Denon and Marantz Announce 3-in/1-out 8K Switchers for Select AVRs and Processors

(September 10, 2021) To keep pace in the 8K arms race, Denon and Marantz have introduced small companion HDMI switchers designed to give owners of select AV receivers and Processors broad access to 8K and 4K/120Hz sources.

Sized no bigger than the width and depth of a Blu-ray case and shipping with detachable wall-mount brackets and IR repeater capability, the Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 give owners lots of flexibility when it comes to placement and integration. Both units ship with a hand-held IR remote, but are also controllable by the AV receiver's remote. Additionally, the switchers are compatible with HDMI CEC, meaning they can automatically turn on/off and switch inputs once HDMI CEC is enabled on all associated devices and displays.

Compatible Receivers and Processors include Denon's AVR-A110, AVR-X6700H, AVR-X4700H, AVR-X3700, AVR-X2700H, AVR-S960H, AVR-X8500HA, and Marantz's AV7706, SR8015, SR7015, SR6015, SR5015, NR1711, and AV8805A. Sound United says shipping will begin in October 2021 with an MSRP of $199.

For more information, visit www.denon.com or www.marantz.com.


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[wseroyer]

As much as I don't like addon boxes like this, I still think it's cool that they are even giving you the option, I really did feel like the single HDMI 2.1 port was going to be a problem in the near future, especially for those that will have both a Xbox Series X and a PS5 or a Laptop with a Nvidia RTX 3000 series GPU like myself.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I agree. They're going to get some blowback for last year's HDMI 2.1 4K/120Hz console incompatibilities... quite a few owners are chapped about that (and I think their disappointment is justified). But, Sound United is making everyone whole with their outboard adapter solution. And this new 3/1 switch expands performance without requiring everyone to buy new receivers. In years past, this kind of item would have been built into the next year's model.

I totally agree with you - great move on their part.

 

[wseroyer]

I agree. They're going to get some blowback for last year's HDMI 2.1 4K/120Hz console incompatibilities... quite a few owners are chapped about that (and I think their disappointment is justified). But, Sound United is making everyone whole with their outboard adapter solution. And this new 3/1 switch expands performance without requiring everyone to buy new receivers. In years past, this kind of item would have been built into the next year's model.

I totally agree with you - great move on their part.

I'll probably pick one up just to have, I have a later (built after may) x4700h that has the HDMI 2.1 fix internally.

 

[Todd Anderson]

The bottom line is that having just one high speed HDMI connection isn’t enough… it might be now, but in a year or two it may not be. Marantz and Denon rushed to the 2.1 door and squeezed one onto most models. This module is really a recognition that they need to offer more to stay competitive.

 

[wseroyer]

The bottom line is that having just one high speed HDMI connection isn’t enough… it might be now, but in a year or two it may not be. Marantz and Denon rushed to the 2.1 door and squeezed one onto most models. This module is really a recognition that they need to offer more to stay competitive.

I agree Todd, but at the very least it's a option for us AVR-xX700h owners. I'll take it over nothing.

 

[mk1981]

Will this work without a compatible Sound United receiver? $199 is a very good price for an HDMI 2.1 video switcher.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Good question. I'd assume that this switcher only works with compatible Denon and Marantz receivers using current firmware. Definitely wouldn't work with a receiver lacking an HDMI 2.1 port... as for other brands with HDMI 2.1, not entirely sure.

 

[mk1981]

Well, it would make business sense to limit the compatibility to receivers, but if that were the case, there should have been a firmware upgrade for them to switch the active input using the AVR remote, not a separate one.

But if SU simply says the switcher is compatible with listed receivers and don't promise or imply anything else, they don't have to provide any service.

Though as I said, $199 is a very good price for a switcher if your 4K120 monitor has only one or two HDMI 2.1 ports.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I’ll have a answer fit you this week… have already reached out to someone at SU.

 

[mk1981]

Awesome, thanks.

 

[DragonRM]

Good question. I'd assume that this switcher only works with compatible Denon and Marantz receivers using current firmware. Definitely wouldn't work with a receiver lacking an HDMI 2.1 port... as for other brands with HDMI 2.1, not entirely sure.

Yeah… would be interesting to know if it would work with a Neo Qled or similar TVs that only have the one 2.1 port.

 

[Todd Anderson]

No response yet...

 

[Todd Anderson]

Ok. From Sound United:

"Sound United doesn’t recommend customers try to use these switchers with other HDMI 2.1-capable AVRs as we can’t guarantee performance. There’s nothing to stop someone from trying, but we want people to understand the focus of our testing was with Denon and Marantz AV products. All products listed in the press materials we know will deliver an awesome experience."

So, if you read into this, I’m getting a "it probably will work, but we won't guarantee it,” vibe.

 

[mk1981]

Three takeaways:
1. They won't be playing tricks to limit the switcher to Sound United AVRs.
2. They're testing the hell out of those switchers to make sure they don't have a repeat of the bug that plagued their first HDMI 2.1 receivers.
3. Since HDMI 2.1 is so fickle, they're not going to guarantee anything to anyone that doesn't own their AVR.

FWIW, I'm not going to tell people to get that switcher, but I might be tempted to get one for myself because, as I said, it's really good value and would be particularly useful for using with a PC monitor.