The "Official" Denon 4308ci Owners Thread - Page 41

Thanks lentiman. I'll be driving B&W FPM5s and a B&W XTC center speaker. In comparing the sound quality of both receivers, how would you characterize the sound of each? If I go for a Denon, it would be the 3808. I'm also considering the Yamaha 3800.

I guess what confuses me is that you would think (OK, I would think), that with modern amp design in receivers of this class, they would all sound fairly close to one another.

Hi people,

has anybody with problems using WMP 11 solved these problems?

My PC sees the 4308, WMP 11 sees the 4308 and allows media sharing for it, but the 4308 seems to be unable to see my PC and WMP 11. Shutting down the firewalls, Spybot and AV software didn't help.

Internet radio works fine (after the firmware update).

When I manually run the speaker setup to use my Radio Shack Sound level meter, the values start at 0 db. I change them to equalize my speakers sound and when I go back in to check the values show defaulted to 0db. Anyone else have this issue or try it?

I was wondering if the values hold and then reset to 0db as you enter the channel level option.

I had manually set mine also after the FW update to levels that Audyssey decided. I just looked and found them to be all zero!

I set them back to the levels I orginally input, and they stayed when I checked. Not sure what happened to make them reset to zero.

^^umm...and I am doing it manually and thinking I am saving them. I am not using Audyssey. Just checked and mine are at 0db again. This isn't right and I think its' resetting to 0db is NOT giving me proper sound level calibration. Can others check and see if this is the case? If so we have an issue here or am I missing something. Manual time.

I am also manually inputting the levels...did not use a sound meter...I used the values that Audyssey generated when I ran the auto setup. However, I do not use Audyssey, I also manually entered the EQ values to my desire as well as the levels....both generated by Audyssey, but manually entered by me in the manual sections.

Speaker setup>Channel level>mode>manual>start

And the values set manually shouldn't change per source, i.e. cable, PS3, HTPC as the equal sound levels of each speaker have to do with placement and response of sounds as opposed to sound levels of the source.

Step 8/14 is the SFlash module (aka on-screen GUI). If it fails, it will be very problamatic to get to the firmware upgrade. However, the on-receiver display does work correctly and will get you to the fw upgrade.

Network Setup:

I'm still having trouble getting connected to the network using all the same settings as I have used for my other devices: ps3, xbox360, laptop.

It picks up my wireless connection, but when I enter the WEP security key, the connection fails every time.

DHCP is set to "on"
Default Key 1

Anyone have any ideas on how I can get this to work?

I have Verizon DSL in So Cal.

That is correct.

Question for you guys. I've been reading all over the new Denon receiver owners pages and have a simple question. Why did you guys choose the 4308 over the 3808? I'm considering the 4308, and just wondering what pushed you to it compared to the 3808?

I'd try temporary disabling the wireless security in the router. Just to help narrow the challenge down. Also, check the maximum number of wireless connections in the router, any event logs, firewalls and signal strength. Both the SSID and WEP key must match. If that doesn't help, you may want to contact Verizon support (assuming your DSL box has a built in wireless router and was provided by Verizon). They should be able to tell you what the router see's. Hope this helps!

Wifi, built in HD-Radio, 2xHDMI outputs (although, I'm currently using only x1)more zones and 10x extra wasn't a deciding factor but didn't hurt. I thought the extra features would be better for long term growth. You can piece products together to do all of thisbut it's nice to have it in one sexy package. From my perspective, you can't go wrong with either selection.

Which of these methods provides the best listening quality to the Denon 4308. Windows Lossless over either Coaxial or Optical? Wireless streaming of WMA 192? Are you actually sending the true lossless signal over Coaxial/Optical. Are they passed thru directly, or does the 4308 process them in some way? Will the Denon ever be able to stream FLAC or Lossless? Do you gain anything by direct input of these formats? Would you gain something over either of these formats if you used wav files? Is there anything at all that is superior about wireless other than aesthetics? I guess never really have understood the differences between stereo, direct, 96khz PCM, Bitstream, etc. when it comes to what is the best quality and way to listen to your music. Is anyone out there an expert on sending Stereo or compressed music files from a Home or Media PC?

I heard that the new 4308ci displays True "On Screen" Capabilities - Instead of going black like most do - does the 4308ci display everything over the current output (dvd, tv) ?

My reciever is too far from my couch & I can't see what function/sound setting i'm on.

PS: Must be over HDMI

Yes, it does. My new TV is currently en route, but when I had it hooked up to my old TV via HDMI I recall it did a nice overlay effect with the video output of the current receiver input. If you have it on CD or some other input w/o video there would of course be no overlay.

Anyone want take a stab at my question?

After reading the entire 905 thread my eyes are blood shot and hurt. I hope someonce can PM me or reply to my question.

