Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Has anyone loaded the new firmware for the 3808CI that Denon put out over the weekend?

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Nobody????!?!

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Personally, "if it aint broke, don't fix it" is my attitude. I will wait and see what bugs turn up and what this update actually fixes. Since I am having no trouble with mine I am in no hurry to update.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

To each his own. According to the product developer at Denon here's what it fixes. I decided to upgrade my firmware and I notice better performance on the menu:

3808CI/4308CI:

1. Firmware update stops to display 'Ether WP 01MIN' and 'UPDATE CHECK OK' - fixed
2. When scrolling on Net/USB, each step is painted twice - fixed
3. Acceptance time for remote/IP/232 commands is 4 seconds - fixed, down to 2 seconds
4. Internet Radio song/title information has been restored - note, not all channels broadcast this information
5. Connectivity to Wi-Fi access points with SSID information with 'spaces' in the name has been corrected
6. The "Cars" BD disc has a Dolby TrueHD 6.1 soundtrack, however these units would display and playback only HD 5.1 - this is corrected.
7. Same as 2808CI/988 with 'New Line Cinema' dts-HD MA 7.1 titles where the front panel display would show 'dts Surround' and only 5.1 channels - this is corrected. It will show dts-HD MA 7.1.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

I took the plunge and updated mine yesterday. I did however have to do a hard reset of my unit to get video back but other than that, all is good.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

I haven't yet; if you can get past any possible quirks about losing video and/or audio after the upgrade, thus requiring either a soft (hopefully) or hard reset (last ditch, as this will erase all of your settings)...this version (1.69) seems to be fairly stable, other than the bug where the Internet Radio song title does not refresh unless you back out one level (i.e., hit "left" on the remote) and then go back in, and I think some other minor issues.

Tip--if you haven't done so, go into the web interface and save your 3808 configuration; this is in case you have to do a hard reset...at least now you can restore your settings from the configuration file you saved. Obviously this requires that your 3808 be connected to your network; if not, then you won't be able to back up your settings. Not that it would matter if you were doing so in advance of performing a firmware update since if you're not connected to the Internet (either directly or through your local/home network), you won't be able to perform the f/w update anyways.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Hello all. I'm somewhat to the new technologies offered today and this forum so please bare with me. The last time I invested in a system was 10 years ago and I ended up with a Kenwood receiver with 5.1 surround and DCM KX series II speakers (KX-12 floorstanding fronts, KXcenter, KX-6 surrounds, and KX Sub2).

After a timely review of various receivers, I was leaning towards the Denon AVR-3808CI but reading this post put it over the edge. Especially once I saw the great deal at 6ave. Thanks for that!

Now that I've received my new Denon AVR-3808CI, onto the technical stuff.

I hooked up the receiver last night and went through the Audyssey setup. The setup correctly identified my 5.1 system and placed the speakers at aprx the correct distances, including the sub. Now what I've noticed, and you can tell me if it's abnormal, is that I need to turn the volume level up to aprx -20 actually closer to -15dB to get a decent level of audio in the room. This is while watching TV via a DirecTV HD receiver as well as over a Sony standard definition DVD player being upconverted. (Don't freak, I'm piecing this all together as we speak - speakers, bluray, etc.. are coming. )

I tried different modes and everything seems to have a lower volume level than what I'm use to. At -30dB you can barely hear anything. Is it normal to have to crank the volume level up to aprx -15dB? This seems to be awfully high to me.

Perhaps my speakers have something to do with it? They're old but rated at a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. The fronts have a usable power range of 5-250watts and the center = 5-125 watts.


Thanks in advance!

DaveH

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

$600 after gift cards.
now to figure out how to use it.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

I am seriously considering replacing my existing non-HDMI 5.1 receiver with the Denon 3808. My only concern is that I am going to be spending over $1000 for a new receiver that may not sound as good as the one I have.

