Hey Everybody,
First post here.

My background is in recording equipment, and I've tended to have a pretty crappy home stereo setup for a long time due to spending most of my money on various recording gear.

So, my understanding of the various digital formats used to transmit surround from the DVD player to receiver and TV is a little limited.

Regardless, I've been called upon to upgrade the fiance's parents' home theatre system. The old receiver took a crap, so that's the first call to business.

So far, from my floundering research, the Denon AVR 987 seems to have the feature set and price that they are looking for. And, from my experience, Denon generally seems to be a step up from Sony/Pioneer/Harman etc.

Here's a link:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDe...de=93#prodspecs

My question is concerning whether or not the HDMI output on the Sony DVD player is actually going to work with this setup. The DVD player also has Coax and optical digital outs, both of which the Denon has in corresponding inputs, so am I right to think that at least one of these formats will enable true surround sound from the DVD player?

I just want to make sure these things are absolutely compatable.

Anyway, please pardon my ignorance here.

1. What do you guys think about the quality of this unit?
2. Are there going to be any problems with the format compatability to get surround sound (up to 7.1 if possible) with the Sony DVD player and the Denon?

DVD player has HDMI out/Coax out/optical out. Denon has all these inputs and says it supports: DTS 96/24 decoding for DVD-Video, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS, NEO:6, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II, Neural Surround and Dolby Digital.

3. Is there another unit you guys might suggest that would be better? (Bare in mind, for the main L&R's, the preamp will be used as they already have a really good Adcom amp)

JohnK will be around shortly to give you the scoop. Wait, you areJonK ... this is gonna get confusing.

Don't worry. Your near-doppelgänger will be here shortly. FRick!

The 987 is the big box equivalent to the 3807 minus a few connections on the back, if I remember right, so the quality is there. You are correct in your guess that the 987 hooked up via coax or optical from the DVD will give you the full surround spectrum of DD and DTS. You could get the 2308 for about the same price as the 987, I believe, and it will do HDMI1.3a and the newer HDaudio formats, to hopefully future proof for a couple of years.

So far as JohnK coming around, he will most likely suggest an Onkyo product that will do everything you want as well and just might be a little cheaper than the 987. rs.

Welcome, JonK(something about your post has given me a warm feeling already). Just to clarify, the 987 is identical to the 2807, but is generally available at a slightly lower price. As was already mentioned, yes it would meet the needs that you've described. However, since you appear to be considering spending about $640 including tax, there may be an even better option.

The 2308, although a fine unit, wouldn't be as suitable since it doesn't have pre-outs. Although this might be considered an advantage in some cases since it lessens the temptation to blow money on a separate amplifier, if your future in-laws are going to use the Adcom, then pre-outs simplify matters.

Rather than the 987, which is one generation dated, if you can get a unit with similar power capability and which includes the latest HDMI, HD audio format capability, and latest Audyssey MultEQ XT processing improvements, and at a similar price, it should be considered instead. The Onkyo 705 meets these requirements and is similar overall to the excellent Denon 2808(988), but better deals are usually available. At the moment(deals come and go in as little as one day)the 705 offer at J&R for about $650 with free shipping appears to be the best.

Hey! What are the chances? Strange, there really aren't that many Jo(h)n K's out there are there?

Anyway, thanks so much guys. I'll definitely look into the Onkyo unit.

And yes, preamp outs are definitely something that I'd (they'd) like to to have.

I gather from the replies that Onkyo units have a similar feature set as Denon, and pretty close in terms of build quality?

Because of the existence of these Adcom amps they have (and who knows, I just know these things sound great. They're not expensive used-Adcom 525, maybe I'll like the amp in one of these receivers better but I highly doubt it.), it's not that essential that the main L&R amp be that great.

Mainly what I'm looking for is a bazillion combinations of switching and surround sound options and amplification for the back speakers. So, an Onkyo unit for cheaper makes sense, but how good is the quality control? Will it last a long time?

There are lots of Onkyo's out there with out problems. The biggest problems I know of are that the Onkyo's have had P/S issues and are/were not recommended for less than 6 ohm loads. Many on this forum have Onkyo's driving the 4 Ohm M80s with out a hitch, I suspect that Onkyo has rectified that situation. The only other matters I am aware of are an audio to Video sync problem early last year on the 805/905(I haven't heard if it has been resolved, but I bet it has) and they tend to run warmer than other receivers, take from that what you will.

Hey guys.

Boy, the 2308ci looks like what I want if it just had preamp outs. I see on the back there are "zone 2 pre outs." I don't even know what zone 2 is. Could this possibly work for the main L&R's? Eh?

Zone 2 is for using the receiver in a seperate are of the house as a 2 channel system.

You already have L&R mains why would you want to use zone 2 for that?


The 2808 has preouts. If you double the budget you could get the 3808 and not have a need for anything else. I have the 3808 and it is one amazing AVR.

Gee, just double the budget? That shouldn't be an issue...

Ken, you forget. When we spend other people's money, rules don't apply.