1. Does the 4308ci in fact pump a video feed out both HDMI's as someone suggested on the 905 thread? If so, do both tv's need to be 720P or 1080P.... or the same resolution?

2. Also, what is the longest HDMI cabale somene is using currently without a powered repeater? I have a 50 foot run that will be going behind my crown molding and therefore I have no plug for a powered repeater.


Thanks in advance!

I'm am using both HDMI outs - one to a Sunbrite (Olevia) 1366x768 and the other to an Optoma HD80. I have the Denon 4308 set to auto for resolution and the monitor output on dual, and am having no problems with both displays on at once. I'm using a Monoprice 50ft HDMI cable to the Sunbrite and a 35 foot Monoprice HDMI and see no sparklies or any ill effects - but the synching is generally not instantaneous. Both HDMI outputs display the same video source, I believe you need to use component to have a different input for two zones.

Can we control basic settings of the 4308 over the internet ? Can someone explain how that works ?...my RADIODENON workd fine fyi.

thanks

You can control it over your own network via the web browser as I stated here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=435

As far as over the internet from offsite? You would need access to your PC first...is that what you are asking?

mooog, thanks for the info!!!

What do you mean by "but the synching is generally not instantaneous"
Can you expand on this?


Now I guess I have to decide if the Radeon chip in the 905 is more important to me as compared to the dual HDMI video.

Is everyone paying MSRP for theirs?

Mine have disappeared and reset to all zeros! Don't know when or why.

It says this on page 29 of the 3808CI manual....so I let the auto mode go thru the various levels and set them back to where I wanted them.....see if it holds this time.

YES it does including over 1080P!!!!! Which is something even the new Sony ES5300 can not do!!!!1

I agree about not getting a receiver simply because the same manu makes your display but there is no way on God's green earth Denon quality is much higher than that of the Pio receivers. I have both the Elite 84 and Denon 2807 and neither has obvious superior quality than the other. Actually if anything, The 84 has superior component video-hdmi conversion (the Denon makes the image fuzzy) and the Elite also has more power. Oh and Elite's MCACC worked the first time while the Audyssey system is finnicky and can take multiple times to work correctly. The biggest diff between the two is how they sound diff after calibration but I would not say the Denon is better or the Elite is better...it is personal preference.

I am interested in the new Denons (3808, 4308) as well as the Elite 94TX and have not come to a 100% conclusion on which I will get but as of right now I am leaning towards the Elite because based on my experience there is nothing the "Denon" name will give me over it other than the Denon name. It's kind of like buying a MB over a Lexus simply because of some perceived prestige/name factor rather than looking at what you get in the product....and that IMO is why you do not see many trying to choose between the two brands because they THINK the Denon model will be better because of the name.

How about over 1080 24p?

Rlindo, playing off what you said, I actually auditioned the Denon 3808 with the Pioneer Elite 81 at a Magnolia today. Unfortunately the 94 was outside the audio room hooked up to a Pro 150 plasma.

I listened to both music and some movie material. To be perfectly honest, I had great difficulty hearing much, if any difference between the two on music. They both sounded great. But for some reason the Pioneer had more presence and impact with movie material, creating a more convincing surround experience.

I'm far more familiar with video, and frankly I don't know how you can compare two receivers in an environment like I did. Who knows how these things were initially calibrated? After I was done, I asked the salesguy (who seemed pretty honest) what the staff preferred. He said they were pretty evenly divided with some feeling the Denon was better for music and others feeling the Pioneer was better with HT.

I had a Pioneer Elite 49TX before this Denon 4308, and I feel that it was better with music, and the Denon is better with HT. The Pioneer really had a enveloping warm sound that filled the room. It seemed a little too diffuse on HT though, the Denon seems to be more detailed on surround effects etc.

Yes, I MUST try this, thanks for the reply.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...14&postcount=9
click the "link" in upper right hand corner for other posts in this thread about the OSD.

[quote=TopGun916;11806166]mooog, thanks for the info!!!

What do you mean by "but the synching is generally not instantaneous"
Can you expand on this?
QUOTE]


Well - sometimes when I first turn on all devices with a Harmony remote, it generally takes anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 seconds for my projector to find the signal over HDMI. It could be an issue with the the order in which the remote activates the components. I haven't studied it to see if it varies depending on which device I'm using on startup (Dish 722, AX2, Xbox 360 etc.) Rarely, it has failed to synch at all - but it is always easily fixed quickly by switching from HDMI2 back to HDMI1. I have not noticed problems with synching when I switch inputs on the Denon. The Optoma HD80 actually has a dedicated Re-Synch button on it's body, and I also have it set to only search HDMI1 for signal to avoid problems. I'd be hesitant to definitely blame the long cable for these hiccups - but I'd think it was a likely suspect.