Video upconversion Loads of features and processing options State of the art DACs Terrific sound and picture for HT Solid quality

Decent but not great for 2 channel music Manual only an engineer could love Remote for people who LOVE buttons

Two items right up front: 1) I've been a Denon enthusiast for 20 years so there is a slight bias. 2) Yes, both the manual and the remote are seriously wanting Now that we've got that out of the way, IMO this is a terrific HT unit but merely mediocre for music. I should say that I replaced a full separates 2 channel system with this receiver so a music repro comparison may be simply unfair. For everyday use, the 3803 is all you could ask for. The video upconversion works brilliantly! My dbs and dvd are connected by s-video and the s-vhs by rca's yet with the component out to my TV, in the immortal words of Keith Jackson, "Whoa Nelly!" PLII and DTS: Neo 6 work as advertised, and the quality of construction and appearance are typical Denon. I don't really mess with the different surround modes very much but they are very convincing without detracting from the source material too much. I also agree with others here that the back panel is very well laid out with enough connections to future proof this for hopefully a good while. My only concerns are either the pre/pro or amp for music applications (being integrated I haven't figured out which it is yet). Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of power and current, but for music they just aren't doing it for me. In Pure Direct mode, the sound is very clean and detailed but a tad dry. Voices, in particular, are a bit compressed and nasal and could use some weight. Very high frequecies have good extension although can be a bit in your face. Bass is very good with nice slam and transient response but, as with the mids, could use a little more depth. Soundstage to me is merely ok as is transparency. Overall there is slight lack of dynamics across the range. Interestingly enough, these traits only show up when playing music and not movies. Go figure. Believe me, I'm no audiophile (check Audiogon.com for those guys) but I do know what I like and what to look for. In summation, for HT this is a killer product, especially for the money. It's loaded with quality features, state of the art DAC's, and has flawless build. Ditch the remote, pick up a Sony RM-AV3000 and you're good to go. For music, at least in my set-up, I'll probably be using it as a pre/pro and hooking up some better amps. Source equip: Denon AVR 3803, Echostar DV3, Sony DVP-C600D, Denon DRM-30HX, JVC S-VHS, Playback: B&W CDM 7nt's, CDM cnt, CDM 1nt's Hitachi UX3201S

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Lots of inputs. Good features for Video modes. Plenty of power for medium sized room. Looks great! Great Audio for Jazz, acoustic music, solo vocals.

No easy access to channel level volume controls while in Video modes (F,L,C, SR) Have to go into set up to change. Muanual needs more example set up instructions.

A good all around reciever. Great sound for movies and pretty good for most types of music. I like 5 channel stereo for music with my set up but Direct is good also witha little more volume.Bought is beause of and in spite of the reviews on this site. Everything was pretty much accurate. I personally found the remote to be pretty easy to learn. Great look to the reciever and it seems to be well made.

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Denon 1010 .

Good build GOOD WEIGHT GOOD SOUND , TIGHT AND NATURAL ALL THE HOOK UP'S

I CAN'T USE OPTICAL CABLE FOR DVD PLAYER HOOK UP.

All in All its a great reciever. My only question and/or concern is why can't i use my "optical in" for my dvd selection. When i switch to "dvd" it says "IN = COAXIAL 2"

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YAMAHA , NAD , PIONEER

Clean Clear Sound Lots of Power Plenty of inputs On Screen setup was a breeze

Heavy, reinforce your shelf or stand

An amazing receiver that is like a breath of fresh air. Sonically, it is one of the best I have ever heard, good detail and sound stage. I audtioned a Elite and Sony ES. The elite was too warm and the Sony was junk. It has plenty of power for my needs. Movies have better definition and clarity through each channel. In the Pure direct mode the music is awesome, crystal clear. Can't wait to get more speakers for 7.1 sound. My System: Denon 3803 Denon DVD-900 Sony CD Changer Sony HIFI VCR Mitsubshi 50" projection TV Energy Take 5.2 with 10" sub HTPC: AMD XP2200 Radeon 9500 512MB DDR2100 mEMORY 80GB Maxtor Hardrive M-Audio Revolution Sound Card

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Onkyo, Seperates

great 2 channel stereo good build Denon quality

Had first been bilked into trying the Sony 7ES. Man, what a hunk of junk. This receiver sounded TERRIBLE. So, I returned and got the closest thing, I thought, to my 8 year old Onkyo. Denon rocks! Very impressed with 2 channel music. Very solid product.

