Denon 4310CI vs 5308CI

2 - Lack of ability to tweak levels per surround mode. The 5308 provides a way (with remote) to adjust the levels of all active speakers per surround mode or 2 channel mode, 4310 doesn't have this feature that I can find.
Not a big deal, for me, but something I've grown use to using occassionally.

Not sure why one would turn off the i/p scaler if they have the Video Convert turned ON....

in that case I don't think you'd buy the 4310 in the first place.

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

Considering the impressive feature set and expansive connectivity of the
4310, I wanted to give it a go against my present receiver, the 5308.
My first 4310 fell victim, first day, to the infamous firmware upgrade blunder.
But my seller, OneCall, took care of business and sent a new unit out same day.
I was going to go into a lengthy explaination why I'm doing this but nobody really cares why
I actually have 3 new members of the family present this week, the 4310, the new OPPO Bluray player BDP-83 (WOW) and the Mark Seaton SubMersive subwoofer (bigger WOW)

Since the 5308 has no cons (unless Denon doesn't provide the promised upgrades for the 5308 like DenonLink4, I don't think DPLIIz will be something I'll be utilizing anyway, never know though) compared to the 4310, I'll go right into the Cons of the 4310 vs the 5308... as I see them.

1 - No onscreen volume display if you turn off video convert... ie video processing bypass, which I do on sources such as BluRay, HDDVD or other 1080p/24 sources. Useful feature for some, a welcome omission for others who don't want anything in the way of their pristine video signal
The 5308 can overlay onscreen volume all the time regardless of video convert mode.

2 - Lack of ability to tweak levels per surround mode. The 5308 provides a way (with remote) to adjust the levels of all active speakers per surround mode or 2 channel mode, 4310 doesn't have this feature that I can find.
Not a big deal, for me, but something I've grown use to using occassionally.

3 - No audio input switching, (auto, digital, analog), on 4310 remote.
5308's remote has this button and it works on the 4310, not sure why Denon left this button off Or maybe it's there I just haven't found it yet. But again not a big deal since I use a univeral remote anyway and can program that button from the 5308's remote.

4 - Onscreen (GUI) overlay. Again if you turn off the Video Convert mode, bypassing Video Processing, and go into the onscreen display the 4310 blacks out the current video source to get to the onscreen menu. Again the 5308 overlays on top even when video convert is turned off. Kind of a cool/useful feature of the 5308, something I'm use to but.... not a deal breaker.
Once I have the 4310 dialed in I doubt I'll be referring to the onscreen menu all the much anyway.

5 - Cheap speaker binding post compared to the 5308. 5308 has nice heavy duty post, 4310 not so much.

6 - "Only" 5 HDMI inputs on back of the 4310, 5308 has 6, but the 4310 provides a 6th input on front. Would rather have 6 on back but that's just me and again not a deal breaker.

So as you can see no deal breakers thus far. The sound of the 4310 is excellent even compared to the 5308. The 4310 drives my speakers with no issues thus far. The 4310 also runs much cooler than the 5308, granted the 5308 doesn't get hot but the 4310 doesn't even get warm

I figure this is a comparsion I'll be involved with for at least a month maybe longer. After a time I'll switch to the 5308 for awhile, then switch back to the 4310 and so on.

Could the 4310 be a giant killer..........

dc

Originally Posted by sergiohm

No doubt the 4310 is great value but it is not THX certified (I thought this would not make a difference but it does, I had the 4308 and I was surprised when I got the 5308 and it sounded much better), does not have as many options for zones, etc. I think you are comparing apples to oranges. Denon is aiming at Yamaha and Pioneer, not shooting itself in the foot. I'm really impressed with the 5308, there is not one thing to complain and this is rare, even the input layout is superb.

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

The sound of the 4310 is excellent even compared to the 5308.

Originally Posted by giedrys

If you think that THX certification automatically guarantees better sound, you are shooting yourself in a foot