Was given a Denon AVR 3805

[samtimtom]

Hi-
This is my first post and I'm a total audio newbie. I did search before I posted, though. Here's my question:

I was just given a Denon 3805 receiver by a friend that upgraded to something with HDMI connections. I would like to create a simple "surround" system with two high quality bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer (and maybe add a center channel). I'd like to run my LCD TV, DVD, Wii, and high-def cable box through the receiver so that I have higher quality audio through all of the sources. Right now everything is simply running through the TV audio-a six year old Sharp Aquos LCD.

Is using the Denon 3805 overkill? Will I be better off buyer a new receiver with HDMI connections even if it is lower quality? I'd love to use the Denon if it makes sense because I'd assume it is a great piece of equipment and would sound great. But if it is too difficult, then I'll pass. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Pyrrho]

First, congratulations on getting a nice present!

Second, unless you need HDMI in the receiver, or the new audio formats for BD (Blu-ray)*, do not bother getting a different receiver. And from what you say you want to connect to it, it does not sound like you need HDMI connections on the receiver. So accept it with a good grace, and enjoy it. Be sure to read the manual, and read about it also starting at:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-3805
(The article goes on for several pages, so make sure you click on the link near the bottom of the page for continuing the article.)

It will be confusing to set up at first, but so would any other surround receiver, so just take your time and read (and reread) the manual, asking questions here as needed.

Your friend must like you to give you such a nice receiver, even though it is not a new model.


Regarding the speakers, I recommend that you take your time, and audition as many speakers, and as many types of speakers (ribbon, horn, dome, whatever) in your price point as you can stand to audition, before you buy. For subwoofers, I like SVS:

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub.cfm

Remember, if you buy quality speakers, you do not have to upgrade them when you decide to upgrade other gear, so it is a good idea to spend enough to get something satisfying the first time you buy. But take your time listening to many, many different speakers, with music with which you are familiar, of all types that you listen to, so that you do not regret your choice. Happy listening!

_______________________
*Even if you do decide to get a BD player, you can get one with a multichannel analog output, and hook it up to this unit. That is not ideal, but if you set it up right, it would be preferable to a cheap new receiver.

 

[samtimtom]

Thanks Pyrrho! I appreciate the thorough response. Yes, he's a good friend with great taste in gear.

Would I be able to run vintage JBLs with this receiver?

 

[AVRat]

Easily.....

 

[Pyrrho]

Probably that will be fine. When matching speakers and amplifiers, one only needs to be concerned with impedance and sensitivity. (And with the power of your receiver, in a normal room, it is only the impedance that you need to be concerned about, unless you are wanting to listen at volumes so loud that you will damage your hearing.) If the speakers are very old, most likely, they will be an easy impedance and high sensitivity. That is because very old amplifiers were not very powerful, and so the speakers had to be high sensitivity to work well. It was in the 1970's when powerful amplifiers became popular, but even then, most amplifiers were low-powered, and so most speakers from that era did not require much power. So, what are the ratings for the speakers you are thinking about? What model are they?

 

[samtimtom]

I was purusing ebay and found a pair of Pioneer HPM-100s. Something like that. There are also some Yamaha NS-670s that caught my eye.

 

[Pyrrho]

I was purusing ebay and found a pair of Pioneer HPM-100s. Something like that. There are also some Yamaha NS-670s that caught my eye.

You should be able to drive such speakers fine. But before you buy on eBay, think carefully about what you want the speakers to do. If you are going to buy a subwoofer, the other speakers do not need to be capable of deep bass, as you can send that to the subwoofer, which, if you buy a decent one, is going to be able to go deeper than the speakers you are thinking about.

Also, although I own some vintage gear myself, I think that more recent speakers tend to sound better than most of the older gear (though obviously it depends upon which particular speakers we are talking about), so I would recommend looking for something new. Of course, it all depends upon what you want it to sound like, and your budget and what price you find for the old gear.

The key in this is to actually listen to different speakers before you buy. If you buy something without knowing what it sounds like first, you may like, or you may not, but you are out your money either way.

 

[samtimtom]

I ended up getting a set of Gale GS401A speakers from my father in law. He bought them new in 1979 for $1000. He gave me the original receipt and brochure. They were professionally refurbished about 5 years ago.

Now I just need to figure out how to connect the receiver, DVD, and cable box together so it all works.