3910 or 3930? Is there a $500 difference?

[jmrife]

Hey, my first thread here!

By Friday of this week I am picking up my new 4306 and either the 3910ci or the 3930.

Apparantly the 3910 is being discontinued, because I can get this once $1500 machine for $799 from an authorized dealer. Best price I can get on the 3930CI is $1335.

I can afford either unit, no sweat. I am interested in the Denon Link III, which I understand is available as firmware from the Denon site for SACD playback.

My primary concern is audio playback, especially multi-channel hi-rez discs; both units seem to be more than capable of producing great PQ. I am interested in video up-rez of sd dvds, which both offer.

My panel is a 50" Panasonic plasma with a native of 768p.

What am I giving up by saving the $535? 1080p from the 3930 is a non starter considering my panel, and by the time I have a 1080p panel, I will likely have an HD DVD player, after the format war.

I am willing to pay the difference if there is a difference.

Any help is appreciated!


Mike

 

[The Rang]

Mike,
Your post is now a couple of months old so I'm curious about which direction you went.....3910 or 3930?
I can't answer your question but I would venture a guess that the audio would be similar and the PQ would be better on the 3930.

 

[jmrife]

I went for the 3930. Am very happy so far, especially with the audio reproduction!

 

[mitsubishimania]

3910 versus 2930

I too have been looking at the 3910 with the recent price drop but am comparing it with the 2930. I have no need for video upconverting as my RPT has only component input. Any thoughts on the difference in audio quality with these two units? I want to utilize the Denon Link with my 3805 and possibly the analog outs for 2 channel.

 

[pbarach1]

I too have been looking at the 3910 with the recent price drop but am comparing it with the 2930. I have no need for video upconverting as my RPT has only component input. Any thoughts on the difference in audio quality with these two units? I want to utilize the Denon Link with my 3805 and possibly the analog outs for 2 channel.

When you use the Denon Link, then you are using the DAC's in your 3805 to convert the signal from your hi-rez discs into analog mode. The advantage of this is that you can apply the RoomEQ settings in your 3805 to those hi-rez signals. The disadvantage is that the DAC's in the 3910 are superior to those in the 3805. However, some people find that the advantages of using the RoomEQ outweigh the slightly inferior DAC's in the 3805. This will depend on your speakers and your room. In my situation (I have the 3805 + 1910 combo, too), letting the 3910 convert my hi-rez discs to analog gives better results. The resulting sound is much less in-your-face, imaging is better, and on 2-channel, the soundstage is deeper on well-recorded discs.

Your best bet, assuming you own or can borrow the right cables, is to try both and see what works best for you. BTW, I didn't spring for megabucks 5.1 analog interconnects.

 

[mitsubishimania]

I agree with you pbarach1 and I currently run a Denon DVD-1600 through the analog outputs and love the sound with DVD-A. The only reason I would use the Denon Link is to free up the analog inputs on the 3805 for a future HD DVD format player. From what I understand, the new surround sound formats won't transmit through optical/coaxial connections.

 

[WeAreSurrounded]

I agree with you pbarach1 and I currently run a Denon DVD-1600 through the analog outputs and love the sound with DVD-A. The only reason I would use the Denon Link is to free up the analog inputs on the 3805 for a future HD DVD format player. From what I understand, the new surround sound formats won't transmit through optical/coaxial connections.

And even if they would, your 3805 does not have decoders to decode them ...
So you are right in thinking of reserving analog inputs (EXT.In) for these HD audio formats.

 

[Starmax]

Analog output is better

I also have the 3805 and the 3910, and after comparing the Denon Link 3 digital sound to the analog cable output, I prefer the analog...more detail, cleaner separation, more envloping music. Can't explain why, but eveyone who has gone through a blind listening test agrees they like the analog sound better.

 

[pbarach1]

I also have the 3805 and the 3910, and after comparing the Denon Link 3 digital sound to the analog cable output, I prefer the analog...more detail, cleaner separation, more envloping music. Can't explain why, but eveyone who has gone through a blind listening test agrees they like the analog sound better.

A variety of possible reasons, depending on how you have set up the two systems:

*If you use the 5.1 analog outputs on the 3910, then speaker levels, delays, and subwoofer crossover point are being set by the 3910, not the 3805. Maybe you have them set up better on the 3910 than on the 3805.

*Correct me if I'm wrong, somebody, but I think the RoomEQ circuitry is not being used on the EXT IN inputs...

*All other things being equal, the 3910 has better DAC's than the 3805. It's the 3910's DACs that are in use when you use the EXT IN connections, and the 3805's when you use DLINK3 or any of the other digital cables to connect these pieces of equipment.

I found that if I set the speakers and bass management the same on both the 3805 and the 3910, and if I turn off RoomEQ, then EXT IN gives me better sound (especially better imaging and a deeper soundstage) than using any of the digital connections. Others report that being able to use RoomEQ on the digital connections has given them better results than analog connections, even if (on paper) the 3910 has better DAC's. Let your ears deliver the verdict!

 

[Starmax]

A variety of possible reasons, depending on how you have set up the two systems:

*If you use the 5.1 analog outputs on the 3910, then speaker levels, delays, and subwoofer crossover point are being set by the 3910, not the 3805. Maybe you have them set up better on the 3910 than on the 3805.

*Correct me if I'm wrong, somebody, but I think the RoomEQ circuitry is not being used on the EXT IN inputs...

*All other things being equal, the 3910 has better DAC's than the 3805. It's the 3910's DACs that are in use when you use the EXT IN connections, and the 3805's when you use DLINK3 or any of the other digital cables to connect these pieces of equipment.

I found that if I set the speakers and bass management the same on both the 3805 and the 3910, and if I turn off RoomEQ, then EXT IN gives me better sound (especially better imaging and a deeper soundstage) than using any of the digital connections. Others report that being able to use RoomEQ on the digital connections has given them better results than analog connections, even if (on paper) the 3910 has better DAC's. Let your ears deliver the verdict!

In its set-up menu, the 3805 gives you the option to either turn on or off the EQ when using EXT IN. I usually keep it off. What's the next step up for a receiver that would equal the 3910's DACs?

 

[WeAreSurrounded]

4306 has the same DACs as 3910 ???

In its set-up menu, the 3805 gives you the option to either turn on or off the EQ when using EXT IN. I usually keep it off. What's the next step up for a receiver that would equal the 3910's DACs?

I heard 4306 is (which I own), although I don't have any supportive data (don't know the DACs model# for 4306).
Anyway, playing sound through EXT.In (from 3910) or through DL3 between these 2 units produces very similar results for me ...

 

[Starmax]

4306

What else does the 4306 improve upon over the 3805 besides better DACs, HDMI connections and 10 more watts per channel?

 

[WeAreSurrounded]

What else does the 4306 improve upon over the 3805 besides better DACs, HDMI connections and 10 more watts per channel?

Audyssey MultEQxt Room EQ autosetup, Ethernet/Network input, PC browser interface, Internet radio, XM Radio, USB/MP3 input, iPod input, WMA/mp3 streaming, ZONE3, 1080p passing, up to 1080i HDMI upconverting and upscaling (from analog connections).
Quite a package

 

[Starmax]

wow!

Now I understand why it lists for $800 more than the 3805 did when it was new. Considering how drastically slightly outdated technology drops in price, I'll wait for it to come down a bit. Shouldn't be long...