Yamaha RX-V2500 or Denon AVR-3805?

[BMXTRIX]

Denon 3805 --

1. Audioholics AV Receiver of the Year 2004
2. Quality throughout
3. Remote is problematic and sucks battery life (see numerous Forum posts)
4. Auto room set up and EQ requires purchase of a mic and is somewhat inaccurate (see Audioholics Review and numerous Forum posts)
5. DSP not so good (see Audioholics Review)

Yamaha 2500 --

1. Quality throughout
2. DSP pretty good (See Audioholics Review)
3. YPAO auto room set up and EQ accurate (See Audioholics Review)
4. Was not Audioholics AV Receiver of the Year 2004

You make the call.

Wow, that's reallly not fair. You have to keep in mind that the Yamaha is typically 100 bucks less and includes the YPAO microphone.

 

[Leprkon]

The Yamaha 2500 is THX certified and the Denon 3805 isn't. Wonder if Denon even bothered to have it tested/certified? Does the certification mean much?

The Denon would probably pass THX certification with flying colors if the company chose to pay to have it tested. That would then add another fifty bucks or so to the price tag of each one. Any benefit you'd get from martketing glam would be offset by the even higher price over a Yammy.

I'd look at all the other plusses and minusses between the two (which have been pretty well discussed already) before using THX as the difference between the men and the boys...

Either one is a very solid pick.

 

[Zarg]

Watchoo Talkin' 'Bout, Willis?

Wow, that's reallly not fair. You have to keep in mind that the Yamaha is typically 100 bucks less and includes the YPAO microphone.

Dude, I was bending over sideways trying to be fair and objective. Please point out -- specifically -- what part of my list was not a fact. Please tell me which side I came down on, because I was deliberately trying not to choose a side.

Perhaps you're reading something into my comparison that is not really there?

BTW, in SoCal you can pick up a new, in-the-box Denon for $850 plus tax. And sure, you have to pay like $65 for the extra microphone, which is used to inaccurately set-up the auto EQ. Forget the mike -- get a RS meter and do it the old-fashioned way for an accurate set up. Or buy the Yamaha and get it done for you, accurately.

See? I'm fair and objective all the way!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Crazy Denon Lover

How about the 2805?

 

[crashguy]

I had to make the same choice, I went with the Yamaha. Not that I didn't like the Denon, but my prev receiver was a Denon, and I wanted to try the Yamaha. Also, the Yamaha was about $400 cheaper where I live, and with basically the same performance, I went with the Yammie.

 

[BobPrill]

Thanks to all!

I can see it is a coin toss. I think I'm going with the Yammi, I can purchase it it for $799 at the Miltary Exchange without shipping costs and tax. Now I'm deciding on speakers! Any ideas?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

That's a pretty open ended question, don't you think? Towers or bookshelves? 7.1 or 5.1. Budget? Musical preferences? Does your room have hardwood floors? How big is the room? See where I'm going with this? Fun hobby, isn't it?

 

[dmoss]

Get an amp

I really do believe if you are serious about quality sound with high end speakers you would be better served to get the yamaha at the $300.00 savings and put the money towards an amp. Get the features with the receiver and push the sound with an amp. For what its worth? My RV-2400 Yamaha can not drive the Paradigm Studio 100's at 0 db. It shuts down. With my amp its nothing but pure clear high quality music.

 

[BobPrill]

I suppose I should be more clear. I am looking at either the Polk RTi12 or RTi10. Currently I have 2 sets of Bose SE 5 (6 Ohm) (AM 5 modules that are enclosed in one case. Did you by amp your Denon to your speakers? I'm still thinking about the Denon! Thanks. I'm open abou 5.1 and 7.1. Wife vs. $$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Duffinator]

I'm using my 3805 in a 5.1 setup with my front Mirage 595is speakers bi-amped. I'm really not overwhelmed with the difference but did leave them bi-amped. I'm very pleased with my Denon but wouldn't base my decision on bi-amping.

 

[BobPrill]

Sacramento you say? I'm in Citrus Heights! I talked to the Sales Rep at Good Guys on Sunrise Blvd, what a waste of my time. I'm wanting a system that plays all formats. HDCD, SACD, HDTV, all the goodies so I don't have to upgrade in a few years and go broke. I'm about brain dead deciding!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Duffinator]

Sacramento you say? I'm in Citrus Heights! I talked to the Sales Rep at Good Guys on Sunrise Blvd, what a waste of my time. I'm wanting a system that plays all formats. HDCD, SACD, HDTV, all the goodies so I don't have to upgrade in a few years and go broke. I'm about brain dead deciding!!!!!!!!!!

Go into the Good Guys on Arden Way and look for a guy around 60 years old with a moustache. He is very knowledgable on all things audio and should be able to help you decide. Keeping in mind that I bought the 3805 over the 2400 partly because the 2400 only had two component inputs, I'd choose on price. You can get the 3805 at Dakmart.com for $900 delivered with a one year warranty from Denon. You can probably get the Yamaha for $800 from an authorized dealer. Find places you are comfortable buying from and if the difference is $100 or less go with the Denon, it it's greater than $100 get the Yamaha. They really aren't that much different and sound very similar.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

http://www.ubid.com/cat/get_cat_page.asp?CatID=3871&PgNum=1

I've bought a number of things from here. The service is outstanding. Delivery is fast - Fed Ex. Shipping is reasonable on shipping too. Good list of receivers today.

