7.1, 2nd sources output, many options, great sound.

I don't like the remote, it is not user friendly. A-B speaker setup mentioned above.

I exhanged my Sony STR-DA3000ES for this after I had a problem with a humming noise. No regrets so far. I will be exchanging this again for a Denon AVR-3805 when they are avialable in March. Tweeter allows you to exchange items for more expensive item for up to 120 days.) See Denon's press release at http://www.dba-pr.com/clients/denon/releases/CES2004%20Receivers.htm The sound of this reciever is excellent. 7 Channel Stero is a great feature, many inputs and outputs, componet video switching, avilalbe in black or silver. The only major issue I have with this is the power amp mode. This has a and b surround speakers, and it can be set in power amp mode and have the b speakers power a second room. When I set this though the setup shows it as 5.1 instead of 7.1 with a second stereo output. It still seems to be the best receiver in this price range. Compared to everything else, I still give it a 5.

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Sony STR DA3000ES

Sound, build, physical depth.

Display is small, power cord is weak (I have a toaster with a more substantial cord, this is a disgrace for $1,000 receiver) These things are all overpriced.

I question whether some of the audible differences referred to in this and other forums that describe these receivers actually exist. Like an expert told me at a high end audio place, assuming that you don't have speakers that are several grand, once you spend around $1,000 on a receiver, there aren't noticable differences unless you go to $2,000 and above and at that point, you should consider separates. To that end, there are probably some $500 receivers that perform in the $1,000 category. I wouldn't knock yourself out if you have around $1,000 to spend trying to discern whether a receiver is "musical" or "warm vs bright" unless again, you have big time speakers that really do demand power and you know how to place the speakers properly. My 3803 is driving 4 ohm M&K 750 THX fronts and it does a nice job. The receiver has more inputs than I need, a reasonable remote, and doesn't run particularily hot. It has some nice tweaks and seems to distribute sound effortlessly. I am not a big fan of the "looks" although more importantly, the Denon seems to be made well. My gripe is that it is hard to see the display so you can't see the volume number from across the room but overall, it is fine. I also like the fact that it has a reasonable depth (less that 17"), most $1,000 receivers are 18" + which wouldn't work for my entertainment shelf. My opinion is that if you can swing it, around a grand gets you the most value in the receiver world. I upgraded from a Marantz 7200 and downgraded from a Rotel 1055 before settling for the 3803. I can honestly tell you I should have just let it be with the Marantz, they all proved to have their nuances. There is alot of marketing out there trying to sway you, my best advice is to pick a receiver that works space wise because that is one of the reasons we get receivers vs separates and get the one that is most pleasing to you aesthetically. Most of the worthwhile features will be found across the board, also don't get bent out of shape if the manufacturer didn't pay for the THX badge. Again, assuming that you aren't driving more than a couple grand worth of speakers, don't worry about which one is better. After all, if you appreciate speakers that are that expensive, you should be in separates territory. By the way, I also have a $350 Pioneer Elite 41VSX in the basement that is almost as good. If you are into reading professional reviews, you will find that the 3803 is one of the most respectable receivers in this price class, arguably the best with movies and more than decent with music. What else do you really need to know? These reviews are alot of fun to read, it is my intention is to give good pratical advice from someone who has spent some energy trying to figure out this stuff. Best of luck finding the receiver of your dreams.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz 7200, Rotel RSX 1055, Pioneer 41VSX.

Everything

A little more explanation of sound modes and how the effect the sound environment would be nice.