Does anyone have any idea how the Denon will compare sonically to the HK AVR7000? This thing retailed at a higher price than the Denon did, and it is 8 years old. As a side note, I do not use this system for music/2-channel listening. I have a separate audio system for that.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Sound is a matter of taste. I think the Denon sounds fairly neutral (other chime in please!). I think it's unfair to compare the MSRP of a piece of audio gear today to something from 8 years ago and attempt to create a quality measurement from that.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

well been playing for a few days.

i guess i need to updaye the fw, i have an issue with the audessy, it keeps telling me the sub is over 25 ft away.

also really dont like the remote. cant really figure out how to use it to access
features of the input i'm using.
or more, to get to the input i want to use.

i figured pout the 3 quick numbers, but the only way i can get to the inputs is to either bring up the menu or press one of the light up buttons until i get the right screen to show up.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

THe Sub woofer distance is not a problem. See the Denon Audyssey FAQ (number 7): http://usa.denon.com/Denon_Audyssey_FAQs.pdf

I agree that the remote is not that great, but I use a universal remote. If it is in "amp" mode each of the numeric hard keys corresponds to an input. I'm not sure what you mean by access features of the input....

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Ummm, no thanks--I'm not that type of person! j/k I know it was just an inadvertent typo...

But to address your concern about volume--yeah I find that I need to crank the volume to at least -20dB in order to get any decent "oomph" out of my speakers; keep in mind however that the 3808 volume control knob can max out at +18dB (IIRC...or is it +20dB?)...note that you have to ensure that the setting for maximum volume is set to "OFF" in order to crank the knob to its max volume level figure.

Note that a speaker's efficiency rating (given as a dB figure, typically measured by feeding it 1 watt @ 1 meter w/ a 1 kHz tone) can affect/determine how "loud" your speakers sound; the higher the rating, the "louder" the speaker is capable of sounding. This in itself does not necessarily explain why you have to "crank" the volume up higher on some AVRs--relative to other models--in order to realize the same volume level that you're used to hearing in your HT environment...but since you were wondering about the possibility that your speakers might have something to do w/ it, I figured might as well throw in some info.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

i'm not sure what that means either.

anyway.

what nonexpensive devices can i pick up so i can use the internet radio on the denon downstairs(were denon is) that will connect to my wireless router uptairs.

i took denon upstairs yesterday to check out internet radio and was able to find 610 wip the local philly sports talk station, pretty neat.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

i boughht a linksys wireless gaming adapter but cannot figure it out.

Linksys.com - Products/Wireless/Entertainment/Game Adapters/WGA600N

should i be able to use this with the denon.
how do i set it up. instructions dont seem to help/

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

I was just comparing some of the denon models on their website, and I noticed that the 3808 only has 1 HDMI 3.1a input. I guess the other 3 are just 1.1? Is this typical in a receiver in this price range? Are there other receivers where all HDMI inputs are 1.3a compatible?

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

I seriously doubt that the AVR-3808ci only has one 1.3a HDMI input.


HDMI Video Output s1.1 Spec 1080p – The dash means the same as 0 or that this model does not incorperate the feature.

HDMI 1.3a Outputs 1

To my knowledge all 3 inputs are HDMI 1.3a inputs. I would be greatly disapointed if there was only one HDMI 1.3 input. But this is not how Denon work and they have a very good reputation so I honestly doubt that they would skimp on the inputs like that. Heck there are some brands that do not even use 100MHz component video and Denon has since at least 2004.

I honestly do not own this receiver so I would hope some owners would jump in and help me verify this.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

i own it how do i tell from the unit what the hdmi's are.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Assuming that its basic setup for use as a wireless bridge is similar to that for the WGA54G:

1) Connect the 600N to your wireless router w/ an Ethernet cable;
2) Pull up a web browser and connect to whatever its "out of the box" default IP address is; once in, make the necessary changes so that the 600N is recognized and allowed to connect to your wireless network wirelessly (i.e., set it up so that it is allowed permission to wirelessly connect to your network); also add the MAC addresses of both the 600N and the 3808 (the latter may not be necessary if the 600N isn't set to "clone" mode but I'm not 100% sure about that...hence it's safer just to add the 3808's MAC address anyway) to your wireless router's MAC address filtering table (if enabled);
3) Once step 3 is successful, disconnect the ethernet cable from the 600N and then place it next/near your Denon...then connect it to the Denon;
4) In the 3808 Network Setup menu, you can either tell the 3808 to just use DHCP or you can choose to manually assign an IP address to it...your choice.
5) If you're still having connect issues, then check if your wireless router has a setting to enable/disable UPnP; if so, then disable it if it's not already disabled.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

FWIW--the 3808 Owner's Manual explicitly states that "The AVR-3808CI is equipped for HDMI version 1.3a". Now that statement in itself doesn't explicitly state that each and every one of the 3808's HDMI connectors is 1.3a...but at the same time, said statement doesn't explicitly reference that only one specific input is 1.3a.

