Another Question for the experts.

[Robert Monroe]

My current system is:

Yamaha RV-1103 Receiver (100 RMS @ 1% THD) (older 5.1 receiver)
Pioneer Elite DV-C36 DVD Player (5 disk changer)
Panasonic HD Television 32" CT-32HL42
B&W 704 (s) -- Front speakers
B&W LCR60S3 -- Center speaker
B&W DM600S3 (s) -- Rear Speakers
Velodyne DLS3750R -- 10" Subwoofer
Monstercable surge protector

I previously posted a thread and received good advice from members of the board. I have an additional question. In choosing between the Denon AVR 4306 and Denon AVR 3806 there are a few features of the 4306 I would like to hear comments on. Perfomance wise, the main difference between the 4306 and 3806 is 10 watts per channel. $700 is a lot to pay for 10 watts. There are however, several features the usefullness I am unsure of.

The 4306, unlike the 3806, has I-Pod connections built in. Are there any advantages, particularly quality or functional wise, for this feature as distinct from using the traditional Denon I-Pod docking station?

The 4306, unlike the 3806, has USB and ethernet connections. Do these connectors play any role in updating system software or are they solely for purpose of accessing content. If there sole purpose is playing source content,then what advantage do they have over an external connection such as connection to one of variety of computer to stereo converters out there, such as a USB DAC.

The downside for direct ethernet connection, particularly if the connection is to the internet, is that the import of digital material in this matter could potentially contain viruses and other maleware and infect the software on the receiver. Never heard of it happening, but it is a possibilty. Besides, maybe I am wrong, but is not Internet acquired content almost always of low audio/video quality anyway?

Thanks for any suggestions

Robert Monroe

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have an additional question. In choosing between the Denon AVR 4306 and Denon AVR 3806 there are a few features of the 4306 I would like to hear comments on. Perfomance wise, the main difference between the 4306 and 3806 is 10 watts per channel. $700 is a lot to pay for 10 watts.

Yes, that is a lot to pay for nothing.

The 4306, unlike the 3806, has I-Pod connections built in. Are there any advantages, particularly quality or functional wise, for this feature as distinct from using the traditional Denon I-Pod docking station?

Not familiar with these features but I seriously doubt it.

 

[jcPanny]

Denon features

Robert,
The ipod connection on the Denon should allow you to control the ipod with the denon's remote and send the audio digitally to the receiver.
The USB will allow for connection of other MP3 players and the DACs in the denon are likely superior to any MP3 player or other inexpensive adapter.
The internet connection could be used to stream FLAC or other lossles files to the receiver that are much higher quality than MP3s.

While the 4306 has these features built in, you could get similar functionality from a 3806 and a $2-300 squeezebox 3 for streaming MP3s and other files. The squeezebox has digital and high quality analog outputs for the receiver.

 

[sks939]

Denon 4306 streaming media

Actually, the Denon 4306 only accepts mp3 streams or DRM encoded Windows files (.WAV or .AVI) it does not accept FLAC directly. You can use the slimserver to transcode FLAC or other lossless files on disk to high quality MP3 files and then stream those to the Denon.

The Slimserver streaming URL to program in your Denon Internet Radio list is:
http://<Slimserver PC IP address>:9000/stream.mp3