My review of the Denon avr 4308.
mantis
Posts: 17,323
Whats up everyone???
I had a job that my customer wanted to own another Denon receiver due to all the luck they had with the avr3802. His speakers for that system are Anthony Gallo. This system sounds fantastic. We where moving this system to his basement along with the rest of it.
The new system now has Focal speakers.Fronts are Chorus 826v, center is cc800v and the rears are sr800v. the sub is also Focal in the sw800v. All matching and easy to drive in it's 8ohm load. I have Installed this very system is many different rooms using the Pioneer ELite vsx94txh and it always sounded awesome. I thought this system sounded deep and clear. For movies I found at it's price point no reason to search for anything else. The sub is probably the only thing that lacks a bit. I perfer this system with the Martin Logan Descent or Depth.
So the rest of the system is a Pioneer Elite 60 Kuro Plasma, a Pioneer Elite blu ray 95 , Comcast HDMI cablebox, Sony Es 400 disc cd player and a Ipod. System also is going to power a set of Bost acoustic's outdoor speakers with a outdoor volume control that was already in place from the last system. All cables are Audioquest.
I was excited to try out Denon's version of Audyssey setup. I was also looking forward to seeing the network music steaming go. I figured that this beast of a receiver would power the Focal speakers very well and probably sound just as good as the Elite receivers do. I was wrong.
This job was a 2 day job and when I can I perfer to not calibrate the system untill it has hours of use on it. Day 1 the system was up and running and we let the customer use it that night so the speakers can get some time on them before I calibrate it.
Day 2 we reinstalled old system in there basement. Again the Gallo speakers Impressed and left me with a huge smile. Those little speakers are everything that Bose wished they where. Bose is good at what they do but the Gallo's just out perform them. There little 2 piece sub just iis so damn clean and low hitting you forget your listening to a small speaker system.
So back upstairs to the new theater system and I calibrated with 5 seating positions. First round out the system said the speakers where out of phase. Wierd. I rechecked all connections and everything was correct. I tested it again and it came out fine. All 5 positions where saved . The customer had the system on all night and watch 3 movies in Blu Ray. they where so Impressed with the picture quality. Pionee Elite and Blu ray together there is nothing on the market better then that. It's so amazing.
I sat down with Fantastic 4 loaded in the Elite Blu Ray player , I saw the Denon go into DTS MA and I got a few goose bumps. I ran the Scene where The human torch chases the Silver Surfer for the first time. This Scene has Incredible sound quality and is very punchy. After Johnny fly's into the sky I sat there with concern. The system was not as Punchy as I'm used to with this speaker system. Placement and calibration was very good so I didn't understand where the life of the system was. I decided to calibrate manually to see if the Auto was not performing it's best. It still sounded flat afterwards.
This is a common problem I had with Denon in the past. With running DTS MA I figured it's gotta sound out of this world. With this speaker package which I consider mid to entry level high end caliber didn't sound like that. The customer liked it so really thats all that matter in the end.
The receiver is one of the very coolest receivers I have ever Installed. It's feature list is long. The networking thing is wireless. Thats effing cool as ****. They music stream did sound like Ipod quality and it's fine. They have 2 500 gig hard drive servers filled with mad amount of music recorded in all different qualities. Some sounded really clean some like a poor Mp3. Again they are happy with it so I'm happy with it. They did purchase the Denon somewhere else so we as a company can't take any responsability for the way it performs. Only that it's connected and setup correctly.
Overall maybe Focal and Denon don't go together that well. I'm use to the Elite reciever dymanic range which on these speakers are alot better. The sound quality on the Denon was clear and clean with both music and movies but still I was let down.
Dan
I had a job that my customer wanted to own another Denon receiver due to all the luck they had with the avr3802. His speakers for that system are Anthony Gallo. This system sounds fantastic. We where moving this system to his basement along with the rest of it.
The new system now has Focal speakers.Fronts are Chorus 826v, center is cc800v and the rears are sr800v. the sub is also Focal in the sw800v. All matching and easy to drive in it's 8ohm load. I have Installed this very system is many different rooms using the Pioneer ELite vsx94txh and it always sounded awesome. I thought this system sounded deep and clear. For movies I found at it's price point no reason to search for anything else. The sub is probably the only thing that lacks a bit. I perfer this system with the Martin Logan Descent or Depth.
So the rest of the system is a Pioneer Elite 60 Kuro Plasma, a Pioneer Elite blu ray 95 , Comcast HDMI cablebox, Sony Es 400 disc cd player and a Ipod. System also is going to power a set of Bost acoustic's outdoor speakers with a outdoor volume control that was already in place from the last system. All cables are Audioquest.
I was excited to try out Denon's version of Audyssey setup. I was also looking forward to seeing the network music steaming go. I figured that this beast of a receiver would power the Focal speakers very well and probably sound just as good as the Elite receivers do. I was wrong.
This job was a 2 day job and when I can I perfer to not calibrate the system untill it has hours of use on it. Day 1 the system was up and running and we let the customer use it that night so the speakers can get some time on them before I calibrate it.
Day 2 we reinstalled old system in there basement. Again the Gallo speakers Impressed and left me with a huge smile. Those little speakers are everything that Bose wished they where. Bose is good at what they do but the Gallo's just out perform them. There little 2 piece sub just iis so damn clean and low hitting you forget your listening to a small speaker system.
