Denon AVR-3803

GregE
GregE Posts: 8
edited March 2003 in Electronics
Anyone have any experience with this receiver? I am putting together a home theater system with LSi15's in front, LSiC center, LSiFX for surrounds, sub to be added later. I currently have a Sony GX99ES receiver which I really like, but it's not rated to handle the low impedence of the Polks, and it's 12 yrs old and is Dolby Pro Logic only. I haven't shopped for receivers in quite a while, what other quality HT receivers work well with Polks?

Thanks for any advice.
Post edited by GregE on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited March 2003
    I posted this over in another thread - so I guess it's OK to plagerize myself. This is merely an observation and a supposition, so take it with a grain of salt and demo one with LSi's if you get serious.

    From the other thread:

    It's interesting to look at the weight of Denon's current line of AVR 7.1 7-channel receivers.

    Even with similar chassis size and features, the weight climbs considerably with price and model number.

    To wit:

    AVR-5803: 63.9 pounds (7x170 8 ohms) (7x200 6 ohms @ 20-20k)

    AVR-4802: 45.2 pounds (7x125 8 ohms) (7x150 6 ohms @ 20-20k)

    AVR-3803: 36.4 pounds (7x110 8 ohms) (7x150 6 ohms @ 1k only)

    AVR-2803: 28.7 pounds (7x90 8 ohms) (7x125 6 ohms @ 1k only)

    Clearly, despite power ratings that on paper wouldn't make more than a 3 dB (at most) difference in max volume, it's obvious Denon is dumping much larger transformers and capacitors into the amp stages of its receivers as the price goes up.

    I think it's obvious why the 2802/2803 can't drive the LSi series - it weighs 8 pounds less than the 3803 with identical chassis size and features. I strongly suspect that 8 pounds went directly into the amp stage and although the power ratings on paper are indentical, I would bet the current capability of the 3803 is a far sight better than the 2802/2803 and it would probably drive the LSi line just fine.

    Ditto even more so for the 4802/5803.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ntculenuff
    ntculenuff Posts: 1,146
    edited March 2003
    3803 does video up conversion also....
    Speakers:
    Definitive BP7001sc mains
    Definitive C/L/R 3000 center
    Polk RT800i's rears
    Definitive supercube I Sub
    Audio:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010
    Emotiva XPA five Gen 3
    OPPO BDP-103 CD, SACD, DVD-A
    Video:
    Panasonic TC-P65ZT60
    OPPO BDP-103 Bluray
    Directv x's 2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited March 2003
    GregE,
    NO,this is a bad move for you.If you owned rt series Polks,I'd say jump on it as its as fine of a receiver as any other 1k receiver on the market.It's loaded up with great features BUT no it won't run your Lsi series speakers.

    If you would like advice on recewivers that will run your lsi's I'll give you the list.

    1)B&K avr507 and avr307 also the 5's
    2)Rotel rsx1065 and rsx1055
    3)Sunfire Ultimate receiver
    4)Pioneer Eltie vsx49tx and vsx47tx
    5)higher end Marantz receivers.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GregE
    GregE Posts: 8
    edited March 2003
    Thanks guys. I like what I see for the Sunfire Ultimate and the Pioneer vsx49tx, I think I will be choosing between those two.

    Right now I'm not set up for HT but will be shortly, have a little time to decide. I'm really enjoying the LSi15's, great speakers, I can't wait to hear them with the SVS PC+20-39 subwoofer I plan on getting (thanks Dr. Spec).
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited March 2003
    Originally posted by mantis
    GregE,
    NO,this is a bad move for you.If you owned rt series Polks,I'd say jump on it as its as fine of a receiver as any other 1k receiver on the market.It's loaded up with great features BUT no it won't run your Lsi series speakers.

    Thanks Dan - you are definitely the expert in all the popular AVRs.

    Question #1 - if you were going to use the 3803 as an pre/pro, what 7 channel amp would you recommend for the LSi's?

    Question #2 - if the Denon AVR 5803 is THX Ultra 2 certified - that means it is rated to drive speaks to 3.2 ohms. What are your thoughts on that model with the LSi's - still not a good idea?

    Thanks - Doc
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited March 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    Question #1 - if you were going to use the 3803 as an pre/pro, what 7 channel amp would you recommend for the LSi's?

    I haven't heard it of course, but I just keep going back and looking at this amp - the Adcom 7807. 300 x 7 @ 8 ohms, which if it's like other adcom stuff makes it 450 x 7 @ 4 ohms. For the record, it's 119 lbs. :)

    http://www.adcom.com/newproducts/gfa7807.htm
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited March 2003
    Doc,
    Question #1 - if you were going to use the 3803 as an pre/pro, what 7 channel amp would you recommend for the LSi's?
    Well It depends.I like the Rotel amps,the RMB1075 and the RB1070 to equal 7 channels.The 2 channel on the mains and the 5 channel on the center and surrounds.
    I have also heard B&K on Denon as a preamp for 2nd zone,nice sounding but nothing like when the B&K preamp runs them.I'm sure you know this but I'm not a fan of adding amps to a receiver.I know alot of people do this for upgrade steps.But the preamp needs to be in the near future to take advantage of the upgrade fully.The Denon has what I call low drive.It doesn't seem to push the given amp.I have had 2 different amps oin my avr3801,and I felt the same way.When I did side by side tests with the Denon as a Preamp for my Rotel amp,and the Rotel preamp,there was a big lose in sound quality when the Denon was in the drivers seat.
    Question #2 - if the Denon AVR 5803 is THX Ultra 2 certified - that means it is rated to drive speaks to 3.2 ohms. What are your thoughts on that model with the LSi's - still not a good idea?
    Sure the avr5803 will drive the Lsi's.We(Tweeter) sell it time to time with Vienna and Sonus.I works,but the Denon in my opnion is alittle to warm sounding and lacks high end detail.It's a great receiver, don't get me wrong.I haven't hooked my Lsi15's to it,Alow I wouldn't mind for the simple hell of it.It has alot more power/dynamics then the avr3803 does,wattage drops alot when in 7 channels,but has more current to drive 4 ohm load speakers.
    All THX ULTRA2 certified receiver/amps can handle a 4 ohm load,it's part of the requirements.

    My question to you is are you considering the avr5803?I would strongly advise you to listen for a long period of time before you make the purchase.I feel just in sound quality alone,the Rotel rsx1065,the Pioneer Elite vsx49txi,B&K avr507 and the high end Marantz receiver all sound better.But again it's really what your looking for in sound quality.If you look into the avr5803,your not going to find a more well equiped receiver or preamp on the planet.It can even power a full 7 channel HT system as well as POWERING a 2nd zone with built in amps.NO other receiver has this much flexability.It's the king there.
    I really could go on and on about what I think about the avr5803,but I will allow you to ask more question before this turns into a full review...........I run at the keyboard when the brain gets going.....;)
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter