Thought I'd let everyone know that I purchased the Feature update last week. I checked last night and there was already another Firmware release since last week. I ran it and it seems to have fixed some of the BASS related issue in Dynamic EQ. ( NOTE: My bass was sounding really low, with a lot of BOOM ) I like it loud, but it was annoying the way it was set up. Sounds alot better with the latest firmware and recalibrated Audessy.

- JD

3808 with Epic 80/500

That bass issue has been mentioned on AVSForum threads. Glad to hear it has been fixed.

was the bass issue only a problem if audyssey was enabled?

What do you mean you purchased a feature upgrade? I am thinking of getting a Denon and am curios.

With certain Denon models (3808 for example) you can buy new features. The first in the line up is Audyssey's dynamic volume and dynamic equalizer. Oh, it also gives you Rhapsody and Sirius support. This is for people who purchased it prior to Sept 1st. If you buy it now, or after 9/1, you get the new features for "free."

The 3808/4308/5308 have network connectivity and firmware updates/upgrades are available from time to time. Right now the 3808 has an upgrade to include some new features that are now avaialable for the 2309/2809. Those uf us with older 3808s can buy these new features and install them over the network link. if you spent the big bucks on the 5308 the upgrades are free as are the firmware updates for all 3 models. Please note the difference between upgrade and update, the updates fix bugs etc., the upgrades are adding new features.

Was the firmware update released only to fix problems for those who had purchased the feature upgrades, or is it an update that applies for all?

Jason

I think the firmware update was mainly to allow you to upgrade your unit with the new features... but I never did see a list of items updated so perhaps we are missing out on some kind of bug fix or something.

The updates did fix some issues. So while 1.95 (I think that's the one) was required to support the feature upgrade, there were other fixes as well. The first post of:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=995566

Has them listed.

Thanks Hansang... I always forget to check there. Things are running well for me... I think I'll avoid the upgrade for now until I run into a problem that needs fixing.

I finally got around to buying this upgrade and installing it. Re-ran Audyssey and confirmed settings with a meter. I typically run with Audyssey enabled, but with R/L bypassed. I still prefer it this way with the upgraded programming. The dynamic volume is way cool, but I’m not sure what the dynamic EQ is supposed to do. This is most likely wishful thinking, but things do sound a bit better to me. Bass seams to be more defined and the mids/highs are more airy.

I don’t think it was worth $100 though. If anyone is on a tight budget, you could find better things to spend $100 on than this upgrade.

thanks for the comment!

I think I read that Dynamic EQ sounds like the old loudness button from years back. It is supposed to keep things dynamic ie. bass and highs boosted, when the volume is low, which is when you typically loose those frequencies, are harder to hear, on most systems.

Thanks for posting Mdrew. Always good to hear first-hand opinions.

Besides making continual adjustments to frequency balance as the volume of the program material varies, Dynamic EQ also varies the relative level of the surround channels so that they remain effective at low listening levels.

Hmmm, I could see that being a plus.

A new question about the firmware updates:

When you update firmware, does the Denon blank all existing settings (like speaker distance, channel level, etc.)?

The reason I ask is that I'm at my dad's house and his Denon 3808 needs the f/w update as it is on a much older version. However, I don't have an SPL meter with me and really don't want to go through all of the hassle of trying to reconfigure everything after doing the update.

Thanks.

Jason

The newer updates are not supposed to cancel the settings but some reports are showing the new upgrade to cause a blanking of the settings, but it is a little sketchy as to if everyone is having the problem or not, I think there is a possibility that some of those having the blanking issue might have done this updgrade from the original firmware which didn't allow for settings retention.

SPL meter? Theoreticlly not needed, just the mic and the autosetup routine. You do have an entire weekend to tweak it back up, what else is there to do?

Nothing changed when I did it. I had to manually go into the auto set up to re-run audyssey.

Thanks guys - Jason... What to do this weekend? Come on man?! What else is there to do in Nebraska on Saturday...

Nebraska football, in Lincoln... Go Big Red!

Jason

What about all day today? And the game is only ~3hrs, unless of course you are actually attending the game, then the day is a write off, otherwise, that's 21 hrs to tweak, oh wait, you may actually sleep. That's ok, that is still 13hrs to tweak.

Oh yes, I'm planning on attending (as long as the weather is not awful).

3 hour round trip in the car, at least 3 hours of tailgating, 4 hours of game... at least 3 hours of recovery... The day is pretty much consumed. (in a very good way)

Jason

Now I wish I could be there, never had the chance to attend a college ball game in the States. I was invited to training camp with the Wyoming Cowboys way back when, wish I had attended.