Exclusive Denon AVR-3805 First Look!

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>&quot;Newbie&quot; &nbsp; ~ &nbsp;I have the studio series by JBL as well .. for your speaker choice I would go with the JBL Center, I have it and it sounds wonderful, and in addition to that, I've heard bad things about mixing speaker companies, especially when every single one of your other speakers is a JBL..

Just my 2 cents, and like everyone else I'm anxiously awaiting this review.</font>

 

[clueless HT Newbie]

<font color='#000000'>Thanks Mike.

The problem is that the S-center is not being made any more. So Would have to steal the S-center from my bedroom set-up for the HT.

I chose inifnity b/c KH, Infinity, and jbl are all the same company and the inifinity spec are very similar, 1'' titanim tweeters, etc. I am still in the process of trying them back to back and will update when I have made my final decision. pretty close so far.

what receiver do u run? what r ur thoughts about the JBLs? I love them.

Thanks</font>

 

[bigbot45]

<font color='#000000'>I just installed my silver 3805 yesterday. &nbsp;I have some thoughts and comparisons with my old Sony DA30ES. &nbsp;First, it sound much cleaner and processes much faster. &nbsp;I had to add a 200msec delay to my DirectTV Tivo box. &nbsp;Dolby Pro Logic IIx is very good, although I can't hear much difference between the modes when playing a tv source. &nbsp;I found I didn't like the DPLIIx mixing at all when playing a stereo music source. &nbsp;The sound became way to bright.

I prefer either stereo mode or 5-speaker stereo mode. &nbsp;I think I have the box setup properly but every so often I do hear an echo; which leads me to believe I need to tweek some of the speaker settings.

I played the Two Towers in DTS mode yesterday. &nbsp;The receiver was much better at distributing the sound. &nbsp;I have the microphone on order and will let you know how its aut-equalization improves (hopefully) the sound.

&nbsp; -Benjamin</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>I actually am currently putting my system together, and I just got all of the speakers, and I'm looking for my reciever (thats why im here!) &nbsp;But hooked up to my current sony receiver (only 5.1) They sound great!!

I know the Center is hard to come by, but I waited about a month and a half, searching the web and ebay until I found a really good deal on one. &nbsp;

I suggest trying to find it, because this is the best center I've ever heard.



~~Does anyone have any idea when the official audioholics review of this receiver will be in??~~</font>

 

[Audioholics]

<font color='#000080'>Our review sample of the 3805 just arrived. I've already integrated it into my HT system and am going through it now. I'll try to post a quick preview page next week of the highlights and my first impressions...

Remote sucks. What were they thinking...?</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>I'm in the market for a 7.1 reciever with all of the new decoders (DD EX, DTS ES, etc.) that, in addition to 7.1, has a 2nd zone support. &nbsp;So, basically, 9 speaker outlets, with 7 for my home theater, and a separate stereo set out (l/r). &nbsp;I am currently under the impression that this unit will accomplish this. &nbsp;Am I correct? &nbsp;Also, what other recievers in this range would accomplish this? &nbsp;Finally, what sort of wattage can I expect per speaker if I were to be running all 9 at once, as well as the wpc for only 7 channels (assuming the zone 2 is hooked to an amp). &nbsp;Thanks!

Michael</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Wow Hawke....I kinda like the remote...for what it is anyway. &nbsp;Easily programable with macro functions to boot. &nbsp;It ain't no Pronto, but for a $1200 receiver I am pretty impressed.

Mort (who loves his new 3805...mic too

&nbsp</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Save $60 on that over priced Denon Mic and use one that you might have already. I plugged in my computer mic in the Denon AVR-3805 front panel and it worked. &nbsp;Try it! &nbsp;The manual even says you can use other mics.</font>

 

[bigbot45]

Review - Now have microphone!

Hi Everyone,
I have the microphone and have run the auto-equalization. This is an impressive process. It seems to work, my system does sound better. Looking through the results though, I wonder why it EQ's both of main speakers differently, even though they are identical.
The sound seperation and decoding of this unit is superb; DPLIIx is definitely a huge improvement. I haven't noticed any sound snafu's - I think it sounds great. It also picks up a DD or DTS stream quickly, unlike my old amp that could take as much as 7 seconds.
I am disappointed with the remote. I have tried to teach it commands from our Hughes HD-DirectTV receiver. Whenever I try those commands, like "info", the Denon Remote freezes or reboots. The other thing I'm kind of disappointed with is the rear of the unit. As I plug in banana plugs or rca cables, the metal holding the connectors bend in with the pressure. This was not a problem I had with my old Sony The build quality in back is just depressing I was hoping it would be like a rock. Anyone else see this?
Overall I like the product alot. I just wish it had input renaming. It sounds extremely good; I just wish I didn't live in a apartment so I could crank her up.

-Benjamin

 

[Unregistered]

Benjamin,

The remote freezes up when you try to program a button that is not useable for a particular function. This frustrated me too until I found out that some of the buttons were not available to be changed. Over all I really like the remote, it just takes some getting used to.

 

[Mort Corey]

The manual instructions, with regards to programming the remote, could have been written a little (read a lot) better. It says something to the effect that when you are in program mode, the lighted buttons are the ones that are programmable.......they all light Once you get past its quirks, however, it learns pretty easily as do the macro (or "call") functions.

