Very clean sound. Plenty of power, including to rear speakers. Lots of inputs including 5 S-Video ins and component video switching. Many pre-amp options. Can use two sets of surround speakers at same time. Nice auto-switching of modes when source changes. 7:1 inputs for future upgradability.

Not much control over "tweaking" of soundsoundstage. Only a few DSP modes, none of which work with digital input. Sound is a bit "flat" if you don't have great speakers. So-so remote control. No digital out.

I decided to upgrade my old pro-logic-only receiver to Dolby Digital/DBS and also S-Video across the board. I started by purchasing consumer-grade receivers (sub $500) that had at least 4 S-Video inputs (and there aren't a lot at this price range). The JVC was hissy and under-powered. The newer Pioneer didn't have the bass my old Pioneer did. It also didn't have a "matrix" surround sound option so I couldn't get a good "spacious" sound from non-encoded programs (I mainly watch digital cable TV, DVD will be purchased later). I have cheapo/non-matched speakers.

I was auditioning an Sony 333ES when I decided, what the heck, spend the money and go with the Denon AVR-3300 - it has great reviews, expandable for future formats, has component video switching (I might want that in the future), etc.. I got it home and set it up. Plenty of power. Watched Antz on HBO via coaxial input from digital cable box (but still only ProLogic, the cable company doesn't transmit DD yet). Plenty of seperation. But the sound field didn't feel "expansive". It was kind of flat and dull. Bass wasn't real strong (I do not have a sub woofer, but my old Pro-Logic rcvr put out plenty of bass to the front speakers). Center channel output sounded "harsh". I tweaked what parameters I could (Bass/Treble control [+/-12db], volume levels to each speaker, Cinema EQ offon, etc..). Got bass up fairly good, but bass was still clean - never "boomy" (but I kinda like "boomy"). But increasing the bass did flatten out the overall sound even more. Basically, I didn't get that "sitting in a theater" feeling. Tried the DSP modes - found out I can't select them with input set to Digital. Switched manually to analog (which softens the sound a bit). Not many DSP effects to choose from. Wasn't too impressed with the 5-channel stereo. Matrix surround was OK but not great. Flipped channels to different programs. Liked the way input switched automatically to analog for channels below 100 (which is normal cable) or to digital for channels over 100 (which are actually xmitted digitally). I could not hear the fan at all, even when checking connections on the back with the power on (but I could feel the breeze from the fan). The remote was so-so but I've never found any receiver to come with a super-great remote. If I keep the system I will use my Cinema 7 learning remote with macro capability.

I feel that if you have a high-quality speaker system the AVR-3300 is a fine receiver with plenty of clean power. If your speaker system is less than perfect, I don't feel there are enough options on the AVR-3300 to "tweak" the sound to your satisfaction.

I'm going to negotiate with my dealer to see if I can return my system for the Sony ES model (which has 25 DSP modes and has bass/mid/treble settings for each speaker). Since the Sony is less expensive, perhaps I'll offer to also buy a sub-woofer to make up the difference :)

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-454, VSX-509S, JVC KX-888V

Clean sound, nice look, number of inputs.

Dolby surround, remote

Generally I am happy with the Denon 3300, but was not blown away with it as many reviews here would indicate. DD and DTS work great, but traditional Dolby Surround is very weak (and unfortunately most material on TV/DBS and VCR tapes are in in this format.) Any feedback on improving the Dolby Surround performance would be great.

I purchased mine from Let's Go Digital - they were great. Cannot say the same about eCost.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo

When it's not in the shop it works great.

Terrible fan noise and very slow service to fix the problem. Also Denon unresponsive in helping to rectify the problem.

----To those who read and check back here often I am leaving this accounting of the AVR 3300 from my earlier posting on March 17th. I think by the number of emails I have received regarding the fan noise problem that has occured from between 1 and 9 months (mine was at 3 months) that a lot of people want to know what is going on. So I'm attaching a copy of a response to the fan problem below.----

Mr. ????,
Sorry for the delay in response. This is the story so far.

I'm afraid I'm unable to answer your question that if my replacement fan has solved the problem that I talked about.

Denon has been very hard to get in contact with. As you might remember from my post I had left my unit for service with Ultimate Electronics (18 stores, mostly in West US) on March 17. They promised me an arrival of the replacement fan on April 17. So that would have been a month in the shop for the unit. I had to make many calls to the service center from 4/17 to 4/24 to find out that the fan replacement was on back order and would be delayed further. In talking to the service rep he said that Ultimate alone had an outstanding order of "500 replacement fans" in order to meet demand. So I'm sorry to say sir, that this problem is much bigger than I think Denon would like people to know about. When I call Denon I recieve a never ending busy signal.

