[Doctor Who]

I have a Denon AVR-3805 that I bought last week for $100. Several years ago, this was considered a good mid-tier receiver. However, it does not have DD TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio or any HDMI inputs and therefore I am a little worried of what I am missing. At the time, I wasn't aware of these new surround formats and I am feeling just a little buyer's remorse.


Would getting a cheaper, newer receiver like a Denon AVR-1909 or Onykyo TX-SR507 be an upgrade in terms of SQ? I figure that I can simply resell my receiver and put it and maybe an extra $200 or so towards the purchase of a new receiver that has these newer, revolutionary features.


My current receiver has excellent construction, very heavy weight (at least compared to the cheaper receivers) and can blow out my eardrums, but the thought of having clearer, uncompressed audio intrigues me.


Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

I personally don't think lossless audio is worth spending much money on IF that's all you need. See the section in the stickied AVR FAQ which discusses why, and also includes a link to a listening test.


If you want the latest room correction, HDMI audio and HDMI switching and such, then it might make sense to get a new receiver. If you can get by without all that, you can save some dough.


For the best deals, look at last years models or used.

 

[afrogt]

If you want clear uncompressed audio, just buy a blu ray player with 7.1 analog outs and connect it to your 3805.


I wouldn't swap the 3805 with any of the receivers you mentioned.

 

[batpig]

oh my goodness, I would not swap a 3805 for an Onkyo 507!!

the lossy "downmix" over optical on a high-end receiver like the 3805 will sound much better than lossless audio on some bargain basement entry-level unit.


afro is correct -- if you don't want to upgrade to a beefier HDMI unit which can match up with the 3805, just get a BDP with analog audio out.


If you want an upgrade path, the 3805 can probably fetch around $300-350 used. You can get a Denon 2808/988 or 3806 model for around $450-500 if you watch ebay and audiogon ($200 net upgrade).... or, you should be able to find a Denon 2809/989 model for around $600-700 if you watch closeout deals with the new models coming out. That would be a more appropriate update to your 3805.


BTW -- if you truly got a Denon AVR 3805 for $100 you should not feel ANY buyer's remorse!! you should be jumping up and down in glee over an amazing bargain...

 

[Doctor Who]



Quote:
Originally Posted by batpig /forum/post/16831745


oh my goodness, I would not swap a 3805 for an Onkyo 507!!

the lossy "downmix" over optical on a high-end receiver like the 3805 will sound much better than lossless audio on some bargain basement entry-level unit.


afro is correct -- if you don't want to upgrade to a beefier HDMI unit which can match up with the 3805, just get a BDP with analog audio out.


If you want an upgrade path, the 3805 can probably fetch around $300-350 used. You can get a Denon 2808/988 or 3806 model for around $450-500 if you watch ebay and audiogon ($200 net upgrade).... or, you should be able to find a Denon 2809/989 model for around $600-700 if you watch closeout deals with the new models coming out. That would be a more appropriate update to your 3805.


BTW -- if you truly got a Denon AVR 3805 for $100 you should not feel ANY buyer's remorse!! you should be jumping up and down in glee over an amazing bargain...

This is kind of what I wanted to hear.

Yeah I think it was an great deal. He tossed in some monster cables and a puck shaped EQ microphone which alone had a price tag of $70 or so. I switched out an Onkyo TX-SR600 and the Denon easily weighed twice as much. My speakers however are too crappy to tell the difference, but at least I have a good receiver to work with.

 

[batpig]

the speakers are MUCH more important than the receiver -- you got a steal of a deal and that is an awesome unit. concentrate your funds now on SPEAKERS, don't fret about the receiver at all for the time being. your concern over lossy vs lossless is even more irrelevant if the speakers suck!


the 3805 was the first consumer Denon with auto-setup and they made you purchase the mic separately. the EQ program is pretty rudimentary but it will at least set all your speaker distances and levels.

 

[ccotenj]



Quote:
Originally Posted by batpig /forum/post/16831745


oh my goodness, I would not swap a 3805 for an Onkyo 507!!

...


BTW -- if you truly got a Denon AVR 3805 for $100 you should not feel ANY buyer's remorse!! you should be jumping up and down in glee over an amazing bargain...

+1 to both of those comments... if you come across any other 3805's for 100 clams, let the rest of us know about it...

those two avr's aren't even in the same league... the 3805 is a solid avr... the 507 is an entry level throwaway...


there's great value in mid-level avr's that are a few years old... especially since there are options (as pointed out in other posts) to get around hdmi...


something to keep in mind... although some will say that "experiencing" (their word) lossless sound is a mind-blowing thing, in reality, the differences are quite subtle, especially for movie soundtracks... and even those subtle differences are lost if the rest of the system (speakers and room) aren't up to the task... ymmv...


edit: another +1 for batpig's last post... if'n i was you (and i know i'm not), i'd devote any and all available fundage to speakers...

 

[Doctor Who]

I guess I will show some glamour shots of the entire system...do I win the prize for the ghettoest "home theater" on AVS? lol


The new addition to the family. She's lonely and wants to hang out with better electronics:

Sources. All are game systems, but the PS3 is the only one that really handles HT duties.

My speaker stands are ghetto. Can't wait to upgrade the speakers.

 

[maxcooper]

I don't think you have a source that could produce DD TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, so you aren't missing anything.


-Max

 

[batpig]

nice speaker stands!

 

[ccotenj]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor Who /forum/post/16832052


I guess I will show some glamour shots of the entire system...do I win the prize for the ghettoest "home theater" on AVS? lol

lol... nah... not even close... you aren't even sporting the ghetto flat screen ...

the speaker stands though... i gotta admit, those are right up there with some of the more "interesting" ones i've seen...

you are on the right track... piece by piece, with a bit of patience, you'll get there...

 

[Doctor Who]

Bahahaha I love that ghetto flat screen! I wish he made the TV sit flush with the wall to get the "front projection system" effect. Who needs LCD/plasma TVs? They're for suckers.


And yes, my speaker stands get a lot of crap from my friends! One is an ice box, the other is a portable fold up chair thing.


Now all I need are some real speakers. The current speakers are barely good enough to be used for a computer system.


I have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 8.1's that I'm trying to wall mount in the kitchen with the unused amps in the receiver. I thought I was OK with electronics, but damn, the Denon manual is driving me nuts.

 

[s44]

Click on the batpigworld link above. His Denon-to-English dictionary should do wonders.

 

[HockeyKat]

Newegg.com has some Polk Monitor 60s on sale for $115 a piece, free shipping, w/ promo code EMCLVMT27. Not sure if they are any good (I think they are the lowest end towers), but hey, couldn't be worse? And, since they are towers, you wouldn't need speaker stands!

Love the ghetto flat screen...

 

[QGGeneric]



Quote:
Originally Posted by maxcooper /forum/post/16832110


I don't think you have a source that could produce DD TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, so you aren't missing anything.


-Max

Doesn't the PS3's blu-ray decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio?