Opinions Good or Bad Just Purchased Denon 3801 Receiver for $450

[hershon]

I'm not taking anything as a personal attack and I actually welcome your criticism/comments as they'll ultimately be helpful to me in the long run. From what I've gathered from this new found obsession of mine is, you're not going to find the perfect system overnight, especially if you're budget is somewhat limited, and if this process is a multi step process- as Al Pacino says "first you get the money, then you get the power then you get the woman" in Scarface, LOL, I need to start with something: receiver, DVD player/compact disc player, speakers, etc., so I'd rather start with my Orb speakers as my foundation, if that makes any sense to you guys.

I wish, and I'm not being sarcastic here, there was a way to hear various systems of board members here & believe me if one knocked me totally out and I had the money, I'd dupilicate theirs right away.

Nobody argues this point. I dont even argue the fact that your Orbs probably sound ok. But you keep telling us that your looking for more from your system and we keep telling you to replace the speakers. You friend Paul states you like a brighter more detailed speaker. Why not try some speakers that offer this. Why do you seem so against changing speakers but will change your other componets ? Yes you can point out that alot of us have not heard your speakers, and might change are minds if we did hear them. But it still begs the question why are so against getting rid of the Orbs ? Why not take are advice and listen to some more speakers. Not just one or two but 20 or so different speakers. Or better yet post the question I asked earlier about starting a poll to see what componet should be changed. My money is still on speakers.

As I stated before. Please dont take this as an attack just trying to be helpful. I hope you find what your looking for.

[cam]

You like your orbs and space is at a premium. Lets try and find some solutions so that you can get closer to the promise land of sound that you are ever so trying to get to. Your orbs recommend a crossover setting at 120 hz. They recommend a high crossover setting like this because they suck with a signal less then 120. If you could get a similar small speaker set up that would allow a setting of 80 hz I gaurantee you will notice a vast improvement in depth, soundstaging, and integration between your mains, center, and surrounds and your sub. You will notice right away what you have been missing and looking for this whole time. You need speakers that sound good to you while being flat to 80 hz. To be flat to 80 hz I recommend speakers that are flat to 60 - 70 hz therefore you have no holes in your sound. I will recommend to you my first system I had which sounded very good and impressed many of my friends all the while it was a very basic simple speaker set up. I had 4 Paradigm Atoms, 2 for mains and 2 for surrounds rated to 70 hz and a cc170 for the center also rated to 70 hz. All five speakers cost me 500 CAN. To improve on this recommended system for a couple dollars more, exchange 1 set of atoms for a pair of Titans to use as your mains. All these speakers are small and for the money they sound very good and can collectively reach ear damaging levels while being crossed over at 80 hz. Don't get mad at me like you have to others, I'm just trying to give you an other option while keeping your speakers small and not spending alot of money to get a good sounding system.

[hershon]

You like your orbs and space is at a premium. Lets try and find some solutions so that you can get closer to the promise land of sound that you are ever so trying to get to. Don't get mad at me like you have to others, I'm just trying to give you an other option while keeping your speakers small and not spending alot of money to get a good sounding system.

Thanks I'll keep that in mind during this maddening journey. I'm not mad at you or anything, if I sounded at times a little ticked off at some comments, it had more to do with both the tone of how they were written & my general mood when I was responding back than to their actual content.

In a way this almost feels like my search for the perfect woman. I always try to improve physically on the next girlfriend I have which I prefer without accessories such as kids. When I thought I had reached my "Holy Speaker Grail"- she looked like a young Sophia Loren, she was such primo high end material- I had to spend my entire time looking after her kissing her butt rather than vice versa, and just simply couldn't enjoy her without having to put in major effort, I said after a while "nah", and am still looking for that high end "model" but without the high maintenance part. As my mother once said, "good luck"!

[cam]

Thanks I'll keep that in mind during this maddening journey. I'm not mad at you or anything, if I sounded at times a little ticked off at some comments, it had more to do with both the tone of how they were written & my general mood when I was responding back than to their actual content.

