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The "Official" Denon AVR-3808CI Thread - Page 5

post #121 of 19878
6/25/07 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sorka View Post

I only see the 4306 on their site. Not 3808 or 4308.

It is not on their website. You have to call them.
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post #122 of 19878
6/28/07 at 12:07pm
I don't plan on making a firm decision until these new models have been reviewed, but I'm most interested in either Denon's AVR-3808CI or Sherwood Newcastle's R-972. Can anyone give me their opinions why I should choose one over the other even at this stage before either has been released?

The only receiver I've ever owned is an old Yamaha RX-V595a.
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post #123 of 19878
7/1/07 at 11:48am
I have a Sony XBR2 60" that only displays up to 1080i and was wondering if the 875 or 3808 will have any problem outputing just 1080i to my television. I also am considering just getting a Denon 4306 when the new receivers come out and the 4306 price drops. Any other suggestions are welcome.
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post #124 of 19878
7/1/07 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctime View Post

I have a Sony XBR2 60" that only displays up to 1080i and was wondering if the 875 or 3808 will have any problem outputing just 1080i to my television. I also am considering just getting a Denon 4306 when the new receivers come out and the 4306 price drops. Any other suggestions are welcome.

The Sony 60XBR2 accepts and displays a 1080p input. Do you mean that you have the 60XBR1, which is limited to 1080i input?
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post #125 of 19878
7/1/07 at 12:21pm
Sorry. You're right I have the XBR1.
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post #126 of 19878
7/3/07 at 10:28am
At least now we have Audioholics "official" specs of the 3808ci.
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post #127 of 19878
7/3/07 at 10:50am
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/r...8ci-first-look

"Custom installers will rejoice in the new off-site Internet connectivity that allows integrators to update, upgrade and fix configuration issues remotely"

Will information on enabling and using remote access be easily available to all owners or is that information limited to "acknowledged" installers?
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post #128 of 19878
7/5/07 at 2:18am
I am very interested in the Denon 3808, and am especially psyched to read about streaming ability of audio through the ethernet port. I use a MAC and itunes, and of course have an ipod etc. But if the audio signal is better from computer, hard drive, or AppleTV device (or similar), I'd go for streaming through ethernet.

After saying that, I really don't know what that means. Are you hookiing up ethernet directly from computer to Denon 3808, or do you have to create a network, or use the internet somehow? If someone could explain the basics of streaming to this ethernet port, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!
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post #129 of 19878
7/5/07 at 6:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArnCapo View Post

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/r...8ci-first-look

"Custom installers will rejoice in the new off-site Internet connectivity that allows integrators to update, upgrade and fix configuration issues remotely"

Will information on enabling and using remote access be easily available to all owners or is that information limited to "acknowledged" installers?

It would be nice but my guess is no. I wish they would let some of us who are more AV and computer savy have a crack at this stuff too!
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post #130 of 19878
7/19/07 at 9:21pm
Anyone know when the 3808CI will be hitting the dealers?
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post #131 of 19878
7/21/07 at 1:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerryray View Post

Anyone know when the 3808CI will be hitting the dealers?

BB said August 1st
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post #132 of 19878
7/26/07 at 7:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSDearborn View Post

BB said August 1st

Just check at Magnolia in the local BB; their computer said 1 Aug, but the store manager said that was a pipedream & figured 2-3 weeks after that; also said they expected the 4308 at the same time.
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post #133 of 19878
7/27/07 at 6:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerryray View Post

Anyone know when the 3808CI will be hitting the dealers?

I am expecting my pre-order from ListenUp in the next 2 weeks from what they have told me. They should be getting them in stock next week.
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post #134 of 19878
7/28/07 at 6:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bfdtv View Post

Keep in mind that plenty of other receivers have received firmware updates using RS232. Of course, updating via RS232 with a PC requires more effort, and thus tends not to be widely used by manufacturers. With ethernet, the new Denons may be the first-ever consumer A/V receivers to download updates directly from the manufacturer. No question that is a nice feature to have.

