Video Asylum

Posted by monk (A) on July 27, 2006 at 10:24:00

In Reply to: Denon AVR 3801 Receiver Help posted by snpower on July 25, 2006 at 17:26:46:

All of the circa $1000 Denon's have been very good, for some time.

Amps and surround processing will be broadly similar to a new/newer Denon, but you'll give up a few features.

It won't *upconvert* S-Video inputs and output them over the Component Video (the red, green, blue triple rca video connection). Plug all the video sources into the Denon and you'll have to run a component video and an S-Video cable from the Denon to the TV. Newer Denon's can take any video plugged into them and output them all via the component video cable to the TV. Not a huge deal, just less convenient. Direct video connections from sources straight to the TV is a solution (and best video) if the TV can accomodate all the sources.

Bandwidth on Component Video signals routed through the Denon won't be quite as wide (high) as with the newer Denon's. Theoretically, a hi-def signal might want the higher bandwidth and could suffer (very slightly) if routed through the Denon.

No digital video in/out (but again, going direct from source to the TV without the Denon is a solution and better in any case).

7.1 means two rear channels on the back wall (same signal, mono). In my experiments, choose 5.1 or 7.1 ; I found that having a single center on the back wall called attention to itself, having two, spread the sound across the whole back wall and was good.

The Denon 5 and 7 channel *stereo* is a pretty good mix, as those usually dorky simulated mixes go. 95% of the simulated surrounds are a waste (Stadium, Rock Arena) but Denon 5 channel (7 channel) stereo is one that you should try and I'm guessing will like.

Invest in or borrow a Radio Shack decibel meter. Calibrating the surround sound is easy with the Denon's, necessary to get an enjoyable surround setup and impractical/impossible to do acurately by ear.