So back upstairs to the new theater system and I calibrated with 5 seating positions. First round out the system said the speakers where out of phase. Wierd. I rechecked all connections and everything was correct. I tested it again and it came out fine. All 5 positions where saved . The customer had the system on all night and watch 3 movies in Blu Ray. they where so Impressed with the picture quality. Pionee Elite and Blu ray together there is nothing on the market better then that. It's so amazing.
I sat down with Fantastic 4 loaded in the Elite Blu Ray player , I saw the Denon go into DTS MA and I got a few goose bumps. I ran the Scene where The human torch chases the Silver Surfer for the first time. This Scene has Incredible sound quality and is very punchy. After Johnny fly's into the sky I sat there with concern. The system was not as Punchy as I'm used to with this speaker system. Placement and calibration was very good so I didn't understand where the life of the system was. I decided to calibrate manually to see if the Auto was not performing it's best. It still sounded flat afterwards.
This is a common problem I had with Denon in the past. With running DTS MA I figured it's gotta sound out of this world. With this speaker package which I consider mid to entry level high end caliber didn't sound like that. The customer liked it so really thats all that matter in the end.
The receiver is one of the very coolest receivers I have ever Installed. It's feature list is long. The networking thing is wireless. Thats effing cool as ****. They music stream did sound like Ipod quality and it's fine. They have 2 500 gig hard drive servers filled with mad amount of music recorded in all different qualities. Some sounded really clean some like a poor Mp3. Again they are happy with it so I'm happy with it. They did purchase the Denon somewhere else so we as a company can't take any responsability for the way it performs. Only that it's connected and setup correctly.
Overall maybe Focal and Denon don't go together that well. I'm use to the Elite reciever dymanic range which on these speakers are alot better. The sound quality on the Denon was clear and clean with both music and movies but still I was let down.
Dan
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
Post edited by mantis on
Comments
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I would agree with the statement that Denon and Focal would probably not mate the best together. Focal speakers are very nice and can perform really well but would IMO need a better piece to drive them with a higher current power supply like Rotel, NAD, Para etc. Denon especally the 3803 has always had a laid back sound and while a good quality dependable piece the sound seemed to be directed to the person that either liked the laid back sound or had speakers that were or could be too bright like the Klipch Ref. line (the Denon/Klipch combo sounds really nice). In looking at the specs of this reciever I see it has a amp rating in 8ohms and does not specify anything other then that. I would have thought that the new line with all the new formats and cert. would have addressed that so I am thinking that they must be voiceing the line with speakers that tend to be on the brighter side and are really efficient and easier to drive (above 91db) kind of a bummer for a $2500 piece.
I would like to hear the new Pre (AVP-A1HDCI)/Amp (POA-A1HDCI) combo Denon came out with this yr in it's line-up. It looks like a beast and the specs on the pre look really good, the amp with 10x150 at 8ohm and 10x300 at
4ohm and I was told that it can step into 2ohms it has 3 db output meters on the face for the cool factor. The problem I have is that at $14k for the pair I would have too look elsewhere for a combo, Denon would not be my choice at that price point but I would still like to see what they have to offer in SQ.
Dave -
Hi guys,
Today, I have just purchased the 3808 and it is in tansit as we speak, coming from country Queensland (where I am holidaying) back to Sydney where I reside. It should arrive the morning after I do.
I have heard the 2808 with a set of B&Ws, which sounded nice, then with a pair of Jamo's which, musically sounded that much better (mine will be paired with LSi9 fronts). I then heard the 2308 on some Def Techs, viewing Transformers and the sound was very dynamic. It appears it does come back to pairing the Denons with compatible speakers.
I appreciate the review Dan, as you previously responded to my thread asking between Denon and Yamaha - you referred and preferred to Pioneer Elite, but in Oz Pioneer lacks the release of the Elite range. I know the review was on the 4308, but other than a few watts and WiFi connectivity, that is the only major differences between the 2 models.
I believe the match with the 9s will be better than your review with the Focals, but I will be none the wiser until I connect possibly next Tuesday - I'll let you know. The main selling point for me with the Denon, is that it is made in Japan, unlike it's main rivals which are made in China etc (Yamaha, Marantz). It does come down to personal taste, but I do like the Marantz / Denon trademark sound for music, over that of Yamaha - and I have owned them all.Regards - Gaz from the land of Oz
Main System
Denon - AVC-4700H
Emotiva - XPA-9
Cambridge Audio - Azur 851C - CXUHD
Polk Audio - Legend L800 - Legend L400 - Legend L900 - LSiM fx - OWM3
SVS - PB1000 x 2
Foxtel - iQ4
Belkin - Pure AV PF40
Sony K77A9G
Front Room System
PS Audio - Sprout 100
Cambridge Audio - CXC S2 - CA752BD
Sony - UBX800 4K BluRay
Polk Audio - Legend L200 -
Thanks for the review.
engtazengtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day. -
I've always dug Denon AVR's. I've always thought they sounded pretty good with good power capabilities. Onk isn't far behind but my first choice in AVR's has always been Denon. FWIW, I'm using an old 3300 at home (well, Wendi is anyway) and it's built like a TANK.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut
