HOT - Denon 3803 Deal still cookin' at 6th Ave... $698.06 SHIPPED

[ikSardarG]

Alright,
I just ordered the Denon 3803 from 6th Ave by phoning in my order. If you recall the post from the past, the price was $648.06 (?)... They offered me the same unit yesterday at $698.06 (shipped). Yeah - it is $50 more, but the price is still HOT HOT for this unit. Oh yeah, ship date is estimated at 3 weeks for now (backordered from the high demand. AT effect)

I read so many reviews of this thing... It's amazing for the price, and considering that 6th Ave is a Denon dealer - you can't beat the price.

I thought for sure that they wouldn't honor that price from like 30-45 days ago... Sure enough he was happy to do it (although at $50 more).

(BTW - I posted this in a new thread to reflect the higher pricing and the fact that they are still offering a great price...)

 

[Slickone]

They already have the 1604 and 1804, so doesn't it seem a 3804 would be right around the corner? Then either the 3803 might be cheaper, or you'll want a 3804.

What's the main difference in the 3803 and the lower models? I doubt I'll ever use 7.1.
From normal listening distance back (say 10 feet), can you see the main front display (incl volume level), without having to use the on-screen display?

Link to the other thread since it has some useful info.

 

[DealyDo]

I bought the 3803 in October when they were substituting orders for the 3802 with 3803's for $649.95. It's very easy to see display from 10 feet back. I'm like 12-13 away from the display and it's easy to see. It also has a 3 step dim function. You can turn it off completely if you want. I have it hooked up to 5.1 not much content out there in 7.1 but it it does become available I'll hook up another set of speakers for 7.1.

I plan on using the Zone 2 capabilities to rum a set of in-wall into my bedroom. That's a nice feature.

Also I believe that the OSD capabilities are easier to use on the 3803 vs the 3802. The 3803 comes thru the video component cables. I believe the 3802 reuire you to use a seperate monitor out cord.


Just get one of the Universal Home Theater MX-700 remotes off ebay to unify your remotes.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Not a bad price at all.........

 

[Lurker1]

I just got mine a week ago. Great system, very happy with it so far. Been out for most of the week, so haven't really explored it in depth yet, but as for seeing the display from 10ft plus - no problem, no OSD needed (actually - haven't even hooked it up for OSD yet...maybe this weekend finally)

Oh, and I ordered mine on Dec 18th or 20th or there abouts, for 648.06. Absolutely awesome price. Now for some upgraded speakers and a good sub - any suggestions?

 

[amnesiac]

I just bought an open box Denon DVD-1600 from The Good Guys yesterday for half price, and I am blown away by the quality. Now I want to replace my old Onkyo SR600

 

[Slickone]

Anyone been able to talk them into still giving the $648 price?

 

[elravager]

This deal is the shiz... I picked one up last month, it rocks ass... badass DACs, component video switching, DTS, etc... A complete no brainer if you need a flexible, quality receiver.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Thanks for the update ikSardarG! I've been trying to decide what receiver to get, and this price is the same as the lowest allowed advertised price for the 2803, and $200-300 below what Denon will let authorized dealers advertise the 3803 for. So there's no way 6th Ave itself could list or promote this very hot deal to let procrastinators like me know that it's still available.

 

[EvilYoda]

The 3803 is a nice receiver (I love it), but for those wondering, Denon has announced the 3805, it's successor. Adding DPLIIx and an auto-calibration system (to match the Yamaha 2400, essentially), along with a flip-down front panel (a new one for Denon), it looks fvcking AWESOME. I can't wait to get one in store, as I'll be picking it up immediately.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/461/461945p1.html

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ corrected link

d'oh! now I have to decide between cheap last-year year tech and shiny new tech. Any estimated time of arrival, EvilYoda?

 

[ikSardarG]

No problem guys. I too waited soooo long on this deal I thought I missed it. It was like over a month after people were saying it won't available anymore for such a great price.

I can't wait to get mine... Personally I have a feeling that the new 3805 unit might be a little more expensive than the $1200 (?) msrp of the 3803. That means we may be waiting awhile to get an amazing AT deal on it. I was shocked I was able to get it at less than $700.

A complete no-brainer for me, even though I waited so long. Now I need a nice deal on a 42" Plasma.

 

[JameyF]

Two things that might would be worth getting the 3805 instead of the 3803...3 component input instead of 2 and auto calibration of the output to your speakers.

 

[dr wily]

i got a used 3802 from audiogon and they are indeed awesome. Did ALOT of research and basically what i came up with its that the first number is the quality of the amp, and the last number is the year or how many features it has, and that cascades down to the next model the next year. For example, the 2803 almost has the same features of the 3802 but with a less capable amp. Get this quick before you have to buy used because even gray market dealers will sell the 3804 for a good 900-1100$.

