Receiver Ideas....

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes, that is correct.

Hit the display button on the remote of the PS3 and it will say "Dolby True HD" or whatever based on the movie you have in.

while watching the movie the display of the 3808 read out 'multi ch. in'---is this correct for what I should be seeing. I know it won't show tru-hd since the console is doing the decoding....thank for the help....

 

[dewey9876]

I am in the same shoes you were in with a 2807 and thinking of new reciever or going with an amp. Do you see, or hear I should say, a big difference between the 2807 and the 3808? thanks

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Well there were some other motivations---extra power aside---that swaded my decision with going with a new receiver for the moment. One of those was that I really needed more HDMI inputs on my AVR--having three hdmi components it always nice to have them all going to the AVR so you don't have to run a coax or optical for audio. Plus, I will eventually get a stand alone Blu-ray player and that will mean four HDMI's was a must.

Second I definitely wanted a unit with a bit more 'future-proofing' than my 987 (2807) --most importantly the decoding for the new audio hd-audio codecs....knowing I will eventaully get a standalone once the technology settles a little more and those players are more competent than the PS3....right now that does my HD decoding.

Third was wanting a bit more head-room...and I have to say that the 3808 does that. Being a professional and classically trained musicain, I would say I have pretty adept ears and I have to say that the 3808 has more poise as you push it than the 987 with less tendancies to sound starined. Minding you, I have only taken the 3808 as far as -20 in a blu-ray and my whole unit was filled with detailed, dynamic, and crisp sound. I will have to hold off on any reference levels until I move...

So really it all comes down to your needs and listening habbits....If you have no need for the HD-audio codec decoding and don't need more HDMI inputs--then stay with the 2807 and put it with an amp. That new '15' line that Rotel has released looks to be very nice....and the Emotivas would be a nice solution as well. But if you have any of these concerns, as I did, then you will most certainly not be dissapointed with the 3808.

Oh, and as an aside, the 3808 is built like a tank. Porbably has to do with the amplifier section on the 3808 versus the '28' lines...but this is nearly 40lbs, and has much more stout build than the 2807 or 2808 that I have picked up. Now, that's nothing like the Onkyo's SR805, SR875, or NR905....but still is definitely a step-up up in the Denon line. Also, mentioning the Onkyos....this unit runs pretty cool....throws a little heat at the end of a good action flick but that aside appears to be very efficient while running....

I will try to post some more impressions and photos as I haven't done that since I got my PB13-Ultra either....

 

[ParadigmDawg]

To me, it is as simple as the AVR having everything you want/need. All the top companies have a good product (Onk, Yammy, Pioneer, Marantz and Denon).

I needed/wanted a good clean look (no visiable RCA jacks on the front) plenty of HDMI inputs, new codecs, OS volume display, 3 zones and a nice GUI.

I didn't need to worry about power or auto-calibration but the 3808 does pretty good in these areas.

The 3808 hit my needs perfectly and it wasn't very expensive so it was a great fit.

I am in the same shoes you were in with a 2807 and thinking of new reciever or going with an amp. Do you see, or hear I should say, a big difference between the 2807 and the 3808? thanks

 

[dewey9876]

P-Dawg have you hooked up your Denon directly to your Studio 100's with out an amp? I also have studio 100's so I was wondering how the 3808 would do with them. Yes I also have HDMI and the new HD Audio concerns but thought I may be able to live with the 2807 for a while longer if I went the amp direction.

My current set up is:
Panny projector
Denon 2807
Paradigm Studio 100's
paradigm CC-390
Boston Accoustic surrounds
PS3
HD comcast cable

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have never hooked the 3808 directly up to the 100's.

P-Dawg have you hooked up your Denon directly to your Studio 100's with out an amp? I also have studio 100's so I was wondering how the 3808 would do with them. Yes I also have HDMI and the new HD Audio concerns but thought I may be able to live with the 2807 for a while longer if I went the amp direction.

My current set up is:
Panny projector
Denon 2807
Paradigm Studio 100's
paradigm CC-390
Boston Accoustic surrounds
PS3
HD comcast cable

 

[armaraas]

Quick tip in case anyone else runs into this...

I have my pc connected to the 3808 via optical, and directly to the tv via HDMI and another pc monitor via DVI. 95% of the time, I am using the pc on the tv, surfing, gaming, listening to music, etc. However on Fridays, I work from home and use the monitor. The last 2 Fridays now I've been using the monitor, turned on the 3808 and started music from the pc. I would suddenly get my audio cutting out, 1 second of music, 3 seconds of silence as the left side of the 3808 screen blinks and the optical lights in the back of the 3808 blink as well with the audio cutouts.

Finally figured out that if I turn on my tv (even though not using it) the audio cutouts stop, and then I can turn the tv back off and I'm good to go.
No idea why yet, maybe there is a setting in the 3808 I can change, but figured I'd share in case anyone else uses something with only a direct audio connection to the 3808 and get odd cut outs like that...