The "Official" Denon AVR-3808CI Thread - Page 204

Sorry that I can't directly answer your question directly, but just a thought that universals like Logitech Harmony or the Monster units really help simplify these types of issues. I decided pretty early on that the only way our new HT setup would work (particularly given the complexity of the 3808) was to have a simple to use way to run normal operations. I got a Harmony 880 and while you do have to program it, it's fairly easy to learn and works very well. The Logitech database even had entries for my almost 20yr old Denon DCM-777 CD changer.

My wife loves it and I haven't had one complaint about how complex or difficult to use the system is. You might want to think about this approach.

Thanks Davelr - would like to see if I can use this first. also - if I go this route will go for an Rf version of the Harmony one - which isnt out yet.

RichNY

I believe the Harmony 890 is the RF version of the 880. There are posts on the Harmony threads by people who actually have the 890. FWIW

I currently own a Denon 3801 which I love but have been very close for the last month to pulling the trigger on getting a 3808CI. I am wondering if anyone else has been in my situation and how they felt about making the upgrade. The music streaming I think would be cool and I own a PS3 so being able to hear the uncompressed PCM would be great on movies like 3:10 to Yuma. I guess I am trying to find out if the sound is really that much better and since the PS3 will be doing the converting is the PCM better than my DD or DTS I am getting right now? Any info or experiences would be helpful. I was literally online 5 minutes ago with the receiver in my shopping cart and couldn't pull the trigger.

I just went to a Listen Up store yesterday and they demonstrated the difference between regular DD and DD True HD - (encoded in player and sent via PCM). There really is a difference. It sounded great. They used the 3808 and a stand-alone player, but I bet it would be similar with the PS3. I'm much closer to buying the 3808 now.

Anyone notice when you select an DTS-HD HR track from a HD DVD now after the 1.69 firmware update it only shows as DTS Surround on the 3808? I have tried it with the Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life German HD DVD import and Chronicles of Riddick HD DVD US. They were both showing DTS-HD HR with the 1.28 firmware.

This update was talked about in the ask DenonJeff forum:

3808CI/4308CI:

1. Firmware update stops to display 'Ether WP 01MIN' and 'UPDATE CHECK OK' - fixed
2. When scrolling on Net/USB, each step is painted twice - fixed
3. Acceptance time for remote/IP/232 commands is 4 seconds - fixed, down to 2 seconds
4. Internet Radio song/title information has been restored - note, not all channels broadcast this information
5. Connectivity to Wi-Fi access points with SSID information with 'spaces' in the name has been corrected
6. The "Cars" BD disc has a Dolby TrueHD 6.1 soundtrack, however these units would display and playback only HD 5.1 - this is corrected.
7. Same as 2808CI/988 with 'New Line Cinema' dts-HD MA 7.1 titles where the front panel display would show 'dts Surround' and only 5.1 channels - this is corrected. It will show dts-HD MA 7.1.

I know this is about New Line titles but it may apply to you as well. As always make sure you have the latest firmware.

Please forgive me it this has been addressed in the preceding two hundred pages.

I understand that the official position as stated in the manual that Windows Media Browser is needed to stream media from my computer, but surely there has to be a DLNA-compliant server for Mac OSX that will allow me to do the same?

I have a fairly large collection of CD's that I would like bring into my iTunes library on my Mac and play through my networked Denon receiver. This should be doable (without running Windows on my Mac) - but perhaps that is easier said than done. Any help pointing me to a solution that is known to work would be greatly appreciated.

Mark,
I had the same problem with Comcast and actually resolved the issue the same way, by taking my 3808 to a friend that had Optimum. It drove me nuts for weeks. If you search this thread using Erock1 you'll find all my posts on this. I returned the first 3808 I got from J&R because everyone, including Denon thought it was a defect. (I actually got a big price drop from J&R when I accepted a replacement) When the replacement arrived and I got the same Connect Fail message, I was freaking out! With me though, I don't have a router, so I was connecting direct from modem to 3808. I was able to get Internet radio via Comcast w/o a problem but could never connect to the Denon server. I called Comcast, I called Denon, I posted here, no one at all knew how to solve the problem. One day I just searched the receiver forum here at AVS just fopr Comcast. Low and behold I found 2 old posts from guys down south talking about problems with Comcast. That's when I carried my receiver to my friend's house. I did call Denon and reported what I found out. I sure hope things are corrected cause I don't want to keep having to carry my 3808 to a friend to do updates

RichNY, Hope you are digging out of the snow. We are having a cold snap in SoCal, it got down to 52. Anyhow, take a look at the Monster 300,(same programming/ database as Harmony) it is now price competitive with Harmony and in my experience is a better unit. The new HarmonyOne seems to be having issues. I have the Monster 100 and everyone here loves it.

