Help Please.. Denon 3808, Onkyo 805, and onkyo 875

[20Glove]

Hello all, did not get a good response last time I just now added another receiver to the mix.

I am wondering if anyone has heard or can explain the difference overall with the Denon 3808, Onkyo 805, and the Onkyo 875?

I am also wondering which one may serve my needs best.

I am in a 18' by 18' room that is pretty wide open with a pole in the middle. I am using Sapphire surround (Towers ST III (FL and FR), Sapphire Center, and Sapphire surround (SR, SL, BR, and BL), with a Martin Logan Dynmo Subwoofer. I am hooking it up to a 1080p Samsung DLP, running through it will be PS3, Xbox Elite, Yamaha DVD/SACD Upconvert 2700 (1080P), Directv HD DVR, VCR ProScan, Onkyo Audophile CD Player 555, and am using a Panamax Power Conditioner. I want to add HD DVD Player when they are able to output True HD sound.

I want to buy today as the place I am buying from has 2 805's, 1 875, and 2 3808's. I know I may sound like a novice... I am... Please Help!

 

[nick1000000]

Go to that place with some CD's and movies you like and give each of them a test. compare only 2 at a time. It is too hard to try and compare 3. Compare them for awhile, not just 10 minutes. When you find one that you think sounds better compare it to the 3rd one. Do the same process over again. Don't rush this either. You say you want to buy today. Is that because they only have limited quantities? If so its not like they will never be in stock again. You never want to rush into something and then just end up regreting it.

 

[20Glove]

Store does not hook up receivers

I am purchasing from a very well known dealer and they do not hook up their receivers, they believe that when they sell there demos they do not want the person to lose 2-3 yrs of the life of the receiver, meaning they would have it on all the time, which according to the salesmen is a death sentence for the receiver.

They suggested that I purchase both the 875 and the 3808 and compare them at home with my speakers. I just do not want the hassle of setting up two systems then taking one back.

So that is why I was wondering about history of the company? Usual sound from that company? Things like that.

The salesmen explained to me that the 3808 and 875 appear to be the better bet since I am using the Directv HD-DVR and the non 1080P games from PS3 and Xbox 360, it will upconvert those pics to 1080P for my DLP.

Let me know. Thank you for your suggestion. I have been researching many receivers for almost a year and it appears to me that Onkyo, Integra, Marantz, and Denon are the 4 best in my price range. I know that Onkyo and Integra are owned by same people and Marantz and Denon as well so therefor the sounds are suppose to be consistent between the Denon and Marantz and Onkyo and Integra. But now trying to figure out who overall sounds better and has that flexibilty to go back and forth between surround and stereo.

Thanks!

 

[MDS]

I am purchasing from a very well known dealer and they do not hook up their receivers, they believe that when they sell there demos they do not want the person to lose 2-3 yrs of the life of the receiver, meaning they would have it on all the time, which according to the salesmen is a death sentence for the receiver.

I'd look to another dealer. That is the biggest line of B.S. I've heard in awhile. Any reputable dealer will have a model hooked up so you can listen and play with its controls and then when you decide which one you want, you buy a brand new version of it that has never been opened.

You are making way too much out of the decision. Receivers do not have a signature sound. You should download the manuals for each of the ones you are considering and read them to get a feel for how they operate and if there are any features on one that you must have that is not offered on the other. Better yet, go to a respectable dealer that actually has them connected so you can see first-hand how they operate.

 

[20Glove]

There are no dealers that have both systems expect this one

There are no dealers, believe it or not that have the three models, let alone the 2 models that I am looking at except at ABT electronics near Chicago. Which is the dealer that will not hook up the receivers. Tweeter used to have these brands but have since gotten rid of Onkyo and now are clearing out Denon so they will not be getting in 3808, as they will not be selling Denon anymore.

I have heard that Onkyo produces clear highs but does not push the bass as much and I have heard that Denon does everything pretty well but Bass is their strength.

So I am researching as much as I can.

Thanks.

 

[BabelFish]

The Denon vs Onkyo debate has been going on for a long time. The best thing to do would be to compare what people have been saying about them..

Here are some threads..
denon 3808
diff of 805 to 875
bugs in 3808/4308 (not that big of a deal)
onkyo 875

I too am debating between the 905 and the 4308.. I think I am leaning towards the 4308 though.

Let me know what you decide.

 

[Seth=L]

The Denon AVR-3808 weighs 36.4 pounds. (this was brought up on one of these threads by the OP, but I don't care to go back and look for where it was)

 

[20Glove]

Denon weight...

Hey Seth,

Where did you find that weight at.

The denon operator said it was weighing in at 39 lbs 4 oz.

He did not sound sure... but I asked him twice he confirmed it was 39lbs 4oz? Do you think the operator was wrong...

And again.. is the weight really going to matter?

Let me know.

 

[Seth=L]

Hey Seth,

Where did you find that weight at.

The denon operator said it was weighing in at 39 lbs 4 oz.

He did not sound sure... but I asked him twice he confirmed it was 39lbs 4oz? Do you think the operator was wrong...

And again.. is the weight really going to matter?

Let me know.

The weight is listed on nearly every report of its release, like in the link in post #6 in this thread.

The weight can be a good indicator of what is under the hood. That extra 15 pounds isn't coming from more case structures or dead weight, it is mostly coming from the power supply. Larger power supply usually means, and likely does in this case, a larger va rating. I would guess the Onkyo's transformer is around 1700 VA (Volt Amps), I may have even read it, just not sure where so I can't be absolutely certain on the rating. Larger VA ratings give the rest of the amplifier more juice, it isn't likely you would ever run out of energy with this receiver running it at reference levels, even with tough louds.

 

[Adam]

School me, oh Audioholic kindred. Isn't a Volt Amp = a Watt?

 

[Seth=L]

School me, oh Audioholic kindred. Isn't a Volt Amp = a Watt?

Loosely, yes.

Lets see what Kenneth Mellendorf has to say on the subject........

SCIENCE IS GOOD!

So a watt is only equal to 65% of a volt amp. The VA of a power supply will have a higher number than the wattage rating of your typical audio amplifier, unless they use some crazy thing like PMPO which is a rating for a melting power supply.

 

[Adam]

Thanks, Seth=L. School is in session! Like some of the schooling that I remember, it was informative but somewhat inconclusive. All three respondents had different answers!

Thanks, though. I appreciate it.

 

[Seth=L]

Thanks, Seth=L. School is in session! Like some of the schooling that I remember, it was informative but somewhat inconclusive. All three respondents had different answers!

Thanks, though. I appreciate it.

(Seth=L pretends to be modest), Oh it is nothing.