In my maddening quest to learn all that is learnable in regards the new crop of HDMI 1.3 receivers hitting the streets this fall, I've become quite intrigued by Denon's AVR-3808CI. Since I've never owned a Denon receiver, I was wondering what you owners--both current and previous--think of this companies receivers? Also, how well do they compliment your Axiom's?
The interface is like stabbing yourself in the eyes, and they're very confusing. The manuals are horrible.
Other than that, they're great, and have pretty good features.
I'll have to agree with Ken on the manuals, you need to go through them several times. I've owned three and all three are still working flawlessly, come to think of it I've never had a problem with a Denon product. As also pointed out they have great features.
I've gotta agree with Kcarlile & Homedad. Horrible interface, confusing manual. Especially maddening when you haven't changed settings for a while and then have to 'relearn' things.
However, excellent quality and features. Not one problem with mine.
I've had mine for three years now with no problems. It did take a long time to learn to use the remote and take full advantage of the features as the others mentioned. I would not hesitate to buy one again but I would also check out other options as well. Good luck!
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The interface is like stabbing yourself in the eyes, and they're very confusing. The manuals are horrible.
Other than that, they're great, and have pretty good features.
Bwah-ha-ha! That description's hilarious.
I've only used a Denon receiver once about 6 years ago and I can sure agree with everyone's comments regarding ease of use. I was asked by my uncle to help him set up his Denon. I've got an old Yamaha and I'm used to it's simplicity, but that Denon, my god did it confuse me! From then on I hated Denon's. I never gave them a proper chance because of that one experience--in fact I can't even remember how the thing sounded. But now as I've gotten more patient with age, I've decided those glowing reviews I've read migh be accurate and that perhaps it's time to give Denon a chance. Fortunately the GUI has been updated for this year's models, and from the pictures I've seen it looks very impressive.
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Fortunately the GUI has been updated for this year's models, and from the pictures I've seen it looks very impressive.
It actually has a GUI? On another note, my cheap bottom of the line Denon has no problem driving my Axioms.
What Ken said.
My even-lower-than-Mojo's-Denon is bulletproof and powerful. It sounds just fine. But making it emit the sounds in the right matrix and the right zones is agony. Even with a universal remote. Frankly, the un-ease of use has me looking at anything BUT a Denon for my next processor. "listening" to it is fine; I HATE "using" that SOB.
I don't know about your prospective model, but I should have just crushed my remote with a sledgehammer right out of the box. Would have saved time.
I love my remote. Of course it took me a year to figure out how to use it.
I'm waiting for the AVR-3808CI myself. Several feature that I really like:
* Four HDMI (v1.3 to boot) inputs
* Up-conversion from all sources to HDMI (when I have more than 4 sources)
* RJ-45 connection (with integration to iTunes => no more need for me to get an AppleTV or a second computer just to play music)
I've not spent much time with the UI, but my previous work with my father's AVR-1700 hasn't been too bad (heck, my mother can even use the remote!)
I wish the price was close to the $1299 of the 3806, but $1599 isn't too terrible.
-Todd...
Another vote for "Denon receivers have decent power and lots of features but are horrible to set up". HK receivers have tons of power (despite being rated for maybe 1/2 as much as a comparable Denon), a very simple UI, and almost no features other than the ability to set different crossover frequencies for each set of speakers, which is really cool.
Bayne,
The best advice I can give you is buy a few different brands and do some critical listening. This is what I will do next time I'm shopping around...just like I did when I bought my monitor. I could be wrong but I am starting to believe that surround processing is very much receiver-dependent and the only way you can tell is by listening.
To tell you the truth I really didn't care for mine. It seemed like I was always checking and double checking the speaker levels, tweaking with this or that setting. I always felt like I had to find something else. I gave it to my son, who seems to really like it and purchased an HK , which I do prefer. I spent more time reading/rereading the manual than I ever did listening to it.
Why don't you "tweak" your HK. Is it because you feel that you found the perfect configuration and now you're sticking with it?
I've found the perfect configuration for stereo but I always have to tweak my settings for surround. It's not the Denon but rather my source material and to some extent my room that necessitates this. Last night for example I was watching A History of Violence and I had the centre set to 0 and it sounded fantastic. The other night I was watching Unforgiven and I had a heck of a time with the centre. I had to tweak the volume, cross-over and tone controls.
And in PLIIx or Neo6, when I listen to music, I sometimes turn the centre off as I feel that gives me a better soundstage.
Regarding the "horrible to setup" comments. I love my Denon but I have to agree.
However, I'm one of those geeks who is actually slightly disappointed if my electronics is too easy to set up. I know it's completely wrong but I can't shake that subconscious feeling that if it's too simple to configure than it can't be as high end as I need. Remnants of my first gen. programming days.
