Denon AVR-3801 7.1 Channels Receiver

When I first heard of the Denon AVR-3801, I thought it would be another Denon receiver that would be very similar to the Denon AVR-2801. Well, I guess I was wrong. When I looked at the specifications of the Denon AVR-3801, I was amazed. I thought that this thing would cost more than $1,500, but I was amazed to see it for $999. Well, I was in New York a little while ago, and I managed to go to a "mom and dad" shop, and hear one of these things. The Denon AVR-3801 was hooked up into Acoustic Research speakers. I remember that the fronts were AR-7s, but I don't remember what the other ones were. Well, that doesn't really matter, the Denon AVR-3801 can make any speaker sound good. After using and hearing it, here's what I found:

Price:
This is the first and only Dolby Digital 6.1 Matrix/ DTS ES/ 7.1 channel receiver that I've seen for under $1,000. Now, you're asking me, is it worth it??? Well, it depends what you want. But if I had the choice of buying it, I would without any doubt buy it. There are some other 5.1 channel receivers from brands like Harmon/Kardon that are in the same price range, and yet they don't at all compare to even the Denon AVR-2801! Well, with the Denon AVR-3801, you get so much more than you can ever want! You get that Denon quality sound that you want, Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1, DTS ES 6.1, 7.1 channels, and a whooping 105Watts per channel! Whoa! All that for $1,000 or less? This isn't a joke! This is real, the Denon AVR-3801 is simply an amazing buy. There are no other competitors in this price range that have anything comparable. If you however want THX, then maybe you should spend a few more hundred dollars on an Onkyo or Marantz. However, in no way can you go wrong with the Denon AVR-3801. it is simply amazing for the price, and the quality you get is also breath taking.

Looks and Styling:
You can buy the Denon AVR-3801 in either black or champagne. It's a decent looking receiver. I'll tell you the truth, I don't exactly prefer the Denon interface and styling. I would prefer the styling of the Yamaha RX-V995 over the Denon AVR-3801 any day. However, features are more important. Well, some people like the looks of the Denon AVR-3801. But in reality, when you watch a movie or listen to music, you don't usually stare at the components rack or receiver... Enough said.

Durability:
The Denon AVR-3801 like other Denon receivers has a very solid build. Denon is also known for making durable high quality components. I know people that use Denon components, and not one has ever had a problem with them. So, if the Denon AVR-3801 will last you a year (Which it should), then it should be able to last you many years to come (Which I would also expect).

Installation:
The backpanel on the Denon AVR-3801 is similar to other receivers... Or at least if you follow the instructions, you'll have an easy time installing speakers or components into the Denon AVR-3801. The Denon AVR-3801 is also loaded with a bunch of I/Os. Whoa! It's mind boggling, but truly useful. The Denon AVR-3801 will truly make a great center for home theater. Anyway, these are the I/Os that it has:

*Two component video ins that are compatible with HDTV and progressive scan components.
*Five sets of composite and S-video inputs
*Four optical/digital inputs
*Nine analog inputs
*7.1 channels of equally distributed power (105Watts x 7) resulting in 735Watts of total handling
*Built-in tuner

Wow! Now that is a lot! The instruction booklet that comes with the Denon AVR-3801 is nicely done, so installing things into the Denon AVR-3801 shouldn't be much of a problem. Don't fear the backpanel! It will be your best friend! Denon did a fine job on the I/Os of the Denon AVR-3801, it's the most amazing center piece for under $1,000!

Sound:
You'll love it! But, your neighbors will hate it! The sound quality that the Denon AVR-3801 will give you is what you'd expect from Denon. Very clean and powerful sound. The Denon AVR-3801 provides with very natural and realistic sounding sound, nothing that's exaggerated or "dirty". I didn't really expect such amazing sound... but I got a lot more than what I wanted! Now, the Denon AVR-3801 has a few different types of decoding. It has Dolby Digital 6.1 Matrix surround sound. It also has the highly acclaimed DTS ES which is a 6.1 channel version of the normal DTS 5.1. It also has DTS Neo: Which is 6.1 channel decoding of movies and music. Well, with a receiver that has so many types of decoding and sounds so good, you'll be expecting pretty low peak wattage, right? You'd expect Denon to go the Harmon/Kardon way??? Ok, 60Watts per channel? Does that sound right? Wrong! The Denon AVR-3801 provides you with amazing 105Watts x 7! That's a whole lot of wattage! You can pretty much destroy your house with one of these, or at least go deaf! The sound quality was simply very impressive on the Denon AVR-3801. It gives you the sound that you'd expect from a much more expensive receiver. The sound on the Denon AVR-3801 was much warmer than other receivers, such as from Harmon/Kardon, Yamaha, Sony ES, and some other brands. Marantz still does sound better overall, but they don't have anything comparable to the Denon AVR-3801. So, if you want the best sound for $1,000 or even less, then buy the Denon AVR-3801. Did I also mention that it also has DTS ES discrete? Well, there's nothing comparable at all, buy it, you'll be amazed like I was.

Ease of Use:
The Denon AVR-3801 was alright to use. The remote was pretty cool, and you can control pretty much the whole thing from the remote. The Denon AVR-3801 doesn't exactly have a clean interface like Yamaha or Marantz... But using the remote or on-screen menu makes using it a whole lot easier. Sure, I'd prefer Marantz, but the Denon AVR-3801 isn't actually that much harder to use. Within a couple of hours, you'll be using it like a pro. Thank god for those on-screen menus! This shouldn't be too big of a challenge for beginners... Just use the remote or on-screen display... Or eventually, you'll be able to use it manually...

The Verdict:
It really looks like Denon outdid themselves. The Denon AVR-3801 is simply an amazing receiver that will impress just about everyone that comes across it. Did I mention that there's nothing comparable? You won't find DTS ES discrete in many units, or will you be able to find 7.1 channels in something that's $1,000 or less. Did I also mention that you can find the Denon AVR-3801 for as little as $750 on the internet? However, you can safely buy it at a store like Tweeter or The Good Guys for $999. Even if it costed $1,500, it would still be worth it. The Denon AVR-3801 is one of those products that I can say are "perfect". If you buy the Denon AVR-3801, you won't regret it. It's worth every penny... and much more.