Strube's First HT

[strube]

Heh. I took another look at your remotes. I am familiar with two of them, as you know.

Yes, worth every penny, do it. In fact, after you get it, you will know exactly what I am thinking right now.

Just wait 'till next month. The price has been at $80 +/- $3 for about a year now, at the least, and I don't think it will change, except in the case of dropping further.

I decided I could swing that remote. It is awesome!

It is an excellent value and it feels better built than the Harmonies I have used. Everyone complains about how hard and time-consuming it is to program on the Amazon reviews, and how they have to learn everything button by button for anything newer than 5 years old, but they must not know what they are doing. My PJ worked with a Sony TV code (and since it has a discrete OFF button, the PJ doesn't make you push it twice to shut it off like it did with the OEM remote), my HDDVD and Blu-Ray players worked with the respective brands' DVD codes, and I just had to do a quick scan of the codes to get the Rotel working (the given codes wouldn't work). The only buttons I had to learn were for the HDMI switch and that took a whole 15 seconds. The next step will be to play with macros for a while to maximize functionality.

The only thing I don't like about it is that the buttons on the side of the LCD don't line up with their respective text very well and I am an enginerd! Unacceptable !

Thanks again for the recommendation!

 

[jostenmeat]

Oh, congrats!

I used and recommend learning method for everything. Also, if your volume does not seem to work "continuously", but only a click at a time, reprogram but this time while "holding down" the volume keys on the original.

I agree that it is better built than Harmony. I also believe it's 100x easier to program, 1000x easier to tweak, and it costs less to boot.

 

[strube]

I used and recommend learning method for everything.

I could do that, but I am lazy . Besides, I set it up in 5 minutes and every remote function I ever use works great.

Also, if your volume does not seem to work "continuously", but only a click at a time, reprogram but this time while "holding down" the volume keys on the original.

Ah, perfect. That was kind of annoying me, sounds like an easy fix. Thanks again!

 

[Phil Taylor]

Nice looking setup ya got there. I particularly like the meticulously symmetrical arrangement of your Coke coasters on the table.

 

[Adam]

Nice looking setup ya got there. I particularly like the meticulously symmetrical arrangement of your Coke coasters on the table.

Of course, I had to go back and look at the pictures again to check that out.

I guess that they just looked so normal to me that I didn't even notice.

 

[strube]

Nice looking setup ya got there. I particularly like the meticulously symmetrical arrangement of your Coke coasters on the table.

Thanks

Of course, I had to go back and look at the pictures again to check that out.

I guess that they just looked so normal to me that I didn't even notice.

That's because it is normal!



...right?

 

[strube]

Yesterday I ordered a Denon 3808CI. I should have it by next week and will post updated photos when I get it set up (I am excited woohoo!!). I am going to double-blind test using the Denon amp and using the Rotel as my amp to determine whether I will be doing a pre/pro-amp thing with the Denon and Rotel or use the Denon only and just take the Rotel upstairs and nix the Denon 686. (okay, so I am having clarity issues - is that a run on sentence? I am sick! Gimme a break! Jeeze... )

I was surprised to find that the Rotel only weighs 5 more pounds than the Denon, has 30 less watts per channel (which I don't pay much mind to), and has otherwise similar specs.

Maybe I can post some screenshots too, as previously requested.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The 3808 sucks.................

Yesterday I ordered a Denon 3808CI. I should have it by next week and will post updated photos when I get it set up (I am excited woohoo!!). I am going to double-blind test using the Denon amp and using the Rotel as my amp to determine whether I will be doing a pre/pro-amp thing with the Denon and Rotel or use the Denon only and just take the Rotel upstairs and nix the Denon 686. (okay, so I am having clarity issues - is that a run on sentence? I am sick! Gimme a break! Jeeze... )

I was surprised to find that the Rotel only weighs 5 more pounds than the Denon, has 30 less watts per channel (which I don't pay much mind to), and has otherwise similar specs.

Maybe I can post some screenshots too, as previously requested.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Well, here is my first go at pictures of my HT. Forgive my photography skills . All comments and criticisms are welcome!

Looks great!!


Sweet lookin' doggy too!!

 

[strube]

Update to Denon AVR-3808

Well, I am downloading the latest firmware before I set the thing up for real. I am probably going to run the Denon amp. It sounds great even without setup and I wasn't feeling like it strained at all at higher volumes. That said, I don't really know what I am going to do with the Rotel at the moment, because it doesn't have a Zone 2 amp capability like the one upstairs, which is something I need.

Oh yeah, and I also hooked up a bigger sub and moved the one I had upstairs.

Anyway, here are the pics. Screenshots too!

Hopefully the firmware update will be done soon. I have to clean up the mess I made and then run Audyssey, which I have never had before in this room. I love new toys!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Pull that blue sticker off before you take any more pictures.

Looks good, glad you like it. By far the best GUI I have seen.

 

[strube]

Pull that blue sticker off before you take any more pictures.

Looks good, glad you like it. By far the best GUI I have seen.

But it plays for sure!!!

Yeah I planned on getting rid of that Microsoft crap right away. Does it come off easy or is it going to make me mad?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Comes right off. GOO BE GON takes anything off but you don't need it for this.

But it plays for sure!!!

Yeah I planned on getting rid of that Microsoft crap right away. Does it come off easy or is it going to make me mad?

 

[strube]

Wow. This thing is awesome for the price. It has everything a techno-weenie like me could want in an AVR, and more. I am thinking about selling the Rotel...

Comes right off. GOO BE GON takes anything off but you don't need it for this.

My sticker was a jerk face. It figures. I guess I need to go to Wally World and buy some of this GOO BE GON.

 

[TheFactor]

Wow Strube impressive HT youve got going there, very nice indeed!!!

 

[strube]

Well, after about 8 months, I upgraded my AVR. I love the 3808, but my dad loved his too. He had to sell it with his house not too long ago, and we are working on his HT when time allows. He decided he wanted to buy mine if it didn't put me in too much of a bind, and I could get another. I debated it for a long time - I was hoping it would put me in a position to buy a pre/pro or the AVR-4810CI, but the timing just isn't right for all of that. I finally agreed when I found a good deal on the AVR-4310CI.

Yeah, I know I forgot to take off the blue tape from the door before I took pics . It doesn't look any different than the 3808 cosmetically. It has a few more HDMI connections, a much better VP, and all the new height/width channel stuff, like PLIIz and Audyssey DSX. The web setup interface is greatly improved from the 3808, and there are a few little changes about the GUI that make setup much easier and more streamlined.

I haven't run Audyssey or anything, and I probably won't for a while as I don't foresee having too much time to even use the system for a few weeks, but I got it put in and hooked up, and took the opportunity to do a little bit more cable management with my new Monoprice velcro ties, especially in regards to all of the networking cables.It is still a far cry from how it should be.

I am kind of keeping an eye out for some small Paradigm Monitor (v.4 or v.3? - I will have to look into that) speakers to try out the DSX sometime, since I can't see upgrading all of my speakers happening for quite a while.

 

[TheFactor]

looking good thats a very nice AVR .

 

[adwilk]

Looks good strube, now go work on that thesis...

 

[Adam]

What can I say? I'm jealous.

Like Adam ("The Deuce") said - get back to work!

 

[NakaMitch]

very nice overall. how about paiting the wooden pojector cover to match the wall color?