And who cares about DPL II ?
This is just marketing.
I don't care about DPL II as many others here.

I don't care either about Denon because I prefered B&K and looks like someone here really works for Denon.
It's the one accusing others working for Bose.....

Who cares about DLP II?


Lionel

Power, Analog Devices DACs, THX Certified, Setup,

Remote could be better

Plenty of power. Music sounds great. Ability to cut video circuits off when listening to music. Simple setup. Two sets of rear surrounds plus rear center. Two DACs per channel. Two sets of external multi-channel inputs. Component switching. Huge 1200 VA transformer. Includes DD, DTS, THX EX and DTS ES Discrete. Now, now Lionel...you know you own one. Why mislead these people and play these games?

Similar Products Used:

Marantz, B&K

Power

nada

If Denon would seperate the amps and the processor
and add one thousand to the price, some people would love it. I on the other hand, like many others, am not to good, or to much of an audiophile to love something that's called a "reciever".

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Pioneer, Yamaha.

The best receiver around (at least for my taste)

See previous reviews

Just for those that do not know yet that the Denon AVR 5800 IS upgradable and WILL support DPL II -

http://www.dolby.com/press/co.pr.0104.PL2Update.html

So, for all of you talking about the DTS-ES upgrade to the Integra 9.1 / Onkyo 989 that did not happen yet, just bear in mind that Denon announced that they will upgrade the AVR 5800. BTW, I did not see the B&K 307 there, but it does not matter, because I prefered the 5800 anyway.

My current setup:
Receiver - Denon 5800
Fronts - JBL S412P (w/built in 200w subs)
Center - JBL S-Center
Subwoofer - Acoustic Research ARS500
Surround + Rears - 2 sets of JBL S38
DVD - Pioneer Elite DV-F07, Multi Zone, Multi System
Video Processor - DVDO iScan PRO
Projector - Mitsubishi X300 + Da-Lite C 100" screen
VCR - Sony SLV-836EE Multi-System NICAM
Tape - Technics RSTR575
TV - Mitsubishi 31"

Here are some comparsion numbers for the Denon
AVR-5800 and B&k avr307 from S&V 12/00 and 1/01

AVR-5800, rated at 170wpc x 7

DD performance.

Output at clipping(1kHz into 8ohms)
-one channel driven......187watts(22.5dBW)
-five channels driven....138 watts(21.5dBW)

Distortion at 1 watt(1kHz, 8ohms).... 0.0037%
Noise level(16-bit signal, A-wtd)..... -74.7 dB

Stereo performance(2 channel)

Output at clipping(1kHz into 8/4ohms)
8ohms.........168watts(22.5dBW)
4ohms.........280watts

Distortion at 1 watt
8/4........0.018/.0.19%

Noise Level...-75.5dB



B&K AVR307

DD performance

Output at clipping
one channel driven...............181 watts(22.5dBW)
five channel driven..............138 watts(21.5dBW)

Distortion at 1 watt output.....0.04%
Noise level.......-72.3 dB


Stereo Perfomance

Output at clipping at 1 kHz

8ohms.................153 watts(22dBW)
4ohms..................229 watts
distortion at 1 watt.....0.03%
Noise level..............-72.9dB


Looks like the receivers are pretty equal with the edge going to the Denon AVR-5800. It has lower noise levels and higher stereo output. Dolby Digital performance is almost identical. The only receiver that has better figures
is the Marantz SR-14EX listed at $4700. For home theater the Denon is still king with it's surround modes, especially with DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 and NEO. As the previous reviewer mentioned Denon is releasing a DPL II uprade around Summer time.

These are just comparison numbers and by no means figures to which you would use solely to determine which receiver to buy. I for one do not like the AVR307's looks. It just don't go with me. I prefer the looks of the Denon and the Marantz much better. But looks are subjective. That can also be said for sound with receivers in this price range. With that said, I don't think you could go wrong with either receiver. Enjoy!

