Denon AVR-5308CI

dancingwater
dancingwater Posts: 18
edited April 2009 in Electronics
I am thinking of doing a major upgrade and i am hoping that this is not overkill.
the speakers i have are
Fronts = RT 3000I
Center - CS400i
Rears = RT35's

The receiver i am looking is the Denon AVR-5308CI but can go to the Denon AVR-4308CI if the 5308 is overkill. i want this upgrade to last a long time. This will be for movies only.

Suggestions?

Thank you kindly
Post edited by dancingwater on
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Comments

  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited September 2008
    IMO, for the price of either of those AVR's, you are well into the price range of separates. New surround formats change often, so you can keep chasing the latest and greatest. Both are great receivers, but it depends on your affinity for staying current, and how much you are willing to pay to stay there.:D

    For example, I bought an Emotiva amp, and plan to buy one of their pre amps, to replace my Denon AVR, when they are released. Then down the road-upgrade time comes again, Emotiva will give me 40% off the purchase of the new one. Not intending to push them in particular, but it is a great policy.

    There are a good selection of separates in that price range, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to at least look into them.

    Good luck.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited September 2008
    Pioneer Elite SC05 with an external amp would sound amazing with your setup. Even if you went with the SC05 alone you'd be good.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Bernal
    Bernal Posts: 991
    edited April 2009
    Denon 4308ci is excellent.

    __________________________________________________ ________
    1) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
    2) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
    3) DENON DVD-1740: Progressive Scan DVD Video/CD Player
    4) DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
    5) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
    6) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
    7) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
    8) SONY SS-MSP16 LEFT (Surround speaker)
    9) SONY SS-MSP16 RIGHT (Surround speaker)
    10) SONY SS-CNP16 LEFT (Surround back speaker)
    11) SONY SA-WP16 ( Sub Woofer 2X200W)
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2009
    Higher level Denons can be decent Pre/pros. I'm running one myself at the moment and it's not bad!

    Having said that. With your speaker set even a Denon AVR 3808 would do the job. But if you really want to choose between the 4308 and the top of the line. Save your money and get the 4308, it has almost everything the higher model has...and the sound is not 'radically' better.

    Lots of people here like the new ICE-Power amps in the Pioneer Elite 05-09. Listen to one and see what you think. But (IMO) when you get into HT Pre/pros you don't gain that much from a dedicated pre/pro vs. a quality 1500 plus dollar AVR's processing. And often the receiver has the newer technology for Video, etc.

    You can always 'add' power amps 'later'.....

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited April 2009
    dancingwater wrote: »
    I am thinking of doing a major upgrade and i am hoping that this is not overkill.
    the speakers i have are
    Fronts = RT 3000I
    Center - CS400i
    Rears = RT35's

    The receiver i am looking is the Denon AVR-5308CI but can go to the Denon AVR-4308CI if the 5308 is overkill. i want this upgrade to last a long time. This will be for movies only.

    Suggestions?

    Thank you kindly

    Those two receiver are excelent receivers. I think 3808CI is still good enough.
    -?¿-
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,324
    edited April 2009
    Sherardp wrote: »
    Pioneer Elite SC05 with an external amp would sound amazing with your setup. Even if you went with the SC05 alone you'd be good.
    Agreed. Or you could go further and buy the SC-07. You will not need external amps of any kind. This has enough power to drive those older polks extremely well.

    I'm not a huge fan of Denon as of late. To many failures. Great receivers when they work, and very nicely custom.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2009
    I can't say much about that as my Denon is 3 years old by this fall. Flawless performance so far. A bit dated...only 1.1 HDMI but good enough for now.

    Any reference to current failure problems? Denons used to be fairly bullet proof--especially those of Japanese manufacture?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,324
    edited April 2009
    cnh wrote: »
    I can't say much about that as my Denon is 3 years old by this fall. Flawless performance so far. A bit dated...only 1.1 HDMI but good enough for now.

    Any reference to current failure problems? Denons used to be fairly bullet proof--especially those of Japanese manufacture?

    cnh

    I have worked for 2 dealers that carry Denon products. They are the most failed in the field product from both companies. One dropped them and the other is considering it. You get sick and tired of going out to jobs with Denons that fail. Compared to all other manufactures , Denon has a 4 to 1 ratio failure rate. the Older models where rock solid. After that it's been a down hill fall. I hate it as I enjoy Installing Denon products. They fit the bill in many systems.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited April 2009
    Although I have a denon 3808ci and I really think it is a great piece of equipment - and will probably use it as a pre after I purchase an amp..........

    if I had to do it all over again, I would probably buy separates.....especially for the price of a 5308.......
    Now that I have heard the difference, there is no substitute for a high quality amp.

    If you must have a reciever - the 4308 being wireless is a nice feature.....I hate having to run a cat 5 cable to the reciever from the office.

    Don't get me wrong - my system sounds the best it ever had with the denon reciever, but for the same price, having heard other peoples separates, went out and heard becasue I read some stuff here......an amp doesn't compare to a reciever.
    http://rayslifecycle.blogspot.com/
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  • Bernal
    Bernal Posts: 991
    edited April 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    I have worked for 2 dealers that carry Denon products. They are the most failed in the field product from both companies. One dropped them and the other is considering it. You get sick and tired of going out to jobs with Denons that fail. Compared to all other manufactures , Denon has a 4 to 1 ratio failure rate. the Older models where rock solid. After that it's been a down hill fall. I hate it as I enjoy Installing Denon products. They fit the bill in many systems.

    Dan

    Denon 4308ci is excellent.
    Without amp gives me a beep sound unique.
    References and reviews are highly positive.

    __________________________________________________
    1) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
    2) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
    3) DENON DVD-1740: Progressive Scan DVD Video/CD Player
    4) DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
    5) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
    6) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
    7) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
    8) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
    9) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
    10) SONY SA-WP16 ( Sub Woofer 2X200W)
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  • bigred7078
    bigred7078 Posts: 477
    edited April 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    I have worked for 2 dealers that carry Denon products. They are the most failed in the field product from both companies. One dropped them and the other is considering it. You get sick and tired of going out to jobs with Denons that fail. Compared to all other manufactures , Denon has a 4 to 1 ratio failure rate. the Older models where rock solid. After that it's been a down hill fall. I hate it as I enjoy Installing Denon products. They fit the bill in many systems.

    Dan

    where the heck do you get the failure is a 4 to 1 ratio???

    I also work for a Denon dealer and honestly i rarely see ANY issues with current denon products...
    Pro-ject RM-9.1 w/ Grado Sonata 1 -> USP-1 -> RPA-1 -> Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands
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