Denon 5803 on the cheap? (1 Viewer)

[Chris]

Ok, I called my friend at Denon LA, and he said that they expect the upgrade to be $800 installed; $500 for the board, and $300 for the install charge.

This raises an interesting question:

You can buy the 5800 right now (heck, it was in the HTF Hardware For Sale for $1900!) online and via ebay for ~$1800-2000.

You buy that, send it in for the board upgrade, and you now have the 5803.. but you paid $2700 or less. Can someone give me a reason -NOT- to do this in comparison to buying a 5803 outright ($4300?) That's a $1600 difference!

 

[PatrickM]

Chris, I think one of the big differences (and this is not completely confirmed but I'm 99% certain) is the lack of video conversion. A couple of other receivers like the Pioneer 49TX have it and the 5803 will but the upgrade will not include that I believe.

If your not sure what I mean by video conversion its the ability of the receiver to convert any of the video inputs (composite, S-Video, component) to the other formats so if you have a HDTV with component inputs you can leave the TV on the component input and have it convert your VCR's composite or your Satellite Receivers S-Video to component for you.

Still, even with this difference its not going to make me sell my 5800 for a 5803. I'll just get the upgrade depending on the price they charge in Canada.

Patrick

 

[EricHaas]

If you are comparing cheapest online price, the 5803 will be cheaper than its $4,300 MSRP on release. Sounds like a no-brainer if you already have a 5800, but a closer call if you don't.

 

[Jon Teddlie]

Does anyone know the actual release date on the 5803? Or have a good guess?? Thanks.

 

[Mike_A]

i don't think you get the new DAC's either with the upgrade - not like the 5800 had bad DAC's to start out with

 

[Brian Corr]

The 5803 is due to be released in March, along with the new line of DVD players, from the new 9000 on down.

There are a number of other improvements on the 5803 that you get in addition to an upgraded 5800. Unfortunately I didn't write them down but I talked with the Denon rep's at length about the 5803. (i-link, DTS 96/24 if memory serves)

It also has enough brain power to where if new formats are released, it shouldn't require any hardware/board upgrade.

 

[PatrickM]

(i-link, DTS 96/24 if memory serves)

Nope, the upgrade will have Denon Link and DTS 96/24 along with Dolby Headphone. It just won't get the new Burr-Brown DAC's and the video conversion.

Patrick

 

[AntonS]

Something tells me that the invoice (dealer cost) for 5803 will be around $2000-$2500, so on the Internet the unit will appear for about $2300-$2700. Greedy "authorized" dealerships will charge full MSRP trying to make almost 100% profit, but who cares...