On May 1, I recieved a voice message that the part was due to arrive on May 17th so with no other delays I hope to pick up my unit around May 20th. Mind you that means it has been in the shop for over two months to fix a simple fan problem. I hope this delay is due to Denon having designed a better fan replacement so that I won't have this problem further. But I won't know until I get the unit back. Sorry I can't give you more info, other than that be ready for a long wait.

------So that is the message I have had to leave for over a dozen people. As of this time I have to retract my earlier thoughts on the AVR 3300, which were very positive, and give this unit the lowest possible score. The lowest score for not being able to service their product in a timely manner as well as to design a product with such a bad flaw for a Thousand Bucks,

Sorry Denon, but you just lost a customer for life!!------

Clear

minor things... nothing to be concerned about

I'll keep this short and sweet.... this is the best receiver that you can buy for under 1000 If you have more money to spend look at Marantz.... and if you have a lot more.... split the amp from the receiver... ok??? It's not that hard... There is no fan noise.... It sounds great.... and basically you plug it in and it works! ! ! any idiot can do it.... so if you want something in this price range that sounds great just buy this receiver I promise you won't be dissappointed

Similar Products Used:

Marantz... Pioneer Elite...

Value for money (when it works properly)

Lousy quality control by Denon. Buyers should get this product from a local retailer whenever possible so that they can return it more quickly when it fails.

I purchased my first Denon 3300 receiver in August 1999 after seeing all the good press it was getting on this web site. I bought it from an authorised California dealer (whose customer service is superb - I will not advertise them here, send me an email if you want to know who they are).

The first unit that I received, arrived with a dead left-surround channel. So I packed it up and waited another 4-5 weeks to get my replacement unit. The second one arrived and all the channels were fine and the sound was great. But what the hell was wrong with the stupid cooling fan? Each time it started up (and it started up a lot more than the fancy Denon 3300 white-paper on their website would have me believe), it sounded like a fire truck in a terrible hurry. When it would stop, it would make a sound like a leaky kitchen faucet (drip...drip...drip) for a while and then finally shut up until it would start all over again.

By this time, the 3300 was seriously back-ordered everywhere and my dealer was not receiving any shipments at all. I continued using the 3300 (whiny fan and all) with a pair of Marantz monoblocks driving the main speakers in the hope that putting less load on the 3300 amps would make the damn thing run a little cooler and so not spin up the fan again and again, but to no avail. That fan has a life of its own.

Finally, 7 months after that second unit arrived, my dealer sent me a third 3300 last week. I eagerly fired her up and started listening. Once the unit warmed up, I heard the fan kick in, but it was only a regular whirring sound - no whining thank God. But what the hell - the fan never stopped after starting up. Obviously this unit was running warmer than usual even though the receiver was in a completely open space with perfect ventilation all around. I turned the music down to see when the fan would switch off, and guess what - it switched off alright - after the overheating protection on the receiver kicked in and shut the whole damn receiver down. All I had now was a blinking standby light. I checked the speaker terminals - definitely no short circuits anywhere.

After multiple efforts to try to make the receiver stay switched on, I gave up. The damn thing overheats and shuts off even when it is only idling (even when no speakers are connected!). Needless to say, it is going back and my poor dealer is going to send me another one (however, this time I have asked him to open the box, test the unit and then ship it to me).

Denon is manufacturing a piece of crock with the 3300 name on it. I can't believe I have had 3 lemons out of 3 with this unit. I have never ever faced any problems with all the other electronics (NAD, Pioneer, Marantz, Toshiba, Sony, Aiwa, JVC) that I have purchased before (My NAD 7240PE receiver and Pioneer PD9700 CD player have been switched on continuously for the past 7 years and still work like they are new). I don't know if it is because the Korean plant's quality control is non-existent or whether the 3300 design is inherently prone to a higher than normal failure rate.

In any event, this has been an eye-opener for me and I wanted to warn other potential buyers of the 3300 about the problems I have had.

The only good thing I can say now about the 3300 is that it does the job well when it does work. But there are other products out there which are probably as good in the performance department, but way better when it comes to reliability. Which one are you going to choose?

1 star to Denon on this one.

.05% Sound Distortion, 4 Speakers out for Surround

Odd Remote, Cant seem to change channels on the VCR with it after I programmed the VCR fine with it

I am truley impressed with this receiver for the money. I picked it up for $725 with tax and couldnt be happier. I have had no problems with the fans being loud at all on this unit. It is pretty well ventalated with about 5 inches on room above it and 3-4 inches on each side.

