Denon AVR-X3800H Review

[amper42]

On sale again for $949.

Yep. Sale prices are on:
Denon 4800H now $1499 at amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X4800H-9-4-Ch-Receiver-Built/dp/B0BHX2K5XL

Denon 3800H $969
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X3800H-9-4-Ch-Receiver-Built/dp/B0BBYSLL3V

 

[Sylvia]

Hi there, I apologize if my question comes across as silly (I have never had an AVR and this is my first experience)
I ordered a 3800 and would like to use 6 speakers (front, rear and on the sides) - I guess this would be a 7.1 with neither subwoofer nor center (I'd rather avoid adding these 2 at the moment, mainly for financial reasons)

Is this doable ?
Or will it sound sloppy if one does not configure the setup strictly like it's supposed to be?

Just in case it may be relevant: I'll use power amps for the front and rear speakers.
Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[EWL5]

Hi there, I apologize if my question comes across as silly (I have never had an AVR and this is my first experience)
I ordered a 3800 and would like to use 6 speakers (front, rear and on the sides) - I guess this would be a 7.1 with neither subwoofer nor center (I'd rather avoid adding these 2 at the moment, mainly for financial reasons)

Is this doable ?
Or will it sound sloppy if one does not configure the setup strictly like it's supposed to be?

Just in case it may be relevant: I'll use power amps for the front and rear speakers.
Thanks a lot in advance!

It's doable but not ideal. Assuming you are doing a surround setup mostly for movies, most of the dialogue is going to come from a center channel! You can create a "phantom" center using EQ but a real speaker is always preferable! I'd rather lose two of the surrounds and go to a 5.0 setup WITH a center channel to be honest (since you mentioned it was a financial reason)!

Why no subwoofer? You have full range speakers somewhere?

 

[Power Pop 23]

Hi there, I apologize if my question comes across as silly (I have never had an AVR and this is my first experience)
I ordered a 3800 and would like to use 6 speakers (front, rear and on the sides) - I guess this would be a 7.1 with neither subwoofer nor center (I'd rather avoid adding these 2 at the moment, mainly for financial reasons)

Is this doable ?
Or will it sound sloppy if one does not configure the setup strictly like it's supposed to be?

Just in case it may be relevant: I'll use power amps for the front and rear speakers.
Thanks a lot in advance!

Yes, it is doable. You can add a center channel and subwoofer later - or not.

 

[Sylvia]

Why no subwoofer? You have full range speakers somewhere?

Well not really, they are Polk R700 towers, they go down to the mid 30 region but that's enough for me

 

[Sylvia]

I'd rather lose two of the surrounds and go to a 5.0 setup WITH a center channel to be honest (since you mentioned it was a financial reason)!

Could I use bookshelf speakers as center speakers? Or would that be extremely sloppy?
PS: thanks for taking the time to answer

 

[Sylvia]

Yes, it is doable. You can add a center channel and subwoofer later - or not.

cheers

 

[Power Pop 23]

cheers

Consider budgeting for the $19.99 'Audyssey MultEQ Editor' app to aid in correcting anomalies in your listening space.

Available at the Google Play and Apple App stores.....

Amir reviewd the app and judged it to provide performance similar to the more expensive Dirac Live app (also supported by the Denon 3800).

Audyssey Room EQ Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Audyssey Room Equalization. Audyssey is standard technology in a number of Audio/Video Receivers such as the Denon AVR-X3600H I recently reviewed. The standard version in the AVR is mostly all or nothing so I downloaded the Marantz/Denon...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[EWL5]

Could I use bookshelf speakers as center speakers? Or would that be extremely sloppy?
PS: thanks for taking the time to answer

Yes, it's possible (but again, not ideal). A bookshelf speaker typically will have one woofer and one tweeter. A true center channel will have woofer, tweeter, woofer and makes dialogue much more intelligible!

If cost is still an issue, you can always look for used center channel speakers that would be a match for the rest of your system. It appears the R300, R350, and R400 are the suitable centers for your system. Also, don't forget that Black Friday is a month away!

 

[Sylvia]

Consider budgeting for the $19.99 'Audyssey MultEQ Editor' app to aid in correcting anomalies in your listening space.

Available at the Google Play and Apple App stores.....

Amir reviewd the app and judged it to provide performance similar to the more expensive Dirac Live app (also supported by the Denon 3800).

Audyssey Room EQ Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Audyssey Room Equalization. Audyssey is standard technology in a number of Audio/Video Receivers such as the Denon AVR-X3600H I recently reviewed. The standard version in the AVR is mostly all or nothing so I downloaded the Marantz/Denon...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thank you, I was thinking of buying Dirac Live and this is really useful!

 

[Sylvia]

Yes, it's possible (but again, not ideal). A bookshelf speaker typically will have one woofer and one tweeter. A true center channel will have woofer, tweeter, woofer and makes dialogue much more intelligible!