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Sony 7ES.......Don't buy, it sounds horrible

HT processing, quality finish, ease of use.

Lacks some power.

I got this receiver after I had to part my not that trusty HK7000. In terms of music, this receiver lacks some power and dynamic. It sound natural and a little bit bright. In terms of HT - it has a very good processing, but again a bit of more power will make it a very good receiver. Setting can be some what confusing at first, but after all it is a easy operating receiver. Built quality and finish is excellent.

Great features, looks good.

Sounds hard at moderate volumes compared with the NAD T762

Initially was quite pleased with the 3803, had all the features I wanted, but I've grown tired of the 3803 sound after I heard a friend's NAD T762. Where the 762 delivers strong performance at high volumes, the 3803 is hard sounding.

Fantastic sound. On screen set up is very easy.

none

After much research, I decided on this brand and model. Rather than do a package and get a lower level receiver and speakers, I decided to go to this 7.1 Receiver. It was a GREAT choice. The sound is remarkable and it's acutally pretty easy to use (even my wife thinks so).

Great power and "amzing" sound quality. Product coherent sound field as the whole room instead of compressed from each speaker. 7-channel stereo and DPLII perform at best. DTS EX and DolbyD EX at very exciting surround sound from all direction. Very clear sound effect to rear LRC channels. Video conversion works like a champ. This feature only available on this receiver and the Denon AVR-5803, picture quality does not degrade when upconvert. Remote is a BIG plus, it will learn AnY thing. It's my first true "Universal" remote (my yamaha rx-v1 remote could not learn my daewoo dvd player)

Only two component video inputs No front a/v inputs

The Denon AVR-3803 is a killer! It blew away my Yamaha rx-v1 in every aspect. The sound quality is totally better than any receiver I've had before. The 7 channel amps works like a car with v8 power. All my speakers are finally utilized at its best. I have tested head to head with the Yamaha rx-v3300 result as follow: -Yamaha produced more noise than Denon, especially at higher level (-10db), the sound would clearly be distorted while the Denon AVR-3803 keeps the sound so clean even at very high level (+5db) Forget about any other features on Yamaha because the basic is the sound and what good can it do once distorted? I wouldn't like yamaha at this problem. The sound will be very compressed and would be so harsh to enjoy. That's why I let go of my flagship yamaha rx-v1 for the Denon avr-3803. My setup: Denon AVR-3803 receiver M&K 750THX full 6.1 speaker system ( the additional M&K rear center speaker is LCR-55MKII center)

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For now; The setup is very easy, good looking, more power that you'll normally need, Huge power supply transformer (the weight it's all in this corner), remote.

It's not firmware upgradable... :(

The price is in Euros. This will be more a physical aspect review. I'll come back here when I really could say something about is sound.... I'm here just to say that I had no problem with the setup of the receiver. I've done it without the manual. The OSD is very intuitive and so the remote. I just used the manual when needed to configure the remote for the rest of my system. The remote does the basic instrutions on the other equipments (as usual with a universal remote). But after reading the complains about the manual, I've read it to see what was everyone talking about. I didn't find any problem with the manual. It take's you to configure the receiver in a step by step means, easly without confusions. It's very objective. If you're are looking for explanations about the thechnologies mentioned in the manual, that you'll have to look in other place....Internet for example. The remote is another point of critical fingers. I admite that there is everyones personal taste involved, but for me i didn't find anything i don't like. The key's are well destributed, and separeted with coloured characters (red for the turn on and off keys; orange for the device you want to control; etc). You can program how mutch time the backlight stays on. The receiver it self, It's almost future proof!! It's missing the firmware upgrade port... But it is very well in relation with connectivity. Many IN's n OUT's. 7 AMP's for 7.1 DTS-ES DD-EX. About the sound, for now i can't say nothing, because i hooked it up to a brand new MonitorAudio Silver 8 for fronts, MA SLCR for center, MA S2 for surround, Mirage LF-150 Sub. So since they are brand new, they heven't work enought time to give all that I heard when I auditioned them... Later i'll buy a extra pair of S2 for the surround back. Also, be carefull if you have a glass stand. the receiver is very heavy! mine, almost broke apart..... Give it plenty of space in the sides and specially int the top. It get's realy hot!!! (with all this power what would i espect!! :) ) hope this helps.

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