Great reviews, good price, terrific sound, 5.1 Stereo

Poor manual, confusing set-up, lousy remote. No mix-n-match of S-video and composite video players.

I've had the 3300 for about a week now. I'm using it with Definitive Technologies 2002 fronts, BPX rears and 2002 C/L/R center channel. I bought it from Audio Buys (a denon Dealer) in Fairfax, VA for $819. The unit itself is very heavy and solid. I was relieved to see it had tons of hookups, including composite connectors for a laser disc player. Since I ran an S-video hookup through the walls & ceiling for my Sony projector, I bought the 3300 partly because it had S-video monitor out. I hooked up my Pioneer DVD player no problem and have been able to watch movies. For some reason, though, I couldn't get the VCR or laser disk player to put out video. There was no info in the manual to help with this problem and I just found out that the 3300 will only allow the use of ALL S-video hookups OR ALL composite video hookups (no mixing)! This means that, since my VCR and LD player do not have S-video outputs I cannot use them as long as I'm using S-video for my DVD player. A big pain in the *** for me. I'll try using composite or component hookups for the DVD, but still might be stuck since I'm using the S-Video out to the projector. Denon should have done a much better job of conveying this limitation in its manual. The manual needs to do a better job of describing the settings in laymans terms. I know it's going to take me awhile to figure out how to use what I've bought, but the manual should be better written. I give it a 4 star rating for the value, but the overall rating suffers because of the one-or-the-other nature of the video inputs and lack of a decent manual.

Great sound, picture, matches well with other equipment

Flimsy speaker posts, possible defective S-video jacks.

I am new to HT and purchased this equipment on the recommendation of the salesman. I have purchased many things from his company and trust him. I was very pleased with unit until I had problems with no color when using the S-video jacks. Thought it may be the cable. No, it's the jacks. Took it to the service center today for repair. Bummer! For $1000.00, I expect better quality.

Precise Clean Power, Lots of Input and Outputs, 5 Ch stereo, Good Value

Remote, Manual, No Digital Outputs

I am very pleased with the Denon 3300. I got it from www.abcstereo.com (alpha sound) for $699 shipped. Their service was terrible. I got the unit 1 month after my first order. It was defective and obviously the box had been opened and banged up . Eventually I got a new unit.

Anyway setup on this unit was not that bad. For just the basics I didn't really need to open the manual. However, found the remote to be poorly organized. (I'll have to programm everything onto my Marantz RK 2000.)After about 15 minutes connecting all my gear and making the necessary level adjustments I was in heaven. The first thing that amazed me was the level of bass that I was getting. Based on some earlier review I was expexting the bass to be a little wimpy. actually I had to turn my sub down about halfway.

Here are the speakers I am using;
Paradigm MiniMonitors for Fronts
Paradigm CC-350 Center
Cambridge Soundworks Center / Surround as rears
MK V-125 Subwoofer

I set all of the speakers set to "Small" and sent all of the bass to the subwoofer only. Once again this was very easy to do and it yielded the best results

I found the Denons sound to be precise and engaging without the annoying whine of the Yamaha receivers I tested.

Upgrading from a Onkyo TX 909 Integra (Prologic Receiver) I saw a definate improvement in imaging (with the same speakers) and as I said ealier bass response.

This receiver is very musical . And I found intruments and voice to be portray far more realistically than other recievers in the sub $2000 price range.I found the sound stage to be seamless in stereo. When I closed my eyes I did not simply hear two speakers but an entire orchestra playing in front of me. The 5 channel steeo is also a pretty interesting effect (The DSP are crap - even more so than usual). However 5 Channel doesn't always work. In particular I found it to be confusing with certain vocals.

Movies in DD are excellent. Voices are realistic and not boomy. Furthermore I can clearly here the dialog above the music (unlike with the Onkyo's[575,676]set to the correct levels). Also I found that transitions accross the front 3 channels are handled very smoothly. I actually feel like the action is going on in my living room.

Despite the fact that I am using Cambridge Soundworks center/surrounds (these are not dipoles) I found the effects to be very well executed. I would have appreciate a tone adjustment for each channel so that I could try to get my rears to match my mains more accurately.

I still haven't tried any DTS material so I don't have much to say about that. Anyway for 20 titles I would let DTS affect my decision to by a receiver.

One of the feature I really appreciate is called Personal Memory Plus. Basically it remembers your settings for each source so that you don't halve to switch it yourself. No big deal but it saves a few keystrokes. I also like how easy it is to adjust the level of a channel for a particular source and have that saved. Unlike many of the other recievers I have used, I am aways confident that every channel for every source is at the right level. The assignable digital input is also a godsend.

With most receivers that I have purchase I have always felt a little doubt. Did I buy the right one? Shoud I have waited for the new model from so and so? Was that feature worth the extra $200?

Finally with this receiver I am sure. The Denon 3300 is an incredible receiver and a great value. Of course you could spend a couple grand for a better sounding receiver. But then you had might as well save your money and by some seperates that you won't have to throw away in 3 years.

Thank you Denon,

Adrian

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 676, 575
Yamaha RX-V995, RX-V795

Power. Precision. Low noise. 5 channel stereo.

Crappy speaker posts. Cannot output composite video inputs to S-video out. No digital output. Odd remote.

Denon AVR-3300
JVC XVD-701
Matched set of AR speakers:
P315HO mains
CS25HO center
P310HO surrounds

Given so many reviews it is hard to say anything which adds to the preceding ones. This is a great unit, all things considered.

Criticisms of the sound are not justified, IMO. The bass is not as strong as some but can be adjusted. It is very tight, no distortion at all at low frequencies (I can hear/feel these pretty well on my dual 300W powered subs). Soundstage is very precise and realistic.

