Upgrade Or Not

[fastfreddy]

Hi I currently own a Denon 3805 and I amusing Paradigm studio 40,s as my fronts a CC590 as my centre and mini monitors as my rears. My question is that the 3805 does not have HDMI capability and the 3808 does. The TV I am using is DVI capable. Will I notice a great differnce in sound with HDMI and is it worth the expense in your opinion.

Thanks

 

[agarwalro]

Only if you need to send audio signal over HDMI. The digital connections (coax, optical) do not have the bandwidth to carry the decoded HD audio. So, if you intend to upgrade to a BD player that does not have analog outs (or if those on your receiver are already used), this upgrade will be required.

Then two there are two options,

1) HD Audio Formats decoded in source
2) HD Audio Formats decoded in AVR

In the first case, you can get an AVR one generation older, like 3806 that offers HDMI switching only (I am using this with the PS3). In the second case, any current generation AVR will do the trick.

So it comes down to whether you are getting a BD player that has analog outs or not and if those on your receiver are available for use. With respect to sound quality, the in some instances, the HD tracks are noticably better than their non HD counterparts.

Also, with HDMI v1.4 coming out in the foreseeable future, it might be worth waiting for the next gen AVRs.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi I currently own a Denon 3805 and I amusing Paradigm studio 40,s as my fronts a CC590 as my centre and mini monitors as my rears. My question is that the 3805 does not have HDMI capability and the 3808 does. The TV I am using is DVI capable. Will I notice a great differnce in sound with HDMI and is it worth the expense in your opinion.

Thanks

Hi,

I was in the exact same situation than yours. I bought a Samsung BD-UP5000 combo player and a Panasonic DMP-BD55 (both with multichannel analog audio outs), and I connected these to my 3805 "Ext.In" multichannel analog inputs, and the sound was great with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA (Panny BD55). You don't really need the 3808 for better sound.

The nice thing about the 3805 is that you can add up to 15db (I add 10db) to the "Ext.IN" for the subwoofer channel. So it is perfectly ready for a player like the Panny BD55 or the BD80.

The 3808 has the exact same dacs than the 3805 (PCM-1791) and the exact same power. No sound quality difference here.

Me too I was looking at the 3808, but I just decided to go the way I just explained above. I knew that it will not improve the sound quality, and I was right.

Or just like the poster is saying above, wait for HDMI version 1.4 to arrive.

Me, I did get an Onkyo TX-SR805 (how could I not, it was highly discounted by almost 50%). But I would have still be very happy with my 3805, and actually I am still very happy with it in another room.

I don't know how much you pay at the time for your 3805 (you can get them now for only 200 or $300 on the internet), but I know that the 3808 is selling for about $999 right now.

But if you really want to improve the sound quality or go with more power, you'll have to look higher, like the 4308 which can be had for $1,300 at certain place. But even then the 4308 will not improve the sound quality (same Dacs PCM-1791) and just a bit more power.

Maybe you should try an Onkyo TX SR876* instead ($950 refurb).
* By the way, I also own that one.

Or wait for the Denon AVR-4310ci, anytime now ($2,000 list price).

Or simply wait longer for HDMI version 1.4, next year perhaps, with a Denon AVR-4311ci or an Onkyo TX-SR878 (the 877 will still have v.1.3a).

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[greggp2]

Does anyone know what the HDMI 1.4 will feature? Other than carry HD Audio and Video, what else do we need HDMI for? Truthfully, I hate the connection with HDMI, as it is by no means as secure as Analog or Digital Coax, but what else do you do? Have to keep up with the Technology, right?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Internet information. On HDMI version 1.4!

Does anyone know what the HDMI 1.4 will feature? Other than carry HD Audio and Video, what else do we need HDMI for? Truthfully, I hate the connection with HDMI, as it is by no means as secure as Analog or Digital Coax, but what else do you do? Have to keep up with the Technology, right?

Of course, you have to keep up with the newer technology, or there will be no forums like these.

HDMI version 1.4, hmm... lessee,... just Google it.

LOTR

 

[fastfreddy]

Thanks

Hi,

I was in the exact same situation than yours. I bought a Samsung BD-UP5000 combo player and a Panasonic DMP-BD55 (both with multichannel analog audio outs), and I connected these to my 3805 "Ext.In" multichannel analog inputs, and the sound was great with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA (Panny BD55). You don't really need the 3808 for better sound.

The nice thing about the 3805 is that you can add up to 15db (I add 10db) to the "Ext.IN" for the subwoofer channel. So it is perfectly ready for a player like the Panny BD55 or the BD80.

The 3808 has the exact same dacs than the 3805 (PCM-1791) and the exact same power. No sound quality difference here.

Me too I was looking at the 3808, but I just decided to go the way I just explained above. I knew that it will not improve the sound quality, and I was right.

Or just like the poster is saying above, wait for HDMI version 1.4 to arrive.

Me, I did get an Onkyo TX-SR805 (how could I not, it was highly discounted by almost 50%). But I would have still be very happy with my 3805, and actually I am still very happy with it in another room.

I don't know how much you pay at the time for your 3805 (you can get them now for only 200 or $300 on the internet), but I know that the 3808 is selling for about $999 right now.

But if you really want to improve the sound quality or go with more power, you'll have to look higher, like the 4308 which can be had for $1,300 at certain place. But even then the 4308 will not improve the sound quality (same Dacs PCM-1791) and just a bit more power.

Maybe you should try an Onkyo TX SR876* instead ($950 refurb).
* By the way, I also own that one.

Or wait for the Denon AVR-4310ci, anytime now ($2,000 list price).

Or simply wait longer for HDMI version 1.4, next year perhaps, with a Denon AVR-4311ci or an Onkyo TX-SR878 (the 877 will still have v.1.3a).

Hope this helps,

Bob

Thanks for the advice I think I will keep my 3805 a little disappointed that audio equipment depreciates so much. Maybe waiting for a product to be out for a year or so then buy would be thye way to go.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thanks for the advice I think I will keep my 3805 a little disappointed that audio equipment depreciates so much. Maybe waiting for a product to be out for a year or so then buy would be thye way to go.

Today I saw the Denon AVR-3805 on sale for only $150!

Well it is a 5 year old model after all.

How much do you think your next receiver that you will pay $1,000 street price for, will be worth in another five years from now?

 

[adwilk]

Upgrade or Not

UPGRADE... Always

 

[Lordoftherings]

HDMI version 1.4 features.

Does anyone know what the HDMI 1.4 will feature? Other than carry HD Audio and Video, what else do we need HDMI for? Truthfully, I hate the connection with HDMI, as it is by no means as secure as Analog or Digital Coax, but what else do you do? Have to keep up with the Technology, right?

Here: -> http://www.hometheatermag.com/news/052909hdmi1point4/

 

[Lordoftherings]

That's quite a valid point.

UPGRADE... Always

Indeed, the day you stop, is when you die.