Denon AVR-X3800H Review

[peng]

cheers mate and apologies for being a pest

Any time! The Denon should be a good match for the R700 and Emotiva B1, the B1's rated 8 ohms nominal and power handling spec is only 150 W peak anyway.

There are many online calculators you can play with yourself:

Examples:

Crown Audio - Professional Power Amplifiers | English (US)

www.crownaudio.com

Audio Calculators

Audio Calculators. How loud will my stereo play? How much power do I need? Conversions from % to dB. Conversions between Volts and dBu, and much more.

benchmarkmedia.com

Peak SPL Calculator

 

[Ncesar]

Good night all. Is this model still a good purchase for 2024? Some EU retailers are selling for around €1000.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Good night all. Is this model still a good purchase for 2024? Some EU retailers are selling for around €1000.

Yes

 

[antcollinet]

Yes

seconded.

 

[srekal34]

Good night all. Is this model still a good purchase for 2024? Some EU retailers are selling for around €1000.

There is nothing remotely in the same price range that can match it. That said, in my opinion it needs tinkering with target curve as default is a bit dry/bright.

 

[antcollinet]

There is nothing remotely in the same price range that can match it. That said, in my opinion it needs tinkering with target curve as default is a bit dry/bright.

But bear in mind, tuning of target curve is very much going to be a personal preference. I've gone a bit to far in the other direction by applying a Harmon type target during the Audessey One scripting. This one sounds great (to me), but is not quite bright enough. I'll try fixing that when I apply A1 evo.

 

[peng]

But bear in mind, tuning of target curve is very much going to be a personal preference. I've gone a bit to far in the other direction by applying a Harmon type target during the Audessey One scripting. This one sounds great (to me), but is not quite bright enough. I'll try fixing that when I apply A1 evo.

When I get mine (waiting for boxing day sale), I will try oca's script so in preparing for the experiments I would like to read up more about it. There are so many YT videos out there about the different versions, could you kindly recommend one that is about the latest version (EVO?) but include full instructions/tutorial? Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 71304]

Is the price difference with the Marantz justified in your opinion?
I am genuenily asking, no sarcasm intended.

 

[EWL5]

There is nothing remotely in the same price range that can match it. That said, in my opinion it needs tinkering with target curve as default is a bit dry/bright.

The beautiful thing about the 3800 is you have 2 world class RC options to choose from: Audyssey and Dirac (pay to play)!

You can use target curves to taste (i.e. Harman) with either one!

 

[EWL5]

Is the price difference with the Marantz justified in your opinion?
I am genuenily asking, no sarcasm intended.

For about $800 difference (retail price to retail price in US), you have to justify if the following is worth more for the Cinema 50:
- fancy box w/porthole
- "made in Japan"
- questionable HDAM addition

The comparison below tends to be fairly sobering for most folks as it showcases just how much of a premium clone the Cinema 50 is:

Denon AVR-X3800H vs Marantz Cinema 50: Comprehensive Comparison

Compare the Denon AVR-X3800H and Marantz Cinema 50. Discover the differences in features, specs, performance, and find out which A/V receiver is the best for you.

www.zkelectronics.com

Marantz to Denon has always been fairly similar to the Lexus to Toyota comparison (ES was always based on Camry and migrated to Avalon more recently).

 

[peng]

Is the price difference with the Marantz justified in your opinion?
I am genuenily asking, no sarcasm intended.

My short response:

Great, and popular question, with often predictably variable, even controversial (sometimes) answers!

My take is, if you like and value their look, and the 2 year longer warranty a lot more, then yes. If not, no.

The apparent facts are: In terms of features, specs and expected bench test results): AVR-X3800H=Cinema 50 (measured slightly/marginally better), X4800=Cinema 40, X6800H almost= Cinema 30 (a little better), A10H almost (a little better)=Cinema 30


Long response:

More subjective reviews seem to claim in general, equivalent M models "sound better" than "D models". Those kind of claims are just claims, mainly baseless (technically), and I would predict such claimers would fail in properly done blind comparison listening tests and I know I am not the only who would make such prediction.

Having said that, people with unusual hearing/discerning abilities may be able to tell a difference if compared using digital source at sampling rate at below 48 kHz, based on M model's slow roll off dac filter that would result in a little lower response from around 20,000 Hz, dropping about 2-3 dB by 20,000 Hz. How many individuals at age >40 can tell the difference of say 0.5-1 dB drop at 10-15 kHz with single tone, let alone music, would be my challenge question on such a claim, even based on scientific, measurable facts.

HDAMs are also used to support those claims by Marantz but it is not hard to debunk that one, simply base on logic.

 

[peng]

Forgot one more apparent and may be important fact that applies specifically to the AVR-X3800/4800H and Cinema 50/40, may be because I have make that point so many times now, making it easy to forget lol..:

Price differentials for those are typically 200 to 300 Euros in countries like France and Germany, probably the UK too but in £ so subject to exchange rates.

