The "Official" Denon AVR-3808CI Thread - Page 652

Captain AVS has as nice firmware tracking site/wiki. I'm not sure how long it has been since its last update, but it carries change logs and update information as well as instructions for basic checking and updating procedures:

http://denon-firmware-tracking.wetpaint.com/

There was an issue with some DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio tracks that was resolved with a firmware update last summer. You're better served bring the unit up to date with the most recent firmware.

I'm in the "if it ain't broke" camp. I don't think I'm fully up to date (I do have the upgrade) and I haven't had any problems.

I've had one bad experience updating the firmware on the 3808 early on, when it continued to try to access the firmware update without succeeding, and kept trying without stopping. After a couple of calls to Denon, I finally was able stop it by some combination of button presses. It wasn't a microprocessor reset, but some other type of internet access reset that wiped out my settings. I had to reinstall my saved configuration, but lost my Audyssey settings and had to reconfigure Audyssey. I've been leery about attempting firmware updates since that time, although I think I may have installed the feature upgrade after that. I've never been hesitant to update firmware in other electronic devices, but the 3808 sort of has me spooked to try again, especially if I'm not experiencing any problems.
Edited by scolumbo - 7/17/12 at 9:34am

I had a scary experience too. Didn't brick it, but it sure seemed headed in that direction. I got through it with a couple of re-tries. I wouldn't have bothered if it wasn't for that annying DTS bomb issue, which seems to be gone with the latest firmware.

Doing a firmware update "over the Internet" has to be the stupidest thing Denon ever came up with. So many things about that process could have been much better... Download to a sitck using a PC, then update from a stick. Or, download to an internal memory staging area in the 3808, then update from there. Update directly from the network? That's crazy.

Are you certain that is not what it does?

It's been several months since I did an update, but I seem to remember that only one module at a time is downloaded, and applied. I don't think it downloads all modules first, then applies them all. You should be able to literally cut the network cable at any time during an update, and either have every module updated, or none of them updated.

GUI display suddenly disappeared

I have not seen this before. ALL my inputs/outputs are HDMI. The display of receiver information just disappeared. (Volume, mute and input info, as well as the GUI itself)
I cannot get to the GUI even though when I click "menu" the receiver display shows that it is in GUI mode, but there is NOTHING on the TV screen. Some setting got messed up, but I don't know which one. I could NOT have done it on purpose. The info was there one day and gone the next. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Classico

Start with powering off with the small button. If that doesn't do then it's time to try a reset.

Your small button power did the trick. How it got that way I do not know, but thank you.

Classico

What modules? A firmware update is one file.

With some free time on my hands, I decided to do the firmware update. I'll admit to being a little nervous with my previous experience but it worked without a hitch. I did power cycle using the small button before the update, which I'm not positive if I did when I had the previous problem. Anyway, thanks for the link above and the encouragement.

I guess you didn't see everything that I did while it was updating. The front panel display shows everything it's doing. Anyhow, all this is covered in the 3808 f/w tracking thread.

I think you both may be somewhat correct. It seems to download as one file, however, it installs different modules from that file, or at least that's the way it appeared to me when I did the recent update.

The latest fw is on http://www.avsforum.com/t/995566/denon-3808-4308-5308-firmware-tracking-thread/3780#post_22238739.
When I was doing the update I was also watching my router. The channel that the 3808 was using was blinking during each module download. It was active all the way through the entire update, not just at the beginning.

It would not make sense to have one file. Denon probably maintains a library of module files and downloads to you the combination you need for your AVR model. Also, It would not make sense to download the GUI or WEB if all that was in need of updating is the DSPs. What comes down is probably only what you need. I'm just guessing about that. I don't really want to do another update just to find out those details.

Last night I was switching some cables around and noticed that the top of my 3808 was pretty warm. This struck me as odd because it had been in standby for the previous 20 hours. According to the spec sheet, the 3808 pulls 0.3 watts in standby -- so I'm wondering what gives.

I do have HDMI Control enabled for pass-through to a secondary TV when the Denon is off (though I rarely make use of this feature). I know from reading batpig's blog that "when HDMI Control is on, the Denon's power consumption increases slightly," but how much is slightly? The top felt pretty warm for something supposedly pulling a couple of watts in a basement with an ambient air temp of 70 or so.

^^
Although each year the HDMI Control/Network Standby wattage consumption has improved, currently only about 3W with the XX13 models, with the XX10 models it's 30W with HDMI Control enabled so at least the same but likely no more than 50W with the 3808CI. The 0.3W mentioned in the Owner's manual is for regular Standby mode (ie. HDMI Control set to OFF).

Jeeze Louise!

Certainly not worth the price to pay in vampire power for my little use of the feature! Thanks for answering that question, jd. I'll turn it off tonight!

Remind me where the setting to turn that on and off is.

Hi dirk1843, won't see it if you didn't get the $100 Ultimate Feature Upgrade Package installation. But if you did ... Menu -> Manual Setup -> HDMI Setup.

