Great Sound, Flexibilty

Premature Shut-off

Just recieved the Denon AVR330. Thanks to the many positive reviews in this forum I decided to buy it. Unfortunately my unit seems to run very well but when I turn it off and then attempt to turn it back on the unit shuts itself off thinking there is an overtemperature condition even when the unit is cool to the touch. Anyone experience the problem? BTW, never even hear the fan that many seem to have heard. I am thinking my unit is defective and plan to return it for a new one. I am using Definitive Technology Series 100 speakers. Best darn speakers for the money by Far!!

This is a final review of the 3300

Previously on this forum, I submitted a review on the Denon 3300 I had just purchased. Since then, it developed a whistling sound, something like a flash on a camera discharging. I noticed someone else on the forum had reported the same problem, and said it was related to the fan. I think this is related to the power supply circuitry. Anyway, I replaced the 3300 with a Marantz SR19, and have to say there is NO comparison. For the addition $500-$600 the Marantz outperforms the 3300 in every way. I will keep posting as I gain more experience with this receiver, but all I have to say is the Marantz is incredible.

Incredible soundstage, easy on the ears, price

Remote (of course), front display panel,

Very good receiver at the price range - It was very difficult to decide between the Yamaha 2095, and this one. Although the Yamaha 995 is the direct competitor (at the same price), I think 2095 is the fairer competition.

One of the local stores actually carried both Yamaha and Denon - not many stores around here do - they go with either Denon or Yamaha. So anyway, I got them to hook up the 2095, and the 3300 side-by-side. Now, I don't have that good a ear, but Yamaha 2095 sounded a tad harsher than the 3300. Given the difference in price (about $400 - $500), all else being equal, or nearly equal - the 3300 is the winner.

The Onkyo was very weak in the lower frequency range - reminded me of the Boss set up in stores.

Couple of things that can be improved on the 3300, though - it is not possible to select video inputs while listening to an audio source using the remote. I know that this can be done with if I walk up to the unit, and follow the instructions in the manual - but now way I can do that with the remote. If anyone knows how to do this with the remote, please let me know.

Of course, the remote sucks big time. When the remote is in the CD mode, the number keys should not be reprogrammed to select track numbers. I accidently programmed the CD numbers over the recever codes!! Had to reset them.

Finally, I found myself listening to music - not the speakers!!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 905, Yamaha 2095, Onkyo 575

Features, power, bass management, excellent digital decoding

Fatal: the noisy fan

I was delighted to pay so little for this refurbished unit, having bought pristine Denon "refurbished" product from uBid before. This one was a loser. To start with it was badly packed in broken, ill-fitting styrofoam. Some oily substance was splattered on the side and face of the unit. Never mind. It cleaned off and there was no lasting cosmetic damage. Once hooked up, the AVR 3300 sounded great with my Snell J-IVs, Snell Ms and Snell CC-1. That is, until the infamous cooling fan went on during a quiet passage in "The Patriot" (the retreat to the swamps scene). It sounded like the "Swamp Fox" might be coming to the rescue in an aero-fan swamp boat! Then, as the fan cycles off, there is a wining sound like a small animal dying. At least that wasn't anachronistic! Tried to get this fixed under the 90-day warranty but I was told that Denon has run out of the "fan replacement kit." I am sending the AVR 3300 back, with regrets.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 1700, Denon AVR 2800

Great warm sound. Projects a great sound stage. The perfect receiver for 2 channel stereo AND 5 or 6 channel video. Quiet. No fan noice.

Can't find a reason to buy a second one

I've had this receiver for more than a year and it never disappoints. Every time I turn it on I'm impressed with the way it sounds. The sound stage on 2 channel is very very good. In Dolby Digital and DTS, this receiver processes the movie sounds and is quiet. Watch something like U571 and you'll be smiling large...Put Football on the TV, flip the switch for 5 channel stereo and it's like you're in the stadium. I highly recommend this receiver. It's got most of the same goodies as Denon's flagship R/V Receiver. Go out and buy it today! Saturdays are great for going to stereo stores.

Similar Products Used:

Retired my Yamaha 990 A/V receiver

True reviewers who post once

Bill, Dave, and Chris

It's idiots and a-holes like Chris, Bill, and Dave that are ruining what could otherwise be a great and very useful forum. Thanks alot dumbasses...

Similar Products Used:

Lobotomy (should work well for these morons)

Clicking Post Review 20 times does not increase the rating. This is what affects the rating.

Great sound, build quality.

Remote is awful.

Despite all the bad reviews about noisy fans, and buying these from online dealers like ubid.com, I went ahead and did just that. And guess what: No fan problem. No problems at all.

This is one sweet unit, with great sound, nice, heavy build quality, and tons of connectivity possibilities (even a phono input).

It does run kind of warm, but get a real audio rack instead of that huge wooden 'entertainment center' and I don't think the fan will be a problem.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneers, Onkyos

True reviewers who post once

Bill, Dave, and Chris

It's idiots and a-holes like Chris, Bill, and Dave that are ruining what could otherwise be a great and very useful forum. Thanks alot dumbasses...

Similar Products Used:

Lobotomy (should work well for these morons)

Incredible sound for it's MSRP price ($1,000). Very detailed sound, lots of power and connections for flexibility. Very musical and incredible with DTS/Dolby Digital.

Speaker binding posts need upgrading. Needs more than one coax input. Needs digital outputs. Tuner is sacrificed, but works alright.

This is a very well made receiver for the price. It has a lot of power and flexibility in it's connection. Does have a couple concerns as mentioned in the 'weakness' section. This receiver is connected to NHT 1.5's and Audiocenter one for the front, NHT Superzeros for the rear (second set of surrounds are NHT New Waves) and a custom powered sub.

I have to mention here that I have not had the overheating problems as mentioned in a lot of the reviews. My receiver hardly ever get's hot enough for the fan to turn on (always just slightly warm to the touch) and when the fan does turn on, it's whisper quiet. I guess there is a bad batch out there with defective fans and there are a lot of reviews mentioning it.

I found the remote and setup very easy to do as far as digital recievers are concerned. I have set up receivers from different companies (Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, B&K, Sherwood, and other Denon's) and have found the 3300 to be one of the easiest to set up (both the receiver and the remote). Once the receiver is fully set up, it can be left in 'AUTO' mode and will switch to the correct sound mode as needed (Direct, Dolby Digital, DTS, Pro-Logic). Other sound modes can be switched as needed.

The sound in Direct Mode (used for CD and TAPE) is very clean, detailed, and musical. In surround mode (Dobly Digital, DTS, and Dolby Prologic), it sounds better than what you get in a theater.

This receiver (as other's in the Denon line) have the capability of using two sets of rear speaker, which can be switched for best possible surround for type of signal (movie, music, etc). I found this to be a wonderful option as watching VHS movies or TV programs work better with both surrounds turn on (acting as 'bipoles') and listening to music in surround mode sounds better using just the Superzeros (also listening to DTS or Dolby Digital programs which work better with 'discreet' speakers for the rear).

Similar Products Used:

Other Denon products, Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer.