Denon sound is too pitchy, fix?

[JOD]

I just pulled the trigger on a denon 2808ci, and so far im not impressed at all, its doesnt seem to be better than my pioneer 1017. I am considering getting another receiver, but for now ill give it a shot. I did the auto EQ and sound is also more pitchy, which i hate, it fatigues my ears and its hard to listen to, i tried it with the EQ off and on, no difference, still pitchy. I now noting about adjusting the EQ manually, can some on help me out? what can i do to make it less pitchy?

 

[rnatalli]

What speakers are you driving? Did it things sound pitchy with your 1017?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

What the heck is "pitchy"? I thought I had heard all the audio terminology, but that one is new to me.

 

[Bluesmoke]

I think he means a harsh high end. Having heard the 2808, I don't see how that's possible. It's a very neutral/slight warmish sounding receiver.

 

[JOD]

What the heck is "pitchy"? I thought I had heard all the audio terminology, but that one is new to me.

Haha, really? That was one of the first terms i learned. What i mean by pitch is that the highs are too sharp and harsh.

rnatalli, the speakers i am using are all small, except for the LFE, i use a sub. I watched the same movie scene that i use to test out all my audio equipment. It seemed more pitchy with the Denon than the pioneer 1017. I am thinking of getting a Pioneer Elite 91 or something similar like that. It seems like the Denon isnt worth is.

 

[bandphan]

Haha, really? That was one of the first terms i learned. What i mean by pitch is that the highs are too sharp and harsh.

rnatalli, the speakers i am using are all small, except for the LFE, i use a sub. I watched the same movie scene that i use to test out all my audio equipment. It seemed more pitchy with the Denon than the pioneer 1017. I am thinking of getting a Pioneer Elite 91 or something similar like that. It seems like the Denon isnt worth is.

bright is the term your looking for

 

[markw]

I used a term similar to pitchy when talking about my first wife. She was harsh and shrill also.

ba-da-boom!

Seriously, bright, harsh, and edgy I've heard, but I've never heard pitchy in my 40+ years in this hobby.

You might want to look at the speakers here. The receiver's contribution to the overall sound is minimal compared to them.

 

[dilznoofus]

I used a term similar to pitchy when talking about my first wife. She was harsh and shrill also.

ba-da-boom!

I see you married my ex. My condolences.


To me, all asian mass manufactured receivers sound harsh and glaring. You could try "taming" your room by adding some items that will cut down on reflections (heavy drapes, maybe a heavy throw rug or two, go nuts and cover the rear wall with 2.5" acoustic foam). Also try playing with the placement of your speakers to see if that will help.

 

[rnatalli]

You might want to look at the speakers here. The receiver's contribution to the overall sound is minimal compared to them.

Exactly why I asked.

 

[JOD]

I dont think its the speakers.....it seems some of you are missing an important part....I had the same speakers on the pioneer 1017, and i dont remember having this problem. I just returned the pioneer and put in the denon yesterday, so my impression is fresh. That said it sounds bright. It maybe that this reciver doesnt work well with these speakers. I only have 29 more days to try it out, I plan on getting the SVS SBS 01's, and i would like to see how the reciver works with those, but i dont currently have the money to get them. So i may just return it till i get the new speakers. Still, i dont like the denons setup, its very complicated to operate, and it doesnt even have a sleep timer. But if it would truely sound better, then lets say a pioneer elite, i would be willing to tuff it out.

 

[JOD]

Ive looked online and i can find pioneers highest end receiver the VSX-94TXH for only 1,200 shipped, i doubt that the denon would out preform this receiver....

 

[rnatalli]

We didn't miss anything. In my original reply, I asked what speakers you were driving and if they sounded pitchy (bright) with the 1017.

What was missing from your original setup using the 1017 that drove you to check out the Denon?

Buying a $1,200 to drive small speakers, even the SVS SBS-01 isn't wise. Your budget should lean 60-70% towards speakers. The SVS SBS-01 are great speakers and power hungry, but don't need a $1,200 receiver to drive them. Something like the Yamaha 659 (or 661 if you need HDMI) would be more than enough. If you're going with a new setup, figure out what speakers you want first and then worry about a receiver.

