Product Description

Denon AVR-3808CI A/V Multi-Source/Zone with Network Streaming Receiver

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2460 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Denon
• Model: AVR-3808CI
• Dimensions: .0 pounds

Features

• 130 Watts Per Channel x 7 Channels, All Channels Rated at 0.05 THD
• 4 DVI/HDMI Video Inputs/1 Output, 3 Component Video Inputs/1 Output
• 5 Optical Digital Inputs/2 Outputs, 2 Coaxial Inputs, 11 Analog audio Inputs, Incl. Tuner
• XM-Satellite Radio Capability, 8-Channel External Analog Input
• 7 S-Video Inputs/3 Outputs, 3 Composite Outputs, Digital to Analog REC Output

From the Manufacturer

The Denon AVR-3808CI - Top of the Line Features and Technology

Denon has long been one of the elite names in home theater receivers, offering a combination of advanced technologies and user-friendly features that transform even the most mundane living rooms into rich, powerful audio environments. Now Denon has updated its 3,000 line of A/V receivers with the AVR-3808CI, a 7.1-channel receiver that excels in current applications but is well prepared for future developments as well. The AVR-3808CI is outfitted with such forward-looking features as expanded networking connectivity for people who want to stream music from their computer throughout the house; refined Audyssey audio processing, which produces better sound and room balance even in difficult acoustical conditions; and HDMI v1.3a digital video inputs, which bring with them new surround formats for HD decoding.

With a power output of 130 watts per channel, the AVR-3808CI multizone 7.1 receiver can handle most audio applications (Click the image to view larger)

Under the Hood: Component Technology

The AVR-3808CI offers a power output of 130 watts per channel, but adds a number of engineering advancements to get the most out of the technology. One of the most significant--7-Channel Equal Power--lets you connect seven speakers independently without connecting individual power amps via pre-outs. That's because the AVR-3808CI comes with a built-in internal amplifier for each speaker in your collection. This makes it possible to do things like connect a second surround back speaker directly off the main amplifier to enjoy 7.1 surround formats. The receiver's Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit (DDSC), meanwhile, optimizes all elements of the surround processor through the use of discrete high-performance components, including separate analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, with sophisticated DSP surround decoding.

The receiver also offers a series of escalating AL24 Processing enhancements. Denon's original AL24 Processing technology was designed to faithfully duplicate some of the delicate nuances of analog music in digital form, a technology that's particularly effective among next-generation media with ultra-high bit and sampling rates. The results sound particularly good when music quietly fades away or starts again following silence, helping the listener detect some of the low-level details. AL24 Processing Plus upped the ante by supporting the 192 kHz sampling frequency of DVD-Audio. Denon followed with Advanced AL24 DSP and AL24 Multi Processing, which further increased the dynamic range and spatial information among high-resolution stereo PCM and multichannel sources.

The receiver also offers High-Definition-Compatible Digital (HDCD), an encoding/decoding technology that encodes with 20 bits of real musical information--as compared with 16 bits for all other CDs--thereby greatly reducing distortion. This creates a better dynamic range, a more-focused three-dimensional soundstage, and extremely natural vocal and musical timbres. And from a video perspective, the AVR-3808CI offers a couple of essentials: progressive scan technology, which processes approximately twice as much video data to produce a sharper, noise-free image with finer details; and DCDi video processing, which employs advanced algorithms to remove the jagged edges that appear when standard interlaced video is viewed on progressive scan displays.

Diverse Sound Modes

As with the best surround receivers, the AVR-3808CI is capable of reproducing a host of 5.1-, 6.1-, and 7.1-channel audio formats, with several processing technologies layered over the top. In addition to providing standard Dolby Digital, DTS, and Pro Logic II formats, the receiver also supports Pro Logic IIx, which allows 5.1-channel sources to be played in up to 7.1 channels; the expanded multichannel capabilities of DTS 96/24, Neo:6 Surround, and DTS-ES Extended Surround, all of which improve the digital surround impression for 5.1 or 6.1 channels; and dts-HD and Dolby True HD, which boost the maximum sampling frequency (up to 96 kHz) and faithfully reproduce the sound of the studio master on up to 7.1 channels.

