Whenever you buy a used AVR

[MrBoat]

Should you do a factory reset? It never occurred to me that the previous owners settings may still be intact. Specifically, what all will a reset restore to default, and what all does that entail? The person I got this AVR from has an entirely different system/speakers than what I have and he used auto EQ when he had it.

 

[shadyJ]

Obviously his equalization will not be any good for your setup. But you can just redo it for your setup, no need for a factory reset. A factory reset might be handy if he has reassigned some of the inputs and outputs to odd channels. Most users don't do that though.

 

[PENG]

Yes you should do a factory reset. That will reset the microprocessor(s) and put everything back to default settings. Default settings are the settings that you will find in a brand new unit when you power it up the first time.

 

[lovinthehd]

Maybe not if it has account info for a music service.....just kidding. You are still using previous settings or changed them manually?

 

[MrBoat]

Thanks for the replies. Without quoting everyone, this is the first AVR I have ever owned. I don't have a TV hooked to it so reading the tiny menu with this thing just a few inches off the floor without a remote is something that will cause procrastination. There are a lot of things to adjust and I have yet to go thru the tone controls. Mostly I have been listening in Pure Direct mode, and EQ'ng the source manually so that actually works. But now I am listening to the new Continuum speakers using the CD stereo mode with a crossover to the Subwoofer. They sound amazing, but I wonder if I am being limited or fighting the AVR with my graphic EQ. I would like to start from scratch, so to speak, and see what the actual truth is with regard to personal preference without going all Pure Direct for these speakers.

 

[Bucknekked]

Thanks for the replies. Without quoting everyone, this is the first AVR I have ever owned. I don't have a TV hooked to it so reading the tiny menu with this thing just a few inches off the floor without a remote is something that will cause procrastination. There are a lot of things to adjust and I have yet to go thru the tone controls. Mostly I have been listening in Pure Direct mode, and EQ'ng the source manually so that actually works. But now I am listening to the new Continuum speakers using the CD stereo mode with a crossover to the Subwoofer. They sound amazing, but I wonder if I am being limited or fighting the AVR with my graphic EQ. I would like to start from scratch, so to speak, and see what the actual truth is with regard to personal preference without going all Pure Direct for these speakers.

what did we acquire? I can say from recent personal experience that having a TV attached via HDMI makes doing the menu stuff and the setup stuff so much easier you might actually do it. Using just a remote and the front panel of the AVR can be "painful".

 

[MrBoat]

what did we acquire? I can say from recent personal experience that having a TV attached via HDMI makes doing the menu stuff and the setup stuff so much easier you might actually do it. Using just a remote and the front panel of the AVR can be "painful".

I got a Denon 3805 given to me awhile back, and I found another in as nice a condition for $75. They're old, but were formidable in their day.

I don't watch TV. If I had it hooked up, they would watch it out here and I would have to cut them off when I wanted to listen to tunes.

The TV I have is an older Samsung CRT with:
Connections
Type

• HDMI, USB, audio line-in, component video input, composite video/audio input, composite video/audio output, digital audio output (optical)
• Qty
  1, 2
• Connector Type
  19 pin HDMI Type A, 4 pin USB Type A, RCA x 2, RCA x 3, TOSLINK

I am not even sure how compatible it is with the Denon although it should be. Just never researched hooking it up being this AVR went right into 2 channel duty.

 

[lovinthehd]

I got a Denon 3805 given to me awhile back, and I found another in as nice a condition for $75. They're old, but were formidable in their day.

I don't watch TV. If I had it hooked up, they would watch it out here and I would have to cut them off when I wanted to listen to tunes.

The TV I have is an older Samsung CRT with:
Connections
Type

• HDMI, USB, audio line-in, component video input, composite video/audio input, composite video/audio output, digital audio output (optical)
• Qty
  1, 2
• Connector Type
  19 pin HDMI Type A, 4 pin USB Type A, RCA x 2, RCA x 3, TOSLINK

I am not even sure how compatible it is with the Denon although it should be. Just never researched hooking it up being this AVR went right into 2 channel duty.

Should have some connection choices then, altho the built-in panels aren't that bad to use if you pull up a chair....but in pure direct shouldn't make any difference what the previous guy set, maybe for other uses....

 

[MrBoat]

Should have some connection choices then, altho the built-in panels aren't that bad to use if you pull up a chair....but in pure direct shouldn't make any difference what the previous guy set, maybe for other uses....

With my big speakers, I like to run those in Pure Direct and use the DSP on the subwoofer amp to control that. The little Continuums are set to small, with a crossover at 80 hz, so I cant, or don't use pure direct for those.

 

[lovinthehd]

With my big speakers, I like to run those in Pure Direct and use the DSP on the subwoofer amp to control that. The little Continuums are set to small, with a crossover at 80 hz, so I cant, or don't use pure direct for those.

That unit has Audyssey? Did you turn it off so as to not use the settings of the previous owner outside of pure direct? Does your sub work with direct mode in your unit (I seem to remember that yours does but didn't look it up)?

 

[lovinthehd]

....or have you done the factory reset yet?

 

[MrBoat]

That unit has Audyssey? Did you turn it off so as to not use the settings of the previous owner outside of pure direct? Does your sub work with direct mode in your unit (I seem to remember that yours does but didn't look it up)?

Yes, on mine the sub still works in pure direct. It doesn't have Audessy, I don't think, but it has auto EQ of some sort.

No, I haven't reset it. I want to write down some of the settings it does have just in case. IIRC, I set the sub level when I first hooked up the subwoofer. Again, IIRC, I think the tone control is off but I will have to look to see what all there is.