 

[Addy]

well you can get an denon avr-3808ci for 1200 sometimes even cheaper..every ones ears are different and the way your room acoustics or construction of you house could affect the sound...one of my major problems is going WAY overboard when buying a receiver the denon 3808 i have small bose speakers(i know i know) but planning on upgrading sooner then later

 

[Bluesmoke]

Maybe it's subjective.

I personally can't stand the Pioneer sound. The new ones sound like plastic, and missing the natural tone of Denon, HK, Marantz, etc..

 

[JOD]

We didn't miss anything. In my original reply, I asked what speakers you were driving and if they sounded pitchy (bright) with the 1017.

What was missing from your original setup using the 1017 that drove you to check out the Denon?

Buying a $1,200 to drive small speakers, even the SVS SBS-01 isn't wise. Your budget should lean 60-70% towards speakers. The SVS SBS-01 are great speakers and power hungry, but don't need a $1,200 receiver to drive them. Something like the Yamaha 659 (or 661 if you need HDMI) would be more than enough. If you're going with a new setup, figure out what speakers you want first and then worry about a receiver.

the reason i want to spend so much, is not for power, its audio quality. No, i dont need as much power that a 1,200$ receiver may output, but i do want all the added benifits, like better componets, and extra setup options. Many receivers under 1k dont have the same options that a 1000+ receiver may have. I am looking at the pioneer elites and they look like the best bet.

 

[Addy]

yeah thats what i want.. more features! power is nothing to me! i dont need 130 watts per a channel.. thats ear bleeding! its all about quality!

 

[JOD]

yeah thats what i want.. more features! power is nothing to me! i dont need 130 watts per a channel.. thats ear bleeding! its all about quality!

YES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Davemcc]

Perhaps your time would be better spent using the next 27 days learning to use the features of the Denon you already have. If you have no knowledge about how to use an Eq, your time is well-spent trying to learn how to use an Eq. If the menu system seems complicated, spend the time to learn how and why it is set up that way. You obviously have a lot to learn including basic terminology, but a determined desire not to learn it.

The combination of self-admitted ignorance and impatience does not bode well for your future in this hobby. If you are unwilling to learn how a fine receiver like the Denon works, you are unlikely to benefit from changing receivers. You probably won't know what to do with the new one either.

Further, if you want help from anybody in this forum, it would help if you answered the questions that were asked of you by the forum members. What speakers are you using?

 

[JOD]

Perhaps your time would be better spent using the next 27 days learning to use the features of the Denon you already have. If you have no knowledge about how to use an Eq, your time is well-spent trying to learn how to use an Eq. If the menu system seems complicated, spend the time to learn how and why it is set up that way. You obviously have a lot to learn including basic terminology, but a determined desire not to learn it.

The combination of self-admitted ignorance and impatience does not bode well for your future in this hobby. If you are unwilling to learn how a fine receiver like the Denon works, you are unlikely to benefit from changing receivers. You probably won't know what to do with the new one either.

Further, if you want help from anybody in this forum, it would help if you answered the questions that were asked of you by the forum members. What speakers are you using?

This is my 3rd receiver. So its not like i dont have any experience woking with them. Even if this receiver didnt sound bright, i still would return it. Like i said, I do not like the listening modes, and it is missing some key features. Also, just becuse I use a word to discribe sound thatyou have never heard before doesnt mean I dontknow terminology. In fact one of the best known auidofiles and seaker system designer/installers in the bay area uses the term, pitchy. I am using smll size Onkyos, th type that comes with the 990THX.

 

[markw]

Before coming off all high and mighty you might want to consider this.

In fact one of the best known auidofiles and seaker system designer/installers in the bay area uses the term, pitchy.

It's "audiophile", not audiofile. I'll ignore the transposition of the "i" and the "d" because that's a typing mistake anyone can make, but the spelling...