Great review as always! I am continually amazed with Tonewinner. What a great brand IMO. Affordable HiFi, and Home Theater. I hope that a lot more people will recognize the value and quality!! It is easy to spend 10K plus on main stream gear a brand like Tonewinner comes along and stands up with them. Can't wait to see other TW products coming!! Cheers!
How does this unit perform with regards to its 3D sound and spatial audio capabilities? Are the Anthems much better in this regard? This unit plus the required amplifier is at or surpassing the price of the new Sony ES STR-AZ7000ES that has received some pretty good reviews for its spatial audio performance. Have you heard the new Sony? I was really hoping to make the move to a 15 channel AVR/processor but I could probably give up the extra heights or wides for a 13 channel unit that excelled at spatial audio. This is the most compelling aspect of something like the Trinnov since my room is not really that big.
Thank you for the review I am actually going to be getting one. It's surprising how it compares or even surpasses the Marantz AV7706. Currently have the Marantz SR5015. This will be a nice change. I also like summithifiusa as well!
i almost got this unit here. because i do have their AMP and it’s pretty nice. but i held out and passed because not much longer after this came out. they released the Anthem AVM 70 8K and i bought that instead.
I just need TW to put out an updated version of this with HDMI 2.1 48Gbps HDMI switching/throughput. I do have 2 sources that go up to 40 and 48Gbps (a gaming PC and an XBox Series X) so any future pre-pro for me needs to be able to support at least 40Gbps if not 48Gbps switching/throughput.
❤ Vocal clarity is my first love. I like bass, though. Flat EQ can kill it. I boost the lower and mid bass on speakers and cross it to the subs. For what you get, Tonewiner is an excellent option. I'm guessing a mini dsp can be incorporated for people who question their ears (like playing around, I'm happy with Audyssey laptop program). Multiple filter presets are good for music, but my ears are old, and I like metal. I detest remixes. Tonewiner power amps must be worth a look at with the money saved.
Absolutely, minidsp would be a great addition to the Tonewinner AT-300. I have had several Tonewinner amps in my setup, and I have never had a complaint about any of them.
I just bought (today) a Tonewinner AD-8300PA 11-channel amp as my first step towards separates to go with my Denon X4700H and intend to use the Denon in full preamp mode I hope to get it sometime in the next week or two since it will be coming from Canada to the St. Louis suburbs. My question is, do I have to re-run Audessey after hooking up the speakers? The LCR channels are 240 WPC with all operating and the other are 105 WPC, again, all operating. That's basically the same for everything other than LCR and nearly double the power for the LCR. Also, I may have to stack my two subwoofers in order to fit in the speaker stands I recently bought (right now one speaker is on a little 3-legged stool on top of a sub and the other is on a regular barstool). is it likely to cause a significant change in bass response or not, since the LFE are generally non-directional?
I recommend re-running Audyssey after getting the new amp. The reason being that gain on the amp might be different which will give you a different volume. You could also adjust the trim levels yourself with a SPL meter if you wanted. Just as easy to run Audyssey and allow it to do it. Moving your subwoofers and stacking them will definitely change the frequency response. Your room is what determines the frequency response, moving the sub will cause it to interact with the room differently. By stacking them, you are essentially creating 1 bigger subwoofer. They should sum almost perfectly. You should get almost exactly 6db more output then just using the one alone. Subwoofers won't typically sum perfectly in the room when they are placed far apart, but when placed together they should. That being said, you will get a less smooth response around the room. It is what it is, if you have to move them do it. You would definitely need to re-run audyssey if you move the subs. You could also hook them up to one output, no need to use 2 outputs if they are stacked. Just get a Y splitter, or use the input/output on the sub if they have them.
I did install the update, it is really simple. I will try and get a video done explaining how, but I am far behind on videos right now, it may take a while to get it done.
