Impressive performance for home theater AND music
Written: Aug 09 '00 (Updated Oct 26 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clean amp, Warm musical sound, 5 Channel Stereo mode, 8 channel inputs for future formats
Cons: Remote control, Component video switching probably not up to HDTV specs
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| mdarren's Full Review: Denon AVR-3300 5.1 Channels Receiver |
This Denon is an upgrade from my previous Yamaha RXV-870 receiver. I was searching for a receiver that would provide better audio quality along with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. I got what I was looking for, plus some.
THE UNIT
This is one beefy unit at 33 lbs. It is also very deep at 16.4", so make sure it will fit if you are planning on placing it in a cabinet! Superior build-quality is clearly evident by the look and also the feel of the unit. Knobs and buttons have a heavy mechanical precision to them, unlike most of the gear that you'll find at today's retailers.
The Denon is rated at 105 watts to each five channels. I am not too fond of the power rating system used today. There are 40w per channel receivers that deliver better and more dynamic sound reproduction than those rated at 120w per channel. There is so much more than a simple power rating to determine how a receiver will sound, and way too many people get caught up with these numbers. Forget about the numbers, and "listen" to the receiver.
THE FEATURES
The AVR-3300 has many of the features you'd normally find on a receiver in this price range; however, there is one real gem that stood out from the rest. That is the "5 Channel Stereo" mode. More on that in a bit.
From a features standpoint, I like the fact that the Denon has a high-quality DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). Digital audio can sound a bit "harsh", and a good DAC helps create a warmer, more musical sound.
Component video switching is also nice to have these days. While most VCR's and Satellite boxes use composite or S-video, many of the mid-range and high-end DVD's include component video outputs (the highest quality video connection available). The new HDTV receivers and higher-end Satellite receivers also use component video. So to have the ability to switch video sources using the component video connections is a nice feature to have. The downside is that the AVR-3300 component video switching may not be quite up to spec for HDTV signals. In other words, with HD signals, there could be some degradation. Therefore, it is probably best to connect an HD box directly to the TV.
An important feature which somewhat "future proofs" the unit is the 8 channel input. First we had Dolby Prologic, then 5.1, and now 6.1 has arrived on the scene. While the Denon AVR-3300 supports the 5.1 format (as do most receivers in this price range currently) internally, one can upgrade to the new formats down the road with the 8 channel inputs provided on the back of the unit. The full 8 channels may be utilized for emerging formats, such as DVD audio. The downside is that most people, myself included, don't really care to have EIGHT speakers littered about the room!
Multi-room, multi-source capability is a feature not often found on units in this price range. This capability allows the receiver to send different sources to different rooms. So the kids could watch 'Toy Soldiers' on DVD in the family room while Beethoven is piped into the kitchen. Kind of neat.
I saved the best feature for last. The 5 Channel Stereo mode simply blew me away. I have had much experience with my old Yamaha's various DSP modes, such as "Hall", "Church", "Jazz Club", "Rock", etc. After the first week, when the novelty wore off, I never listened to music on any of these DSP modes again. They introduced a "reverb" effect and "muddied" up the music. So you can imagine that I was a bit skeptical of the Denon's ability to create a wonderful listening experience using all 5 speakers (the Yamaha used 4 speakers in their DSP modes). Boy was I wrong! The 5 Channel Stereo mode, which I thought I would never use, turned out to be the best feature on the unit in my epinion! The music is reproduced beautifully in this mode. Smooth, warm, clear and immersed in sound is the only way to describe it. None of the ugly effects that the Yamaha DSP modes created are present. I now listen to music solely in 5 Channel Stereo mode.
REMOTE CONTROL
I find the remote that comes with the Denon to be horrific. It does have learning capabilities and can handle macros. That is where the positives end. The "glow in the dark" buttons are useless at night. Only some of them glow, and not for too long, and not very brightly. The many similar shaped buttons are difficult to distinguish from one another in a dark room. And worst of all are the two slide switches that allow this universal remote to switch to other components. The switches have a number of "stops" which relate to the different components in your system, and even during the day it is a pain to stop the switch at the component you want to control. The tactile indication that you have come to a stop is weak, nevermind actually knowing "which" stop you have come to. At night, it is nearly impossible. My advice is to scrap it and buy an inexpensive remote such as the backlit One For All Producer 8 (at least until you feel the need to buy something like the Phillips Pronto - which is simply amazing).