In a way this almost feels like my search for the perfect woman. I always try to improve physically on the next girlfriend I have which I prefer without accessories such as kids. When I thought I had reached my "Holy Speaker Grail"- she looked like a young Sophia Loren, she was such primo high end material- I had to spend my entire time looking after her kissing her butt rather than vice versa, and just simply couldn't enjoy her without having to put in major effort, I said after a while "nah", and am still looking for that high end "model" but without the high maintenance part. As my mother once said, "good luck"!

Speakers are kinda like a women, you want your speakers to dip low and so do you want your women to dip low. If your orbs were a women she wouldn't be kissing anything lower than your cheek brother.

[Rock789]

If your orbs were a women she wouldn't be kissing anything lower than your cheek brother.

that is too much!
good one cam!

[anamorphic96]

I think its great you want start somewhere. But I think some of the issues people might have including myself are the Orbs go against the grain in some key areas of speaker design. First and foremost the size. Its really hard to create a realistic and full soundstage with tiny little sats that only goto 120hz. Even with the sub, the crossover point makes it nearly impossible to get a seamless blend with the sub. The other big issue is the Orbs are not two way speakers. If you want the detailed and transparent presentation, you are going to need a two way design. These are the biggest issues I have against these speakers. I also think these would be at the top of most peoples lists as well and are the reason you will not get that detailed and transparent sound you are looking for unless you switch speakers.

Cheers,
Glenn

[anamorphic96]

Hershon,

Cam's recommendation on the Pardigms is absolutley right on target. That 3801 will make the Paradigms sound wonderful and give you what I think your looking for without breaking the bank.

[cam]

The 3801 is way more then the paradigm set up I recommended can handle but will sound great. While with the orb set up, the lowest receiver in the Denon line up, the 1505 is more amp then the orbs can handle. Having said that, any denon receiver above the 1505 will give minimal if any improvement to the sound of your orbs. The orbs are the limiting factor to get to the next level.

[nick250]

I need to start with something: receiver, DVD player/compact disc player, speakers, etc., so I'd rather start with my Orb speakers as my foundation, if that makes any sense to you guys.

Lets get down to brass tacks here. A new receiver, a new DVD/CD player etc, will not impact the sound of your system at all. Nadda, zip, ziltch. The bottom line is that if want a different sound from your system it's new speakers or nothing. Nothing else really matters except room acoustics which you could play around with.

[anamorphic96]

Nothing wrong with stepping up to bigger set of woofers. Just make sure they have a nice tweeter as well.

[hershon]

Lets get down to brass tacks here. A new receiver, a new DVD/CD player etc, will not impact the sound of your system at all. Nadda, zip, ziltch. The bottom line is that if want a different sound from your system it's new speakers or nothing. Nothing else really matters except room acoustics which you could play around with.

So if, room acoustics being excellent and the same, I have a $20,000 set of speakers and a $100 receiver and DVD player it will sound better than a $800 set of speakers and a $1500 receiver and DVD player. I don't think so.

[Rock789]

So if, room acoustics being excellent and the same, I have a $20,000 set of speakers and a $100 receiver and DVD player it will sound better than a $800 set of speakers and a $1500 receiver and DVD player. I don't think so.

perhaps try... $20k set of speakers on a good receiver will sound better than an $800 set of speakers running off of a $20k preamp and amp

[anamorphic96]

There is some truth to what Rock is saying. Wilson Audio has been known to use the Apple I Pod on there speakers which reach the 20k price point. If youre speakers are really efficient you can get away with something this. Maybe a 300 dollar receiver but it will sound better than the 800 speakers and 1500 dollar receiver. The main reson for this. THE SPEAKERS. The Wilson speakers are able to reveal more inofrmation in the recording than the 800 pair of speakers. THE SPEAKERS ARE THE ANCHOR OF ANY SYSTEM. IF THE SPEAKERS ARE NOT CAPBLE OF REVEALING THE INFORMATION IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH YOU SPEND ON ELECTRONICS. IT WONT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

[shokhead]

Axiom M22ti would be perfect with the 3801,not heavy bass but very detailed and a real nice dral at only 400 bucks apair. Not hugh either.

[anamorphic96]

I really hope Hershon hears us. If this thread does not convince him maybe an Audio Review mass member intervention would do the trick.

Nice choice shokhead. That sounds like a good fit for him. There is a review at Audioholics.com.