Peerless sound, especially with audiophile-grade cables.

The processing options (Video Game, Matrix, Hall, etc.) are kind of weak, but then again, I'm comparing it to a Lexicon MC-1 here...

Okay, first off, Jeff, you hardly register as human in your infinite foolishness. I'm amazed that you have the brain capacity to remember to breathe, much less write a decent review of a product as amazing as the Denon 3300. That said, on with the review...

My circle of friends have three things in common: Computers (we're all Senior Admins or Senior Programmers), Cars (we like driving fast), and Home Audio (which we only buy creme de la creme), so when shopping for a system to reside in my small listening room (11' x 13' x 8') I was able to audition some of the greatest gear out there. Ultimately I settled on the Denon AVR3300. The first one I picked up was indeed plagued with things not working, poor and unadjustable bass output, etc., so I exchanged it for a new unit and have been utterly content with it ever since. I have it attached to a full Energy 5.1 setup (LR=C4s, C=EXLC, Rears=Mirage HDT Surrounds, Subs= a pair of EXLS10s). And yes, Mirage is made by the same company that makes Energy. Anyway, once I got the replacement unit home, I set everything up, sat down in my listening chair, and proceeded to try out the new system (after a little adventure you can read about in my Energy C4 review). Even now, over nine months after I got the system burned-in, I am never less than amazed at how phenomenal the sound is coming from this system. I will say this: Biwire your speakers and you will not be disappointed. I give the Denon 3300 my highest recommendation for a smaller listening room on a budjet, or a second listening room. Granted, the sound doesn't quite keep up with say, a Proceed AVP hooked to a Conrad-Johnson tube amp pushing Veritas 2.8s, but Denon is the closest I've heard yet. That said, if you're in the market, this is the one to buy, especially if you can get it between $600-$800.

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon MC-1
Proceed AVP
Bose Crap (yes, it is crap)
Sony Crap (yes, Sony is crap too)
Harmon Kardon 7000
Marantz SR8000 and SR19

feature-full, easy to use, lots of usefull power 5amps, no noise,

remote is hard to get used to but just buy a pronto

This thing is great I have had nothing even close to a problem. I have 2 of them. This receiver is top notch I wonder if retailers aren't taking care of everybody elses product. But i really dont car I have two friends that have them and they love them also.
MY SYSTEM
Denon AVR 3300
Sonus Faber Concertino's - front
Sonus Faber Picalo Solo - center
B&W LM1 - rear
Transparent cable front
monster cable rear
Canare digital coax
tara labs interconnect
Cal Labs transport
Oritron J700 DVD custom
Technics SL 3300 Turn table
rega needle
phillips pronto
Sony 27" vega
RCA S-VHS
Monster 3500 line conditoner

now that thats over its a crazt receiver. Clean hard hitting bass incredibly detailed highs. It works beautifuly with laid back Sonus Faber (mine), B&W 805 unforgiving (my friend), with NHT super One detailed, foward and power hungry (my other friend) and with 2 JBL 18" + horn's club speakers, I played it almost full tilt for two hours and never a problem.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Marantz, Pioneer Elite, Sony ES

Good connections

Sound quality on music, lack of optical digital output, lack of remote(speakers B)main speakers, and front panel inputs(meaning very difficult occasional hookup of camcorder, Video games, Computer if in the same room or other devices.)

While the 3300 sounds good on music, it seems to mask some of the detail in the midrange and treble. It's seems somewhat less dynamic sounding when compared to the Denon 4800, and Yamaha 995 and 2095. The 4800 was a sonic knock out along with the 2095. The 995 trailed those. The Denon 3300 sounded better to me than the other receivers but not as good as the 4800 and Yamahas.

If the 3300 had a MSRP of $800, it would be more competitive.

With all the complaints of bad reliability, maybe the bad sound could be attributed to the fact the machine was not operating properly because of poor build quality?

Similar Products Used:

Yamahas, Denon 4800, Pioneer Elites, Sony ES

sounds great when it works

terrible quality control, terrible "authorized service" when units do need repair

purchased this unit mail order....first mistake
purchased this unit from a site that refuses to give exchanges/refunds (Ubid).....second mistake

It was delivered DOA, DSP unit was fried. Unit would go through test tones however would not process any input signal, including tuner. Ubid refused to offer a refund or exchange the unit. I've never dealt with a company that had as poor customer service as Ubid.

So I had no choice but to take it to one of their "Regional Super Centers". 7 weeks later and still without a receiver, I hear that Denon shutdown their California site which supposedly handles part orders without planning for any backup workflow. So while Denon is trying to get their act together, the rest of us with service needs get to wait with no feedback, ETAs, or an idea of what the heck Denon plans to do with all of these backorders. This coming from 1 of 5 national centers that handles their repairs.

