Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners What, another 3808 help thread??

So, I've been to college. . .and graduated (got my diploma to prove it), but whenever I open my Denon 3808 manual I find myself constantly searching for pop-up tabs and scratch-n-sniff stickers because I feel like a complete dumb-dumb trying to decode it.

Do you guys know if there is a way to set up quick A/B speaker switching with the receiver? I want to hook up two pairs of speakers for a comparison, but I want to make sure I can level match them. I have a separate speaker switcher, but it doesn't have volume control. In the past I've been lucky and the speakers come out at the same dB level. I'm hoping the 3808 can perform such a function utilizing the second zone/amp thingy. . .

In the meantime, I'll just keep staring at the pictures in the manual. . .

good luck Sean, hope you figure out a way. I've run into the same problem with my Denon 2805. I'll use the A/B switch on my remote to go back/forth, but the levels don't match.. I've been looking at various speaker switches on Ebay with volume control, but your talking another $50 bucks.

I don't think there is Sean. Maybe by hooking one up to Zone 1 and another to Zone 2 and toggling between zones at the same volume level?

That's kinda how I'm thinking it might work, if it works at all. I suppose I'll have to drag everything out and hook things up and play around with it. It's funny, I've had a couple "cheap" receivers, which all had nifty A/B switches, albeit no separate volume control, but once I got into the 'spensive receivers, aka H/K 7200 and Denon 3808, no A/B switch. What gives?

I went through the exact same thought process about 2 months after I got the 3808. I thought for sure I must be missing it.

For $50 more than the $50 speaker switcher, you could get a fully functional Sherwood receiver with built in A/B switching. On the Sherwoods, you can even switch A to B via the remote control, so you wouldn't even have to get up to make the switch.

Aaaahh, I don't need another receiver!!!

I just moved an old Sony receiver to the downstairs living room. My H/K is still sleeping in the closet. Too many electronics I'm sitting on. . .

Maybe I'll just have to use my Sima speaker selector and deal with the volume difference objectively.

How the tables will turn when the robots take over....

Robot insurance is no joke. Get it while you can. . .

My old 1804 was wonderful for A/B switching. The 3808 not so much, which is what prompted me to look for switchers with volume controls, Phoenix Gold makes some, as does Sima, Niles Audio and bunch of others, but they are a bit pricey. The best thing you can do is run the zone 2 or 3 as secondary mains and switch between them, or just pick up a manual switcher, no volume controls for $20-$40.

Thanks, Jay. I'll just use my trusty manual switcher, I think. Hopefully the difference in volume won't be extreme.