Price Paid:  $900.00

Summary:
Purchased this receiver and had to realy work out to get it home. The receiver is VERY heavy.However once you start it up and set it up you realise that this receiver is all fizz, it has no real power. I hooked it up to a pair of KEF Coda floor standers and this receiver sounds like thrash. Its as if there is virtually no drive in the lower region (bass). Mid range is pretty open and smooth while the top end gets brittle when you push it. However no mater what (played with the filters) you won't get any bass other than little bass lines. VERY DISAPPOINTED that a 3000 series Denon won't open up a floorstander. I had a Marantz integrated amp sitting around and the Marantz's power supply is actually bigger than the Denon, though the Denon is supposed to drive 7 channels! In HT mode once again, if pushed you will get a brittle sound and the bass won't hit you in the gut and scare you under your bed. Rather it is there but lacks any feel. Compared to this my older Yamaha V800 sounded like it had taken you to war when watching a movies though it couldn't sing to save its life (which is why I got the Denon, but this sucks too). Even the Harman Kardon AVR2000 which is an entry level amp had a better presentation in movies. Over all very disappointing amp from Denon. Would get my money back if I could.

It will sound refined provided you play it at low volumes. The soundstage is pretty good, but where is the bass?

Strengths:
Open mid-range, lots of fancy processing, Burr Brown DACS

Weaknesses:
No power, VERY poor bass, thin treble, piece of garbage which will cater to your tastes provided you don't push it too loud!

Similar Products Used:
Harman Kardon AVR2000, Yamaha RXV800, Denon 3803

gasman

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.09 of 5, 11.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I purchased the Denon 3805 after some extensive research of what power plant best suited my needs and the 3805 was the one. I finished my basment last fall and had the plan to install in-wall speakers for my surround system. I can't say enough about the incredibly clean sound that this unit puts out! The speakers that I am running are the in wall Paradigm model 300's for the front and 200's for the rear. The 3805 brings these speakers to life, litterly. I like to watch movies with volume cranked up and this machine puts out a ton of quality power and then some! My buddy purchased a similary priced amp, it is a high end Yamaha and it does not even hold a candle to the performance capability of the Denon. He has even admitted that the Denon sounds cleaner and warmer than the one he purchased. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone that is looking for a high performance power plant that is very rugged and can push some serious juice. She's a beefy 40lb unit.

Strengths:
Clean and warm sound Great features

Weaknesses:
None that I can Think of

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer elite series receiver

20to20K

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.75 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $620.00 from Tweeter(floor model)

Summary:
I've had this unit for about 2 months (upgraded from the 2803 when I decided to add surround speakers)and up to last week had the same exuberent impressions of most everyone else on this site while just listening to my Polk LSi15's. Then I hooked up the rest of my surround speakers and the disappointment set in. The LSi15's are 4 ohms as well as my LSiC center speaker. However I opted for the lesser expensive FXi-3 for my surrounds which are 8 ohms. The 3803 can't handle it. After 20-30 minutes of 5 channel playback (either music or movies) the reciever shuts off into protection mode. I feel the unit, its not particularly hot so I'm thinking the current surge associated with the 4 ohmers are too much for it too handle. I've hear that the Polk LSi series are somewhat demanding speakers but the sound level wasn't particularly loud and shutting down after just 20 minutes seems pretty lame to me. The manual mentions not recommending use of impedences below 6 ohms (wish I could have read that B4 I bought it!) The Tweeter guy says he's not surprised considering the fact that I had it connected to three 4 ohm speakers and mixed it with two 8 ohmers and would give me full credit to upgrade to a more powerful AVR (B&K) but said a cheaper option would be getting an outboard amp (on Ebay) to drive the 4 ohmers. I love everything else about the 3803 and I guess theres a chance I could run into the same problem with another AVR so I've just won a bid on a vintage Denon POA-2400(200 2pc) and I'll use that to drive the 15's. Hope all goes well... The charts says to give 2 stars if you're not completely happy...which I'm not. But that seems a bit harsh for an otherwise well performing unit. Plus there may be something unique about my setup that's not likely to affect anyone else reading this review(Mixing 4 ohms and 8 ohms at the same time?). I'll be reasonable and make it 3.