 

[Pogre]

I never thought about it before, but yeah, I think I'd reset it. It'll be just like it comes from the factory.

 

[KEW]

Yes, on mine the sub still works in pure direct. It doesn't have Audessy, I don't think, but it has auto EQ of some sort.

No, I haven't reset it. I want to write down some of the settings it does have just in case. IIRC, I set the sub level when I first hooked up the subwoofer. Again, IIRC, I think the tone control is off but I will have to look to see what all there is.

I spent about two years operating my SR6001 without a monitor. You'll need the manual close to see/learn the menu structure. But. honestly, having later added a TV, I should have at least bought a cheap small TV to use the on-screen display, or hooked one up temporarily. I probably could have bought one for the amount of extra time I spent figuring out how to change this or that, not to mention better exploring/understanding the unit's capabilities.
You might also check the inputs on your computer monitor and see if you can't use it as a temporary display.

 

[MrBoat]

I spent about two years operating my SR6001 without a monitor. You'll need the manual close to see/learn the menu structure. But. honestly, having later added a TV, I should have at least bought a cheap small TV to use the on-screen display, or hooked one up temporarily. I probably could have bought one for the amount of extra time I spent figuring out how to change this or that, not to mention better exploring/understanding the unit's capabilities.
You might also check the inputs on your computer monitor and see if you can't use it as a temporary display.

The only reason I haven't really bothered is, I only use it for two channel music. The only real function of the remote even, is for volume control and on/off. Plus I fell into the DIY rabbit hole and kind of forgot about it and months went by. I haven't had to look at the display often and when I did, had to basically learn where everything was in the menu again and had forgotten where I had been before.

 

[KEW]

The only reason I haven't really bothered is, I only use it for two channel music. The only real function of the remote even, is for volume control and on/off. Plus I fell into the DIY rabbit hole and kind of forgot about it and months went by. I haven't had to look at the display often and when I did, had to basically learn where everything was in the menu again and had forgotten where I had been before.

Yeah, I was using mine for stereo music only as well, but I did not really compare different Audyssey options and set it up as thoroughly as I did once a TV was in the loop.

 

[MrBoat]

Yeah, I was using mine for stereo music only as well, but I did not really compare different Audyssey options and set it up as thoroughly as I did once a TV was in the loop.

I tend to take you folks word on this stuff and I believe what you say. Is why I am asking so that once I settle all of these other things, it's coming down to really learning the equipment. Admittedly, from my rather limited experience with modern electronics, this stuff is a bit dry for my limited attention span in this regard. I know most of this falls under "RTFM," but most of the manuals now qualify as books.

If the Denon wasn't such a great amplifier and the price ultimately right, I would most likely be better suited for an integrated amp than all of these other features to work around that I do not use.

Some things I plan to eventually visit are, the TV inclusion, and the auto EQ feature, which brings up another question. WTF does everyone do with the mics that typically come with these things? The mics and the remotes are almost always MIA.

 

[Bucknekked]

Some things I plan to eventually visit are, the TV inclusion, and the auto EQ feature, which brings up another question. WTF does everyone do with the mics that typically come with these things? The mics and the remotes are almost always MIA.

MrBoat:
what to do with all the little do-dads that come with systems? I have one of those big black storage bins with the yellow tops that places like Home Depot and Costco sell just for music related junk. I have stuff in there (particularly those white and red RCA cable sets) I will probably never use again but can't possibly throw them out. I looked in there the other day for something and it was like going down memory lane.
Remember those "component audio" cables? I have bunches of them. BIG ones. I have cable sets for xboxes that don't exist anymore.

In particular, I try and keep microphones in their original boxes and then throw them in the bin. You probably have a bin just for wood screws and fasteners, or, welding do-dads. Same principal.

 

[MrBoat]

MrBoat:
what to do with all the little do-dads that come with systems? I have one of those big black storage bins with the yellow tops that places like Home Depot and Costco sell just for music related junk. I have stuff in there (particularly those white and red RCA cable sets) I will probably never use again but can't possibly throw them out. I looked in there the other day for something and it was like going down memory lane.
Remember those "component audio" cables? I have bunches of them. BIG ones. I have cable sets for xboxes that don't exist anymore.

In particular, I try and keep microphones in their original boxes and then throw them in the bin. You probably have a bin just for wood screws and fasteners, or, welding do-dads. Same principal.

Apparently, many previous owners of AVRs don't do this. I know remotes can get lost into the recliner and sofas or chewed up by a pet, perhaps, but I suspect a lot of AVR'rs are hoarding microphones. lol

 

[Pogre]

MrBoat:
what to do with all the little do-dads that come with systems? I have one of those big black storage bins with the yellow tops that places like Home Depot and Costco sell just for music related junk. I have stuff in there (particularly those white and red RCA cable sets) I will probably never use again but can't possibly throw them out. I looked in there the other day for something and it was like going down memory lane.
Remember those "component audio" cables? I have bunches of them. BIG ones. I have cable sets for xboxes that don't exist anymore.

In particular, I try and keep microphones in their original boxes and then throw them in the bin. You probably have a bin just for wood screws and fasteners, or, welding do-dads. Same principal.

I have a chest of drawers for the same reason!

Apparently, many previous owners of AVRs don't do this. I know remotes can get lost into the recliner and sofas or chewed up by a pet, perhaps, but I suspect a lot of AVR'rs are hoarding microphones. lol

They're plastic and I've had a couple fail on me. I'll bet more than a few ended up tossed away. If you call Denon they might be able to send you a new one. When I called they were very nice about it.