PERFORMANCE (SOUND)
When I initially bought this receiver, the salesperson I dealt with at a local retail shop told me that there would be a HUGE difference between Dolby Prologic and Doly 5.1 (or DTS). I was skeptical that there would be that big a difference. Well, after hooking the Denon up and throwing in 'The Matrix', I quickly decided that the salesperson was right. Amazing sound! The Denon reproduced the Dolby 5.1 track flawlessly. I felt like I was in a theater, no, even better! Now, most of the Dolby Digital receivers out there for lots less money than this Denon would also perform admirably on Dolby Digital DVD's and blow away those used to Prologic. The true test for this receiver would be music.
After listening to 'The Matrix', I collected a bunch of CD's. Some classical, some alternative, some Jazz...you get the picture. What struck me immediately in listening to the music was how much warmer it sounded than my previous Yamaha. The Yamaha sounded edgy, very bright. In contrast, the Denon sounded smooth and warm. I was extremely happy with the Denon's performance. Music sounded great.
MANUAL & SETUP
I found the manual to be well laid out, as far as manuals go. These components are quite complex, and to put everything in a format that the average consumer can understand clearly is a job I'd rather not have. With that in mind, I found the manual relatively easy to follow. By following the manual, which guided me through the on-screen Denon setup utility, I was able to get the unit up and running in about 30 minutes. The speaker delays are set automatically by inputting the distance between the main listening position and each of the speakers. Very cool!
The last item was mapping the digital input of the Denon to the DVD input, which was a snap. Overall one of the easiest setup procedures I have experienced for such a sophisticated piece of gear. I should mention that I am the type of guy that is always asked by friends "hey Mike, can you come by and hep me hook this up?" So, for someone with no experience, it would probably take at least twice as long.
PROBLEM
Things were going so, so well with this receiver that I should have known there would be a bump in the road. After about 4 months, I started to notice a very high-pitched "whine" coming from somewhere when listening to music, or especially when watching a DVD at quiet points during a movie. I had no idea where it was coming from, so I got up close to the component rack and started randomly turning things off. Sure enough, when I hit the power button on the Denon, the "whine" ceased. I started listening for it more intently and learned that it usually happened when the receiver was hot. I jumped on the internet and found out that the AVR-3300 has an internal fan (although you couldn't tell by looking at the outside of the unit). I found that a number of people had fan bearings that were failing on the AVR-3300's, creating a high-pitched "whine". Apparently, Denon has since fixed the problem. So if the unit is one of the early AVR-3300's, it could be susceptible. I will be bringing my unit in for service to have this corrected. Fortunately, the Denon's come with a generous (these days) 2 year warranty.
SUMMARY
Other than the issue mentioned in the above paragraph, I am elated with my purchase of the Denon AVR-3300. I realize that some folks would make a big stink about the "whine", but I feel confident that the unit will be repaired and will be fine thereafter. I am consistently blown away by its performance, and the units build-quality is exceptional. I would recommend this receiver to anyone looking for an A/V Receiver that excels at Home Theater AND music. As I clearly stated, the 5 Channel Stereo mode is phenomenal.
I should also note that Denon just introduced two new models that may be great choices for those on a budget. The 1801 and 2801 models are just starting to appear at stores. Locally, Tweeter, Etc. has both on display (and I assume in stock). These are both improved versions of the 1800 and 2800 models that they replaced. The prices came down to $499 and $699 respectively, and Denon added the 5 Channel Stereo feature that had been lacking on the 1800 and 2800. They may be worth a hard look if you are looking for a great all-around receiver for under $700.
UPDATE (10/26/00)
Unit was repaired, and I have not had the "whine" occur since the repair. The unit is still performing exceptionally well, and I am very satisfied with this receiver.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mdarren
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Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 5 members
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