THX Surround EX, incredible sound, DTS ES, 170 watts X 7 channels

I hope I didn't really pay $800 for this annoying remote control. Sure it looks fancy and it is nice, I guess, but I would much rather have a cheaper remote and a better price!

This reciever is a promising investment that will be sure to satisfy your needs for years. I gave this reciever 4 stars because I had the pleasure of having the Pioneer Elite VSX-36TX in my home for the 13 days before I decided I wanted to spend the extra money and get the Denon. I couldn't resist the extra wattage and the 2 extra channels. If you are a person who wants a fine THX Ultra certified reciever for about $1000, with 5 channels at 100 watts, the VSX-36TX will more than meet your needs. It doesn't however, sound very good when you hook up another reciever to get the surround back THX Surround EX. The Pioneer sounded tinny when another reciever was used for the back channels. The Denon sounds absolutely incredible. There is no question about that. The Denon AVR 3801 was tempting for its price range but it isn't THX certified so the Pioneer made more sense to me at first. The B & K AVR307 was also tempting, but interestingly enough, they were charging like $400 more than I payed for the Denon. That is goofy because the AVR307 has 20 less watts/channel, has a much less expensive remote, and its retail is only like $3500 compared to the Denon's $3800.

Overall I am more than happy with the Denon AVR-5800.

Similar Products Used:

I owned a Pioneer Elite VSX-36TX and I demoed the Denon AVR 3801 & the B & K AVR307

power, build quality, connectivity, THX, DTS, etc., 170 watts X 7

manual

I tried all of the above and decided the extra money for the AVR-5800 would well suit my needs for years to come. The Pioneer Elite had some defective inputs, so I returned it for a full refund. The Integra DTR 7.1 was very good, but lacked a few more features I wanted that I felt I should go ahead and pursue, so I sold it at this site's "Marketplace" and broke even. My third choice was the AVR-4800 for which I bought the companion POA-5200 amp, but decided I could still do one better, and I wasn't at all impressed with its remote. On the other hand, the Denon's AVR-5800's remote is most definitely worth it, despite complaints from those few who do not have the patience or inclination to learn how to use it. Indeed, I'm surprised at the number of AVR-5800 owners who put their remotes on eBay or list them at this site's "Marketplace." That's a bad idea, particularly since this remote was packaged w/the receiver.

Audio is fantastic, although, like most receivers, its various DPS modes do not interest me much. Watching videos and DVDs, however, astounds me each time, and DTS is fantastic.

My set-up includes:

Paradigm Monitor 9s
Paradigm ADP-370 dipolar surrounds
Paradigm PW-2200 subwoofer
Paradigm CC-370 center channel
Hitachi 36" TV
old Pioneer magazine-style CD changer
old Pioneer dual cassette player
Panasonic VCR
Panasonic DVD RV-31

I'm satisfied with this set-up, and although I'm sure I spent a few hundred more for the AVR-5800 than I had to, I think buying from an authorized Denon dealer is definitely a good idea, especially if you consider warranty important, which I do for that kind of money. It was also useful and quite easy to download the updated software for the remote.

Like any sophisticated piece of equipment, using this receiver and the remote may require somewhat of a learning period (since the manual can be a bit confusing), but once everything is in place, the results are just incredible. As Denon's flagship A/V receiver with more connectivity than anyone could ever want as well as its multi-room capabilities, the AVR-5800 will be a hard act to follow. As far as the receivers that I listed above go, this one's in a class all its own. I really don't understand why the previous reviewer felt compelled to give the value of this machine anything less than a "5." The only other receiver that I've had that came close to this one is the Denon AVR 4800, which is another great A/V receiver; I just simply upgraded mine through Kief's (where I also bought the AVR 4800 and POA-5200 before trading them back in) because I wanted something with more power. I also wanted a machine that didn't require another amplifier for the additional two channels, which I don't use right now anyway.

If f you choose the Denon AVR-5800, you won't be sorry, and I promise, you'll suffer no buyer's remorse.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite VSX 36TX, Onkyo Integra DTR 7.1, Denon AVR-4800

The size and look!

I just got my 5800 a couple of days ago! I exchanged it for my Yamaha 795. When I bought my 795 the store lend me a Yamaha 20xx I can¡¦t remember the exact model but it must be like 3-4 years old because it was discontinued when I bought the 795. I remember my big disappointment when I finally got the 795 and the sound from the loaner was better then my new one. The biggest difference was the bright unbearable sound that came from the 795. I spend the remaining 3 years with it tweaking it looking for a sound that just weren¡¦t there

The 5800 is BIG! Bigger than I could imagine, and it¡¦s really ugly, it looks like a mutant between a receiver and a sub ƒº At least that¡¦s how my wife described it.

The sounds that I¡¦ve been tweaking for was there right out of the box with the 5800, no tweaking at all and it sounded just right! Gone where the bright and horrible sound, the detail that I¡¦ve been looking for was there more than ever! I hear stuff on my cds that I¡¦ve never heard! I even hear the bass playing as an instrument instead of something humming acting as bass and the bass is A LOT deeper, I had no idea my speakers where this good, the main speakers is TDL RTL 3 ($700). I don¡¦t care what people is saying about spending more money on speakers the on the receiver, when I bought my Yamaha system I listened to several different speakers the difference wasn¡¦t that big. But now my sound has improved dramatically!

I new it was going to sound a little better, I mean the 5800 has a retail price of $3000 more, but I could never have guessed that the difference would be this big!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 795 and 20xx??

Quality, flexibility, suprisizing ease of use

none-well the remote is fascinating AND challenging to use

I sold 20 year old high end individual, solid state components and purchased this receiver to obtain an improved sound, reduce the # of components, and create a home theatre. Combined with high quality speakers I have not been disappointed, and the 5 channel stereo is awesome whether listening to classics or jazz.

My system
Denon 5800 receiver
Denon 3700 dvd player
KEF 107 reference front speakers
KEF RDM ONE rear speakers
KEF C200 center speaker

DTS ES Discrete 6.1 maXIMUS , MAXIMUS , MAXIMUS [Gladiator] (Every feature that is incorporated with the 5800)

None that I notice

I have a Pioneer DV-434 DVD, Sony XBR 400 TV, MK 750THX Speakers and the Dennon . I had the 1st 2 around Thanksgiving & just got the other 2 around begining of Janurary.

The playback of DVDs through the switching is very detailed - I really thought that there was going to be alot of degradtion in the picture but there wasn't [monster cable component video (Playstation 2 & DVD Player)]

I have the ps2 and dvd player running optical ins into the receiver. The sound is Legendary what is coming out . If you play Madden 2001,NHL 2001 or Fifa 2001 for the ps2, it actually sounds like your in the arena or stadium ( can't wait until they start to incorporate 5.1 Dolby Digital & DTS into the games}.

DVD Movies - you must own if you have the 5800

Gladiator - DTS 6.1 Discrete
Godzillia - Dolby Digital 6.1 Go to Chapter 12 & 16 when he is walking through the city & being chased (guranteed your subwoofer will be put to the test)
T2 Ultimate Edition - DTS/THX (here the sound selection at the audio menu)
Titan AE -DTS/THX When the Earth blows up you better run)
Pitch Black-DTS (is there something flying in here)
Aliens - THX mode
Independece Day - THX mode
Up In Smoke Tour - Dre/Snoop/Eminem/Ice Cube - You will think you are in the concert

This is the receiver you truly need to get if you want the best clearest sound possible (accurate). Music CD's are a joy to listen to on the 5800. DTS Neo 6:Cinema - Denon actually knew what they were doing incorporating these features into their receiver.

Regarding the Remote Control - you are not going to learn how to use it the 1st day or even a weeks time . And most likely you will be using your other remotes anyway for whatever special functions they have ie XBR400 Twin View mode.

This is just a Great piece of Hardware that should be in everyone's home.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 5600