That said, I don't think firmware upgades are as important as they are with some other devices, such as a Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, gaming consoles, etc. With receivers, the specifications are not in flux. The DSPs in most receivers are also heavily specialized, which limits the features a manufacturer could add. I would not expect new features with firmware updates. I expect firmware updates on receivers will exist to fix "bugs" discovered after release. If the platform was well-engineered in the first place, such updates may be largely unnecessary.

I was a bit surprised the 875 doesn't have ethernet. There are so many options to tweak on the ReonVX that you'd think they want every option to improve the output and/or offer more configuration options with a future firmware.

Can anyone speak to this issue in greater detail? I am swinging between the Onkyos and Denons this autumn. So, how likely are firmware updates to receivers? Has this already happened with any extant receivers, and if so, what was added/fixed? Also, doesn't the Onkyo 905 have ethernet connectivity?
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post #135 of 19878
7/28/07 at 7:05am
I haven't seen any significant discussion over the "Compressed Audio Restorer". With much of the world moving toward the purely digital medium (bye bye CDs), I was wondering if this was something interesting or just marketing hyperbole...
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post #136 of 19878
7/28/07 at 7:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallen234 View Post

I haven't seen any significant discussion over the "Compressed Audio Restorer". With much of the world moving toward the purely digital medium (bye bye CDs), I was wondering if this was something interesting or just marketing hyperbole...

Considering the fact that most people use lossy codecs to rip music, the "compressed audio restorer" is probably some high tech filter to make the music sound less sucktacular on high quality audio systems.

Personally, I think attempting to play music that has been compresses via a lossy codec over any audio system that would include a high end receiver like the 3808 make no sense. Better audio systems will only show off the damage done to the music by the codec. But, Denon knows people will do this anyway so the restore is a good idea to attempt to hide the codec.
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post #137 of 19878
7/28/07 at 7:42am
Good points. Although I am certainly not an expert, I am a bit troubled by the downgrading of audio quality due to the MP3 players, etc. If the majority of consumers are using ear buds as opposed to speakers and real amplifiers, this will necessarily lead to degradation of the source. I know that a lot of us try to save as much data as possible (flac, etc.) and hopefully the mighty Apple is beginning to realize this with I-Tunes Plus. But the fact is that "Mary Creamcheese" (my hypothetical average consumer) doesn't care about lossless codecs, she wants to fit more music on her ipod so she can listen to it on the stairmaster.

It seems that Denon is trying to "cater" a bit to this attitude through the "compressed audio restorer"....

Sorry for the rambling thoughts....




Quote:
Originally Posted by tlllava View Post

Considering the fact that most people use lossy codecs to rip music, the "compressed audio restorer" is probably some high tech filter to make the music sound less sucktacular on high quality audio systems.

Personally, I think attempting to play music that has been compresses via a lossy codec over any audio system that would include a high end receiver like the 3808 make no sense. Better audio systems will only show off the damage done to the music by the codec. But, Denon knows people will do this anyway so the restore is a good idea to attempt to hide the codec.
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post #138 of 19878
7/28/07 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phrynichus View Post

Can anyone speak to this issue in greater detail? I am swinging between the Onkyos and Denons this autumn. So, how likely are firmware updates to receivers? Has this already happened with any extant receivers, and if so, what was added/fixed? Also, doesn't the Onkyo 905 have ethernet connectivity?


Firmware is the software that is controlling how the receiver operates, there is a dedicated computer inside. It is common for newly released software to have bugs in it (Vista for example) With a PC, you can download updates and service packs to fix those bugs.

With other devices that contain dedicated computers (most AV equipment these days), these updates can be run from several sources, depending on the capability of the device. An ethernet port is one way to do it, also a serial port connected to a PC, or a disk (CD DVD) can contain the firmware updates. An example of this would be Toshiba HD DVD players, they can be updated with either a CD / DVD or the ethernet port.

The bottom line is, unless the firmware is bullet-proof, and has been debugged extensively, updates will probably be needed. If the device has no easy way to do this, your're stuck with those bugs.

