-uk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/936/~/update-%2F-upgrade-via-network-aborted-or-incomplete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 your probably talking well back in the day before denon changed the firmware updating process and put in a lot of safe guard protocols. you would need to take to a service centre. depending on what was getting flashed could mean what needs to be replaced. its not often an easy thing with often entire boards having to be replaced. cost time labour. parts. meaning would be possibly now quite costly even if you could get parts. your talking something over 10+ years old now. talk to local agent qualifi they might be able to help give ball park costs or investigate. most places charge a set fee to look at an item. whether you end up getting it fixed or not. my suggestion time to move on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specka Posted September 7, 2015 Author Share Posted September 7, 2015 Thanks guys, much of what you've said echoes my thoughts. I did do a fair bit of research and tried a few tools to redo the firmware,unsuccessfully. I was dealing with the then distributor in Australia, wasn't qualifi back then was someone else. The thing that put me off the initial quote apart from the $800,was the fact he said that might not even fix it and that it her components may have been damaged by the firmware flash. It just didn't sit well with me and my possibly flawed understanding of what a software flash could and couldn't do. I'll take a look at those threads - thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 The first thing you need to get a hold of is a service manual, which should tell you how to enter debug mode and the necessary tools you need to flash in a new ROM of the software into the controller pll. That quoted cost is probably a swap of parts, Denon doesn't have time to manually re-program a bricked controller unit for the amplifier when they can just swap it out, less hassle for them and less time consuming but more $$ for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Thanks guys, much of what you've said echoes my thoughts. I did do a fair bit of research and tried a few tools to redo the firmware,unsuccessfully. I was dealing with the then distributor in Australia, wasn't qualifi back then was someone else. The thing that put me off the initial quote apart from the $800,was the fact he said that might not even fix it and that it her components may have been damaged by the firmware flash. It just didn't sit well with me and my possibly flawed understanding of what a software flash could and couldn't do. I'll take a look at those threads - thanks. would have been audio products back then, audio products ws swallowed by qualifi and the tech back then still works for them. very knowledgeable guy. from my experience with him over the years doesnt try pull wool over eyes. if in melb/vic I know for a fact jls electronics has done repairs for this sort of thing where people have bricked their unit back in the early days of firmware updates. in that early stage marantz stopped all customer updates for that reason. till the procedure was sorted out. problem now with a 4306 vintage unit will be parts. quicker follow up on it the better as greater chance of a part being there. repair though I woudkl suggest not viable. at $500-$800 probably pick up another 4306 instead at $800 landed. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Denon-AVR-4306-7-1-Channel-170-Watt-Receiver-HDMI-Etc-/131590392199?hash=item1ea3660987 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnL Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) Hi Specka, Looks like your Denon refurb gift idea isn't going to work out BUT......... If it turns out you are feeling generous......and DO want to spend $800 or so on an amp for your Dad............I would NOT recommend an AVR. As you say it's a 2 channel system only. An old (or new for that matter) $5K AVR won't have a high quality pre amp section for stereo use.......it's just not a priority. A nice integrated stereo amp however (new.......or even better...used) would give his Whatmough's a real chance to sing. Several contenders on Ebay right now.......haven't even checked the SNA classifieds yet!!! Cheers Edited September 8, 2015 by JohnL 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Hi Specka, Looks like your Denon refurb gift idea isn't going to work out BUT......... If it turns out you are feeling generous......and DO want to spend $800 or so on an amp for your Dad............I would NOT recommend an AVR. As you say it's a 2 channel system only. An old (or new for that matter) $5K AVR won't have a high quality pre amp section for stereo use.......it's just not a priority. A nice integrated stereo amp however (new.......or even better...used) would give his Whatmough's a real chance to sing. Several contenders on Ebay right now.......haven't even checked the SNA classifieds yet!!! Cheers talking about sna classifieds...two great examples of classic goodness http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/88608-fs-musical-fidelity-x-a1-integrated-amplifier/ http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/88591-fs-marantz-pm66se-ki-signature-amplifier/ please excuse the shameless plug 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specka Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 Haha yes I hear you both on the AVR vs Stereo amp but this was more of a hope for a cheap or free upgrade. Absolutely agree also that AVRs aren't optimal for 2ch but I have to say it drove my old Audience series Dyns well enough to provide some pretty memorable sessions. I guess this big paperweight can go into the classifieds as a free to good home, maybe there's some enthusiasts or industry people that can resurrect it. Such a waste otherwise. Thanks to all for their suggestions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specka Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 talking about sna classifieds...two great examples of classic goodness http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/88608-fs-musical-fidelity-x-a1-integrated-amplifier/ http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/88591-fs-marantz-pm66se-ki-signature-amplifier/ please excuse the shameless plug Hey I used to have a Marantz PM 84, 'Quarter A' amp. It was superb! If I hadn't sold it that would have been perfect for my dad.... Nice unit you have for sale there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Gale Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 You should be able to set it back to factory default mode. Usually seen as a last chance Charlie kind of thing. It would be in the trouble shooting sections high lighted only to be done by manufacturers rep. Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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