 

[kza]

Calibration is easy. Just get a Radio Shack decibel reader, it's pretty cheap and accurate, and adjust your speakers with the speaker test until all the speakers have the same output, except the sub which you adjust to your liking. Takes like 10 minutes and you'll never have to touch it again. I don't think it's worth the extra money for auto calibration. The 3803 is an excellent receiver for the money. I don't think anything in this price range has an equal. If the internal of the 3803 is the same as the 3805, than the 3803 right now would be the better buy. For me, sound quality is more important than how it looks.

 

[JameyF]

Originally posted by: kza
Calibration is easy. Just get a Radio Shack decibel reader, it's pretty cheap and accurate, and adjust your speakers with the speaker test until all the speakers have the same output, except the sub which you adjust to your liking. Takes like 10 minutes and you'll never have to touch it again. I don't think it's worth the extra money for auto calibration. The 3803 is an excellent receiver for the money. I don't think anything in this price range has an equal. If the internal of the 3803 is the same as the 3805, than the 3803 right now would be the better buy. For me, sound quality is more important than how it looks.

There is more than just db level that automaticallyadjusts on the 3805, so don't mislead people to think a simple Ratshack meter is going to do the same thing the 3805 will. It includes an 8 band equalizer. You can't do that with the 3803 alone...PERIOD. I think it also sets delay settings, which the 3803 does a fine job of, but it is manual also. Now, I won't say that is worth another $3-400, but there are other improvements. I won't even say all the improvements are worth $3-400 more, but purchasers will have to make their minds up for themselves. I have the 3803, and I think the money I have in it was well worth it when they first came out. I even think the 3803 at this even lower price is AWESOME. I'll only say, if I could sell it for ~$600 and upgrade to the 3805 for what I paid for the 3803, I would do it in a heartbeat. Of course, I didn't give anywhere near full retail for the 3803 when I purchased it over a year ago. I paid $750-800 from a Denon authorized online merchant if my memory is correct.


This deal is Hot for those who don't need the things the 3805 will add. That is almost everyone, but it excludes a few....like me. The three component inputs are a big deal if you want to add a third HD or progressive source. I wouldn't sell my current 3803 unless I got ~$600 which isn't going to happen, and I wouldn't deligate it to work in another room to spend $800+ on a 3805 later. My next step (or should I say leap) will be to external amps...then to a dedicated preamp/processor.

 

[Slickone]

Curious, when would you need 3 component inputs?

About the 3805: It has tons of buttons on the front door. Why so many more that the 3503 doesn't have?
Is it's volume indicator a dB scale that counts backwards? I don't like that. My old Kenwood car CDP did that.
Nice knobs!

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Curious, when would you need 3 component inputs?

About the 3805: It has tons of buttons on the front door. Why so many more that the 3503 doesn't have?
Is it's volume indicator a dB scale that counts backwards? I don't like that. My old Kenwood car CDP did that.
Nice knobs!

DVD player, cable/satellite box, HTPC. Add in a few consoles with component cables, and you're short quite a few.

They really bumped up the 3805...it's closer to the 4802 than the 3803 almost. I can't wait to get mine at cost.

 

[kza]

I guess I'm more of a manual type. I like to adjust things to my taste. The time delay thing is the simplest thing ever. Just doing a little measurement and you can figure out the ms response pretty easily. I'm not to fond of letting an auto calibrater adjust the sound like treble and bass, etc. to it's level. It might not be how I'd like it. BTW, the Radio Shack db reader was a hint and highly recommended way of adjusting your speakers by the people at Home Theater mag. If you have a problem with that, go insult it at them.

 

[lukatmyshu]

<sigh> I bought this receiver in late december but haven't unpacked it yet because I haven't figured out what speakers to get yet. I need a Hot Deal on a 5.1 system. What are you guys all pairing them with?

 

[ikSardarG]

Originally posted by: lukatmyshu
<sigh> I bought this receiver in late december but haven't unpacked it yet because I haven't figured out what speakers to get yet. I need a Hot Deal on a 5.1 system. What are you guys all pairing them with?

I will stick to my Klipsch speakers for now. I got a set of SP-1's for the fronts, a small KV-1 for the center and some decent bookshelfs for the rear... Considering that I only had to pay for the center channel - I think I got a pretty decent setup for almost 'nothing'. This amp is my first 'big' purchase...

 

[onenormalman]

For me I need 2 DVI inputs, one from my HD cable box and one from my computer, but I think Denon didn't make one like that. The only one I know is from Sony. I have been at CES for all 4 days but didn't see DVI Switching receiver either. I saw the Denon 3805 at Innovation Awards Boot in Silver Lot, very nice!

 

[dr wily]

im running some paradigm reference 20s, a studio CC, and some crappy rear boses.. just got me a huge paradigm sub i now cant live without.. the 3801 powers it all without breaking a sweat.. Got all my stuff from echohifi.com and audiogon.com (best hifi classifieds)

 

[rvr2k3]

Ordered one earlier today. Thanks for the great deal. Plus it is going to be a 3-4 week wait, so it will be just in time for my birthday.

 

[sxr7171]

I wouldn't trust Auto-Calibration of anything.