Beyond this, new features and capabilities can be added, like a new version of any software, provided the hardware is capable.
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post #139 of 19878
7/28/07 at 11:08am
^ Thanks for that. I already have a good sense of what firmware does.

My specific concern is with firmware updates for receivers. I have never heard of that before. I am wondering how serious an issue that will be.

I ask because I would rather get the onkyo 905 to the denon 4308/3808, but the latter has better ethernet connectivity. Hence I am trying to determine just how large an issue that should be in making my choice. I know that my PS3 and HD-XA2 have improved substantially because of firmware improvements. But I don't know if that will hold for receivers too.
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post #140 of 19878
7/28/07 at 11:31am
I'm pretty much in the dark about most of this receivers new features but:

If I hook up an ethernet cable from my router to the receiver, I should be able to stream music from my home PC through my home theater, correct????
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post #141 of 19878
7/28/07 at 11:32am
Your post was partially in response to this:

That said, I don't think firmware upgades are as important as they are with some other devices, such as a Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, gaming consoles, etc. With receivers, the specifications are not in flux.

I have issues with that statement. Specs are in flux, True HD, DTS Master Audio, HDMI 1.3. The hardware is in flux - this is a new design, with newer versions of the chips inside. This is a new receiver with new capabilities. As a person that deals with computers every day, I have never seen software that is bug free. I've been in the computer business for 25 years, I've applied _MANY_ updates, fixes, and patches to computers. My personal opinion is that the capability to do firmware updates is high on my list of requirements for any computerized device. This equipment is becoming more sophisticated and more complicated all the time, the more complexity that is added, the more possibilities for problems. YMMV

(takes off sysadmin hat)
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post #142 of 19878
7/28/07 at 11:36am
I would download the manual for the 4308, which has networking very similar to the 3808 and view the sections on this networking capability:

http://usa.denon.com/AVR-4308CI-E-004.pdf

You should be able to stream music from you PC via the router to the 3808 if the music is in the correct format.
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post #143 of 19878
7/28/07 at 11:44am
Here is an example of the importance of firmware upgrades:
Comcast uses TV Guide firmware for its Motorola DVRs in every state except for Washington state. Microsoft wanted to get into the game, they wrote firmware for these DVRs and talked Comcast into using it in Washington. The "Microsoft Enhanced" firmware was full of bugs, like many MS products, but Microsoft had other priorities, the bugs were not being addressed. Consequently, Comcast has decided to dump the MS firmware, and they are in process of loading the TV Guide firmware back onto all Comcast DVRs in WA. My DCT-3416 was reloaded several days ago, so far I have not seen any problems.
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post #144 of 19878
7/28/07 at 12:07pm
juts heard from my dealer. he just received word that the 3808 & 4808 is delayed another month (September)
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post #145 of 19878
7/28/07 at 12:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon S View Post

juts heard from my dealer. he just received word that the 3808 & 4808 is delayed another month (September)

Hum, I was not aware of the 4808 from Denon.... info?

I know that someone already has the 4308CI, so it is available. Not sure about the 3808CI.

Early August!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&#post11148088
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post #146 of 19878
7/28/07 at 1:02pm
If I hooked up the AVR's USB port to a PC USB port, how would the AVR appear to Windows and vice versa?

Has anyone tried this?
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post #147 of 19878
7/28/07 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArnCapo View Post

If I hooked up the AVR's USB port to a PC USB port, how would the AVR appear to Windows and vice versa?

Has anyone tried this?


Cannot do this according to the manual for 4308, which is same as 3808:
LL
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post #148 of 19878
7/28/07 at 2:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bwclark View Post

Cannot do this according to the manual for 4308, which is same as 3808:


Wonder why they would implement such a lame USB?
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post #149 of 19878
7/28/07 at 3:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bwclark View Post


Early August!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&#post11148088


HELLO!!
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post #150 of 19878
7/28/07 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bwclark View Post

HELLO!!

HI!!
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AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Receivers, Amps, and Processors › The "Official" Denon AVR-3808CI Thread