Yamaha RX-V3800 or Denon AVR4308ci?

[MXD]

Hello all, this is my first post here. I am purchasing a new unit this week. My friend works at a high end Home Theater store here in Boston and he can get me a Yamaha RX-V3800 for around 1050 but last night he through a wrench into the gears. He showed me the Denon AVR4308. Apparently this store doesn't carry that model but the special ordered it for a customer and now they are stuck with it. It has been on display in their store for about 3 weeks so technically its a floor model although he claims they might have demoed it only a handful of times. He said my price was 1499. Is it a no brainer? My main question is which one has better video processing and HDMI switching? I want to run all components to my AVR and just one HDMI cable up to my TV so which one in your opinion is more robust? All of my components will be HDMI except for my XBox 360 which will be component
Thanks!

 

[MXD]

Does anyone have any advice?

 

[ParkerAudio]

That is a dead heat IMO. Probably why you are not getting a lot of feedback. Both will be fantastic, the Denon street price is about $500 more than the Yamaha. I think the Yamaha might have a little better Upscaling potential, and the Denon has a little better onscreen interface.
If you can get the Denon $100 cheaper with warranty, and without any damage to it, that would be the end of the decision for me. You are not going to be able to tell any difference in video switching between these two models.

 

[Addy]

i dont think your comparing apples to apples cause the denon sells for 2499msrp and the yamaha 1699...relitivly there both the same amount off % wise. but you be hard pressed to find a new denon for 1800.. the question is do you really want to spend the extra 500 or so on that receiver that might only be 10% better?

 

[ParkerAudio]

You know sometimes I have to stop working and posting at the same time. For me hands down the Yamaha is the better deal here. If both units were the same price I would take the Denon, simply because of the higher MSRP, but under your scenerio, the Yamaha will be the better deal. I don't think you will ever have to wonder if you made a wrong decision.

 

[landonspop]

Does anyone have any advice?

Take the Yamaha and let me get the Denon. I just paid $1200 for the 3808.

 

[goodsnd]

At that price, go for separates

 

[PENG]

At that price, go for separates

At what price? If you meant at the price of the RX-V3800 or the AVR-4308, then I don't know which separate system can do better than the mass produced (therefore cost effective) Yamaha receivers.

 

[mike c]

i'd pick the 4308

 

[MXD]

I am torn! I don't know which one I want. I prefer warm instead of tinny. Is one warmer than the other?

 

[mike c]

you should choose your receiver based on the features you need and want. these high end receivers should NOT sound warm or tinny because that would mean their preamp sections do not measure flat.

the only warm thing on these receivers would be the heat sinks and top of the unit.