Denon should realize that this type of poor qualtity control mixed with worse customer service/communication follow up will lose them many customers for life. I would be less upset if my receiver was in the shop for a month and a half but knew exactly when they plan to have parts available. Getting the "I don't know what to tell you, it could come in today, it could come in a month, Denon just doesn't tell us" just won't work anymore.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-3600 DTS

component imputs swithing

remote

i got this unit last christmas and loved it ever since.the only problem i have had is with clipping some times on bass heavy cds such as hooly coles cd temtations other wise great

Similar Products Used:

sony

5.1 Sound, Componet Video switching, Price.

Poor build quality, Remote

I bought the unit knowing about the heat problems, hoping that I would get lucky and get a good one. About one hour into my first DVD, the system overheated and shut down. This was confirmed by the blinking light and manual. Prior to this happening, I was very impressed by the sounds of the 3300, and if it had worked properly, I would have been very happy with the purchase. If you decide to go this route, make sure that the store that you purchase from has a 30 day return policy.

I returned the piece and bought a Pioneer VSX-36TX.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 795, Pioneer VSX 36TX

Great sounding reciever, excellent value.

After using the reciever for a couple of hours you start to
hear the fan noise and it gets very hot.

This receiver is fantastic buy! you cannot get a better sounding unit for the price. It's the only reciever your ever going to need when building a home theater. Until another unit comes out in the future, and that unit would have to be really mind boggling to the ears and eyes? which I don't see happening for a while.
I highly recommend this reviever to anyone with a budget!

Also, after reading these reviews, I'm convinced that I was not going crazy when I first tried the unit? After using this reciever for the first time after a couple of hours watching a movie, I started to hear a high pitched frequency noise coming from the unit which I now know it's the fan itself causing it, and after touching the unit, I noticed it was very hot, but it never did shut off on me? I decided to bring it back the next day and exchange it for another 3300, and to my surprise it happened again, I thought maybe there was a bad batch, so again I brought back, and once again it happened for the third time.The fan noise can get annoying if you really start to concentrate your ears on it, but if that dosen't bother you than go ahead and purchase this wonderful unit because there's no better reciever for the buck. If anyone knows what Denon is doing to correct the fan noise & the over heating problem please contact me.
Thanks.

Similar Products Used:

Used to have a top of the line Pioneer pro Logic.
No comparison.

Superb sound, user-friendly, the best DD/DTS I've heard under $1000, component video connections

None that I can find

I've been using my 3300 for quite a while now, and have not experienced any overheating or shutdown. The fan on my unit does periodically kick in, but in all honesty, you have to be right next to the unit to hear it at all. FM reception is excellent (AM is OK, but who ever listens to it on a receiver like this, anyway?)

Listening to DVD's in both DD and DTS yield excellent sound with no audible distortion.
Even at high volumes, the sound stays clean and clear with no sign of clipping with my Infinity speakers. DTS-encoded CD's also sound superb.

The 5-channel stereo mode is another plus. By allowing all speakers to play in stereo without the coloration of sound that the surround processor can add, one can really enjoy a rich, room-filling sound without having to crank the volume as high. The matrix mode is perfect for stereo recordings of classical music. By keeping the orchestra to the front and using the rears for hall ambience, you're in 10th row center.

The clarity and detail in the sound, be it music or movies, is a good reason to purchase this receiver. Denon is a good company that will stand behind its products, so if anyone has any of the problems mentioned in other reviews, they will do whatever it takes to make you happy.

A word about the remote... it does take some getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, it all makes perfect sense.

While not an inexpensive piece, the AVR-3300 is a bargain. It's unfortunate that some people have had problems, but that can happen with any product, any brand. If you want a receiver that can do music as well as the movies, Denon is your only choice. After all, their parent company (Nippon Columbia) has been recording music for over 90 years.
I think they should know how it oughtta sound!

5 channel stereo, dts,dd processing, sound clarity.

dps modes, remote

I have owned the Dennon 3300 for nearly 6 months and have been very impressed with it's performance. I have read other reviews and have not experienced the fan or heat problems others have discribed. I would highly recommend this receiver to anyone. The 5 channel stereo for casual listening is great and the dd/dts processing is top notch. The unit works well with my Polk Rt1000 fronts, cs300 center and fx500 rears, movies come alive. It sure sounds like dennor had some quality control problems based on other reviews, and would recommend buying from a local dealer or order from a company with a sound return policy. Overall I have been very happy with my purchase.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood 309

Go great with Boston speakers!

Work teribble combined with Bose!

I picked this up a ecost.com and it was great it came in 2 days and I would recommend ecost.com! I am happy with the reciever.