To assist with film soundtracks, the receiver offers a Cinema Equalizer that corrects for the placement of your speakers vs. the way they're placed in the movie theater. Theaters that locate their front speakers behind the movie screen tend to emphasize the high frequencies, which can sound too strong in a home with a conventional surround setup. Denon amplifiers adjust the high-frequency range so that the sound is cleaner and easier to listen to than uncorrected audio. Listeners can also improve the image detail of their audio sources using Neural Surround technology. This audio breakthrough--which is 100-percent compatible with stereo--offers superior spectral resolution and channel separation, thereby drawing the brain's attention to the sonic details in musical instruments, vocals, and ambience that are typically masked by other playback systems. This allows the listener to fully experience the richness and subtleties in recorded performance as never before. Neural Surround is the chosen format for XM satellite radio's XM HD surround programming.

Convenience Features

Modern A/V receivers are increasingly designed for multi-room listening, and the AVR-3808CI is no exception. The three-zone, multisource system lets you select different audio sources for listening in different locations, letting you simultaneously listen to the DVD player in the main room and the iPod in the bedroom, for example. The AVR-3808CI is also capable of connecting to your PC's wired or wireless LAN network, letting you play back the MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, or WAV files stored on your computer's hard drive, access Internet radio stations, or play back JPEG photo slideshows. To make iPod playback easier, you can connect the receiver to Denon's separately sold ASD-1R iPod docking station, which charges and controls your iPod through the receiver's display.

The AVR-3808CI offers a host of connectivity options (Click the image to view larger)

Other user-friendly features include an EL touchpanel remote control, which offers an electroluminescent display similar to the technology employed by LCD backlights; XM satellite radio compatibility (requires a subscription and an optional plug-and-play XM antenna); two-way remote capability; an attractive GUI with an onscreen display; and a night mode for neighbor-friendly listening.

Connectivity and Setup

The AVR-3808CI offers a host of inputs and outputs for connecting to diverse audio and video sources. The most significant is HDMI v1.3a, the digital interface standard for next-generation TV. With the receiver's four HDMI inputs and one HDMI monitor output, you can easily connect to such devices as HDTVs, DVD players, video game consoles, and cable and satellite boxes, each through a single cable that handles both high-definition video and multichannel audio signals. HDMI is also compatible with High-bandwidth Digital Contents Protection (HDCP), a technology for protecting copyrights that encrypts digital video signals. If your components don't offer HDMI outputs, you still have plenty of options, however, as the receiver also offers three component inputs, seven S-video and seven composite inputs, seven total digital audio inputs (four optical and three coaxial), an Ethernet port, and two USB ports, among many others.

Audiophiles will dig the Denon Link jack, which is far less susceptible to radiated noise than coaxial or unbalanced cables. The Denon Link interface can transfer high-grade LPCM 24-bit, 192 kHz two-channel and 96 kHz, 24-bit multichannel digital output. The receiver also lets you input multichannel audio signals, whether in high-definition MUSE 3-1, SACD, or DVD-Audio formats, via the eight-channel input. Made using eight standard RCA cables--one each for front left, front right, center, surround left, surround right, surround back left, surround back right, and subwoofer--the eight-channel input receives discrete analog audio signals via a digital source such as a DVD player, creating an immersive multichannel audio performance.

Setting up the AVR-3808CI is easier than ever thanks to Denon's Audyssey technologies. Audyssey Equalized was the first technology to properly measure sound information throughout a listening area, and then combine the information to accurately represent the acoustic problems in the room. Based on these measurements, Audyssey calculates an equalization solution that corrects for both time and frequency response problems. Denon also employs Audyssey MultEQ XT technology, which automatically determines how many loudspeakers are connected, whether they are connected in phase, and whether they are satellites or subwoofers. After processing, it then analyzes all the physical details--speaker level, size, and distance--and determines the correct frequency response for up to eight listener positions simultaneously. It's a must for people who want to get the most out of their surround systems.

