Need Help: Denon 3808 vs Onkyo 876

[dave81]

In reference to the speakers...I needed to find something that would be visually appealing as well as small for the wife to approve! From my research the Kefs get very high reviews for their sound quality while being fairly priced and being a satellite package. Retail on these units is around $1600-1700. I am not looking for big speakers that will be an eyesore to the room in my wifes eyes..she wants them small and unnoticeable but I want great sound quality and also I think the look of the Kefs is beautiful compared to the other boxy setups I have seen.

 

[jostenmeat]

In reference to the speakers...I needed to find something that would be visually appealing as well as small for the wife to approve! From my research the Kefs get very high reviews for their sound quality while being fairly priced and being a satellite package. Retail on these units is around $1600-1700. I am not looking for big speakers that will be an eyesore to the room in my wifes eyes..she wants them small and unnoticeable but I want great sound quality and also I think the look of the Kefs is beautiful compared to the other boxy setups I have seen.

I still stand by my statement. Those KEFs are small for sure, and I hope they really are enough for you. I wonder what Audyssey on either the denon or onkyo would find the xover to be on those. 150hz?

With $1700, Id consider not buying an all-in-one-htib-speaker set, perhaps, but cherry picking the components. You can select the front three, a sub, and then surrounds, for instance.

Then again, there's always the easy route.

 

[dave81]

In re to speakers:

I am open to suggestions if you can recommend a cherry picked setup but here is the deal I can get the Denon with the Kefs total for $2200 right now complete from an authorized dealer, I am trying to get them to come down on the price more towards $1900 total so really I would only be spending about $1000 on each as you mentioned 50/50 between speakers and receiver. As I mentioned I am open to suggestions as I am a complete newby to the a/v realm but have been doing my research and relating what I know about car audio and the sound quality that I was accustom to there when I had a nice setup. My main goal is to make the speaker setup to be great sounding and precise for the money while at the same time making the speakers visually appealing and not too big for the room. Thanks for your input thus far much appreaciated.

 

[MatthewB.]

You can probably get the new Emotiva preamp and five Mackie powered speakers for around 2,200 (guitar Center always has the Mackies on sale)

 

[dave81]

Those Mackie powered speakers are huge and not too pleasing on the eyes! Thanks for your input though.

 

[jostenmeat]

In re to speakers:

I am open to suggestions if you can recommend a cherry picked setup but here is the deal I can get the Denon with the Kefs total for $2200 right now complete from an authorized dealer, I am trying to get them to come down on the price more towards $1900 total so really I would only be spending about $1000 on each as you mentioned 50/50 between speakers and receiver. As I mentioned I am open to suggestions as I am a complete newby to the a/v realm but have been doing my research and relating what I know about car audio and the sound quality that I was accustom to there when I had a nice setup. My main goal is to make the speaker setup to be great sounding and precise for the money while at the same time making the speakers visually appealing and not too big for the room. Thanks for your input thus far much appreaciated.

These are pretty, greatly discounted, but I hope they are not too big.

What is nice about ID (internet direct) is that you can buy "individual" speakers. In such case, get three of them, use one upright as center speaker. Vertically arrayed drivers are best, btw, and the best possible choice in Center speaker is actually the one that is identical to the mains. Now, it wouldn't surprise me that this won't work for you, due to some aesthetical reason or another, but it's worth it to me throw it at you nonetheless.

So, let's say $900 there. $500 receiver. $600 sub. (edit: remaining chump change thrown at used, lower end Swans in the future?)
???

 

[AVRat]

So, let's say $900 there. $500 receiver. $600 sub.

I'm with Josten on the breakdown and we could probably shave a little off the sub & receiver for the speakers. I think a Yamaha HTR-6160 would meet your needs nicely and we could look at HSU or SVS for the subs to give you better bass response than the -3db @ 30Hz on the KEF. However, if you're in an apt. that may be sufficient.

The KEF 3005 sats supposedly have a -3db of 70Hz, so a 120 Hz x-over may be possible.

$350 - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0013ZCHO8/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-1.html
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

 

[Lordoftherings]

Obvious choice.

Hi,

The Onkyo 876 is a much better bargain all the way around, compared to the Denon 3808.
Just look and compare all the features, and the choice is obvious, no second look needed. Plus it is a bit cheaper.
Check the Onkyo and Denon web sites for full description of their features.
And read the reviews of these two great receivers, but the 876 is pulling way ahead in many departments. Google them & see for yourself.

_______ Bob