Negatives include very cheap speaker binding posts (identical to my old $300 Sony), strangely laid out remote (and poorly written documentation of the remote), no digital output. I also found that the s-video out overrides all other signals so you don't get a picture when a composite (RCA jack) input is used. That means you have to use composite if you have ANY composite components (i.e. older VCRs). Luckily I have a color stream input on my 55" Toshiba TV, so I get a great picture from DVD and use the composite output for my VCRs and laserdisc.

Dolby digital is fantastic with this unit. Great for movies. Good for music also - although I would have liked to see a multiband programmable EQ, the unit only allows you to adjust bass and treble. Still, 5.1 stereo (also try Matrix DSP mode) kicks - it's nice to use those rear speakers, especially if you're entertaining and people are dancing. It's less impressive with classical or quiet jazz, for those I like to go back to plain stereo for serious music listening.

DSP modes are mostly worthless with the exception of Matrix, try playing with this and you might be surprised. It is basically 5.1 stereo but customizable. The manual says it won't work without special encoding on the media, but I seem to hear a difference when I tweak delay and channel EQ so maybe it does work. I had tons of DSP modes on my old Sony and only used 2, so this was not a big part of my decision process.

For $750-800 price range, this is the best on the market today. I can't give it 5 stars for value given some of the corners that Denon cut, but I can give it 5 stars for overall functionality at this price level.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Pioneer, Onkyo

Smokes the Onkyo 777

no digital out

I originally started out with the 3300, then I traded it for the 777 because I was stupid, now I realize the 777 is a piece of crap. I traded it back in for the 3300. I'm keeping it this time.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 777

dynamic with movie sound tracks and superb stereo imagery and all the bells and whistles that on it

remote is to complex and frustrating to use with other components

I have done lots of listening and research as you can see from above, and to my ears I made the right choice.All the units I mentioned above are all great sounding units but my ears heard something in the sound of the Denon that made my eyes open up wide in amazement.It had was the size of the sound stage that it produced that helped me make my decision but it wasn't the only one.I'm not one for DSP modes but the 5 channel stereo is awsome.The on screen set up is great, and the seven channel input makes this thing future proof.Oh ya Etown has just voted it AV product of the year.So save some $$$$ and pick this beast up and use the money that would have been wasted on the other units to get the Marantz remote.I did.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 2095,NakamichiAV-10,Nad t-770,Onkyo AVR777, and the Pioneer VSX 27tx

Sound, Build Quality

Remote

The unit is awesome. Im running it with Mission 774's, 77ds, 77c1. The sound is clear, warm, and crisp. Rivals That of my Adcom setup.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Sony

5 channel stereo mode. A + B surround capability.

"video select" not controllable from remote.

I don't have anything significant to add that hasn't been said already about this fantastic unit. Got mine at the Good Guys for $790 including an additional year of warranty. I spent a lot of time comparing various other brands, but this was the winner hands down in terms of sound and features for this price.

Component video, 8 channel input, built in low noise fan, good power, muliple rear speaker ability, 5 channel stereo, learning remote, digital volume control

Can be difficult for entry level users, difficult looking and using remote, Few and almost useless DSP modes, 105 watts RMS is plenty..........120 would have been better.

I certainly understand the frustration of a nonfunctioning unit, but to base ones entire score and review on that especially if you never even used it.........well that's kind of unfair and small minded.
The Denon AVR3300 while not a perfect reciever is quite a strong one. It's sound produces good resonance and low distortion for a model in its price range (999.99 M.S.R.P.). I believe the 3300, like many Denon products, is a unit geared more for the music enthusiast. I base this on the fact that there are few DSP modes (sound effects) present. For instance, Yamaha's 995 unit has plenty DSP's that are "realistic" sounding which some of them are very useful with movies, while denon carries about 5 or 6, and most aren't even very good.
The 5 channel stereo (which is NOT a DSP by the way) IS a good thing........best 5 channel around.........if you like that kind of thing..........say.........if you're too cheap for tower speakers and "settled" for satelites.................no offence.lol
I still have issues with the "ease of use". I can not recall any Denon receiver being simple, and while better than last year, the remote still kind of sucks. But even the hardest of critics have to agree that when you first turn the back of that unit around and see COMPONET VIDEO inputs and the 8 CHANNEL INPUTS for thier future, even their stern faces have to light up with astonishment. I know mine did.
I do work for a retail chain too, probably the same as one of the previous guy's reviewing the 3300.........hell, why not........THE GOOD GUYS!! I just wanted to add that I believe the internet is a good way to buy lots of good things, especially if your're looking for a substantial savings. But if you purchase most electronic items like the 3300 and the vendor is not an "AUTHORIZED DEALER" of that product, you basicly lose all benefits, priveleges, and even the warranty of that product. So if you see the 3300 advertised at a truly remarkable discount like $700 or $800, the chances of that said vendor being "AUTHORIZED" is nil. Denon doesn't "authorize" anyone to advertise below $999.99 unless consent is given (I think it's refered to as GRAY MARKET). So be carefull from whom you do do business. Some will claim they are authorized, when in fact they are not.

Overall the 3300 is a very good low/mid range unit. Great for music, great for value, and good ENOUGH for movies. If they'd just fix that damn remote.............. but.......it is a learning one. That does count for something.

Similar Products Used:

YAMAHA'S RXV995, Sony's STRDA555ES

It looks real pretty.

It overheated, smoked and died after owning it for less than 1 week.

2 hours, after writing a glowing review on the Denon 3300, the damm thing overheated, smoked and died. See tech talk (home theater) for further details.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite 27tx, Yamaha RX-V995