Strengths:
Great AVR features Great sound in 2 channel mode Attractive, sturdy unit Reasonably priced.

Weaknesses:
Inablility to handle 4 ohm speakers Lame power cord(My clock radio has a thicker one!)

Similar Products Used:
Denon 2803 Denon Stereo Reciever(forget the number) Vintage Marantz 2270

digital_aura1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Local AV store

Summary:
I researched quite a bit when shopping for my new AV system for the new house. My narrowed my receiver options down to a Denon or Onkyo in the $800-900 price range. I decided on the Denon for multiple reasons... But let's get to how this thing performs... My speaker setup is as follows: 7 speaker setup (no sub), 2 Axiom Audio M60s for the front R/L, an Axiom VP150 center, and some OK in-wall speakers for the 4 surrounds. (Wife wouldn't go with having speakers hanging from the ceiling and walls :) Let me just say that the Denon pushes these speakers FREAKIN AWESOME! The Axioms can handle up to 250W and the Denon is pushing out about 110W / ch. If I am under powering the speakers, you will be hard pressed to convience me of it. The Denon has truely clean power and sound output. I usually watch movies in Dobly or DTS surround - they perform flawlessly. The 3803 delivers as a true "home theater" receiver. We rent movies now more than ever due to the quality sound experience we get at home. This is directly attrbutable to the Denon's performance. I have found that the 7 speaker stereo mode is the best while watching standard 2 CH TV. Though the Pro-Logic II mode works quite well for 2CH content too, I just prefer the higher volume level when all 7 speakers are going instead of just the center for dialog. It's easier to hear the content. I listen to classic and hard rock / blues rock / and soft rock via a Panasonic DVD player. If you want it LOUD, the Denon 3803 delivers. I have not cranked it up all the way, maybe 80% and I literally "felt" the music. The most amazing thing to me with the Denon is that even when cranking up the volume the sound is very clean, IE no distortion... I like to watch movies with the sound cranked up pretty good, -15Db on the volume. The Denon does it's job very well. On another note, I particularly like the upconversion of video signals. I had my digital cable box running into the S-Video input and then out via the component connection and the picture quality was great. Did I see an improvement in picture? No not really, but it makes it much easier to setup ONE device (the receiver) to control all the inputs (audio, cable, dvd player, Xbox) The 3803 was pretty easy to setup and configure the inputs as well as the surround levels. The controller is freakin huge and would be my main issue with the system. Plus it is heavy. I use my Cable box remote 99% of the time (not the best remote either, but it's light and ergonomic). The only reason I have to use the Denon remote is if I need to change the audio surround mode or need to select a different input source. I would recommend Denon products to anyone, especially this particular model since I am familiar with it. Denon's are not the "low cost leader" and this is a GOOD THING! You get what you pay for.

Strengths:
Build Quality, Clean Sound, Clean Power, video up-conversion, Surround Modes

Weaknesses:
Remote could be lighter and more ergonomic, epecially if you are going to use it as your "master" remote.

Similar Products Used:
Phillips A/V receiver

bullshead

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I hope neither my dealer nor Denon themselves read this review! I upgraded from a AVR-3802, primarily to get the benefit of only one set of outputs (component) to my plasma, despite a load of different video input standards. This is a great plus. Basically I'm a big fan: it plays music (whether classical, rock or 60s Tamla and soul) beautifully and still rattles the windows on movies. The reason my dealer/Denon won't like this review is that the dem room has Denon's top-of-the-range AV amp and I'm blowed if I can hear any improvement over the 3803. Maybe in a HUGE room, but my living room ain't small. I agree with all the comments about battleship quality; you wouldn't want to drop this on your foot! The setup is a fag, but aren't all setups? Once done, it's fit-and-forget. All in a very high quality offering, irrespective of what you throw at it.

Strengths:
build quality, power, range of inputs/outputs, video conversion

Weaknesses:
weird 'negative' volume range (0db = loudest, -99db or whatever = quietest)

Similar Products Used:
Denon AVR3802 (also awesome) Arcam AVR200 (OK, but can't match the Denon) Onkyo (noisy fan, brutish/unsubtle)