Classico

Behrens77,
I have a 3801, which I love, and am expecting my 3808 to arrive next Wed or Thurs. I have a Samsung 1400 and CAN get the LPCM. In a word, it is awesome. The detail is so involving. With the 1400 I also get TrueHD via analog. Again, AWESOME. Just make sure you get the right deal, and ordering it ONLINE is NOT the way.

PM me, & I will get you going in the right direction, saving 100's from an Authorized Dealer. Good Luck,

Classico

Former NYer here and 50 here is cold for SoCal people. I just laugh and say....go back east. 50 is a heat wave to most people. And they'd love that as right now it just snowed hard back east.

Where I live 52 is too warm for the fantastic sledding that we did today ... but hey what can you do out there..
Anyhow I cant believe that none of you guys are even trying to use the remote - hasnt ANYONE figured out the remote here .... I thought I was part of a serious gearhead group.

got my 3808 in today and did the firmware update. i hooked it up directly to dsl modem, no router. everything went without a hitch, now at 01.69. now trying to set this mutha up, boy can it make you feel stupid, especially when my last receiver was a dra-435r . i have a dvd-2930 connected via denon link and hdmi, and can only get cds to play in stereo, no 5.1, any ideas? when i watch tv, i can get 5.1 so i know the speakers are setup correctly, ran audessy, it found all my speakers. btw, this will be the first of many, many questions. thanks in advance.

^^^
scratch that about only stereo, figured it out

Hey I just got this today....
I did a firmware update before i ran audessy and it seems my HDMI's are notr working?? It was all fine before i did the update. I get no GUI on my display and the 3 hdmi sources wont even give me audio.
Anyone?

OK GOT IT.

Factory Reset saved the day.
How lame thou.

I recently upgraded from a Denon 3200 to the 3808. After running Audessey, the 3808 sounds great. A few weeks ago, I picked up a PS3.. then some BD discs.. Holy crap! The uncompressed sound is simply fantastic. The first thing we watched was Ratatouille... Everyone came out of their seats when they got struck by lightning... A friend of mine came over last weekend to see the PS3/Blu-Ray -he got a 3808 right before me- and I played Black Hawk Down... the scene where the boy holds up the phone as the Helo's fly over.. first in DD5.1... he said hey, that sounds good... Then I switched it to PCM and played the seen over. We were amazed. It was that good. Sounded like the blackhawks were flying over the house. Even my wife could tell a difference.
So, I could tell a difference between the 3200 & the 3808 with DD, but the BIG difference is the ability of HBR, Lossless, Uncompressed -what ever- Audio.

I'm using it here. It's not great, but it works. I gave up on the codes in the manual, though, as none of them seemed to work for anything I had here.

For each device, grab its remote, and use the Denon remote's learn mode to teach it the buttons. Takes a few minutes, but it works.

Placed order Mon, received Fri. Double boxed, via DHL.

Kudos to Roberto at 6 Ave.

I hope my wireless network reaches to the family room...

Now I need a new sub...does Hsu give AVSforum discounts?

I had a HSU VTF-3 and moved up to the SVS PB12-Plus. Looks vastly better, and sounds great! Got it sitting on a Gramma platform.

Just an FYI with people who say they have probs with updating via Comcast. I am in N. VA, and have updated twice now. No probs. If it were me having problems though, I might try to capture the traffic and see whats happening. Comcast has been known to send RST packets back when they do their "network management" and traffic shaping.

Anyway. Only had this box a week, and AM LOVING IT!!!!

Comcast network also has a propensity to send excessive of retry messages back.

I just got my 3808CI yesterday, and I was wondering if there are more discreet codes than the Harmony software has by default. For example, is there an IR code equivalent to the "Status" hard button on the receiver? Or a way to flip between the different Audyssey curves?

Thanks!

My 3808 seems to be killing internet connections for the computers on my home network. I have to unplug/reset both my DSL modem and wireless router every day. Has anyone else experienced this problem, or more importantly, SOLVED this problem?

UPnP enabled on your router? Have you verified network settings on the receiver and no conflict with other devices on your network?

Happy new 3808 owner here, I'm really enjoying it! However, I've got three quick questions for the more experienced members:

1) It seems to me that the Restorer affects the sound regardless if the source is compressed or not. I was playing back some flac files as well as a CD (from the DVD player) and there was definately a difference when the restorer is on. Shouldnt this feature come into play only with compressed files?

2) After doing the Audyssey calibration I wanted to tweak the results. I coped the curve to the manual EQ, but when toggling between Audyssey Flat and the copied manual curve (before tweaking) the difference was vast. Is this normal?

3) Is there any way to immediately navigate back to the top menu in NET/USB without having to press the left arrow repeatedly?

Thanks for the assistance!

Cheers,
Michael

Reply> Enjoy!

I created a soft "Status" button using the InputToggle button. It works for me. Not sure about the Audyssey.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

I receive my 3808 on Monday. Should I upgrade the firmware first thing? Or not at all?

Thanks in advance.