That's a lot less than the US800 or CAD$1050 for the X3800H vs C50 in the USA and Canada. If I were in the UK, France or Germany, I would go with Marantz for sure.

Regardless, this one fact really tells even D+M/Masimo knows their marketing team is able to take full advantage of the human factor, that, if you give many audiophiles enough reasons/differences, even if those reasons/differences do not result in audible (let alone better) results, they will believe it and therefore willing to pay for differences. Why and how they know North American audiophiles are more susceptible to their marketing hype is a mystery to me.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

Forgot one more apparent and may be important fact that applies specifically to the AVR-X3800/4800H and Cinema 50/40, may be because I have make that point so many times now, making it easy to forget lol..:

Price differentials for those are typically 200 to 300 Euros in countries like France and Germany, probably the UK too but in £ so subject to exchange rates.

That's a lot less than the US800 or CAD$1050 for the X3800H vs C50 in the USA and Canada. If I were in the UK, France or Germany, I would go with Marantz for sure.

Regardless, this one fact really tells even D+M/Masimo knows their marketing team is able to take full advantage of the human factor, that, if you give many audiophiles enough reasons/differences, even if those reasons/differences do not result in audible (let alone better) results, they will believe it and therefore willing to pay for differences. Why and how they know North American audiophiles are more susceptible to their marketing hype is a mystery to me.

Thanks a lot for the info!
Well, from what I have seen so far in the EU you can find the Denon AVC-3800 (not the AVR by the way, that one seems to have vanished) for 900-1000€, the Marantz 50 for 1400€ and Marantz 40 goes up to 1800€ (best offer I found on both)
So pricewise I think the 3800 is really good

 

[peng]

Thanks a lot for the info!
Well, from what I have seen so far in the EU you can find the Denon AVC-3800 (not the AVR by the way, that one seems to have vanished) for 900-1000€, the Marantz 50 for 1400€ and Marantz 40 goes up to 1800€ (best offer I found on both)
So pricewise I think the 3800 is really good

I assume those are street prices, those I quoted are official D+M website list prices. So, I guess in the EU, dealers are offering a little more discounts on Denon’s. That’s probably they have been selling a lot more Denon models, at least 2 to 1 would be my guess.

In Canada, Marantz rarely goes on sale, dealers probably can make good money on the huge margin alone, whereas on Denon, they have to make it up on volume. Sales volume could have been 4:1 if not higher.

 

[antcollinet]

When I get mine (waiting for boxing day sale), I will try oca's script so in preparing for the experiments I would like to read up more about it. There are so many YT videos out there about the different versions, could you kindly recommend one that is about the latest version (EVO?) but include full instructions/tutorial? Thanks!

I'm not up to date with the latest versions, so will need to research myself. Just done this search. First two videos look like they might be interesting, but I've not watched yet.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=audessey+one+nexus&sp=CAI%253D

 

[peng]

@EWL5 or @Sylvia can you please confirm the x3800h has the 2ch stereo menu or not? The manual does not mention that, only the 4800’s menu has a section on it. We already know Denon manuals are not 100% accurate on certain features.

It is not a must so I won’t pay C$1,100 more for the 4800 or C$2,200 for the C40, but is just curious to know.

 

[EWL5]

@EWL5 or @Sylvia can you please confirm the x3800h has the 2ch stereo menu or not? The manual does not mention that, only the 4800’s menu has a section on it. We already know Denon manuals are not 100% accurate on certain features.

It is not a must so I won’t pay C$1,100 more for the 4800 or C$2,200 for the C40, but is just curious to know.

As I don’t use it, what am I looking for? Treatment of an incoming stereo signal?

 

[peng]

As I don’t use it, what am I looking for? Treatment of an incoming stereo signal?

Yes, for the 4800 it is under the manual setup/speaker layout. If the 3800 has this feature, it is likely under the same heading. I used it occasionally when I was using the x4400h.

2ch Playback AVR-X4800H

manuals.denon.com

 

[Deleted member 71304]

@EWL5 or @Sylvia can you please confirm the x3800h has the 2ch stereo menu or not? The manual does not mention that, only the 4800’s menu has a section on it. We already know Denon manuals are not 100% accurate on certain features.

It is not a must so I won’t pay C$1,100 more for the 4800 or C$2,200 for the C40, but is just curious to know.

Sorry, mine hasn't arrived yet. Otherwise I'd check that gladly

 

[EWL5]

Yes, for the 4800 it is under the manual setup/speaker layout. If the 3800 has this feature, it is likely under the same heading. I used it occasionally when I was using the x4400h.

2ch Playback AVR-X4800H

manuals.denon.com

I didn't see a menu specifically for 2CH playback. But I tested the remote buttons playing a CD stereo track from my Oppo BDP83:

Pressing the "Music" button on the remote to toggle through the following:

STEREO

Dolby Surround

Auro3D

Now toggling through the "Pure" button on the remote:

DIRECT

Pure Direct

Stereo (PURE)

Is this what you were looking for?