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Which Receiver would you buy - tough decision for the Audiophiles.

The Sauce

The Sauce

Diamond Member
The 4802 is about 4 years old technologically speaking but I would imagine is much higher end with regard to components and output - factory reconditioned at ecost for $999 ($2600 when new - now discontinued) vs. a new 3805 for the same price. I bought the 4802 but I am now having a few second thoughts. Any input?
 
I believe you'll have better power in the 4802, but at the same time the huge difference in features make the 3805 the clear choice.

The 4802 is a dinosaur in the receiver market at over 4 years old.
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Whoa, looks like the original 4800 was a beast.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

Do you need that kind of power to drive your speakers?

Looks like the 4802 does most things (just looking at the ecost page)

I guess some nice stuff you'd get from the 3805 would be DDEX, DD PLIIx... component upconversion (not sure if the 4802 does that)?
Click to expand...


The 4802 does not do PLIIx nor component "upconversion".

As you said, the 4802 will probably have a tad more power with all channels driven, but otherwise, the 3805 is probably the better choice.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
I believe you'll have better power in the 4802, but at the same time the huge difference in features make the 3805 the clear choice.

The 4802 is a dinosaur in the receiver market at over 4 years old.
Click to expand...

Hey, my reciever is 35 years old and it kicks ass! I've got an old Sony STR-7065A, works perfectly, looks great, has good sound and is loud as hell.

I can't have a surround setup in my room so all I need is stereo. Wouldn't trade it for anything (almost).
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
I believe you'll have better power in the 4802, but at the same time the huge difference in features make the 3805 the clear choice.

The 4802 is a dinosaur in the receiver market at over 4 years old.
Click to expand...
QFT

I just got the 3805. Pretty nice but it doesn't come with the set up microphone.
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Originally posted by: spidey07
I believe you'll have better power in the 4802, but at the same time the huge difference in features make the 3805 the clear choice.

The 4802 is a dinosaur in the receiver market at over 4 years old.
Click to expand...

Hey, my reciever is 35 years old and it kicks ass! I've got an old Sony STR-7065A, works perfectly, looks great, has good sound and is loud as hell.

I can't have a surround setup in my room so all I need is stereo. Wouldn't trade it for anything (almost).
Click to expand...

We're talking home theater receivers here.

NOT stereo. They are completely different.
 
Originally posted by: Byte
save some money and get a true audiophile Tamp $30!
Click to expand...

A good processor / pre-amp, three or four of those, and some nice efficient speakers could be awesome.

Be sure to stock up on AA batteries though... or get some power adapters 🙂
 
mmmm...how about I sell you my 1-year old 3805 with mic for $800 plus shipping. 😀

hehe, jp...mostly. 3805 if you wanted the latest with all the features, 4802 if SQ is still more important to you and you just want a solid receiver with decently new processing abilities.
 
another vote for 3805 but I would personally wait and get the 3806 that should be available this month for probably a few more dollars
 
Aah, finally a vote for the 4802 - I was starting to feel badly. I do not have a super high-end setup here. I had read nothing but super-stellar reviews of the 4802 and had read that you can not hope todrive high end speakers from a sub-$1500 receiver. Also the 3805 gets kudos for features but they never seem to say much about the quality. I figured I would sacrifice a few features I would never use for superior overall quality.

Also I had heard that in the past few years that Denons were no longer being built in Japan but had been outsourced to Korea and that the build quality had declined as a result. Another factor that influenced my decision.
 
Originally posted by: Snatchface
Aah, finally a vote for the 4802 - I was starting to feel badly. I do not have a super high-end setup here. I had read nothing but super-stellar reviews of the 4802 and had read that you can not hope todrive high end speakers from a sub-$1500 receiver. Also the 3805 gets kudos for features but they never seem to say much about the quality. I figured I would sacrifice a few features I would never use for superior overall quality.

Also I had heard that in the past few years that Denons were no longer being built in Japan but had been outsourced to Korea and that the build quality had declined as a result. Another factor that influenced my decision.
Click to expand...

If you aren't going to use the features the 3805 has that the 4802 doesn't, then sure, stick with the 4802.

Where did you get "can not hope todrive high end speakers from a sub-$1500 receiver"?

What speakers to you have and what's the power handling on them?
 
I don't remember - some high end audio review site. I don't have great speakers now but I do hope to upgrade in the next few years to some better stuff so I want headroom.
 
Originally posted by: Snatchface
I don't remember - some high end audio review site. I don't have great speakers now but I do hope to upgrade in the next few years to some better stuff so I want headroom.
Click to expand...

Doubling power only gives you a 3dB increase in sound pressure. 10dB is considered by many as the average required to give a perceived doubling of sound volume.

This means even a 50% increase in power will be barely perceptible.
 
The 4802 has a better amp/power supply section. From an audiophile perspective it wins.

The 3805 will still sound great and gives you the option (if you use the higher end Denon DVD player) to use the receiver's motorola decoder to decode the bitstream for DVD-A and SACD.

I say take the 3805. The word "refurbished" when used in conjuntion with "electronics" gives me the heebee jeebies.
 
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Snatchface
I don't remember - some high end audio review site. I don't have great speakers now but I do hope to upgrade in the next few years to some better stuff so I want headroom.
Click to expand...

Doubling power only gives you a 3dB increase in sound pressure. 10dB is considered by many as the average required to give a perceived doubling of sound volume.

This means even a 50% increase in power will be barely perceptible.
Click to expand...

Well yah, I agree totally. But there is definitely something to be said for the quality of the amplification. My assumption was that the 4802 would be much higher quality and cleaner. I mean, a Kenwood 120W receiver is not the same as a NHT 120W separate amp, right??
 
Well the 4802 has already shipped, I'll try it out and see how it goes. I doubt SACD and that other stuff will ever be very useful to me.

Oh and it's "factory reconditioned", not refurbished. I think that means that at least it went back to Denon to get fixed. Any you know, people return stuff for anything when they buy it new - maybe someone who couldn't figure out how to work the remote or something.
 
Originally posted by: Snatchface
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Snatchface
I don't remember - some high end audio review site. I don't have great speakers now but I do hope to upgrade in the next few years to some better stuff so I want headroom.
Click to expand...

Doubling power only gives you a 3dB increase in sound pressure. 10dB is considered by many as the average required to give a perceived doubling of sound volume.

This means even a 50% increase in power will be barely perceptible.
Click to expand...

Well yah, I agree totally. But there is definitely something to be said for the quality of the amplification. My assumption was that the 4802 would be much higher quality and cleaner. I mean, a Kenwood 120W receiver is not the same as a NHT 120W separate amp, right??
Click to expand...

that's true. the pre-amp section on the 4802 is also top notch if you're into music.

The 4802 will hold you over until you need more power (just add an amp). But throw a big amp on a crappy pre-amp/pre-pro and you still get "not quality"

It all depends on what you want. To get really good "quality" out of a receiver you have to spend a pretty penny. Couple the 4802s pre-amp with a good amp and you have the best of both worlds. I don't think you will be disappointed.

It all comes down to "features" vs. "quality". Want both? Then only a flagship receiver or separates will qualify.
 
Got the 4802 from ecost. Got here in 3 days by UPS ground. Looks like new. Everything works great. The remote is totally kick-ass - all LCD touchscreen. Setup was a breeze and my house shakes. I think this was a premo buy. Now I just have to upgrade everything else...
 
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