Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Anyone using a network-enabled receiver?

I was planning on picking up a Denon AVR-3808CI when they finally hit the market here but I'm getting impatient (it's been almost a week and a half my shiny new speakers are for the most part sitting silent).

I have to admit the #1 reason I want this receiver is it's built-in ability to stream FLAC encoded music. I have about 1200 CDs ripped to FLAC and stored on a 1TB NAS. The HDMI 1.3 is kind of interesting since I picked up a 1080P Sharp TV the other day too.

Should I stop whining and wait or does anyone know of another receiver that'll do the trick? Budget is around 1.5K but that's not written in stone.

The 3808CI is on the top of my list of things to buy once I move into my new condo (right along with my Axioms). I was going to get the 2807, but the ability to network the 3808 (specifically to a Mac) allows me to not need to buy a separate computer or AppleTV to connect my computers to my HT (I have no need for the video streaming ability, only audio).

There has been some talk about the network ability of the 3808 (and the 4308) over at avsforums. There appears to be a few issues like wireless from the 4308 not connecting to Apple brand routers, streaming of audio after source is changed (not playing, just transferring over network), etc. Mostly things sound minor to me. I'm just stoked to be able to use the ethernet jack that is behind my TV to connect directly to my receiver rather than needing another computer with an optical audio output.

I'm sometimes hesitant to buy products so new (when there are some 'bugs' or other firmware updatable things), but the moment that I need a receiver I will be getting the 3808CI.

-Todd...

I use the Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 to stream music. I have around 11,500 tracks ripped to flac (with a few mp3 stragglers) and stream using the squeezebox. You can either control it via the box it self or via a web based GUI. If you have multiple squeezeboxes you can sync them together for whole house audio. You can stream Pandora, Rhapsody, and internet radio.

www.slimdevices.com to find out more info.

The base model Squeezebox is 300. There's an upgraded model called the Transporter thats 2000 that's aimed at the audiophile market. If you use the Squeeebox with an external DAC you should be fine.

I'm about to take delivery of an Onkyo 905 which is comparable to the 4308. Both companies had to make a decision about one year ago with product planning.

Denon went with "cheaper" video scaler and put more into the GUI which has more mainstream appeal. Onkyo went with the best (Reon) processor and less with their GUI.

Networking will become a huge standard in the next few years and this will eventually trickle down (e.g. the first TVs have it now but most will have it in a few years) but right now, it's gonna cost you.

Seems Denon finally released Canadian pricing for the 3808ci - $2,225! That's a 39% premium versus what's charged in the States. Just doesn't make sense.

The 4308ci comes a slightly more reasonable 19% above the US MSRP (still no where near the current exchange rate).

I have two choices it seems; buy from a grey market internet retailer or buy another brand & get something like a squeezebox.

I'm swearing, big time...and having a hard time not calling them every sort of name in the book here.

I've found that in many cases stores such as Soundsurround here in Calgary sell for less than MSRP. Hopefully this will apply to the 3808CI. Due to warranty issues, I won't buy anything over a couple hundred bucks from anyone besides an authorized distributor.

I don't know why, but sometime in the past day or two the Canadian MSRP on the 3808CI dropped from $2,225 to 1,949. That's a little easier to take.

Just 6 more weeks until I can order two M2's and some ceiling mounts, and 7 weeks until I can buy my 3808CI. 7.1 here I come!