The "Official" Denon AVR-3808CI Thread - Page 501

Please tell (even though this may not be the correct thread for this discussion). The last time I researched programmable remotes (a few year's back) the URC's seemed fairly inflexible (i.e., you couldn't set up "activities" which to me is the secret to a making a remote simpler to use). OTOH inflexible usually means easy to set up (i.e., the Harmony is easier to set up than the Pronto but it's hardly "easy"), and/or URC may have also changed their design....

Today morning we had a severe thunderstorm. When i powered my receiver to watch TV today evening, no Audio /video. I tried checking all my cables, etc-everything was fine. After all options failed, i tried doing a hard reset. No help either. Same state as before.

Just to make sure my TV itself is working fine, i tried connecting my cable to TV directly-all is well.

Any advice/tricks to bring my receiver up and running? I will call Denon CS tomorrow.

Thanks in Advance.

I will soon see. I read that this is really flexible and has the macro's and you don't have to hook up to the PC.

I hope I like it.

LOL. The Pronto really is The One Remote to Rule Them All, but I agree it's not trivial to set up. I enjoy programming and tweaking it, but I can also attest to the black hole bit...

That said, if you own a Pronto, you will never have to say "gee I just can't quite do what I want with this remote". The flexibility of the Pronto Pro is just awesome - wifi, tcp/ip, rs232, fully programmable using javascript. Network communication with the 3808 is really slick. For example, I've attached a couple of the screens I use for controlling audio settings on the 3808.

Is the dropout problem with the Denon 3808CI and Sony TVs limited to LCD models? From what I've been able to find, it seems to be mostly LCD XBR4 models. I have a Sony SXRD XBR2 (KDS-R60XBR2) TV. I'm wondering if I should be worried about the dropout issue with my TV.

I'm deciding between the 3808CI and the Pioneer SC-07 which seems to be pretty close in price right now. Dropout issues would push me towards the SC-07.

It's actually quite simple; noise from other components and the closest common ground point. If you have two components sharing a common ground and one of them is inducing noise back through to the common connection point then the miles of cable coming before that are completely (edit: or at least mostly) irrelevant.

And a different cable is going to help how? Their common connection point is still going to be the same.

I bought my 3808 from Vann's a couple weeks ago. I attempted the date hack unsuccessfully, with my info being rejected as an invalid serial number. I went back and put in my purchase date in May and got to the next section. Inputting my info and my upgrade # from the receiver, everything seemed to work. I had to disable UPNP on my router, but got the upgrade installed. Nowhere along the way did I have to commit $100. Did I miss something?

Thanks to Mr. Porterhouse and Direwolf for their help along the way.

Jon

I agree. What are the differences between a cheapo cable and an expensive cable?

• Conductor Material
• Conductor Gauge
• Shielding

OEM power cable makes no difference, even if you're running a line conditioner.

Hey all I have a question about the Denon website and registering a product. I got my 3803 last October and I did the Feature update and everything...no problems there. However, twice now I went to the website to see that my information blank. First time was back in December, so I added the Denon again and a day or so later my original registration came back and then it showed that I had two 3808 (both with the same serial number). The second time was last week and so far the information has not come back, so I just registered my receiver again. Any of you guys experience this at all?

Thanks

Sure they do. They are called "sequences". You can define a sequence to contain a number of commands from various devices, and then assign the sequence to the soft button.

Tried both remotes and dial all turn off receiver when I go to net/usb

I also tried power cycle.

It was working up until last week and that is the only selection that turns off receiver dvd and sat work fine.

Web interface as in? "Through TV, no cannot"

thanks for your suggestions but tried all of the above just seems that channel is blown is that possible?

wait a minute. Call me crazy but I didn't think the 3808 had PL IIx.

let me re-phrase that: why can I always get to pl II, but not to PL IIx? Its not because I "just" have a 5.1 set-up, is it? I mean PL IIX is just a better version for of PL II, for BOTH 5 and 7 channels, correct?

damn?!

James

Now that's interesting...so maybe they've quietly extended it to more recent purchases, or maybe it was a glitch?

It sounds like it's a bit of a crap-shoot right now as to whether you'll be able to get the upgrade for free if you purchase today. If those features are important to you, I think you basically have to look at the price + the $100, and if you can get it for free that's a bonus.

from wikipedia:
A newer Dolby Pro Logic IIx system is also now available, which can take stereo, Dolby Surround (sometimes called Dolby Stereo Surround) and Dolby Digital 5.1 source material and up-convert it to 6.1, or 7.1 channel surround sound. Dolby Pro Logic IIx also takes signals intended for Dolby Pro Logic II, and up-converts them to a 6.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound.

BTW: how is PL IIx selectable for 5.1 sources anyway (according to the manual)? It says (pg 77) explicitly that it's not avail for ANY DD or DTS sources...an "X" right through all of them in the manual.

Doesn't make sense. I thought one of th purposes of "x" was to matrix 5.1 sources to 7.1?

wtf?

