I know there are threads analyzing the new Denon 3805 specifically, and I believe I read that the official review of the amp for this site is on its way. Nevertheless, I wanted to offer this up in the meantime: the remote control BLOWS!
I've been using it for about a month and a half now. I set it up to be the universal remote for my entire system (TV, DVD, Amp [of course], Cable Box, CD and TIVO [which I gerry-rigged]. About two week into its use, the remote had some kind of an electrical short and the entire function screen for audio settings lost its back-lighting. This is a critical feature since the thing is a touch screen/pad. I took it back to the retailer and convinced them to swap out the remote. I re-programmed the new remote and about three week in there was, what I surmise to have been, another electrical short. This time the backlight initially turns on but then immediately fades to black (within about a second and not to be confused with the light-off function). Trying to turn it back on with a quick snap of the wrist (the backlight is movement senitive) brings on the faded backlight with an even quicker fade to black. To top it off, the thing has now lost the codes of all of my auto-programmable devices and won't accept new codes. Retailer said that they would try to repair it but wouldn't swap it immediately. With repair time (and the possibility that it could go to Japan), I could be without the remote (i.e., the spine of my HT) for weeks just to get back something 'fixed' that, as history suggest, will probably last for another 2-3 weeks.
Well, I'm taking the advice of this site and purchasing the Home Theater Master MX-700.
Please note that the 3805 itself has been great in all other respects and has surpassed my expectations. Just don't buy it for the remote.