One think that I am truley impressed with is the extra set of rear surrounds. Its not quite Dolby EX but for the difference in price the sound field it creates is pretty nice on 5 channel movies as well as 5 channel music. I have a set of Wharfedale Modus 1.6 and 4 Wharfedale Modus 2 and a Moduc center and a Cerwin Vega sub and they are pushed to their maxium. Since all the speakers run in 6 ohm nominal, the receiver pushes out more then its rated 105 watts in 8 ohms. I took some measurements the other day and it ranged from 120-135 watts.

The one thing that I am a little unhappy about is the remote. You need to change switches on it change functions on the equipment and if you do stuff to quickly it can really mess you up. Its not a bad remote but need to take a second look sometimes. Overall though the unit is clean, crisp, nice build, and METAL. Not cheasy crappy plastic outside like other models I have seen.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood VR-3090, Onkyo DX775

8 channel input lots of clean power

none that i can find

the denon avr3300 replaced my dolby digital jvc receiver and what a difference it made I have all polk audio speakers and a movie theater sub that can easily hit 125 db at 40hz and below

It's all one really needs unless you are a professional or have way too much $ to burn. Dynamics sound and power

None yet

Let me start by saying I'm not an audiophile. I'm a casual listener/enthusiast who likes my music and/or a good movie. And I, like everyone else likes to hear it as it was meant to be heard. I know what sounds good and bad to me and this receiver sounds good, and it better for the money I spent. I knew what I had to spend and this unit was the only one I listened to at my local store, plus I read reviews ofcourse. Hey it sounded great to me. My local store pretty much matched internet pricing and I suddenly had a new baby. I took her home and hooked er up to my Infinity RS4s and M&K sub, tweaked er a little, messed around with the sub position and wammo! It was more than enough beautiful sound for me. Alot of these reviewers make me laugh. Every manufacturer makes good stuff. I'm talking receivers, disc players, speakers etc... Yes they do sound different from each other and some have more or less features, but it boils down to what sounds good to YOUR EAR! If you have your heart set on a certain piece of equipment and you suddenly read a review that kinda bashes your baby, don't let that discourage you from at least going to give it a listen. It may be better than you thought and then you can come back and tell this guy that he doesn't know what's the cat's meow for everyone. Too many people think their ears speak for the masses. (jumping off soap box) Any way, now all I need are some surrounds and a center (scratching head) and I'll start admitting at my front door. Equipment list

Denon AVR-3300
Denon DVM-3700 DVD
RCA MM36100 36" digital HDTV ready
Infinity RS4s(main)
M&K V-125 12" sub
surrounds ???
center???

Similar Products Used:

First receiver since my cerca 1984 Kenwood stuff :-)

5-channel stereo,easy to operate the amp,comprehensive onscreen system setup.

remote esthetically unacceptable for such a good amp.

I would like to first comment that the unit i received till now do not have any "fan noise" even operating for as long as 12 hrs at a go.I use the receiver for 40%HT and 60% music.I have been looking for a few other receivers such as
marantz sr7000,pioneer TX938 ,denon-4800 and 3300. I finally settled for the 3300 for its value and features.
i bought the 3300 for US$690 plus taxes. i coupled the reviver with the following equipments:

paradigm monitor 9
mission 70c2 center speaker
misson 77ds bipolar surrounds
kenwood sw-301 sub
(buying paradigm PW2200 soon)
pioneer dvk-102 dvd player
pioneer dv-525 dvd player
jvc AVP-29s
sony VCR

i found that this setup goes very well.Bass is good and vocals are very clear in this setup. i would appreciate greatly if anyone were to give me adivice on how to use the 3300 to the best of its capability.

Similar Products Used:

Denon avr-1600.

Just about everything....

Binding posts are weak

This is actually my first Home Theatre capable system, and what a choice it was. I was very undecided between this and the Pioneer Elite VSX 27TX, and after closely comparing the two, the Denon won hands down. The 5.1 channel audio is a great feature, and movies couldn't sound better. I'm only using one set of satellites right now, but plan to buy a different set for music and use the ones I have now for movies only.

I'm not an enthusiast by any means, and I listen to heavier music, but everything this receiver has shown so far has been more than I expected. I purchased it online from www.unitedonlineshopping.com for under $800, after shipping, and feel it was worth every penny.

The binding posts for the speaker wires are a bit flemsy, but after getting everything hooked up, out of sight out of mind. Oh, and as for the reviews stating there is fan noise, I've yet to hear anything. Unless it is something that progressively increases, no problems here.

Rest of system consists of:

Definitive Technology BP-10s for mains
Definitive Technology BP1X for satellites
Definitive Technology CLR 1000 for center
Definitive Technology PF1500TL subwoofer
Toshiba SD3109 DVD
Older Sony CD player

Unless this system does a 180, it was one of the best audio decisions I've made so far......

Similar Products Used:

Older Sony receiver