 

[BobPrill]

Thanks Buckeye,
I deciding on the Polk RTi10 or RTi12? How will the Denon AVR 3805 handle either? I can't seem to find any to listen to around my area. But I can pick up a each RT i10 for $400 or the RTi 12 for $580. or should I go for four RTi10s?

 

[mwheelerk]

Still Incorrect

technically correct.. no power to Zone 3 if you have a 7.1 set-up. 3 should be powered if only 5.1.

I own the Denon AVR 3805 also. Only when you operate the unit in 5.1 can Zone 2 be powered by the extra 2 channels of the Denon. Zone 3 would require a separate amplifier to drive speakers but control would still be maintained by the Denon.

 

[superblaster]

Denon Sucks

I will never buy a Denon product, why??

for the past 10 years I have owned 2 yamaha and 2 denons, I never had any problem with the yamaha, but not so lucky with the Denons, the first Denon I had problem with DSP processor, I sent it to the good guys repair 3 times, finally they took it back and gave me full credit back, the second Denon (AVR4802), the DSP circuit board went bad after the warranty period, so I had to find a Denon authorized service store to fix it, but Denon had pulled out all the southern california authorized serivce stores in 2004, so all the S. Cal Denon owners you are now on your own. I then found a local repair shop used to be a Denon Authorized service shop, they diagnosed the problem was a bad DSP board, but more bad news, Denon stop making these boards any more, now I have 2 choices, 1) take it home use it as a giant peper weight. 2) fix it with generic chips but no guarrantee, parts plus labor will be $350.

now are you convinced....

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Thanks Buckeye,
I deciding on the Polk RTi10 or RTi12? How will the Denon AVR 3805 handle either? I can't seem to find any to listen to around my area. But I can pick up a each RT i10 for $400 or the RTi 12 for $580. or should I go for four RTi10s?

The RTi12's are much better than the 10's because of the added woofer and midrange. I don't think you need 4 towers unless you have an enormous room. My room extends into a dining and kitchen area, so my 10's fill a 15' x 32' area well. I use dipoles about halfway back that direct sound front and rear and work out well for me. The Polk's are demanding, and like power. The 3805 Handles them well, but I wouldn't go with anything less than the 3805 unless you are runnnig a separate amp. The smaller RTi and FXi speakers actually sound amazing - even at high volumes. My room is loaded with furniture, heavy carpeting, curtains, so they have a very flat sound - somuchso that I need to bump up the higher frequencies. I bet you can get those speakers (RTi12) for even less now that they are a few models old. Are they selling them new in box or as clearance/floor models?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I will never buy a Denon product, why??

for the past 10 years I have owned 2 yamaha and 2 denons, I never had any problem with the yamaha, but not so lucky with the Denons, the first Denon I had problem with DSP processor, I sent it to the good guys repair 3 times, finally they took it back and gave me full credit back, the second Denon (AVR4802), the DSP circuit board went bad after the warranty period, so I had to find a Denon authorized service store to fix it, but Denon had pulled out all the southern california authorized serivce stores in 2004, so all the S. Cal Denon owners you are now on your own. I then found a local repair shop used to be a Denon Authorized service shop, they diagnosed the problem was a bad DSP board, but more bad news, Denon stop making these boards any more, now I have 2 choices, 1) take it home use it as a giant peper weight. 2) fix it with generic chips but no guarrantee, parts plus labor will be $350.

now are you convinced....

I have both a Yammy and Denon. I've had my Yammy for almost 18 years. A few times the display went out, but a good bang on the side of the unit turns it back on. Still works. Anyone else have problems with Denon? The 4802 was an expensive model - why not send it to the new Denon/Marantz/McIntosh Illinois plant for repair? They charge by the hour and are much more reasonable. That unit still sells for over $1000 even though it's becoming quite old. I bet you can get it fixed with shipping and even updated for under $175, then sell it. Lots of Denon fans on this site would consider that unit.

 

[warpdrive]

I've had both Yammy and Denon products. Both have had their share of problems. I was more surprised when my Denon just abruptly stopped passing a signal. Seems one of the output amps just conked out.

I'm a yammy owner now....only because it was cheaper. In the ideal world, I'd be buying Rotel or Adcom....my view is that both Yammy and Denon's are good for home theater, but if the sound really matters, I'd choose something else.

 

[BMXTRIX]

...I'd be buying (snip) Adcom.... (snip) ...but if the sound really matters, I'd choose something else.

Adcom is perhaps the least reliable product that I have ever used. Of about 40 of their products that I have installed, no less than 30 have had actual product failures. It is like a Ferrari, a top notch exotic car, but you better have a mechanic on staff and NOT plan on driving and enjoying it every day.

Sound vs. reliability I have a big problem with. Are you willing to have a product that is unreliable and breaks all the time that sounds phenomenal vs. owning a product that sounds excellent yet never breaks down? I would never recommend Denon, and have seen other high end product that gets rave reviews that have serious engineering flaws including Meridian, Krell, Marantz, Integra, Sharp, and Rotel - only Meridian seemed to be as flakey as Adcom, but Meridian actually works hard to try to improve their product.

One of the most reliable, most responsive companies with higher-end 'buttons and knobs' products I have ever worked with is McIntosh. They are on my 'A' list for companies... if only I had the $$$.

Just observations and I am not about to make claims for every product as there are lots I have not seen and worked with.