Excellent sound quality, ample power, build quality, MADE IN JAPAN

Remote control sucks, just like the remote from my Denon DVD player.

I was shopping around for a 7 channel receiver to replace my mediocre Sony 5 channel unit. Being impressed with the build quality and performance of my Denon DVD 1600 dvd player, I started to look at Denon units. The excellent reviews on this website did it for me, so I ordered one from Crutchfield (I wanted the reassurance of having warranty service if I needed it). I was not disappointed when I hooked it up. Sound quality when playing CD's is absolutely amazing, even more so when in "Pure Direct" mode. I can hear subtle nuances on my CD's that I have never heard before. DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX modes when playing DVD's are excellent. I can hear very subtle sounds that I have never heard before. Explosions and other sounds that come from the rear and side surrounds still make me jump. My other in law nearly fell off of my couch from a loud explosion while watching "Basic". Video up conversion feature is a nice feature. Picture quality is OK. This is one awesome piece of equipment. I am sold on Denon products.

Similar Products Used:

Sony AV receiver

POWER Build quality (huge transformer with capacitors, brushed aluminum face) Plenty of hookup capabilities Remote layed out great Built for future with 8 channel input for sacd or dvd-audio All the decoding you need

None yet for me, except my lights dim when i turn it on!

Wow. what a reciever. After researching recievers for about a year i decided to go with the 3803. I was impressed with denon from the get go. The build quality of their products is very nice. I love the brushed aluminum face. The 3803 has soo much power i haven't even begun to discover it. Very clean sound this reciever produces from my Boston acoustics speakers. I also thought it was easy to set up with the on screen display. I have it hooked up to my HDTV with Monster's M-series Component video cable that produces beautiful pictures. The 100Mhz component video switch on the 3803 easily passes HD signals between my Denon progressive scan dvd player and my xbox which are both hooked up with Monster cable also. I love how you can watch one source, say a dvd, and listen to another source like a cd. That way i can play my xbox and listen to my favorite music at the same time! My Denon DVD900 dvd player is hooked to the 3803 with Monster's reference optical cable for pristine sound quality. There is no noise, and if there is it comes from the cd. I have a 5.1 surround setup (for now, wanting to go to a 7.1) with all boston acoustics speakers. For the front and rear i have the micro 90xII satellite speakers enclosed in a die-cast aluminum enclosure. And a matched Micro 90cII center channel. For the sub i have Boston's best, the PV1000, and in my opinion the best sub for the price available. The system actually blends very well with the sub. The denon 3803 easily powers the speakers with enough in it's reserves to make me deaf. i've only got the volume up to about -4 db on movies. My whole system is hooked up to a Monter Power Conditioner the HTS2500MKII which also serves as a surge protector. I still have yet to program the macros. I also haven't got it to operate my rca tv yet. The five channel stereo is great for music listening. i prefer it over the prologic II. But on the other hand pro logic II is great for tv watching. Movie watching is the best with the 3803. Sound is very clear and convincing. I would recommend this reciever to anyone.

HIgh defenition even at very high level (+12db); Dynamics; Autentic "PowerHouse"; It Makes you enjoy even more music; Puredirect mode in acustic music.

Let me see... I've to put something here... Not firmware upgradable; The memories could work in a diferent way. They could store options by source instead by surround type. Example: If i'm using puredirect mode and turn off the subwoofer when listening from dvd, if i change to cd that is also in puredirect mode, I'll have the sub in OFF!! But who cares...

