Denon 3805 or Onkyo 901 (1 Viewer)

[Burklund]

I can get a refurbished Onkyo TX-NR901 from Onkyo website for $999....can purchase a 2 year warranty for ...$65, I think it was?

I also found a new Denon 3805 for $908.88 online.

I want to get Swan speaker....probably the 6.1's, Swan center, and Swan rear speaker (not sure which ones yet).

I had a chance today to listen to a 901 with polk speakers at Circuit City...sounded good.
Turned on the Harmon Kardon with Beta 50's...sounded like crap...maybe it just wasnt set up right??

I would want this mostly for movies and some music.

So what do you think.....even setting money aside...which is my best bet?

 

[Burklund]

I was looking on ebay and saw a Denon AVR-4802R for $1249....how are they for the money?

 

[Burklund]

so no one wants to take a crack at this one?

 

[Sean Mullin]

check out this post for a better deal on a NEW onkyo 901


http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=207158

 

[EGM]

Burklund,

I can't speak on the 901, but I just got the 3805. I have it running B&Ws all around, and can honestly say it is outstanding.

I am about 70/30 HT/Music...but with this receiver the two-channel performance is very solid. There are a lot of positive reviews on the 3805 and the 901. Sound & Vision did reviews on both:

901

3805

The only observation I could make on your original post is that if you buy the Denon online, make sure it is from an authorized dealer or you will not get the standard 2-year warranty. $908 is a great price, but I am willing to guess that unless it is a refurbished unit, that the site selling it is not an authorized dealer.

Hope this helps...

GM

 

[Burklund]

Sound & Vision magazine complains about:
No bass managment for external multichannel input.

What does that mean?

 

[Rob Kramer]

Ha ha. Pretty much every receiver has NO bass management for external multichannel inputs. This is a pretty safe complaint for them, as it will not "upset" the manufacturers that advertise in their magazine (S&V is the biggest pawn). Of course, any REAL "problems" will just get ignored while they focus on the "positive" points.

 

[PaulDA]

A number of Onkyo, Integra and Harman Kardon receivers have bass management for the external multichannel inputs, so I think it's a valid, if not major, complaint. I had the choice of two receivers, one with and one without the bass management feature and, knowing the state of bass management/time alignment on most affordable hi-res players, I opted for the receiver with the bass management feature (and if more manufacturers offered it, I'd wager people would choose it). However, I don't expect to see an expansion of offerings with this feature as everyone seems focused on using iLink or something similar to keep everything digital.

 

[JasonLaz]

Here is a vote for the Denon 3805. I have this powering my Def Tech speakers and I can safely say it is AWESOME for movies. I went around a did a lot of A/B testing between different receivers and for the money, I thought the Denon was the best bang for the buck...at least IMO. The only downside was that you had to buy the setup mic seperately since it wasn't included. For a $1200 MSRP receiver, I thought that was pretty dumb but oh well...

 

[Dave Nelms]

I have the same questions as Burklund, regarding the comparison against the 4802. Has anyone heard this unit?

I have heard (from a salesman) that the 4802 is better suited for the audio side and the 3805 has more video related circuty. I am more concerned with the audio section. Also, the auto set up would be nice but it is not a big concern for me. I know my way around a radio shack SPL meter and can measure my own speaker distances.

I found a dealer in the LA area that has the 4802 on sale for $1499, that is $500 bucks off list. And they are a Denon dealer.