*Official* Denon 5308 Thread - Page 61

Hmmm...so, I take it from your research you've found that, outside of video scaling capabilities, the 4308 and the 5308 offer pretty much the same feature set and specs? This would indeed be very interesting for those of us who were planning to simply do a pass-through in the AVR. If this is indeed the case with the 4308, I'd like to say thanks for the heads-up.

This is not the case....5308 destroys 4308 power/current wise....

Ahhh...well, for a few minutes my wallet was starting to get happy. I suppose there really is no free lunch.

Thanks.

I've owned both... the 5308 is a step up in video and audio... if you pass through, the audio upgrade, in my opinion, is still worth the difference in price..

However, I would assume you will use more than Blu Ray as a source... OTA, Sat and DVD were a step up on the 5308 going up to 1080p

I also looked at the 4308 as a less expensive possibility. However upon careful review the two things that stand out on the 5308 are its cleaner power and its choice for video scaling. I was going to purchase the VP50 pro scaler and then the 4308. The scaler sells for about $2500 discounted and the 4308 sells for about $1600 discounted (not thru a authorized reseller). When I added them up it just seemed to make more sense to go with one unit. Also I considered the Integra DTC 9.8 as a pre/pro and then a sunfire 7 channel amp. Again with the costs of both it was not so far off from the Denon 5308. They both share the same video scaler, and it was one less piece of equipment to locate. I am on my third denon receiver and have really enjoyed them to date.
Manny

I just got the VP50 pro and the 5308.

5308 pros/cons:
-very nice picture
-Easy set up
-No bugs
-limited options

VP50pro pros/cons
-very very nice picture
-numerous options
-complicated set up
-buggy

Hello this is dumb what does the i/p scaler do and what is the setting.

Thanks for the feedback. I did compare the specs on the 4308 and 5308 on the Denon site, but to be honest, they don't seem to compare them well. I also did a little research in both the 4308 and 5308 threads to see what users where thinking when deciding on choosing the 4308 over the 5308.

Well, I did find some other articles regarding the 5308 and given everytihng I read, I believe this will be the right receiver for me. It will be replacing a Pioneer 56txi paired with an ATI1800 amp running Paradigm Studio speakers.

I am hoping that the Denon 5308 will deliver the same if not better power than what I had before.

Well, the hunt is on. Need to find a store in Canada that is willing to sell it for a reasonable price. If anyone has any stores in mind that sell for a lot less than retail, send me a PM.

I hope to join everyone within the next 2 weeks.

Thanks again for the information. Keep it coming.

It scales the image. (interlace to progressive)
Leave it set to A to H H to H (analog to HDMI HDMI to HDMI) for most situations. Than set resolution to whatever your display can handle. Make sure video convert is ON.
When using a BD player to a 1080p/24 display, turn video convert to OFF for a 1080p/24 source. Any other resolutions leve it set to ON.

Scaler schmaler, it's the picture that's important, and NOTHING, let me repeat that NOTHING gives off a better picture than the RIALTA HQV chip set, color correction, depth of field, greyscale, etc. etc. are the most outstanding you can (as a consumer) get in a receiver, the avr5308ci and it's RIALTA HQV chipset is unique, adding Denons seperate scaler VP50-PRO makes sense if as with Shamus you have a front projector, otherwise the 5308ci is the BOMB, and doesnt need any help

I've seen several posts mention a "power cycle" but have no idea how to do it or exactly when to do it. Unless I'm blind, I see no button on the unit for this.

And is power cycling similar to resetting the microprocessor and losing all the settings?

Speaking of settings, is there only ONE setting I can save using Setup Lock, leaving me unable to change anything? I can't find anything in the manual.

Thanks.

Denon manuals are only meant to list all the things they should have explained. Great products. Great software. Cutting edge features. Lousy remotes and manuals. You take the good with the bad and ask questions here to find out how these things really work.

Sorry I can't help with this one.

Small power button next to big power button on unit.

To "power cycle" is to turn the power button off and then on again.

^^Thanks.

I will say the Marvell in my Pioneer SC09 is at least the equal of the Denon solution, although it only works on analog inputs..

Jim... why did you find that you needed the VP50 in your setup? I found the 5038 to be great (and think the SC09 on component is equal if not a notch better) ... just curious?

If I missed it earlier, sorry .

Hey! I needed it to fix the color issues on the rs1 and for a 2.35 screen. I would of never got it just for upconverting.

Equal, perhaps, however I should have qualified my reply, I am speaking of HDMI and keeping it in the digital domain, however, the realta hqv chip set does wonders with my LaserDiscs

Keep the information coming.

I am going to pair with with a 106" screen that is currently using a Sanyo Z5 720p projector, but that will change shortly.

Looking to purchase a 1080p projector as well.

shamus (and others here on this thread has the BOMB) JVC RS1, the only digital display device that might (I said might) get me away from my Mitsubishi WS73711, and my plans to get a Barco 909 cine, you might want to view it, and put it on your short list

Can anyone explain why WMA Lossless cannot be played through the USB ports? The 5308 will stream lossless no problem but not through the ports. I was considering hooking up an external hard drive. Perhaps something to do with the limitations of USB?

+1.

page 64 of the owners manual indicates the USB ports are for USB MEMORY DEVICES, doesn't indicate it has any other uses!!! anyone finding differently

I played a standerd DVD last night the PQ was not that great. I have a Deon 2500BD player and the Denon 5308 hooked up with HDMI cables. Everything is set to 1080p my TV will take that.Can anyone give me a better set up.

-1 (kidding)

It just might depend upon which SD DVD you played, some are startlingly good, others not so much, if you had a Denon DVD5910ci it does an outstanding job, with or without the avr5308ci, just more so with it

Your connections appear to be fine.

How do the Blu-Rays look?

Try adjusting for DVD with one of the calibration DVDs (although I suppose in your case the Blu-Ray version should suffice). Adjust the TVs brightness, contrast, color, tint, sharpness using one. Turn off most of the "picture enhancements" (for example go to custom mode rather than sports mode on your tv). Should give you a much better picture.

Also, don't double calibrate - since you have built in video processing in your receiver and TV (, and player?), try with most of your settings flat everywhere but your TV. HQV can do a few things better than your TV, so play with those once you've finished setting up the basics on the TV. ["Rinse and repeat."]

(Mine's adjusted with one, and it's reasonable, but not sure if there's still problems or if that's just as good as it's going to get with DVD. You may be experiencing the latter, or a cruddy DVD. I started to notice all the artifacts on DVDs a few months after getting hi-def players. Still see some digital artifacts from time to time on Blu-Ray, but not very noticeable most of the time.) [I don't have your hardware, this is just the next thing you should be doing when getting a new piece of hardware.]

It's been confirmed in this thread that the 5308 will play WMA, Wav, Flac, etc via USB. I was just wondering why WMA Lossless is a problem.

are you sending 480i out?