If cost is still an issue, you can always look for used center channel speakers that would be a match for the rest of your system. It appears the R300, R350, and R400 are the suitable centers for your system. Also, don't forget that Black Friday is a month away!

Is it an issue if one uses several pairs of speakers with different sensitivities?
Is my understanding correct that many AVRs have a feature to calibrate them?

 

[EWL5]

Thank you, I was thinking of buying Dirac Live and this is really useful!

I would temper Power Pop's suggestion w/the following:

1) The $20 Audyssey app is pretty much mandatory if you are all in for Audyssey room correction!
2) It is more difficult to manipulate curves on a smartphone or tablet w/the app.
3) If you are inclined to tweak curves per #2, then you may need to invest further in the $200 MultEQ-X software (negating some of the savings from not buying Dirac).
4) Some folks swear by A1 EVO (free software developed by OCA) that doesn't require #3 but having working knowledge of REW is very helpful.

Since you mentioned Dirac, you can wait until BF to make your decision as Dirac typically offers a 30% discount around that time (discount available for both standalone Dirac Live and Dirac Live/Bass Control bundle). In the meantime, you can always do what I did and try Audyssey first (w/just a $20 app investment) and if you don't like the result, you can wait a month for BF!

 

[EWL5]

Is it an issue if one uses several pairs of speakers with different sensitivities?
Is my understanding correct that many AVRs have a feature to calibrate them?

Using speakers w/different sensitivities (and resistance) is fine. It's the job of the room correction software to make a cohesive sound stage to trick you into thinking they all sound similar (whether it be Audyssey, Dirac, etc.)!

 

[peng]

I would temper Power Pop's suggestion w/the following:

1) The $20 Audyssey app is pretty much mandatory if you are all in for Audyssey room correction!
2) It is more difficult to manipulate curves on a smartphone or tablet w/the app.
3) If you are inclined to tweak curves per #2, then you may need to invest further in the $200 MultEQ-X software (negating some of the savings from not buying Dirac).
4) Some folks swear by A1 EVO (free software developed by OCA) that doesn't require #3 but having working knowledge of REW is very helpful.

Since you mentioned Dirac, you can wait until BF to make your decision as Dirac typically offers a 30% discount around that time (discount available for both standalone Dirac Live and Dirac Live/Bass Control bundle). In the meantime, you can always do what I did and try Audyssey first (w/just a $20 app investment) and if you don't like the result, you can wait a month for BF!

And I would temper yours just slightly:

One could always try the freeware Ratbuddyssy (there are others) that makes it much easier to adjust the target curve because one can type in the cuts/boosts at any frequency point, and yes one can apply the same principles used in PEQs, i.e., gains and Qs. One can achieve most of the things that the $200 MultEQ X could, for $0, just a little more time consuming to do, and much less nicer looking interface obviously. If that's too much work, then sure, spend $200 on the X, or spend a little more and get DLBC if one believes in DL's superior impulse response performance.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Could I use bookshelf speakers as center speakers? Or would that be extremely sloppy?
PS: thanks for taking the time to answer

A single bookshelf loudspeaker can be performant as a center channel speaker if one has the clearance to deploy the enclosure in a vertical orientation.

 

[Sylvia]

What would be the doiference if one wants to build a surround setup with the 3800 for music instead of movies?
I mean, is there some factor one has to keep in mind?
In my case I want to listen to music in dolby atmos and use the upmixing options

 

[Power Pop 23]

What would be the doiference if one wants to build a surround setup with the 3800 for music instead of movies?
I mean, is there some factor one has to keep in mind?

I don't believe so. The same factors that enhance the playback of music should benefit the playback of soundtracks.

Consider the placement of the Polk R700 loudspeakers in your listening space and placing them as far from the back wall and side walls as practical - so as to reduce the influence of reflected sound waves and using room treatment materials where beneficial.

In my case I want to listen to music in dolby atmos and use the upmixing options

 

[Sylvia]

I don't believe so. The same factors that enhance the playback of music should benefit the playback of soundtracks.

Consider the placement of the Polk R700 loudspeakers in your listening space and placing them as far from the back wall and side walls as practical - so as to reduce the influence of reflected sound waves and using room treatment materials where beneficial.

thank you

 

[EWL5]

What would be the doiference if one wants to build a surround setup with the 3800 for music instead of movies?
I mean, is there some factor one has to keep in mind?
In my case I want to listen to music in dolby atmos and use the upmixing options

Depends on how you like your music. If you prefer music streamed in Dolby Atmos surround (and have the source capability), your "movie" setup should suffice. If you are planning to listen exclusively in stereo using your full ranger towers, then you may want something beefier like dedicated amp(s) or the 6800.

What's the primary source of your music?

 

[Sylvia]

A single bookshelf loudspeaker can be performant as a center channel speaker if one has the clearance to deploy the enclosure in a vertical orientation.

What does it mean "the clearance to deploy the enclosure in vertical orientation"?
Does it mean to have enough free space to place them vertically?
Also: could it perhaps be better using 2 bookshelf speakers with an rca splitter?