When I first contemplated buying a new reciever, I wondered, was it really worth it? Was it all BS that a reciever could make that much difference? But I remember going to KPLZ 101.5 FM in Seattle on a field trip back when I was in high school. The sound engineer took us into the recording/mixing area, which was sonically perfect, and he cranked it up. That was the beginning of the end for me, and now I own that sound too. This receiver is a stunner! I read ALL the reviews on this website about it, I have found no problems and agree with the vast majority of the other owners. I have been wanting a high end Denon for years, and now I have one. For the last 10 years I used a Teac Pro Logic reciever and always wanted much better sound. For the hookup, I ran 2 Infinity Crescendo towers that I've had for 5 years(each has two 8" cones, 4" mid, EmittR tweeter $1500) for front L/R, a brand new Polk center channel with two 6.5 inch cones and tweeter ($399), and brand new Polk di/bi pole rear channel speakers (2 tweeters and a 6.5 inch cone $499). (But hey, I got them from Crutchfield and the Polks were marked off 30%) I use 12 gauge Monster cable. I'll update this post when my new Velodyne SPL II 12" sub (1000 watts RMS) arrives next week and the pair of Polk speakers (6.5" cones, tweeter) and I can evaluate it with a quality subwoofer and 7.1 surround. I got a free Polk sub with my Crutchfield order, but it is crap, only 50 watts RMS and rattles like a mother. Setup was amusing at first. I'm not used to this much complexity, but it was good that all the settings were there. I think figuring out the potential of this reciever is going to take a few weeks but I like this kind of challenge. If you buy a hi-Q Denon, don't just expect to hook up the speakers and turn it on. You have to enter the settings that you want. However, they walk you through the setup with not only clear instructions but also images of the remote control and the buttons to press one by one. How cool is that? And the menu is projected on the screen of the tv, so setup is a snap. Once I waded through the manual which in my opinion was VERY well laid out (albeit a little lean on info explaining the implications of certain sound settings to the overall sound environment) I was ready to turn it on. I first listened to DirecTV, and was immediately overwhelmed. Picture to my Panasonic Superflat TV went through the reciever and then out to the tv via S cable. Audio was through some nice (but sadly) Monster RCA cables. I was hearing so many more detailed sounds from my Infinity speakers that I thought of the years wasted listening to that mediocre Teac. The soundstage sprung to life and I was transfixed. The sound was crisp, rich, alive, and just like a quality theater. I think the sound mode was in DTS NEO 6.1 which simulates multichannel sound. I then switched to an Austin Powers 3 DVD (dumb movie) so that I could hear Dolby Digital for the first time in my home. Oh Yea! The DVD sounded even better than my satellite feed (as expected). I stayed up until 2am listening to music and finally had to go to bed because I couldn't keep my eyes open. Also, the remote was nifty. I did agree with one review that the button info doesn't light up, so the buttons are easy to see but what they do is a mystery. However, the buttons were egonomically laid out well. The only people who shouldn't buy this reciever are people who have a hard time with complex recievers. (Get a McIntosh or something like that) Buy this reciever. If you can't hear a difference from you older reciever, either you're deaf or replacing another Denon... SJ

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TEAC Pro Logic reciever

Music reproduction Build quality Premium caps and Burr Brown DAC's Premium circuitry.

It won't do everything for you. Read the manual, that's why it's there.

This receiver, at the price point paid, is beyond a "best buy". Eventually I will upgrade to a 9.1 upgradable receiver like the Sunfire or B&K; however, any of those receivers price out into the $3000-$4000 range. I went with the Denon after looking at the Pioneer VSX 53-55 and the Yamaha 3300. The aspect of the Denon that has always set it apart from similar brands is the amp's ability to reproduce extremely refined sound. All of these receiver's have the circuitry to perform surround sound and music reproduction, but the refined music reproduction is the catch. I won't talk about the sharc circuitry and Burr brown DAC's, just be assured that you have have top notch function and sound. This receiver is a bargain at $1200.00 (retail), but a dream at a discount price of $765.00. A word about warranties; find yourself a local shop and get to know them. Don't bother with emailing Denon because of a problem.....take into the local guys that you trust. The engineering of these receivers is on a "space program" level. Once in a "blue moon" not everything may work, (usually because hook-ups are wrong, or settings are wrong) READ the instruction book! Do some homework, the manual is extensive. Do a little troubleshooting yourself! Then take it to a certified Denon shop. (the "locals" I spoke of). This receiver is light years ahead of the Onkyo 5.1 channel I replaced, in form, and function as well as music reproduction. The Denon is so good that you may hear the faults of the cd, tape, or dvd equipment you have! Buy this receiver! Yes, it does need to be "broken in" slightly, you may hear some sharp highs, give it 10 hrs. of run time. You may be hearing some hidden faults in your speakers as well. This receiver has high current topology, it may be rated at 110 watts a channel, but when you hear the extreme lows of a movie like Armaggedon you are probably cranking close to 180 watts to push that subwoofer. Bottom line, audiophile sound in 2 channel, immersed sound in 7.1, the best of both worlds. Get Yanni's Reflections CD or Windomhill's "Solace" CD or DVD. LISTEN to the orchestra, listen to the solo guitars, you will here the difference. Top ten A/V receiver.