Safe guess? That all of the 3808's HDMI connectors are 1.3a...

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

All the inputs are 1.3a

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

thanks tony i actually started out by connecting the 600 to my router, but it get
conflict error and it seems to disconnect me from the internet.

so i don't know what i'm doing wrong.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Can you log onto your router and see what IP address it (tries to) see the 600 as when you connect it to your router? Although you may get disconnected from the Internet, you should still be able to log onto your router since its' IP address is (should be) local.

On the surface it sorta sounds like an IP address conflict but I think the bridges/gaming adapters are configured so that their "default" IP address isn't the same as that typically assigned to routers (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Also check to see if the UPnP setting is enabled on your router (you don't need to have the 600 connected to the router in order to check for this)...

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Thanks for all the great reviews, i have been in the market to upgrade a 7 year old Yamaha and the choices are very confusing. Denon seems like it may have the edge though.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Hello everyone, I've been listening to my new Denon 3808ci for about a week and while at first things are a bit hard to understand(much more complicated than the old Denon), I've got a good handle on most of it at this point.

Some say they don't like the main remote but to be honest, while at first I had a hard time "getting" it...1 week later I absolutely love it and it controls everything I have beautifully(besides the PS3 of course). Might add a Harmony One at some point but I don't see a need right now. Especially since this is RF and the Harmony is IR only.

I really wish the net/internet radio stations were displayed on the GUI, for some reason mine don't and I have to go look at the reciever to see whats going on. Is there a way to fix this?

One more question I had is regarding the DVD vs HDP situation. PS3 is bluray so I have it plugged into the HDP HDMI input thinking that there might be a difference between DVD and HDP and how the Denon plays/decodes the information. Wonder if the HDP input handles the lossless audio while the DVD input does not?

IS there a difference? If not I'd just stick it back in the DVD HDMI because my lady just wants to use the quick buttons. To get to HDP you have to hit the button twice. Not that big a deal to me but it's just something I wondered.

Love the FW updates...this unit replaced my ancient AVR 3300 and I couldn't be happier. Yeah I was looking at the Onkyo's for awhile but in the end I went to my favorite. It looks much better(hate the colors and look of the Onkyo's display) and I kept hearing about heat issues and popping etc etc

The manual is crap imho. It doesn't explain anything. It says what it is and how to get it turned on but doesn't explain what it is in laymans terms....what it does and how. My GF was totally lost looking at the manual and I had to use what I know already to figure it out.

The first two days were pretty confusing and a lot of trial and error.

If someone could answer my couple questions regarding the DVD vs HDP HDMI input difference(if there is any) and how to get the internet radio station info up on the GUI I'd really appreciate it. THis is a GREAT unit and I'm really happy that I bought it! Thanks for this thread and the point to a certain vendor that I called to get a smoking deal from a certified Denon dealer. Paying 1500 wasn't my idea of a good time.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

There is NO difference between any of the inputs. In fact you can map any HDMI or digital jack to any source, you can even rename them. So feel free to plug the PS3 into the DVD HDMI port.

I have played with the streaming of MP3s from my HD, but I have an Audio Request that handles all my audio, so I don't really use the Denon for that. I have never used the internet radio either, so hopefully someone else will be able to answer that.

The manual could be better, but there is so much that it would be a 300 page book if they explaned everything. I usually look at the menu tree twords the from of the book and get an idea of where to go in the manual from there. Its easier than using the index or trying to read through the whole thing.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

The numbers mean nothing on the main volume as different setups will change that. If my speakers are set at 75db and another is set at 85db the the main volume numbers are different. On my denon i have the speakers set at 78db so -10 on my main volume is pretty loud.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Thanks for the input on the HDMI ports. Have it back in the DVD one now.

As for the internet radio, I have somehow figured it out. Don't know if I changed a setting or what but now it all displays on the projection screen just fine.

I'm loving this unit.

One more question I had was...are there treble and bass controls? lol, I can't fine them anywhere. My old denon they were right on teh front of the unit. After a week I'm starting to think that there aren't even treble and bass controls for this Denon. What about an equalizer?...is there anyway to tweak the sound?

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Yes, but you are better off using the Audyssey calibration when you do the auto setup.

Re: Denon AVR-3808CI: An Overview

Does the OSD come on through HDMI and if so any problems?