Denon may even actually design their product around misdirected souls like mine.
Maybe hypnosis would help.
Guys, thanks for all the comments and advice thus far. It seems apparent that Denon receivers are a decent product, but quite complex. The weak remote issue has never bothered me as that can be corrected by a decent universal one--and trust me, no remote is as poor as the one for my Yamaha RX-V595a. I haven't yet been completely won over by any brand as of yet, I'll wait for the reviews to start coming out before that happens. However the Denon is in the lead. It will definitely be interesting to see how well Denon's Audyssey MultEQ XT audio set-up works with this new generation of receiver, as well as the new GUI which reportedly is modelled after Yamaha's current one.
I am totally seduced by the notion of that Audyssey Multi EQ XT.
And I don't think it's so much that the Denon stuff is "complex"; my opinion is that they have made controlling and modifying the complexity inherent in this sort of product frustratingly non-intuitive. At least for me.
Hello. New to the forum. Looking for speakers to go with the new Denon AVR4306, purchased last Friday. Bailed on the 4308 (replacement, available next month) when I discovered the price was going up another $1,000.
Very happy with it so far. Have run CD and DVD through it, using fiber audio. TV (Pioneer PDP5070) is connected to it with HDMI video and fiber audio. All sound great.
Set up the Internet radio tonight, took maybe 15 minutes. Neat feature.
The unit has a web page that can be accessed from any PC in your house. It greatly improves your view into the unit.
Denon gets a bad rap for confusing manuals, and their on-screen display is horrible. The web-based configuration improves that. I haven't had an issue with the manual, but in the interest of full disclosure, I'm an electrical engineer - I'm supposed to think like they do. AVS Forum has a very helpful group of Denon enthusiasts on a number of unit pages.
Hope that helps. Like your speakers? That's the reason I'm here.
Goldy, another welcome. Yep, we like 'em; outstanding performance/price ratio. I deduce that a setup including M60s would be what you're looking for, so buy, listen, enjoy(or listen before, if you get that audition).
Sounds like you pretty much have the same system that I have. Bang for the buck I think that the Axioms are hard to beat. The only other speakers that have peaked my interest cost about 3-4-5x as much.
A pair of M60's, a VP150, an EP500, and 2(adding a 3rd after I buy a new receiver) QS8's--that's the system everyone should own. I love them in every way, and my 8 year old Yamaha receiver with only 80 watts per channel has no trouble driving them. I can't wait to see what a new receiver will do to the sound. And as for bang for your buck, a good friend of mine whose a musician has an expensive Paradigm system that he swears sounds just like my Axioms which were half the cost.
Well, I've got 2 of them (1905 and 3803) and had an 1803. I have talked several friends into getting them and they are pleased.
Bulletproof, dependable, good performers. The manuals are a bit tough, but stop well short of being life-threatening. The on screen display is not going to get marks for "pretty", but it functions.
I also use Denon DVD players (2900 and 4800DVM).
I'm a happy Denon guy and will likely stay with them over time.
Just my two cents..I have a AVR-1804 and a DVD-2900.I agree what everyone says about the manuals and setting up part but I like the tinkering around part myself.If I had to buy another reciver it would be another Denon.
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A pair of M60's, a VP150, an EP500, and 2(adding a 3rd after I buy a new receiver) QS8's--that's the system everyone should own. I love them in every way, and my 8 year old Yamaha receiver with only 80 watts per channel has no trouble driving them. I can't wait to see what a new receiver will do to the sound. And as for bang for your buck, a good friend of mine whose a musician has an expensive Paradigm system that he swears sounds just like my Axioms which were half the cost.
If you are going to add a 3rd QS8...then by all means go for 2 of them in the rear. If you do some extensive searching and reading on 7.1 vs 6.1 you will see that many pro's out there state that even though the rear surrounds are getting the same signal, that it still leands itself to a more immersive surround effect when 2 speakers are utilized over one. Just my $.02
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If you are going to add a 3rd QS8...then by all means go for 2 of them in the rear. If you do some extensive searching and reading on 7.1 vs 6.1 you will see that many pro's out there state that even though the rear surrounds are getting the same signal, that it still leands itself to a more immersive surround effect when 2 speakers are utilized over one. Just my $.02
My home theatre room is only 13 feet wide. I really think that having 2 rears would be overkill and not give me any better sound that just 1. They'd be only a couple feet apart.
I'm kind of with Bayne on this; I think the value of 7.1 over 6.1 would be highly dependent on the room.
Of course, I'm listening to 5.1 and am happy as a clam, so ...