I have never updated my firmware, but I would have sworn the setting was there before......never used it, but wanted to make sure it was off.

Must have been dreaming................

Is There A Way To Utilize An Outboard Multichannel Processor?

On my recently retired vintage quad dinosaur receiver, there were 4 channel tape loops which allowed me to do this.

The 3808CI (I recently acquired one second hand) has VCR and DVR loops, but they're only 2 channel. I wish to use my Sansui QSD-2 decoder (don't laugh, it sounds great, to me anyway) which has 2 line level inputs and 4 line level outputs for listening to a variety of sources, especially my quad vinyl collection (OK, please, no laughing--in QS Quad mode this thing licks butt compared to the on board Dolby for which it was the inspiration!!!--see http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/June%201977/126/734962/).

Based on it's having a multi channel Pre Out and Ext In, I thought this would function as a multichannel tape loop, but I get no signal until I turn it up loud, producing what sounds like a nasty feedback.

I'm using Zone 3 for speakers in another room, and was going to use the Zone 2 output and set the 3808CI to mirror the same source to all zones, but isn't that just going to create the same feedback loop?

I can't believe it, but searching through nearly 20,000 posts, either no one's wanted to do this, it's very obvious and I'm missing something, or I can't find the right search terms....probably no one's wanted to do this!

And if I am out of luck, it would seem that my last possibility might be to purchase an outboard phono preamp (the one in the Denon seems to be a bit weak with a tiny bit of hum in one channel anyway), and send my B&O MMC turntable to the preamp, then through the external processor and then the Ext In inputs. Does this make sense?

I'd really appreciate some help here, the Ext In and phono inputs are the reason I bought this unit....!

believe it -- nobody wants to do this anymore

there is no ability to "loop" an external processor. You will just have to utilize it as an external input, just like any other source, and anything you want processed through it needs to be connected directly to it first.

I'm guessing there's no way to pass through a 3D signal through our AVR to a 3DTV, and instead would have to either bypass the AVR or upgrade it?

Actually some 3D formats may pass through (eg. 720p ESPN), but if you want a full 3D 1080p signal from a BDP you'll need to either upgrade to a dual HDMI 1.4 BDP (least expensive option) or an HDMI 1.4 AVR. If you already have a single HDMI 3D capable BDP (eg. PS3), you can also connect HDMI to the TV with optical to the AVR (as the higher bitrate DD/DTS audio via optical will likely be hard to distinguish from the HD DD/DTS over HDMI).

That's probably what I'll have to do in the meantime (PS3>Samsung 55ES8000) video; PS3>AVR3808CI audio).

Hopefully I am putting this in the right spot, if not please let me know where I should head. I have an 3808ci that has worked perfectly for years (used a few times a day for about 3 years) and one day it just stopped outputting anything (video/audio) on all channels. I have opened it up just to see if there was anything obvious (blown capacitors/fuses etc.) and nothing popped out immediately. The odd thing is that many of the systems still work properly, here is a quick run down.

Working:
All interfaces including menu's sub menus
All settings are saved properly
The web interface works perfectly
I was able to update the firmware to the latest versions (as of a week ago)
I can stream music to the device from a windows media server and it does play AND OUTPUT sound.

Not working:
Monitor output - I can not get a TV to recognize that it is connected (no signal detected)
Audio from any input other than streamed media
I have tried the tuner as well as all video and audio inputs


So far I have reset the unit to factory settings and updated the firmware. I am considering taking it to a repair facility here in Phoenix but it is about an hour away and I am concerned that the cost of the fix would be more than a new comparable unit. I received this from a friend for free as it stopped working and he assumed that it was "Junk". Has anyone had a similar issue or know enough about them to point me in the right direction? I am really just trying to avoid the gas/time/inspection fee only to find out that it is going to be hundreds of dollars to fix.

Thanks in advance.

Try doing a network reset (ie. press/hold UP/DOWN arrow buttons on the front panel display while powering on the AVR). If still no joy, then repair is likely to cost upwards of $300 to include a $75 estimate (although give the repair facility a call to confirm on the estimate charge).

I did the network restart and there were a few changes, at this point I can now use both the AM and FM receivers and get output on all channels. I also noticed that all of the ext. in channels will pass through to the speakers as well, so it appears that the issue lies in the receivers ability to pass information from the inputs that need processed to the output. Is there any kind of built in display test that I can use to see if the monitor out function is working? I know that the receiver has a GUI based menu that will display on the TV however I am not sure how to access it. Last but not least, when you made the $300 quote do you mind if I ask what you think the problem to be? I am very handy when it comes to electronics, however the circuitry on this beast is well beyond my skill level. If there was a replacement board I could order I am sure I could replace it myself.

Thanks again for all the help.
Edited by BStanley346 - 8/15/12 at 6:44am

At the very least the HDMI board ($200-$300) must likely be replaced, although given that model is 5 years old, it'll be tough finding a replacement board to replace on your own. I'd suggest just buying a newer model.