Price in Euros I said I would come back again and here I'am!! :) In May 16, 2003, I've talked about my first impression on the receiver, and the setup. Now I feel confortable to speak about it's audio capabilities. Starting with movies: In the matrix, i've moved to chapter 29 and pushed with the volume level (0db). Things started to get really nice with the elevator part, when the elevator door comes against you... My chair shaked a bit:)... then they go up and comes the elicopter part. this was a very nice moment... the gun in the eli, when starts to fire, all my room shaked very hard!!! the sound of the bullet's falling to the floor was very clear in the middle of the deep bass coming from the gun... Then the eli crash.. so mutch power coming from the denon to my speakers.. AMAZING!! This part showed me how power the receiver is.. Now to the music: I've listened to my Eagles DVD (hell freezes over) first in DTS. I've jumped to chapter 5, hotel califórnia, and.. WHAT A SOUND!! The sound of the guitars is so clear, that it seems that they are playing in front of me... The deep bass coming through the drums, their voices... amazing.. Then i listened in stereo a the same amazing sound, a bit better in my opinion that DTS. I've pushed the receiver to it's maximum strenght and beleive me, no distortion!!! the mids just changed a bit their tonality (brighter) but that's all. I could handle it at this volume only for a few 20 to 30 secs cause it's to loud... impossible to ear a that level, at least in my 30square meters room. :)) Than i leastened to many cd's, like Santana, Queen, Daniela Mercury,Tracy Chapman, and so on, and all sound very very nice. If you put in PureDirect Mode things can go even better!!! For this price you can't find better, beleive me!!! I've a little extra power cause i'm using a 6 Ohms Speakers. For this impedance is power is rated at 150Wrms. This is very nice cause the speaker are better driven by the receiver, gaining in dynamics! That was what I experieced in Matrix. The amps andle very well my Monitor audio S8. When listening music i can disconnect the sub, without noticeing any losses in low frequencies. Denon and Monitor audio are a very good match. I'll never regret this buy... My System: Straight wire Quartet cables for fronts l+r Monitor cable for center Gladiator C2 for surround Profigold interconnects DVD Pioneer DV-656 MA S8 front MA SLCR center MA S2 surround Mirage LF-150 sub

dolby digital, dts, clean 5ch stereo, derect mode is good

a lit harsh in ordinary music cd's. maybe its the player that could not neutralize the brighness sound, slow switching between dsp modes and surround simulation, volume knob it wiggles when you turn it up/down. remote could not control my onkyo dvd player coz denon dont have a list code for onkyo dvd player. and lastly, poor fm reception even when i used outdoor antenna, but those are only minor. But overall, its a great revilling receiver

great sounds in music and movies.

Similar Products Used:

onkyo tx-sr600, yamaha rx-v630

power, sound clean lots of features which I don't care for. video swtiching is nice. pure direct mode excellent.

hope for a better remote.

I first Purchase the Elite VSX-45TX receiver which I was happy and content with at first but, the more & more I listen to my music I was becoming more concern with the sound quality of the pioneer. It's a nice receiver but it was lacking. I went back and pick-up the Denon 3803 and I've been happy ever since. for more power I will probably add outlaw amp at some point in the future when I upgrade my speakers but I gotta tell you, play with both receivers for at lease a two weeks and if you're a music lover you'll see the difference quick. Paid the higher price instead of buying online for the warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Elite VSX41, VSX-45TX

*build quality *comprehensive range of features *large number of inputs

lots to get your head round; I'll probably only use 1/3 of its features

Have just traded up from a AVR-3802 so this is more of a comparison between the two than an overall review. So what's new in the 3803? 1)video switching ie. feed it composite from DBS, S-Video from a DVD-recorder and component from a DVD player but output the lot (eg. to a plasma) in component, so no switching needed on your TV. 2)Pure Direct: this mode 'kills' ALL non-essential circuitry eg. when playing a CD 3)extra power (110W x 7; previously 105W x 6) not that the 3802 was under-powered. 4)improved remote. I especially like the improvement to how you switch into Dolby PLII or DTS Neo, and within these between music and movie modes. Haven't tried out the learning remote side of it yet.Using the FM tuner via the remote is much more intuitive than previously ie. it was counter-intuitive before. NB I agree the manual is not brilliant; I think the print's too small. However if you get on to Denon they will send you a PDF and you can print off a BIG version and keep it in a ring binder. Basically the AVR-3803 is a brilliant HT amp and a fine all round solution. You could probably improve on it, but only for significantly more money. Rest of system is *Arcam DV27 *Panasonic DMR-HS2 *Panasonic plasma *Kef Concertos *Kef centre *Mission rears *REL Strata sub

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DB930 Arcam AVR-100 Denon AVR-3802

Stero sound, converters, overall quality

You can't choose a power cable, if that is important for you.