James

check this out: page 77

http://www.usa.denon.com/AVR-3808CI-OM-E_404A.pdf

oddest thing: I've NEVER seen PL IIx in my window or on-screen. Never, just PL II (but cinema, music, etc)... did they just "forget the x"?! Now, I just have a 5.1 system, but it should still be selectable there and of course on stereo sources?

James

Exactly, if you can't use it (you have 5.1) then it will not be available.

wait.

PL IIx should be available to matrix stereo inputs to 5.1, correct?

Why do I not see it?

Is it because PL IIx is EXCLUSIVE for matrixing to 7.1?

I thought it offered bene's just going to 5.1 over PL II?

Is the "X" referring to "just" 7.1 matrixing.

none of this of course explains why "PL IIx" is listed as "not available" in the manual for 5.1 sources, though.

For example: Dolby Digital 5.1 ..."DOLBY PL IIx MUSIC NOT AVAILABLE"

thanks

James

RIGHT from the DOLBY website:

Dolby Pro Logic IIx creates a vivid 7.1-channel surround sound experience from any stereo (two-channel), 5.1, or 6.1 movie, music, TV, or game audio source. Dolby Pro Logic IIx examines the signal and uses that information to expand audio into up to 7.1 channels of highly realistic, natural surround sound.



Now, explain to me why the manual would have an "X" through ANY 5 channel Dolby or DTS input signal in regards to the inplementation of Dolby PL IIx?


I HATE this manual.


James

Yes, IIRC, you must have at least one back surround channel to invoke PLIIx.

Brian

Fair enough. I intially thought that the bene's of PL IIx went beyond just 7.1-I thought it was superior in other ways and would just matrix up to 5.1 if that's all you had. Apparently, the ONLY distinction betwen the two IS 7.1 matrixing.

SO fine, PL II x isn't yet avail to me.

That said, the manual still lists PL IIx as unavailable for all 5.1 sources, which I'm certain is incorrect. I'm on the phone with a Denon tech as I type trying to sort it out.


James

I think it IS available to 5.1 sources, as long as you also have a 6.1 or 7.1 system.

There is actually a thread here somewhere where users comment that PLIIx can be applied to DTS 5.1 sources, and DTS Neo:6 can be applied to Dolby 5.1 sources. Cats and dogs living together, as it were.

EDIT: Here is the thread....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...961&highlight=

Brian

Right. I know it is, but the manual says it isn't as clear as day on page 77.
At this point I just want to hear them admit that there's yet another ridiculous error within the manual.

James

Understood and good luck with that!

batpig has started a 2nd career translating Denon-speak to English!

Brian

Originally Posted by BGLeduc
I think it IS available to 5.1 sources, as long as you also have a 6.1 or 7.1 system.

There is actually a thread here somewhere where users comment that PLIIx can be applied to DTS 5.1 sources, and DTS Neo:6 can be applied to Dolby 5.1 sources. Cats and dogs living together, as it were.


Exactly, BGLeduc. Well, I just spent 25 minutes on the phone with 2 Denon techs who INSIST the manual is correct, stating that you CANNOT apply PL IIx to 5 and 6 channel sources.

Simply unbelievable. I tried 6 ways from sunday to explain to them how insane that stance was and it fell on the deafest ears imagineable.

They are now "escalating" the issue.

Someone...ANYONE, please tell me how I'm wrong regarding this?


PLEASE!!! I'm anxious to learn the error of my ways

James

When you turned the receiver on, did the display indicate the channels that were being output, but there were no indicators for anything being input/recognized? If so, try to turn the receiver on/off a number of times using both the large and small power buttons. If that doesn't work, you can try unplugging the receiver over night. That may bring the receiver back. Once you get it up and running and have reinput your settings(now gone because of the master reset), save your settings to the computer. When the problem reoccurs you can reload the saved settings. Works for me although the load is never completed on the first try. When that happens, I turn off the receiver with the main power button, turn it back on and load again.

I have yet to figure out what causes the problem, but sometimes a momentary power outage seems to trigger it. That doesn't seem to be the only trigger.

here's another question: Since we've already determined that PL IIx isn't available to me in my 5.1 sys, why can I choose from PL II MUSIC and PL II CINEMA?

NOthing in the PL II descript on Dolby's website says anything about these options on
PL II...only PL IIx!

Are these Denon's own DSP fields (cinema and music) that I somehow selected and they're now on AUTO?

EDIT: well, at least according to DENON's manual (LOL) there ARE GAME CINEMA AND MUSIC selections for PL II. Again, nothing of the sort is mentioned on Dolby's website.

sigh.

thanks

James

I have the 70XBR2 and have not experienced any dropout issues. Of course YMMV.

Hmm..., haven't tweaked my remote in over a year and the setup software didn't have that feature then (they even told me about two years ago that they had no intention of adding macro capabilities other than via activities). That's what I get for speaking from an out-of-date (1 year) experience.

Nevertheless it is still far less flexible than the evil Pronto. A better example might be (and I assume this is still the case) that you cannot use a soft button to change what device is controlled by the 5-way directional controller (i.e., if while watching a DVD I want to switch it between navigating through the TV and DVD player's menus). Yeah you can go to the device screens for this but....