Hi Barrett Looking for your opinion if possible, if you still check your older videos :) I'm looking at doing 7.x.4 in the future with a separate amplifier So i'm looking at AT-300 + AD-8300 from Tonewinner. At the moment i have the Denon x3700h What would you think about selling the Denon and getting the AT-300 instead? Is it worth or should i just be sticking with the denon + amp I have a minidsp for subwoofer calibration and have gotten quite used to REW by now, and i usually only let audyssey calibrate main speakers up to 500hz. The biggest "gain" i can see from the AT-300 is XLR outputs and the ability to tinker more(which i like). Thoughts? Edit: Or perhaps you know more about the coming AT-500 which might be worth the wait? :) Similar pricing etc
Sorry for the late reply, it's been a busy few weeks for me. I personally feel the AT-300 is a step up in sound quality over the Denon AVRs. I had the Denon AVRX4400 before the AT300, and I much preferred the sound quality from the AT300. I haven't heard about the AT500 specifically. Do you have a link with information about this model? I looked online, but didn't find anything about. I do know they are working on a new model that should/will have HDMI 2.1 and possibly a big name room calibration built in. I would recommend waiting to see when this will be released. I've heard they are releasing it this year, which is pretty exciting.
@SpecOfTech No worries man! Real life is a thing :) Ah alright well that sounds good, could be a real upgrade then. Great info, thank you! RU-vid doesn't seem to like me posting links, tried several times.. But it's information from their 2024 projects roadmap, i've posted a picture with the link on avsforum if you search for the thread for the Tonewinner at-300. So the AT-500 would be an 8k replacement for the AT-300 And the AT-600 would be the Dirac-version you mention And it seems that they plan to go live(distribution i guess?) with the AT-500 in june. Perhaps you can bring this up to Amir/some other contact to get a hold of a review sample :)
This sounds like a great processor to transition from an avr to separates, which is what I am in the process of doing. Thanks for all the detailed info.
Great review! Little side question - noticed a JTR 110HT in the front, will there be a video on these? I have a 12x15 room and wondering if they will be enough for LCR (entire bed layer)? can't quite stretch to the price of the 210HT yet so tempted to give the 110HT a try. Thoughts?
Thank you. With subwoofers you could get away with using the 110HT as a bed layer, but you would need an aggressive crossover, most likely higher than 80hz, maybe 90hz or 100hz. You would have to play around a bit to see what would sound best. But the 110ht can play loud and clear, no problems there for even a larger room.
@@SpecOfTech That’s interesting - thanks! Might have to sell my 1723 monitors as they’re just too deep to go behind my screen, hence the question. For movies you think the switch to the 110HT will be okay compared to Arendal? The higher sensitivity will be nice for sure.
That's right, TW is the OEM for Emotiva, but they run different firmware. I have had zero bugs with TW, but plenty of bugs with the 2 Emotiva I reviewed.
i almost got this unit here. because i do have their AMP and it’s pretty nice. but i held out and passed because not much longer after this came out. they released the Anthem AVM 70 8K and i bought that instead.
Sony's AZ 5000es is massive! I considered the Tonewinner but in the end, IMAX enhanced and superior channel separation was my bigger priority. The Sony is on par with the channel separation of Trinnov, and that is a big claim. Sony's 360 calibration software is second to none!
in what way will an integrated have better seperation than a balanced out processor? ya no. that Sony is a medeocer AVR with lack of atmost channels and no pre-amp out even!
@@djfirestormx Obviously you haven't tried it yet. So no need to say for sure if you haven't. It does have pre outs and can turn off internal amps. I'm not new to the rodeo 👍😎
@@kman9387 correction, balanced pre outs. It absolutely will not compete against balanced outputs. Power supply sharing with the dac is and always will be a flaw of a avr. It doesn't matter how good it is, the best avr can not compete in channel seperation with balanced outputs and independent power supplies. It's a fact of physics. It doesn't mean it's not good, it just means Channel separation claims are not accurate. The Sony probably has 3d processing that gives a wide effect giving it a pseudo seperation effect, but if you run passthrough with no alteration, game over.
@@djfirestormx No sir, not game over. Balanced does not make that much of an audible difference. And no I'm not using any spatial audio codec. This is straight to my external amp. But at the end of the day it slays and that's all that matters. Everything else is just expensive fluff. Have a great home theater journey 👍
@@kman9387 lol you have not tested that. Balanced ABSOLUTELY has significantly better seperation and its due to the grounding and less notise in the background. If you can't hear the difference then either your amp is not TRUE balanced (most likely) or your speakers are just garbage and can't keep up with the source. I did audio mastering for many years. In absolute no way can single ended even come close to the noise levels of balanced. Your getting butt hurt over it and can't accept the fact that an avr is an avr. It may be a great avr, I never said it wasn't. But stop promoting something for what it is not.
I have heard they are in the process of designing one, but no release date yet. It could be by the end of this year. I've heard murmurs that it will have Dirac.
