*Official* Denon 5308 Thread - Page 140

I'm not the least bit worried and don't mind waiting now that I know for sure that it's happening. I'm not concerned that they removed it from their website, my thinking is that they may be adding even more features to the upgrade. Well, probably not but, I can dream can't I?

How can I find the serial # of my 5308 using the front display unit? I forget the procedure. Thanks in advance!

Keep in mind the serial number is on the box and the back of the unit, however, you should be able to see the serial number on the display by powering on the AVR while pressing the and buttons on the front panel.

http://usa.denon.com/US/Product/Page...9-60aae60e0bdd

Pretty sneaky, Sis. "1050 watts total". Let's see now, 1050 divided by 9 equals 150? Something smells rotten in Japan...

I have no problem with the .3. Always thought these should have been billed as 7.3. But, calling them 9.3 is a little deceiving... Maybe they're packing a voucher for a new Denon 2-channel external amp in the box! Yeah right.

I think it is clever marketing, they are saying 1050 total watts, rather than 9 channels of 150 each. And when you think about it, how many people would have two large speakers for surrounds A and B. I am using a large for B, with no speaker setup for A. My room just isn't big enough to warrant this. When we get our upgrade I may place some surrounds up on the ceiling but then they would be small and not require too much power. In addition the Denon does have pre-outs which would allow the use of an external amp. To a certain degree all the manufacturers tend to skew their marketing. My Father has a Sony theater system that claims 1000 watts of power and weighs about 10 lbs.
Manny

More deceiving than clever. I currently use surround A and Surround B speakers to fill in the sides with some extra sound, but I wouldn't call it channels 8 and 9.

After they add DSX and PLIIz, an external amp connected to pre-amp channels 8 and 9 will do the trick, but for now it's a straight up 7-channel amp.

Maybe they'll split the rear speakers for DSX AND PLIIz like they do with the sides?

I've wanted to "fill in" my sides since I got this thing but never got around to it.... is it worth the effort?

^Not sure if this is relevant to your room, or your question exactly, but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the widened front soundstage and improved surround bubble for 5.1 content when I went from a 5.1 to 7.1DSX wides speaker system. It seems to me that wides would be superior to surrounds A&B, if the room and seating allow and if that is the choice one must make.

I would certainly try both! I have a long narrow room and my sides have always been the weak link.

I actually find it sounds quite nice. I bi-wired my fronts, setup the surround A and B to the sides and placed a pair of sats behind the listening area (for Surround Back). Also placed one sub in the front left (next to the front left speaker) and a second sub, diagonally, next to the Surround B right speaker.

Ran Audyssey as 9.2 (sub-mixed). Feels like you're entirely immersed in sound. I do look forward to some sound processing for the side speakers (DSX) or trying out front height. Not so sure we're going to be able to do both... Seems like it will be one or the other or if you want both, you'll have to lose your Surround Backs. I think we're also going to need an external 2-channel amp to connect to pre-amp channels 8 and 9 in order to get DSX or PLIIz for height or width (if you keep your Surround Back speakers in place).

Not absolutely true. I'm running my theater exactly as advertised; L/C/R/SLA/SLB/SRA/SRB/SBL/SBR/SW1/SW2/SW3(Buttkicker x4). Yes there is really only 6 independent Dolby tracks but the Denon does have an amp output for all 9 channels even though A+B share and i.c. board output and can only run in a quasi-parallel mode using min. 8ohm speakers. Does the two back surrounds being output from a single mono track make it deceiving or falsely advertised as 7.x? I don't think so... so why is Denon's 9 channel advertisement including two sides per track making it any less true (or versatile). It's a matter of perspective I guess.

Running both sides simultaneous (properly calibrated of course), makes a huge difference especially when running in THX mode using Denon's DDSC circuitry which really does an excellent job blending the two sides in front to back pans, simulating side surround discrete output(s)!

But the 5308 is fully 7.x. If you have an audio source that generates 7-channels and you have speakers connected to both Surround Back channels, you get 7-channels of discreet audio. But, the Surround A and B are tied to the same amp. Honestly, I haven't heard any blending of the Surround A and B speakers. They're getting their audio track from the same amps. Does it fill in nicely? Yes. Is it equivalent to DSX width channels? No. When Denon allows you to connect an external amp to channels 8 and 9 for use with DSX or PLIIz, we'll have the equivalent of a 9.x channel device. They should however footnote that it's 9 discreet channels, and not 9 discreet amps.

