Lewis Besze

Denon AVR-5805.........Second look:Wow!

After a better, second look at this mega receiver I must conclude that this thing has more of the truly useful features then any HT centerpiece I had encountered.While it cost 6 grand, one must realize that many Pre/pros with far less features,and arguably no better performance[sound wise] that cost more or close to it,and you need to supply the amps as well.
I have no whish to restart the "separates Vs. receiver argument,since that is so old, ["it was thrown out from Noah's Ark" 3 times already],but simply just to acknowledge the fact that this thing is as up to date[and more] as it can be,and looks very impressive on paper.

I wonder if anybody has this,or there are any professional reviews out there.

Arthur S

Yes Lewis, this is quite the statement piece. I wonder if they give you a hand truck to move it with? For the $6,000 they should throw one in. At this point in time, I would probably go with a separate pre/pro and amps just to keep the weight down. The Anthem seems like a popular item and for another 3K I would think one could get a good bit of amp power, even something like Outlaw would probably get the job done for amps.

Still, I like Denon and can't wait till someone actually buys the 5805. I imagine that Sound and Vision will test it next year some time. David Ranada has something going with Denon.

Artie

imported_Chris Sherman

I personally can't get past the look , let alone the price. It looks like two components stacked one atop the other with a common faceplate. I'd rather spend $1995 on Sherwoods' Newcastle R-965, which is basically their 965 seperates, in a single, more managable chassis, sharing a single torroid for a power supply. I'd still have a killer receiver and four grand left over for say, speakers and or a nice CRT HDTV. Personally I'd have a hard time justifying a two thousand dollar receiver. Still, it will be fun to read a review of this big box. I'm sure it will raise the bar for receivers and maybe some of the technology will trickle down to more affordable models eventually.

Nan H

if i had the money i would go for the 5805. it has everything i could ever need for years to come. it's just i run powered speakers so i don't need the amplifier in the denon, but if they could make a preamp/pro that is identical to the 5805 (just with no amp, of course) then never-mind a turkey on thanksgiving i'll be getting a denon. i think denon should do that, make a pre/pro that has all the features of the 5805 just without an amp, i'm sure the weight would be dramatically reduced not to mention the size and of course the price tag. with that, the price should come down to the more modest levels where us Meir mortals can see the sticker price and not faint.


but thats just my 3 cents

oh who will now make bender waffels just the way he like\'s them now.

Lewis Besze

Yeah the "knee jerk" reaction of separates are better was my initial reaction as well,but then I started look beyond the fact that this wasn't some American made boutique brand ,and actually started to look what it is. A well though out, loaded with useful and industry setting features,in a big but menegable chassis.It's only current competitions are the other big Japanese flagship receivers from Pioneer[Elite] and Yamaha.The high-end has some catching up to do as usual, in the meantime they will hide behind slogans like "sound comes first",or it is "built for performance not bells and whistles".Hey it's not waht you sell it's how you sell it.

BrianAe

Lewis,

Out of curiosity, can you list what features it has over the current crop of pre/pros?

thanks.

Jeremy Hegna

"Out of curiosity, can you list what features it has over the current crop of pre/pros?"

Brian...check out the features at denon.com.

Connectibility is the biggest plus...HDMI, DVI switching, Firewire, more component inputs, PLIIX, 10 AMPS!!!! (guess that's not an issue over pre/pros), Auto setup calibration, twin multi-channel inputs...including a 10 channel input! Tuner station labeling, ethernet port, 3 sub outputs, and there is more...check out the tech notes on the site.

For me, the 5805 is a possibility, because I, too, power my speakers with outboard amps from my upgraded 5800. The 5805 allows the user to configure the 10 amps any way you choose, including bi-amping them giving you 340watts/5 channels. One box solution. I've enjoyed my 5800 for the last 4 years and it's never let me down.

This is an unbelievable piece of gear, IMO. Expensive, you betcha!

Jeremy

Nan H

well i wasn't trying to say that separates are better, i was just stating that i have no use (currently) for any kind of and amp. i'm running mackie hr-824 monitors and they need no amplification at all, there self-powered. one could run them off a "disk-man" if they wanted to. so i wouldn't use the denon's amps at all. but any ways, with the features that the denon has i would love to own one, it just comes down to one main thing... price, yes it has a hefty price tag but after reading more about it such as what jeremy said



wow, i wish i had passive speakers. i think this is the first receiver that i have ever heard about that had the ability to configure the amp channels in any fashion, oh yea and don't let me forget about the 10 amp channels

oh man i need to win the lottery

oh who will now make bender waffels just the way he like\'s them now.

Rosty

Based on my experience with AVR5803 I seriously doubt that AVR5805 can honestly deliver 170W driving 6 channels, not to mention 10...

What I would really love to see, is Dennon making a high end processor/preamplifier with all the features and technology they staffed into AVR5805. That would be a real killer!

George Caronan

Lewis Besze

What Jeremy said,and the new Audyssey EQ which not the same what Denon been using or anybody else, it also uses the latest Burr Brown Dacs 32 of them in fact in dual diferential mode,and 4 of the latest Texas Intruments DSP chips which are becoming the new fav over the current crop of Analog Devices and Motorolla chips that the "high end" uses. Yeah but those are gonna be in the 5 figure prices,so if you thought this was expensive,then............ You are most certainly right about that which is why I would use it as a pre/pro if I could afford it.BTW current[but presumably not "authorized"] sellers on the net are asking between $4600-$4800 for it,which is very competetive for what it can offer right now.

George Caronan