@@SpecOfTech I am looking to upgrade from the XMC 1 and I am adding atmos to my theater. I know Emotiva is supposed to be releasing some newer processors but I haven't seen a release date.
Bought one 2 years ago, used it for a year or so, and then sold it to some poor, uninformed soul. This thing is "almost not trash". But, in the end, it's a frustrating, buggy processor. It's widely known that the room correction is rubbish and by saying that "you have to dial down the bass" after using it, you kind of agree. So why say it's "ok" ? Do you have a deal with Aamar to get ToneWinner stuff for cheap or free ? (I'm sure you do). The AT300 is full of bugs, takes forever to get proper HDMI handshakes, has a ridiculous user interface, has a dated Dolby upmixer... and on, and on. Pretty much every firmware fixes something and breaks something else. If you want to get into Atmos, it's the perfect piece of equipment to convince you to buy a Denon, or any other "serious" brand (I bought an X6700 after having had enough with this thing). And Barrett: recording the sound from your speakers so we can hear them over RU-vid is just... useless. Even if your "followers" appreciate that, it serves no purpose. Any serious audio geek knows that.
Mine doesn't take long to lock on less than five seconds. I prefer the basic UI, why would I need graphical interface for setup menus? Also since they're text and takes about 20% of the screen I can go into menus without it effecting what I'm watching. Oh your Denon will probably overheat and die . So there's that. Lol 🤣
Most of what you have said here isn't true for the unit I am using. The handshakes are faster than the Emotiva RMC-1L I was using. I haven't encountered 1 single bug, everything has worked without any issues. I was fair an honest about the room correction in this review. See, when you do a review you can't just focus on the good or the bad, you need to point out both, but you will learn that one day. That being said, I have also been pushing them to get Dirac into the unit, which might happen, because they are a "serious" brand that wants to put out a good product at a fair price😉. You clearly seem jaded by this product, but you also seem overly negative, judgmental and unfair. I know for a fact that this unit sounds better than the Denon unit I had in the past, and is about on par with the Marantz AV7706 regarding sound clarity and channel separation. I am glad to hear that they are actively putting out firmware fixes, because they do take any bug you find seriously and fix it. I would like to know what bugs you were experiencing, because I haven't had any. I couldn't care less what you think of the demos on my video, lots of people find them helpful. I do give a disclaimer before them, every time. I know you are just trying to point out everything negative and make some digs. You may think you are the first lol, but you are far from it. Thanks for watching the video though...cheers!
He is just a hater, pay him no mind. Nothing is ever perfect, but the Tonewinner is an amazing unit for the price. I think he forgot what the thing costs and wanted $4000 performance out of something that is $1300. He is comparing it to a X6700 that is $3300 USD. I would venture to say the Tonewinner probably has better channel separation and clarity than the 6700. I have had units that cost $3000-$7500 USD that have had many more bugs than the Tonewinner AT300, facts.
@@SpecOfTech That sucks. I need something with 6 beds and 4 independent subs that sounds good. I’d prefer XLRs. Emotiva fits the bill, but so many people with negative reviews.
I didn't use the unit for the whole year, but no, I haven't experienced any bugs so far. As you can see on my channel though, I have been reviewing many other processors, so the Tonewinner wasn't in my rack the whole year.
Sorry you feel that way, but I am no shill Why do you make that assumption, simply because I review their products? Stop and think logically for a second. I am a small channel and I have lost thousands of dollars buying and selling equipment to review products to build my channel. I don't get huge dollars from views (ad revenue), nor do I get a lot of financial support from viewers. Summit Hifi is willing to send me equipment for review. Quite frankly, it would be absurd for me not to accept it. If you or anyone else had a small channel like mine, and were offered gear for review from a retailer, of course you would do the same, don't kid yourself. That does NOT make me a shill, it makes me sick and tired of losing money on equipment for review. Once my channel is larger and more companies/retailers are willing to send me products for review, then you will see those products on my channel also. That said, if I experience anything negative I will point that out in the video. But at the same time, I can only describe my personal experience, good or bad. Since you stated you like my videos, I would hope that you have watched a lot of them. If you have, then you will know that I point out all my negative experiences, whether I got the product through Summit Hifi or not. Hence why I even point out the room correction on the AT-300 is not very good versus the competition other than the fact it provided a nice flat bass response. A shill wouldn't point that out, would they? I think your comment is uncalled for and is just a baseless assumption.
