Which receiver should I choose?

[Elvis1977]

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I can buy a Denon 3808 (new) or a HK 7300 (refurbished from harman audio) for about $1000 bucks. I do not need any video scaling because I will run all video via HDMI to my Sony 40W3000 lcd tv from source equipment.

Which will drive my system the best? The harman or the denon?

My setup :

Fronts = JBL E100 (Dual 10" woofers with 4" midrange)
Center= JBL EC35 (Dual 5.25" woofers with 3" midrange)
Surrounds= JBL E50 (Single 8" woofer with 4" midrange)
Sub= E250P ( 12" woofer)

All speakers hooked on 14 gauge audioquest speaker wire with Monster banana plugs.

All responses appreciated.

Thanks.

I listen to Music 75% and HT 25% of the time.

 

[mike c]

don't create duplicate threads

HK will sound better.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35632

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I like HK, but they are way too dated.

I would pick the Denon 3808 over the old HK.

In pure direct mode, I don't think you can tell the difference.

 

[DD66000]

Neither unit would considered current, as the Denon was reviewed over a year ago. The Denon is 130w, the HK 110w which means in the real world, the HK has more power.
As your preference is more to music the HK would be better. JBL/HK is a good match.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Neither unit would considered current, as the Denon was reviewed over a year ago. The Denon is 130w, the HK 110w which means in the real world, the HK has more power.
As your preference is more to music the HK would be better. JBL/HK is a good match.

The HK does not have HDMI 1.3 or DTS-MA or TrueHD.

The HK 7300:
5 channels driven (8 ohms) .....145 W (21.6 dBW)
7 channels driven (8 ohms) .....139 W (21.4 dBW).

I think if you don't care for the new HD Sound formats or HDMI 1.3, then get the HK.

 

[Midcow2]

what about ? ......

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I can buy a Denon 3808 (new) or a HK 7300 (refurbished from harman audio) for about $1000 bucks. I do not need any video scaling because I will run all video via HDMI to my Sony 40W3000 lcd tv from source equipment.

Which will drive my system the best? The harman or the denon?

My setup :

Fronts = JBL E100 (Dual 10" woofers with 4" midrange)
Center= JBL EC35 (Dual 5.25" woofers with 3" midrange)
Surrounds= JBL E50 (Single 8" woofer with 4" midrange)
Sub= E250P ( 12" woofer)

All speakers hooked on 14 gauge audioquest speaker wire with Monster banana plugs.

All responses appreciated.

Thanks.

I listen to Music 75% and HT 25% of the time.

Even in 2005 when the HK 7300 was new the MSRP $2399 was heavily sicounted to $1,399 so $1,000 refurbished my not be a good deal. One review ( http://www.ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/205hk/index2.html ) made a big deal about the video quality upconverting from 480i to 480p using Faroudja. My only experience wiht HK was in a M3 and it sounded great in that enviroment. Also, if it is importnat to you there is not hDMI connections.

The Denon 3808 is newer, has HDMI input/output, and would be my choce between the two.

However, for $1,000 you might want to also consider the Yamaha RX-V863 (MSRP $995) or a Marantz SR6001 ($999)

 

[smurphy522]

Elvis,

I would highly recommend an AVR 354 or its older equivalent the 347 in the H/K family. Fist off even if you don't think that today you need HDMI, eventually....you certainly will. The newer 354 can decode HD sourced audio formats, has superior video processing power and more advanced in room set-up.

Granted that 7300 is a powerhouse with 75 amp HCC available. That's real world speak for Grande_Cajones .

Spec links for them all here:
7300

347

354

3808

You can probably grab a 347 (last years model) for ~1/2 of the 7300's $. It or the 354 would surely power those speakers. They are quite easy to drive., you know. If you were looking at harder to drive speakers then the 7300 might be a better choice; audio wise.

Good luck and let us know how the decision goes.