Trying to decide on a/v receiver - I am going nucking futs!

After taking the HK 635 for a test drive, I picked up a Denon 3805 off of eBay.

Before I go any further, I must say I really liked the HK. Sound was the richest/fullest sound I have heard. Latest decoding, plenty of power (way under rated when compared to other brands with 100-135 watts), easy set up, nice remote, and not too bad looking either. So why did I take it back?? CC wouldn't price match...$1099.00 their price...J & R Audio has it for $699 shipped. So I took it back knowing I have a source to pick up a brand new one at a terrific price. ONE thing I really wished the 635 had is another set of speaker outputs - either surround B or main B.

Now, concerning the 3805...bottom line is that I am disappointed. I read lots of reviews the posts that had high praise for this receiver. While their is a lot to like about it, I simply don't like the sound that I am getting - especially when compared to the HK. To me (emphasize the "me") the sound is, for a lack of better words, thin. Not only thin, but it didn't seem as powerful as the HK. I have tried a lot of different settings but nothing satisfies. Is this a normal sound for Denon receivers (ie: thin sounding, not full and rich)?? If not, someone please suggest what I might could adjust to get a fuller sound. I really thought this would be the receiver I ended up with but it looks like it will find its place back on eBay...

So, what about Yamaha and Marantz - do either one of them favor the HK sound vs the Denon sound? I wouldn't mind trying another receiver or two before buying the "keeper" but if the sound is as thin as the Denon, it would be a waste of time.

Comments wanted...

Thanks

Personally I think just about anything sounds better than Denon (didn't I already say that once? Listen to me from now on :) ) but you obviously like the H/K and I don't think any $700 Marantz or Yamaha will sound better. If you like the H/K, get it.

The Perfect Vision (Sept., Oct. 05) is featuring the Yamaha RX-V657 receiver under the front page heading "World's Greatest AV Bargain?".Reviewer Chris Martens states that "Yamaha's RX-V657 is, by a significant margin, the best-sounding affordable AVR I've ever heard, and I think it will leave many card-carrying audiophiles shaking their heads in disbelief." At only $550.00, this would leave you a lot of wiggle-room for upgrading other components in your system.

Is Mr. Martens being overly enthusiastic, or is this the real deal? Has anyone out there actually heard this receiver? If this is the real deal, it would seem that it could safely be added to this poster's "short list"

first of all, you have to decide...are you buying for music or are you buying for HT? or are you buying for both music and HT? for HT, nothing beats Yamaha. for music, nothing beats Marantz. for both HT and music enjoyment, you may consider HK, Denon and Onkyo. any of these 3 brands are good. decisions would just vary due to subjectivity of the listener.

How can someone definitely, subjectively off the top of their head say "For HT, NOTHING beats Yamaha....."? In my estimation, for Home Theater, "nothing beats" an Onkyo receiver -- but thats my view and people wont agree while some others will.

Your pick should come down to three brands:

-Onkyo
-Denon
-Yamaha

Stay FAR AWAY from Kenwood, JVC, Sony....I would say Pioneer too, but there are some diehard fans in here of their Elite line; Im not one of them.

Of course, you could also look at higher priced models from the likes of Onkyo's own Integra or perhaps NAD or upper-tier brands like that which should perform just as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sjdistributors

After taking the HK 635 for a test drive, I picked up a Denon 3805 off of eBay.

Before I go any further, I must say I really liked the HK. Sound was the richest/fullest sound I have heard. Latest decoding, plenty of power (way under rated when compared to other brands with 100-135 watts), easy set up, nice remote, and not too bad looking either. So why did I take it back?? CC wouldn't price match...$1099.00 their price...J & R Audio has it for $699 shipped. So I took it back knowing I have a source to pick up a brand new one at a terrific price. ONE thing I really wished the 635 had is another set of speaker outputs - either surround B or main B.

Now, concerning the 3805...bottom line is that I am disappointed. I read lots of reviews the posts that had high praise for this receiver. While their is a lot to like about it, I simply don't like the sound that I am getting - especially when compared to the HK. To me (emphasize the "me") the sound is, for a lack of better words, thin. Not only thin, but it didn't seem as powerful as the HK. I have tried a lot of different settings but nothing satisfies. Is this a normal sound for Denon receivers (ie: thin sounding, not full and rich)?? If not, someone please suggest what I might could adjust to get a fuller sound. I really thought this would be the receiver I ended up with but it looks like it will find its place back on eBay...

So, what about Yamaha and Marantz - do either one of them favor the HK sound vs the Denon sound? I wouldn't mind trying another receiver or two before buying the "keeper" but if the sound is as thin as the Denon, it would be a waste of time.

Comments wanted...

Thanks

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Rich & thin are discriptions of a shifted frequency responce. If your Denon sounds "thin" or lacking in bass, then it's broken in some way. Perhaps you were listening with the loudness or midnight setting on the HK, and without it on the Denon? I've done some pretty extensive testing of receivers and founf they sound much more alike than different.

IMO the"Denon sound" sucks!

I had a 2802 that I used to power a Paraidgm speaker setup. I had 2 Monitor 7's, a CC-370 Center, and 2 ADP 370's for surround. With the Denon these speakers sounded very thin and lifeless. So I went to me local dealer and listened to some better equipment such as Pioneer Elite, Sunfire, Rotel, NAD, Arcam and B & K. I ended up replacing my denon 2802 with a NAD T753. The NAD cost me $1000 retail and the sound is light years better than the Denon. The NAD actually does my Paradigm's justice.

The Denon 2802 was rated at 90 X 6 and the NAD T53 was rated at 70 x 6 but the NAD was much more powerful and the power was clean power that made my speakers sound so much better. After having owned the 2802 and a few other Denon's and then listening to the other brands I mentioned I would never by another Denon again and I'd advise others to take their power ratings with a grain of salt.

As for the other brands you mentioned.....Yamaha.. little too bright for my taste

HK............ Doesn't sound much better than denon.

Marantz.........Never listened to any.


I would definitely recommend NAD over all these brands though. NAD may not have all the bells and whistles that these Japanese brands do and it may be too plain looking for some, but the sound is far superior. NAD amps are much more powerful and clean than any of these brands. And the best thing is that some NAD units can be had for the same price as models by the brands you suggested.

you are right man, its just a matter of personal preferrence..all those brands are superbrands..well, if youd ask for my opinion, i like the sound of marantz. it has the punch and the power that no other brand can deliver, not even the highest end lines of denon and yamaha.

HK all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! Almost as many opinions as there are posts. Hope these all help you to decide that you have the pick the one that makes YOU happy. No matter what you pick, some will say that you made the best choice. Others will say that you made a huge mistake. So go out, listen, and make you happy.

Pick your speakers first and get something that is rated to drive them. Make sure that it does eveything you want it to do and has the inputs and outputs that you need for your system.