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Onkyo TX-DS 656

surround speakers decoding

poor qulaity of sound in music mode.

major intermittent sound problem in prologic mode.

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Nad is better quality in all aspects

Rich, gorgeous sound.

Remote is light-years ahead of my old AVR1802's, but it could still use some sorting out (for instance, the labels aren't printed ON the buttons, so the back lighting isn't a whole lot of good in the dark, is it?).

Stunning. Music in pure direct mode. It's like hearing CDs for the first time. Detail, clarity, imaging, subtle power even at low levels. I love this thing.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR1802. Sony, Onkyo, HK, Yamaha receivers were auditioned prior to purchase. I won't be replacing this receiver any time soon.

form meets funtction adequate power built in japan(I still use my 23 year old receiver that was built in japan) I use one remote now!

no ethernet connection

Denon will blow the competion away! In this price range anyway. If your looking for two channel power it is more than adequate. Now if you got 300 watt rms speakers for two channel you better get another amp, you idiot's of course it won't push them or anything for that matter. Speakers are first and most important period... 3803 paired with decent speakers is a match made in heaven. the overall look and feel is what makes it a denon duh. No cluster front or video input crap. If you can't run this device no reason to buy it right. It functions so easily and three knobs is all I need to run it! The back is laid out like a champ. Remote control is very easy to use. I repeat the remote is so easy to use. Backlighted and can be programed for all you a/v crap. Onscreen display is great and easy to use. So boys and little girls go throw away your yamaha,pioneer,kenwood,onkyo,especialy sony or whatever crap you own and step up to the plate! The denon plate that is. Oh I have not even hooked up video gear. Reason being if it didn't pass my music test is going right back in the box. Obviously it blew my music out the water! Radiohead oh my god just plain nuts!

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I wouldn't waste my time with the other brands.

The "dts" function it is not working.The digital input it´s not recognizing the "dts" signal from the DVD even when i choose manual detection in "dts".No sound is heard what so ever.I have already contacted Denon Support 17th november 2003 and i´m waiting for their reply. i´m acctually not rating it... let´s wait and see what happens...

Build Quality Pre-Out's Video Switching Look's

No removable power cord. A strange, and hard to get used to remote.

I had a hard time deciding between the 3803 and the new Yamaha RX-V2400. I chose to go with the Denon just because it had better video switching (in my opinion). I am very happy with it to date, not problems... and the pre-out is great. It loves my B&K ST125.2 that runs my Martin Logan’s. I would say an all around great receiver.

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Yamaha RX-V1400

Honest power rating, very good sound for both HT and music.

remote control difficult to use, can't mute neighbors

I was using a Sony STR-DA3000ES, but due to it's lack of punch I replaced it with the Denon AVR-3803. So far I am very happy with it. The remote control was a little difficult to figure out (probably because I hate to read owner's manuals =)) but is quite useful after you learn it's functions. The only thing that I have found that I don't like is that you can't set the treble/mid/bass frequencies for all the channels. This is probably more of a problem with the speakers I have. They are not full range unless they are used with a sub, which gets the neighbors complaining a lot. I will write another review after I move into my house (which will be done in February) at which time I will replace my current speaker setup with more robust tower speakersand utilize the amp's 7 channels.

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In Home:SONY ES, Denon Considered: Marantz, Rotel, McIntosh