*OFFICIAL* Denon AVR 2310CI / 890 Owner's Thread

FOR GENERAL FAQ AND DENON SETUP HELP, PLEASE VISIT:
http://batpigworld.com/


DENON AVR 890
http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4918.asp

- MANUAL: http://www.usa.denon.com/AVR-890-OM-E_003.pdf
- PRODUCT SHEET: http://www.usa.denon.com/AVR-890_Lit526.pdf

DENON AVR 2310CI

- MANUAL: http://www.usa.denon.com/AVR-2310CI-OM-E_000A.pdf
- PRODUCT SHEET: http://batpigworld.com/AVR-2310CI_Lit608.pdf


AVR 2310CI ($849) / AVR 890 ($799) Feature Summary:

- 7.1 channels (105W x 7) of built-in amplification
- full HD audio support including Dolby TrueHD + DTS-MA decoding
- 5 HDMI 1.3a inputs, 2 component video inputs (60 MHz bandwidth)
- 2 optical / 2 coaxial digital audio inputs on rear, 1 optical input on the front
- Seven fully assignable video source "names" (TV, CBL/SAT, DVD, HDP, DVR, VCR, V-AUX)
- Dedicated PHONO input with phono preamp stage
- Full Audyssey suite (MultEQ + Dynamic EQ + Dynamic Volume) with adjustable reference level for Dynamic EQ
- Dolby Pro Logic IIz
- New ABT-2010 video processor with:
--- full color HD GUI (overlays on all sources)
--- full scaling for all sources up to 1080p (60 or 24) selectable by input
--- picture calibration controls (including noise reduction and "enhancer") selectable by input


NOTE: FIRMWARE UPDATE FIX IS NOW AVAILABLE! This update should fix the bitstream audio issues with Samsung and LG Blu-Ray Players, and also addresses bugs with HDMI-CEC and Multizone.
see this post for more info: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post17512496


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q. What is the difference between the three-digit models (e.g. AVR 890) and the four-digit models (e.g. AVR 2310)?

A: Essentially, NOTHING. Denon puts out two parallel receiver lineups, with four-digit and three-digit model numbers. The four-digit models are generally sold by high end stereo shops and custom installers, and the three-digit models are the "consumer" version sold in retail outlets like Circuit City and Fry's.

However, there is ZERO difference in terms of power, specs, sound quality, build quality, etc. between the two lines. Denon has been doing this for years, it is exactly analagous to the Yamaha HTR and RX-V parallel receiver lines.

There will usually be one or two minor differences to differentiate the three-digit and four-digit models. There is typically a slight cosmetic difference between the two lines, and different remotes.

In the specific case of the 2310CI vs. 890, the only differences (besides the cosmetics) is:

1. the 2310CI has a second, Zone 2 remote in addition to the two-sided regular remote
2. the 2310CI adds "CI" features for integration into automated, custom integrated home systems: an RS-232 port (e.g. for Crestron/AMX 3rd-party control, as well as for loading firmware updates), assignable 12V trigger

In all other respects, the 2310 and 890 are IDENTICAL.

For more info, please see the Denon Model Numbers page at batpigworld:
http://batpigworld.com/models.html


Q. What do I gain from stepping up to the 2310/890 model as opposed to saving cash and just getting a 1910/790?

A: The major "step up" features of the 2310CI/890 are:

1. A 5th HDMI input

2. A slightly better amp section

3. A dedicate Phono input with pre-amp

4. usable S-video inputs (i.e. not just for the Denon ipod dock) on the rear, and front panel optical / s-video input

5. high-end ABT-2010 video processor with full color GUI, overlay over HDMI, HDMI>HDMI processing, and picture controls with brightness/contrast/hue/saturation and noise reduction settings which are memorized by input (allowing for independent source calibration even when running one HDMI cable to TV)

6. the 2310CI model (not the 890) will also include an RS-232 port, second smaller Zone 2 remote, and a 12V trigger output for custom integration ("CI") functionality.


