Denon AVR-4802 to a AVR-3805 (1 Viewer)

[Steve F M]

Would this be a wise choice to go from my 4802 to a New 3805. I only use my system for watching movies and only have a 5 speaker setup with the possibility of going to 7 speakers down the road.

Anyone compare the 2 yet for Home Theater?

 

[Steve F M]

I have to jump on this quick. I would make about a $100 selling my 4802 and buying a 3805 but I'm wondering if anyone feels that the 3805 is a better receiver then the 4802.

Thanks

 

[John Garcia]

I highly doubt the 3805 is better than the 4802. Though you would gain a few nice new features, I'd call it a slight step down.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

Pesonally, I'd go for it. Just add ext. amps down the line. You'll probably regret not doing so a year from now.

 

[Yogi]

I don't think its an upgrade in terms of sound. Perhaps even a bit of a downgrade. All the latest DACs etc in the 3805, I doubt will make it better sounding than the 4802. I think the 4802 is a step up in build quality from the 3805. Good analog stages and a robust power supply will more than compensate for the greatest DACs in terms of sound quality. If features are what you are upgrading for then go for it.

 

[Dalton]

I respectfully disagree. While i do i agree that the 4802 has better build quality i think that if you are using it for HT only that the 3805 is an UPGRADE due to it's better feature set and auto cal feature. I went from a Rotel 1066 PrePro with Rotel RMB 1075 amp separates to a Yamaha RXV1400 Receiver since my uses were only HT. I don't regret the decision for a second and was happy to pocket $1400 for a new set of Axiom speakers . I have owned several different amp/receiver combos over the last 3 years and wish i had some of that money i spent back. Opinions will of course vary, but put me in the "go for it" camp.


Good Luck,
Dalton

 

[Yogi]

The auto cal feature sure seems nice. I take my words back and the auto cal feature by itself might lend itself to better room response and a better HT performance.

 

[John Garcia]

Well, it takes a whole 10 minutes to do a >basic< speaker calibration, so I don't think that is really a deal maker for me.

I like the look of, but not the operation of, the 3805s remote, but I do like the look of the new chassis. IMO, the 4802 (with upgrade) is still a better receiver.

 

[Shane Martin]

If you are using external amps then I would think that it's actually an upgrade. From what I can tell the replacement for the 4802R will be a while away. Personally I'd buy a 3805 + amp if I was going to stay with the Denon line.

 

[Alan Wise]

Whether or not this would be an upgrade is completely subjective. I agree that the 4802R seems to be a bit more receiver than the 3805, however, I believe Steve has the 4802 not the 4802R.THe advertised power of each is a wash (125 watts for the 4802 versus 120 watts for the 3805).Either way, the 3805 is a 7.1 receiver where the 4802 is 6.1. From a sound quality level Denon is touting their new D.D.S.C. technology on the 3805. If this improves the sound quality (or levels the playing field)then the extra features of the 3805 (ILINK, PLIIx, Auto Cal., etc..) would make it a winner, especially as a pre-pro later down the line.
Will Denon bring out a 4805 soon? I doubt it.
I think they will go the route that Yamaha did with their elimination of their upper-middle class receivers (no more RX-V33xx series, you jump from the 2400 to the Z9). With Denon I think that you will have the AVR-3805 and then jump to the AVR-58XX.

That's my two cents.

Al. Wise

 

[John Garcia]

DDSC has been around for a while, just on higher models. I believe it was on the 4802R, but not the 4802.

I do agree that, with external amps, the 3805 is the way to go.

 

[Yogi]

Where did the suggestion about using a separate amp with the 3805 came out of? I thought Steve was just considering the 3805 vs the 4802 for 5.1 and perhaps 7.1 (truly only 6.1) in the future.

 

[Shane Martin]

I've asked several times about this and the word seems to indicate that next year. I would personally not be surprised to see a 480X at the next CES. If that is the case then we might expect one about March/April of next year. Still that is a ways away.

 

[Steve F M]

Don't want to spend the money for external amps. I have the orginal 4802 and was looking for anyone that has heard both in a side by side comparison. I was shocked to see the 3805 was rated at 120w x 7 where my 4802 is 125 x 6. Now the 4802 is definately about 20lbs heavier but does that mean better build quality or better amps? I love my 4802 but if I goto a 7 channel set-up the PLIIx and the 7 x 120w looks pretty tempting especially since I will make an extra $100 off the switch. But I heard the 3803 and the difference between that and the 4802 was like night and day and I'm wondering if Denon made a better product in the 3805. What to do?

 

[Yogi]

My guess is the 3805 is similar in sound to the 3803 (the sound of which I didn't really care for) unless Denon did something drastic in the design. The 4802 is built more like a flagship in terms of its parts quality and powersupply design. I haven't seen the auto cal feature on the 3805 but it seems promising. But if it is straight sound that you are considering the 4802 will definetly be better. I think if you are satisfied by the performance of your 4802 dont even bother going to the 3805 at this point. For you at this point the only step up would be to go to a full set of separates IMHO.

My 2 rusty cents.

 

[Alan Wise]

Yogi,
Please, with all due respect,how can you say that the 4802 would definetly sound better than the 3805 if you have never heard the 3805?
Let's not give reccomendations on assumptions.
Steve, go to your local Denon merchant and audition both side by side. This is the only way you are going to get the answers you are looking for.

Al. Wise

 

[Steve F M]

That would be impossible to do since there is no way my local dealer still has a 4802.

 

[Yogi]

I agree its just an assumption, but based on the sound of 3803 and based on the fact that every other spec on the two look identical and based on the fact that they priced them the same I assumed that they did no major modifications on either the power supply (the most expensive part of the amp) or the output stages of the amplifier section, which IMHO make the most impact on sound. But again you are right its just an assumption and depending on your room the auto cal feature might give you a better room response and a better sound overall, but again even thats an assumption. So please dont hold my word on that either.

 

[Shane Martin]

I've seen too many reports from folks that say their 3803 is worse than the 3805 to discount them by now. If I had to pick I'd probably keep the 4802 and wait for the 480X(5?) to come out. I would assume we'd see something at CES.

 

[Steve F M]

Well then the comparison will be do I want to pay $2000+ for the 480x or $770 for 3805. By the way I can get a 3805 for $770 thats why I'm considering the switch from the 4802.