Denon 3805 Setup

[RMK!]

I have been using the 3805's front panel display for setup and I think i might be missing some menu options by not using a video out from the Denon to my DLP's display. I have my Cable box and DVD hooked directly to the DLP but not the receiver. The DVD's setup menu is much easier to navagate with the DLP display. I assume it will be the same for the receiver. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks

 

[flyv65]

I have my Cable box and DVD hooked directly to the DLP but not the receiver. The DVD's setup menu is much easier to navagate with the DLP display. I assume it will be the same for the receiver. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks

Yup, the onscreen display of the 3805 provides a good deal more infromation for the setup than trying to use the "wee 'lil screen" on the receiver. What kind of video signal are you getting from the cable box and DVD player? Unless they're DVI-D or HDMI, you're shooting yourself in the foot not running then through the reciever: the 3805 upconverts composite and s-video signal to component out, and passes component through.

Bryan...did the same thing at first, untill I read the manual (again)...

 

[RMK!]

Yup, the onscreen display of the 3805 provides a good deal more infromation for the setup than trying to use the "wee 'lil screen" on the receiver. What kind of video signal are you getting from the cable box and DVD player? Unless they're DVI-D or HDMI, you're shooting yourself in the foot not running then through the reciever: the 3805 upconverts composite and s-video signal to component out, and passes component through.

Bryan...did the same thing at first, untill I read the manual (again)...

I'm using component from the HiDef cable DVR (Motorola 6412) and DVI from a Denon 3910 DVD. I'm thinking a composite video cable from the 3805 to the DLP will do it. Thanks for confirming the lack of menu detail.

 

[flyv65]

I'm using component from the HiDef cable DVR (Motorola 6412) and DVI from a Denon 3910 DVD. I'm thinking a composite video cable from the 3805 to the DLP will do it. Thanks for confirming the lack of menu detail.

If you've got spare component cables you can just run the cable box into the receiver then component out into the TV- you won't have to set up another antenna on the tube. How do you like the DVI from the 3910? I'd flirted with getting that instead of the 2910, but since my HDTV is only component-capable I thought I'd save the money.

Bryan...cheap barsteward...

 

[RMK!]

If you've got spare component cables you can just run the cable box into the receiver then component out into the TV- you won't have to set up another antenna on the tube. How do you like the DVI from the 3910? I'd flirted with getting that instead of the 2910, but since my HDTV is only component-capable I thought I'd save the money.

Bryan...cheap barsteward...

I think I like the more direct component cable to DLP vs running it through the receiver. The HD picture from the Comcast box looks really good on my DLP (rear projection monitor, not projector).

Re the DVI, it allows me to upscale the signal to 720P (my DLP's native rez) and the picture looks GREAT. You could do that with the 2910 as well if you had DVI or HDMI on your TV. I bought the 3910 primarily for the Denon Link for DVD-Audio and maybe, eventually, possibly, SACD over digital single cable. In the meantime I have Denon Link and analog audio cables between the 3910 and the 3805 (cable hell).

 

[Duffinator]

Yup, the onscreen display of the 3805 provides a good deal more infromation for the setup than trying to use the "wee 'lil screen" on the receiver. What kind of video signal are you getting from the cable box and DVD player? Unless they're DVI-D or HDMI, you're shooting yourself in the foot not running then through the reciever: the 3805 upconverts composite and s-video signal to component out, and passes component through.

I'll second this. You will not notice any loss of picture quality running through the receiver. I run both DVD and HD-Sat through the receiver. It makes switching inputs much easier for my family as well.

 

[RMK!]

I'll second this. You will not notice any loss of picture quality running through the receiver. I run both DVD and HD-Sat through the receiver. It makes switching inputs much easier for my family as well.

I have a Harmony Universal and it is taking care of the switching just fine. Adding another set of (expensive) good quality component cables to my "cable hell" is unnecessary if regular (read cheap) composite video out will work since I'm only doing this for the 3805 menu display or am I missing something?

 

[flyv65]

I have a Harmony Universal and it is taking care of the switching just fine. Adding another set of (expensive) good quality component cables to my "cable hell" is unnecessary if regular (read cheap) composite video out will work since I'm only doing this for the 3805 menu display or am I missing something?

No, the only advantage to using the component hookups from the reccy to the TV is that you won't have to assign another "antenna in" on the tube. I have my XBox and 2910 hooked up to the 3805 with component connections (my TV will do 1080i but only thorugh component feed, and the 2910 only does 720p and 1080i through DVI or HDMI-bummer), and my VCR and dish through composite...so I only had to run one set of component cables from the deck to the TV and let the 3805 upconvert.

Bryan...of course, if you've got a spare composite cable use that-how picky are you gonig to be about a programming image, right?...

 

[RMK!]

No, the only advantage to using the component hookups from the reccy to the TV is that you won't have to assign another "antenna in" on the tube. I have my XBox and 2910 hooked up to the 3805 with component connections (my TV will do 1080i but only thorugh component feed, and the 2910 only does 720p and 1080i through DVI or HDMI-bummer), and my VCR and dish through composite...so I only had to run one set of component cables from the deck to the TV and let the 3805 upconvert.

Bryan...of course, if you've got a spare composite cable use that-how picky are you gonig to be about a programming image, right?...

Roger that,

 

[Duffinator]

I have a Harmony Universal and it is taking care of the switching just fine. Adding another set of (expensive) good quality component cables to my "cable hell" is unnecessary if regular (read cheap) composite video out will work since I'm only doing this for the 3805 menu display or am I missing something?

Yes, most likely your DVD and cable boxes are close to your receiver. Running throught the receiver (if there was no HDMI/DVI) would shorten cables and eliminate multiple cables to your TV. In my case I only have one component cable to my TV for five inputs into my receiver. My HDTV does not have HDMI inputs so component switching works great for me. But using HDMI/DVI cables voids this setup, at least until you have a receiver that switches HDMI. For affordable component cables check out bluejeanscable.com or check eBay for Monster stuff at half off.

 

[RMK!]

Yes, most likely your DVD and cable boxes are close to your receiver. Running throught the receiver (if there was no HDMI/DVI) would shorten cables and eliminate multiple cables to your TV. In my case I only have one component cable to my TV for five inputs into my receiver. My HDTV does not have HDMI inputs so component switching works great for me. But using HDMI/DVI cables voids this setup, at least until you have a receiver that switches HDMI. For affordable component cables check out bluejeanscable.com or check eBay for Monster stuff at half off.

I do have a lot of cables going to the TV but it has plenty of connects so no issues there and the video side of the Denon 3805 is clean (except for the soon to be installed S-Video for the menu settings).
Blue Jeans cable is great. I bought some speaker cable, banana clips and a DVI cable from them. Saved a lot vs monster.