Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater denon 2803 vs 3803

I never use the DSP modes. They all sound like crap. Sometimes I use 5 channel stereo while watching F1 or college football, but otherwise all that seems to be required is DD/DTS and Direct/Stereo.

What is the difference in the price of the 2803 and 3803? Enough to upgrade your speakers or sub? IMO, that would be the better route than popping for a pricier receiver and shorting yourself elsewhere.

BigWill, does ur reciever have NEO mode, the sourround is more alive while playing music CDs in this mode......chck it out if u got it

i concur.. i think the 'neo6 music' mode sounds the best for general music listening. i have found that the 'stereo all channel' is good for some of the grungier heavy metal tracks i like, but it mainly stays on the neo6.

if i remember correctly, there are only about 10 dsp modes on the onkyo 701, but i hardly ever use them.. i did find one that sounded good while watching a nascar race.. cant remember which setting it was??

bigjohn

Wow, I thought most everybody here listened to CDs in 2 channel. What do you guys like about Neo6 for music? I do use Neo6 on occasion (or DPLII) for non-5.1 DVDs, but for music???

Neo6 Music adds in the centers and surrounds to fill in the gaps, once you throw your mains out to the wings for HT (how many 2 channel guys have 12 feet between their mains?), they seem too wide for stereo listening to me, also, with the surrounds cut out, everything seems too "front heavy" (for obvious reasons).

I use Neo6 Music for music listening assuming I'm facing or sort of facing the TV (sitting on the couch talking, etc) and 6 Channel Stereo if I'm puttering around the room (otherwise when I face south the surrounds are in my left ear, in front when I face east, etc)

Bren R.

i agree with bren, the neo6 lets the center channel fill that void in the middle. the 701 has a 'neo6 cinema' for movies.. and a 'neo6 music' for, well, music. the cinema mode tends to really put the voice in the center channel. helps on tv shows and talk shows.

to follow brens lead, i also like the 'all channel stereo' when moving around the room. it puts a general more stable sound around the whole room, instead of in one specific spot.

bigjohn

thanks for all the inputs...regarding ericb's comments

>If I had to do it over again I would have probably bought >a factory refurb from someplace like Dakmart (they've had >the 3805 for something like $850). I've also seen a >refurb of the 3803 from ecost for $499 at one point. I >think they've got the 2803 for $459 right now.


I have always wanted to know...

1) has anyone on this board got a denon refurb ?
2) If so, how long have you had it and how does it sound ?
3) If you had any issues with it, pl. share it here so that we can all know.

I was planning on getting a 2803 with a pair of M60's to start off and then later on add the VP150 with the QS4s. ( I know I will miss the HT discount, but thats the way it is...). But I go for the 3803 instead, I will have to put off buying for a while...

With my mains 9-10' apart and me 13' away 2 channel sounds great, HT great.

I assumed everybody set their mains up for music first and HT second. I guess we all have different priorities, eh?

I had a Denon refurb 3803 from DakMart and it was very good. No problems whatsoever but I wanted more power so I sold it and got a HK AVR-7200. There was a noticeable difference in power although the 7200 has it's quirks.

In reply to:

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With my mains 9-10' apart and me 13' away 2 channel sounds great, HT great.

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Very strange... my measurements are nearly the same (10' between, 13' away) and I find straight stereo sounds a bit awkward. It's all perception I'm sure though, since my last stereo setup (as a late teen) was about the same and seemed fine to me then, think I've gotten used to hearing a centre channel now and I miss it when it's not there.

Strangely, at work, I work almost exclusively with single channel and don't miss the stereo separation.

Bren R.