Video Asylum

Posted by williak (A) on June 12, 2003 at 07:15:46

In Reply to: Moving on to the Denon 3803's legs posted by WilHenry on June 11, 2003 at 20:46:29:

Bill,

The 3803 is a tremendous value. Its unique mix of features, sonics and power at a very competitive price make it a winner, IMO. It is, however, a CURRENT GENERATION receiver. It will support all HT modes via digital coax or optical as well as multichannel hirez via its ANALOG INs from a universal hirez player. It CANNOT optimize multichannel hirez but it will support an enjoyable listening environment all the same. You will have to rely on the player's bass managment/time alignment facilities or obtain a standalone bass manager like the Outlaw ICBM in order to optimize mch hirez. It will be two or three years before 1394 iLink makes its appearance in mass-market receivers like the 3803, IMO.

The 3803 should fit your requirements very nicely at a good price point. Furthermore, it should fetch decent resale dollars if you sell it just BEFORE the iLink-equipped mass-market receivers arrive.

My point about equipment "legs" is that ALL current player and processor gear is obviously transitional due to the lack of a digital interface for multichannel hirez. While you can certainly wait yourself to death, the hirez transition is clearly a major one and is occurring as we speak. Therefore, NOTHING you can buy today has "legs" to carry you through to optimum digital hirez.

One strategy to get through this period calls for purchasing "throwaway" componentry that will deliver reasonable performance until the nextgen gear is available. At that time, you pitch the throwaways (sell into used mass-market via eBay) and buy up into the digital hirez gear. This strategy minimizes cash outlay at the cost of marginally compromised sonics. An alternative strategy is to "ride the crest" by purchasing state of the art equipment at each major point in audio/video evolution. This stategy maximizes features and sonics at the cost of large cash outlays as expensive equipment obsolesces. Both strategies are valid and which is right for you is a call only you can make. Hope this helps.

Austin