Denon 3800 to Denon 4308 Reciever Hook Up Help

[audioethusiast1]

Hi Guys

I just got a Denon 3800 and the Denon 4308 A/V Reciever...

Im not sure exactly how I should hook this up to my 5.1 setup...I want to play movies with surround, but also want to play stereo music...

I also want the "best" surround choice, and the "best" possible sound for stereo?
Now here is the part that confuses me since this is the 1st time ive ever owned something this high end or even a reciever... Its said that the denon 3800 DACs are better than the 4308...So im not sure how to do this... Also, I dont know if I need to use the analoge ( RCA jacks) inorder to take advantage of the burr brown DACs....And then just use the HDMI directly to my HDTV???

Also, the 4308 reciever says it has analogue to digital burr brown DACS, dont know what this means??? Catch what im trying to say, i just dont know the best possible way I can hook this up, so I can just sit on my couch pop in a movie, watch with great surround, and then pop a cd in , and get the best possible sound from stereo (without having to reconnect stuff) just swtiching settings

firstly, I always thought digital (toslink) gave one a better audio performance, so Ive read...but then im told the burr brown dacs wont kick in unless its through anagloge (with teh 3800)

So here are my choices: regarding the 3800
#1----HDMI to HDTV and Analogue (RCA) (from the 3800) to reviever for the sound
#2 ---HDMI only to reciever (for video and sound only using 1 HDMI)
#3---Both the HDMI and Analgue(RCA) go directly to the reciever


I know this is hard to understand, as you can see, I can barely describe my troubles...ill try to re read and re read this post to try and clarify...But I hope someone can chime in and give me step by step on what I should do? Im so confused...thanks

 

[audioethusiast1]

I was told I can use just HDMI for everything, but wouldnt using the onboard audio conversion on the Denon 3800 be the best option... Which then I was told:
It may be worth experimenting with the player's internal conversion for stereo music, using a pair of analogue interconnects, but I would go into the front left and right channel inputs of the receiver's EXT.IN multichannel analogue in, as this should offer the cleanest signal path through the amp. Also use the receiver's Pure Direct mode.

EDIT: so should i just use only HDMI for movies and blu rays, then use the analogue out with the 3800 for music cd's... I just want the very best possible combination, without over confusing me to switching modes, since im new at this

once again, im sorry for such a long post...

 

[jostenmeat]

I was told I can use just HDMI for everything, but wouldnt using the onboard audio conversion on the Denon 3800 be the best option... Which then I was told:
It may be worth experimenting with the player's internal conversion for stereo music, using a pair of analogue interconnects, but I would go into the front left and right channel inputs of the receiver's EXT.IN multichannel analogue in, as this should offer the cleanest signal path through the amp. Also use the receiver's Pure Direct mode.

I don't know why the EXT IN mch is any better than just the red/white stereo inputs, except of course if you are going to use mch music discs like SACD and DVDA. But, sure, why not.

EDIT: so should i just use only HDMI for movies and blu rays, then use the analogue out with the 3800 for music cd's... I just want the very best possible combination, without over confusing me to switching modes, since im new at this

Correct. If you cannot discern any difference by having the player do the DA, or in fact the receiver sounds better doing it, then just have it all via HDMI if only for the sake of convenience.

Good job, it seems you're getting the handle of it.