DDSC (Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit) is little more than marketing terminology. Basically, Denon is indicating that the 5308CI(A) uses discrete components, not simply an amp on a chip. Well, big deal, plenty of $700 AVRs use discrete components.

Finally, DDSC is in no way "blending the two sides in front to back pans, simulating side surround discrete output(s)!" When two pairs of loudspeakers are wired in parallel to the same amp, both pairs receive the same signal. Are you suggesting that Denon is using some sort of steering/balancing logic on the paralleled A&B surrounds? That is highly unlikely.

AJ

Yes, that is my understanding.

BTW - I have not gotten any updates on why Denon removed the upgrade announcement off of their websites. Has anyone else heard anything??

Kevin

http://stagingna.dev-denon.com/US/Do...t-Updates.aspx

My guess is that it the add is still under development and will be put up soon. Maybe they let us preview it to calm us down a bit.

Yeah Joe but why take it off the main website?? I wonder if they're having problems w/ Audyssey licensing or something because when I taked to Chris he said they have had no conversations nor co-development projects with Denon for quite some time. That's why I had originally posted I thought the upgrades would only consist of 3D and not Audyssey. Odd though.

I would say that were not privy to that info. It's coming believe it.

I'd still like to see the addition of Dolby Volume, Pandora and AirPlay to the listed features of the upgrade. Doesn't seem like it would be any more difficult than the other features they're adding. I guess we'll see when everything is finalized.

I'll take all the new upcoming processing BUT I don't need the 3D pass through

I would like Denon to have 2 upgrade packages...

1) With only the new processing. That way the receiver could do all the upgrading by way of the Internet and not have to send it in to be upgraded and not cost so much. (I think I am right about it being accomplished by online connection, correct?)

2) With all the new processing + 3D pass through.

Denon are you listening???

.

Actually, it's likely that all the new audio processing will require new DSPs and additional memory being added. I'm not so sure that any of these new capabilities will be firmware only.

I was thinking the same only hoping it wouldn't

I doubt that they are going to let people pick and choose only what items or features they want. I think you're going to find the upgrade offer, is going to be a all or nothing/take it or leave it offer.

I found this cool application named Jamcast. It resides on your computer and then you can stream (which I do wirelessly) to the Denon 5308CI. The Denon picks it up as a internet station. So I can play Pandora One (which is a higher bit rate 192) on my Denon 5308CI. The reason this is the way to go is that, if the Denon 5308CI had Pandora built in it would be at the lower bit rate. Only having access to the internet web site allows the higher bit rate. The PS3 can access Pandora One as you can search the web, get on the site and then download the add on. But the PS3 runs hot and is noisy. I like the idea of streaming from my computer. The only problem that was not solved was trying to sync all the music. So the computer is ahead in a song versus the Denon 5308CI. There is probably nothing that can be done about that. But do try the software. It is free for 14 days. And of course now Pandora is going to go IPO. So none of you should buy it so that I can buy it at a lower price. Ha Ha.
Manny

So i'm getting ready "again" to start shopping for a new AVR. I've been looking for two months and am still on the fence. I will be replacing a pioneer sc-25 with the Denon 5308ci A.

So heres my problem. The closest Denon Dealer is 100 miles away one way. And no I'm not buying from BB. I almost made the purchase a few days ago but the dealer told me the shipping was over 200.00 for ground shipping.. Yeah right .... so please don't list any prices or names.. but if someone can PM me with a DECENT place to buy this AVR at a great price.. you'd make me a happy camper !!!

Thanks

Might want to hold on a little while until they roll out all of the updates!

Try AVS.

Mike

So are you suggesting that this is not a wise purchase?

anyone else care to chime in ?

So with everthing out on the market today, Who here would still buy the AVR-5308ci ? over the newer units ?

What if we never see a flagship AVR again?

He is saying to wait until its updated to buy it. Why buy it now only to have to ship it back to get it updated.

Please read over the last few pages in this thread and you'll see Denon will (hopefully soon) be providing updates to our units as opposed to replacing its flagship.

If I was buying new now I would buy a 4311CI and an external pre-amp (eg Emotiva or other) and use the pre-amp setting on the 4311CI.
A good buy with everything you need and plenty of amp power.
I own the 5308CI(A), like it, and may not change it, but that purchase was a few years ago.
Check with AVS on prices.

Mike