AVR-3808CI Accessories

The AVR-3808CI is compatible with the following Denon accessories.

• The Denon ASD-3N iPod/network connectivity dock
• The Denon ASD-3W iPod/network connectivity dock with WiFi
• The Denon AK-HM100 HDMI cable
• The Denon RC-7000CI two-way remote control

---

---

Customer Reviews

Great receiver!
I have been waiting a while for "the perfect receiver". However, I have come to the conclusion that this is as close to perfect as I am going to find for my needs right now. I am using all 4 HDMI inputs (PS3, Oppo 980H, Directv HR20, and a Sony Vaio computer). The Denon has worked flawlessly with SACD, DVD-A, and lossless audio sources from my BluRay movies.

For sound quality, it is important to get the speakers setup properly. Denon's auto setup with the included mic makes this a very simple setup. I have heard that it helps to take measurements from all over the room, so I setup 5 listening locations. The sound quality is fantastic. I do have an spl meter, but I have not had it out to fine tune the setup just yet. It already sounds fantastic. The Oppo has the ability to send out a DSD multi-channel signal for its SACD and these sound fantastic on the Denon.

I am not really using the video upscaler very much since most of the signals I am inputting are already HD. In other words, the Denon mainly sends out the signals untouched, so it is hard to complain.

The ability to update the firmware over the internet connection is what I believe sets this receiver apart from the competition. For me, this was the deciding factor. With all of the new tech in these receivers, I do not want to have to carry the thing into a service location every time it needs an update.

I should mention that I played some music coming from my computer using the network interface and it worked okay. It did take a few seconds to retrieve license information for Yahoo Music DRM files, but I bet they improve on that in the future.

The downsides are small, but should be mentioned. The remote is okay for setting up the system, but it is going into a drawer with my other remotes now that I have my Harmony 880 universal programmed for all of the general functions that I need. Also, the GUI takes some getting used to. I like the ability to rename the inputs and choose what video inputs go with the audio inputs. However, it was not something that I picked up and setup in a few minutes. It is better than my old Denon AVR-3300, so at least they are going in the right direction!

Top performance for reasonable price.
Once set up the performance and operation is all that could be desired with two exceptions.
1-When using this with a DVD player and D-link to send SACD signals in DSD format to the AVR, the unit takes a while to recognize which signal format is being sent. It can take a couple of attempts to play the SACD before the two units talk to each other. Sometimes while this is going on the DSD signal is routed to analog resulting in loud while noise that could damage speakers.
2- There must be a less intuitive user friendly remote control unit somewhere but I don't know where it might be. I does perform all the functions it should --- once you figure it out. The user guide is of some help.

Now the good stuff. There are an amazing number of devices that can connecr to this besides the usual phone and disk players (XM radio, iPod, USB drives (MPO3, WAV, WMF files), internet radio. There are even recorder outputs although the tape monitor of old is no more.

The most impressive feature for me is the auto setup and room EQ. I've spent a lot of time and effort doing this manually with other products. I was dubious about the feature but the Denon gets better results than I ever could even with SPL meters, RTA etc. I've never heard a sub-woofer integrated with the main speakers this well. The software must get the distance and delays and phase difference just right as the imaging turned out better that I would have thought my motley collection of speaker capable.

Great, but not for the technically challenged
I bought this receiver because it has 4 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. The back side seems spartan with only 4 HDMI cables and one subwoofer cable attached, and now I don't have any use for a half dozen sets of high quality RCA cables!

The sound quality and video upconversion of this receiver are superb. The new GUI interface is aesthetically pleasing, but some actions are several menus deep, and it is difficult to navigate and find exactly what you're looking for. This receiver is not for the technically challenged. It is a little difficult to set up, and you really do need to have a TV hooked up for the programming.

After living for a few years with a $200 receiver, I'm amazed at the sound details I've been missing.....it's great to have a high quality AVR again!