Rotels & Nads versus Denon

[hershon]

If any of you have had a Denon and either a Rotel or NAD receiver or both, out of curiosity which do you prefer and why?

[anamorphic96]

I have owned all three and there all great companies.

The biggest thing I notice with NAD and Rotel is they tend to have stronger amp sections than Denon. NAD and Rotel rate there receivers with all channels driven where as Denon rates there receivers with only two channels driven. This is not to say that all the channels on the Denon receivers can't be driven to there rated power. They can. They just cant do it with all six or seven channels driven at the same time at full bandwith. The NAD and Rotels can. In order for NAD and Rotel to achieve this they have to build larger amp sections with more robust power supplies, output stages, and transformers. This however raises the prices considerably. Rotels entry level receiver is 1299 if im not mistaken and NAD's is 699. So there is a pretty hefty price jump. Denons entry level receiver is 299.00.

Some take comfort in knowing this and pay the difference. However keep in mind that rarely if at anytime will a receiver be called upon to output all channels at the same time at full power. It's a very unrealistic scenario. Especially considering powered subs do most of the grunt work these days.

The other thing and some may argue differently is NAD and Rotel tend to pay more attention to the two channel music reproduction aspect. This aspect in my mind is one of the biggest problems with receivers today. However it has gotten better.
Music is much harder to reporduce accurately than home theatre.

NAD and Rotel tend to sacrifice features in order to put higher quality parts in there receivers. Denon tends offer an enormous amount of features. Which most people will never use. So NAD and Rotel invest the money in other areas to improve sound quality. The best example is the amplifier design.

On a whole Rotel and NAD tend to be more music oriented with there product lines. Just goto there sites and look. NAD and Rotel have complete product lines for 2 channel music reproduction where as Denon has a very limited 2 channel line. Just a few receivers and and CD players Denon focuses more on HT since this is where a majority of the market is these days.

It all comes down to where your prioities are. If your big into features and DSP surround modes Denon might be the way to go. Denon uses some of the best DSP chips out there. But if youre a music purist and only dabble in HT maybe NAD and Rotel would be the way to go. This is not to say NAD and Rotel are not good in HT. They are. They just go about things differently.

Hope this helps. Im sure others will have different thoughts. But this is what I see in there designs.

[hershon]

Thanks for your input. One more question if you can answer this. I listen to CD's on the 5 channel all natural mode, meaning the sound isn't reprocessed and the center speaker gets both the left and right channels, I'm sure you know what I'm speaking about. I do this because for me personally it gives more depth. I am extremely happy with my Denon 3801 but are you saying that in all likelyhood in regards to music, the 5 channel all natural mode in the NADS & Rotell will be better then the Denon? If so, for what models as next time I'm in a store, even though I've had lousy demonstrations in the past, I'd like to hear these models.

[anamorphic96]

I know the format you are talking about and the NAD and Rotel offer this. However I always felt they where gimmicky and processed sounding. Im probably not the best person to ask in regards to this. But check them out and listen for yourself.

Im a bit of a purist and feel software should be played in the format it was intended for.(Some would say its even disrespectful to the artist to alter there art.) All channel stereo modes have some sort of processing going on. This is how they get the L and R channels into the center. The NATURAL name used would in my opinion mean its not making the music sound like its in a church or stadium.

Movies with 5.1 soundtracks should be played in DD or DTS or the format they where encoded with.
Music should be playen in stereo with absolutley no processing.

As far as if the Denon or NAD/Rotel are better is up to you. These companies tend to be equal in the DAC's and DSP quality they use. The NAD/Rotel just dont offer as many Church Stadium or Club settings that you get with the Denons. You basically get a straight DD or DTS and all channels stereo mode. Remember the biggest difference with these receivers is in the amp sections.

When youre watching movies in a theatre they dont use these gimmicks they just try to create what the sound designer and director wanted you to hear with no alterations. There is no such thing as DTS Action mode in a commercial theatre like I have seen on some receivers.

In a movie theatre the sound is read from the film and decoded into what ever format is being used. If the sound is digital it is decoded into the six channels and converted to an analog signal then passed through an equalizer that is set to an industry standard to help create the same enviroment the film was mixed in. This way you can hear the movie the way the director and sound designer intended you to.

My ideal is to get as close to what the artist wanted me to hear. DSP modes tend to alter this intent to me.

[hershon]

I basically agree with you on everything you said except I still don't consider listening to CD's
in the 5 channel all natural mode really processed sound or a DSP though technically I suppose it is. I guess this is a matter of personal preference. Keep in mind that if you're using your sub when playing in the 2 channel mode, you're also reprocessing sound.

The good thing about the Denon 3801 I have as opposed to my previous JVC RX DV31SL receiver which was pretty good, the depth of the sound field is much wider and spread.

For DVD's I basically listen to 5.1 dolby digital surround sound.

I have yet to know of one human being who listens to CD's using a DSP's concert, club, arena, etc. sound modes & am convinced this if just a way for comopanys to increase their retail prices.

[anamorphic96]

Actually in 2 channel you are not using any processing. You are just extending the frequency response of the system with the sub.

The signal is sent to a pre amp stage then sent to the amp. Thats it. There is no eq or processing.

With my integrated amp I have used the pre outs to the sub and blended it with the mains with the use of the crossover and volume. There is no alteration of the signal being added. Just extension of the frequency range.