I'm only using the 3803 in stereo by now, but do use its converters. It is almost unbeatable for the price, it is punchy and full of nuances at the same time. The tuner is acceptable, and in time it will manage video also, and very well they say. I'm being laughed at by some audiophile friends, but it' s a honour when stupid people mock you... A very, very good product.

Similar Products Used:

Only stereo integrateds up to now

Sounded great

Not for long

Bought A 3803 last week with Kef 2005.2 spks. All was mightily impressive until there was a high to Medium pitched noise followed by distortion in the speakers. Tried to do everything to get rid of this but to no avail. Anyway the supplier replaced the Amp and I plugged it all in. The Front left and right speakers had become flat in sound and so are due to be replaced very sound. Whilst the supplier has had no qualms in replacing the products it has made me a little paranoid with this product. The supplier says that they have never heard of any problem with either the AMP or the speakers. I'll keep you posted

Similar Products Used:

Ignore my ratings for the time being

Power. Ability to handle anything thrown at it with ease. Build quality. Video up conversion. And last not now ehere near least: sound quality.

Tuner: Woeful. Inability to output a video and a different audio source via rec out. Not enough electrical digital connections (both in and out). No night mode.

Has this receiver about 3 months now. Went into the store to test a Marantz SR7300 after reading all the reviews. They had an AVR3083 in the room so I decided to back to back it. No contest! While the Marantz was much warmer and smoother it lost its timing and rymthm feed anything faster paced. The Denon didn't blink. Yes it was brighter and a touch more harsh, this was easier to overcome with cabling choice that the Manantzs lening towards classical music only. Besides Denon is know for their build and the SR7200 was certainly not. Last test, being a Sony fan, was to listen to the STR-DB1080 (couldn't but an 333ES or 555ES in Australia as they only come in gold and mine had to be black!). 1 minute and out of there. Appling. What was What Hi-Fi thinking? Do AVR 3803 it is. Unit has been perfect so far except for Tuner. Everything that comes out is slight clipped. Compared to other examples and others in the Denon range. The same. My only AUD600 Sony Prologic receiver has a much better tuner. Still don't know what I am going to do to fix it - may try a signal attenuator. Remote is fantastic but needs more that 2 macros. Ten would be better. Also, my old Sony was easier to use. If I wanted CD I'd press CD on the remote and the receiver would change source and the remote would change to CD mode. On the Denon I have to select Amp mode on the remote, sected the imput source then select CD mode on the remote to control the CD player - much harder than it needs to be. On the topic of gripes, I also find the video out selection annoying. Sony: selected source containg video then select source audio only source and you have video from the first and audio from the second our the record outs as well as the main outs. Denon: You can only select one source for record outs (ie not mixed audio and video sources), you select audio then video sources and if you change audio sources you must reselect video source. On the plus side. The sound. Best in class. I'd say so. Crisp clear with timing, rymthm lost of bass and only ever harsh using the wrong cables in analougue mode out of my Sony DVD player. Loud too. In summary. Buy one. It has minor faults but with sound like this who cares. On the other hand if you want a machine that functions better but sounds like crap buy the Sony.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR7300; Sony STR-DB1080

great piece of equipment for the price

nothing worth noting in this price range

I have already posted a review of the 3803, but I just wanted to say that I have a new found respect for it. I just moved into a new condo, and was setting up and "audio only" room. I hooked my old two channel only system that I thought sounded better than the denon paired with a rotel 980BX 125W amp. It sounded terrible! I have gotten used to the denon and the rotel...have had them for about 8 months maybe...and the setup I used to think sounded so good now sounds horrible to me. It is all muddled and weak. The denon and rotel setup has clarity through a large frequency range. The new radiohead album sounds great with this setup. I think the denon paired with a decent amp and speakers is great for movies and actually pretty darn good for music. For how much this thing costs you get a lot of functionality. I also don't think the remote is bad. I use it to control the amp, my tv, and my dvd player....so how can it be bad? It is complicated because it is versatile. I can even go into my tv menu with it to switch to 16:9 enhanced mode. Oh...and I control my cable box with it too! I put away all my other remotes and only use this one.

Similar Products Used:

onkyo that i returned because it stunk