Q. Should I buy the 2310CI/890 model or grab a great close-out deal on the 2809/989 from last year?

A: In simple terms:

2310/890 pros: 5 HDMI inputs, full color GUI with HDMI overlay, ABT-2010 video processing

2809/989 pros: more power, Audyssey MultEQ XT (vs regular MultEQ), better DAC's, AL24+ processing on FL/FR channels, pre-outs for all 7.1 channels, 3-zone/3-source (2809CI only, 989 is 2-Z/2-S)

The 2809/989 is, overall, a more flexible and powerful unit, and should have better "raw" sound quality. The 2310CI has some newer features and especially the full color GUI and powerful video processing.

reserved

wow brother, somebody buy this man a period or a comma! because I don't know where your questions start and stop, I will take this one:


I am comparing the 2310 model to the HIGHER END 2809, not the 2309. In any year, when the new models come out people will often be deciding between the new model or buying a close-out deal on a higher-end model from last year in the same price range.

I explain what you get on the 2310 vs the 1910 very clearly in the first post. only you can decide if the extras you get are "worth it", it's your money

I haven't heard either one.... but I would speculate that it really depends on four factors:

1. how nice your speakers are
2. how big and/or acoustically challenged your room is
3. how "critical" of a listener you are
4. how loud you will be playing things

If you are the typical, living room HT guy, with some entry- to mid-level speakers, who won't be blasting at near-reference volumes, the sound quality difference is probably going to negligible. If you have a couple thousand dollars worth of speakers, and enjoy some critical 2-channel music listening, or will be blasting the movies at big volumes, you will probably appreciate the sonic gains a little more.

Everyone has their own budget and priorities, you have to be honest with yourself about what type of listener you are. And then, weigh that against how much you want to see a fancy color GUI on the screen.

no worries, just ball-bustin

if you can afford it, the 2310 or 890 is a really nice upgrade from the 1910/790 model. unlike last year, where the 2309 didn't really offer very much vs the 1909, Denon really differentiated the models more clearly this year.

all Denons use the same IR codes, so it doesn't matter which device you use to program your Harmony. Follow the link in my sig for more info on how to get full control of your AVR with the Harmony.

if you need wife-friendly, plan room in the budget to get a Harmony remote. it is a huge marital enhancement

I don't know what you are looking at but the link you gave points to the 2309 vs the AVP-A1HDA!!

the 2309 is spec'd at 100W/ch, the 2310 at 105W/ch

gotcha.

something is obviously way off, notice it claims 11 amp terminals with zone 2 and zone 3 options, advanced AL24 on all channels, etc.... looks like you are seeing the 4310CI specs.

Thanks for the review!


exactly, it does the same thing in principle (compensating for loss of bass/loudness at low volumes) but in a much more sophisticated way


really? are you sure you didn't get a 2309? the 2310CI should have a full-color HD GUI.



you really want to use the source select button on the front, or the individual discrete buttons on the back under the flip door. the "Quick Select" buttons at the top are fairly useless unless you re-memorize them once you have everything set up.

better yet, get a Harmony

thanks for the info -- maybe it's a slight different in EU model vs the US model? The GUI does overlay over HDMI video though right, no screen black-out and then re-sync with OSD?

why don't you post some photos for us of what the GUI looks like

right, if you want to utilize the scaling in the Denon, set the cable box to "native" or "passthrough" and it will send everything at the resolution it is broadcast in, and then set the Denon to scale to whatever resolution you want (e.g. 1080p/60). If the cable box is outputting at a fixed resolution, the Denon has know way of "knowing" what resolution the original material was in.

chumaj -- thanks for the screen shot photos . a suggestion on your (beautiful) setup: swap the center channel with the Denon AVR, having the center channel sitting on the floor is the WORST possible position you could have it in! get it up to the higher shelf and re-run Audyssey, you will experience a big improvement in dialogue clarity.