What's "bending" when you try plugging in banana plugs? I had no such difficulty. Everything plugged in snugly, but that seems like a plus.

Mort

 

[bigbot45]

Hi Mort,
When I push the banana plugs, or some rca cables in, I can feel the posts move backward a millimeter or two into the case.

-Benjamin

The manual instructions, with regards to programming the remote, could have been written a little (read a lot) better. It says something to the effect that when you are in program mode, the lighted buttons are the ones that are programmable.......they all light Once you get past its quirks, however, it learns pretty easily as do the macro (or "call") functions.

What's "bending" when you try plugging in banana plugs? I had no such difficulty. Everything plugged in snugly, but that seems like a plus.

Mort

 

[jmoskal]

Denon AVR-3805 First Impressions

Bear with me, I'm new to this. I just replaced my Onkyo TX-DS797 receiver with the Denon 3805. Wow! What a difference. I really thought the sound quality from the Onkyo was great, but the Denon is much more musical and sounds cleaner overall.

Likes:
Good selection of inputs
sound quality is great (used a cheap microphone to calibrate and it seemed to work ok...big difference over trying to set it up by ear)
Input switching works well (upconversion to component)
Remote control - pretty user friendly. My wife programmed it for the most part (there were a couple of minor glitches that I fixed) and I was able to figure out how to use it without reading the manual or looking at anything else
no audible hiss or noise when a source is not playing
extremely clean sound even at loud volumes (very crisp sounding...brought a new dimension to my Klipsch Reference speakers)

Dislikes:
Setup menu is very limited compared to the Onkyo
Remote sounds like something is loose in it...I will take it back to the dealer at some point when they can swap it out
Denon Link - I am not using this yet, but it would be nice if it were a standard interface...I don't like being tied down to one manufacturer. Hopefully Denon will release a sub-$1000 DVD Player with DVD-A using Denon Link and DVI.

Well, that is my initial impression. I will mess with it more this weekend and try out the Zone 2 feature with my A-Bus stuff and see how it work. Overall, I am very satisfied with my purchase and thank all those that bought this before I did so I had a basis to make my decision on.

Equipment
Denon AVR-3805
Klipsch RF-3IIs, RS-3s, RC-3 (no sub yet)
Toshiba 50HX81
Onkyo Cd Changer - just ordered the Denon CDM 380...HDCD sounds incredible
Panasonic RP-82 DVD
Sony SAT-HD200

 

[Access Denied]

Remote Rattle

I contacted Denon reguarding the REMOTE RATTLE (Remote sounds like something is loose in it). The rattle is coming from the sensor for the backlite tilt feature. So when you tilt the remote the backlite comes on. There is nothing wrong with your remote. JFYI

 

[jmoskal]

Thanks for checking the REMOTE RATTLE out

Thanks for looking into the remote issue. That makes me feel much better.

On another note, I was able to set the Zone 2 up today. I am using the analog Zone 2 output for this. It took me a while to figure it all out, but it works now. Denon has menu choices to output Zone 2 at variable, -40db, or 0db. The first two did not work well at all. Obviously, variable didn't work and -40 was very quiet even with my Russound A-bus control all the way up. At 0 it works perfectly. However, you can only output analog signals this way which makes for a cabling headache (I'm used to this as the Onkyo was the same way). I'm running Paradigm speakers in the ceiling in the bedroom and outdoor Paradigms outside and they work well. The A-bus controllers have their own amps, so I am not using the Zone 2 channels on the Denon 3805.

 

[Unregistered]

Looking to buy

Hello everyone,
I am looking to buy my first A/V setup. Considering Yamaha RX-V2400,Denon AVR-3805, or Outlaw 950/7100 combo. Can anybody tell me how the sound quality of the Denon compairs with Outlaw950/7100? I an looking for overall value for the dollar and best sounding product. I do not wish to pay for features that I will not use. Such as 49 or so DSP modes that Yamaha has. I feel money better spent on the "guts" that really mean the most and not "flashy" features not used. Don't get me wrong, I would purchase a Denon if it meets my requirements even if I would not use all the featues.
Thanks

 

[Access Denied]

Night Mode

How do I get to the D.COMP option for night mode? I do not have that option on the OSD no matter what I do? I am using a 5.1 setup with small speakers and a sub. What am I doing wrong?

 

[bigbot45]

Compression

How do I get to the D.COMP option for night mode? I do not have that option on the OSD no matter what I do? I am using a 5.1 setup with small speakers and a sub. What am I doing wrong?

You need to press the Surround Parameters key. D.COMP should be on there, at least for DD - I haven't seen the option come up for DTS.

-Ben

 

[Access Denied]

Is there a way I can get the receiver to be on Dolby Digital Ex mode without playing a source encoded with Dolby Digital or DTS? My unit always comes on with Dolby PL IIx or Neo: 6. Then when I play a source it automatically switches. I have my speakers set to front small, center small, surround A small, surround B and the backs are off. I can’t find the D.Comp option anywhere.

 

[Unregistered]

review 3805

Hey Hawke, What happened with the review of the 3805?