Just bought Denon AVR 2805

[eRiCdWoNg]

... I just bought a Denon AVR-2805 and I'm *real* excited. I'm here sitting at work thinking about it how I plan to hook everything up.

I was planning on buying an Adcom GFA5503 (already have a GFA2535 4 channel) and their GTP-830II 7.1 preamp for a seperate system but decided I am not gonna pay the few grand to do seperates. So after much reviewing and playing, I went with this 2805 unit.

Right now I have only a 2 channel "more pureist audiophile" setup. Audio By Van Alstine analog only-non remote controlled 2 channel preamp. Audio Control crossover, Arcam Tuner, Adcom power amps, DIY subwoofer. Right now I have my computer, sat dish, TV and VCR etc hooked up to that system, and its a pain in the **** to get up each time I want to switch a source. Not only that, to switch S video, I have no way of switching except to go to back of the sat dish, unplug it and move it to the DVD player when I want to use it. What a pain. My TV sux too, it only has 1 S video input and I was too cheap to buy a switcher. Infact, to use a better DAC then the internal PC one, I have my Minidisc player in D/A mode to function as my DAC. I'm *real* excited that finally I'm getting a system that I wont have to move to change the sources, it will handle all my digital, analog AND video components! Woo hoo! This will probably make me want to upgrade the TV too.

My only dillema is a few things- the system that is currently there is only a 2 channel Magnepan MGIIIA speakers and I seriously considered using those speakers as the front L and Rs. Old but great speakers, but I'm too poor to buy a complete Magnepan system. The Maggie CC-3 is $1000 alone. Not only that I dont think the Denon will do the Maggies justice. Not to mention the front maggies are so huge (6ft tall x 2ft screens) that it hampers my ability to get a larger screen...and the dipolar nature of the speakers really need them to be pulled out about 5 feet from the wall. So I have enough components leftover from my preamp/amp/crossover to setup an entire music system somewhere else in the house and starting over with speakers for TV watching.

Sooo, I actually bought some B&W surrounds, 2 Klipsch subs. But I'm thinking of actually ditching the B&W system of what I got now (too expensive for the 'complete' setup) and just going with a Polk LSi or RTi setup.

I'm probbly going to just use 5.1 because the room its going into really doesnt support 7.1 cause my couch is against the rear wall. I may also take advangage of the "zone 2" with the rear speakers.

Guess my main thing is what to do. Full maggie setup for HT or move the maggies and start over for HT.

Thanks for listening

[UrSv]

Have fun.

Please report back what you think of the room correction.

[usekgb]

I have the Denon AVR1083, which is the pro version of the 3803. I am quite happy with it. One of the main reasons I got it (aside from getting dealer accomodatiooon pricing) was the video switching that it does. You can input any video source from composit to Svideo to component, and it will un-convert to component. So, I only have to run one RGB cable from the receiver to the TV. Instead of using the 7.1 option, I run 5.1 and run the second two channels outside to my patio speakers. With this setup I can run a different video source and a different audio source to each set of speakers. This is great during BBQ's. The kids can watch Boo-Bah in the living room, while music is still playing outside on the patio. The sound quality of the Denon is actually pretty good too. And, to top it off, WAF is very, very, very high!

Cheers,
Zach

[eRiCdWoNg]

I havent tried the auto room EQ yet, I've been playing with the unit all weekend, it certainly does ALOT. I'm using the front L and R playing into my Adcom amp, which is driving a pair of Maggie MGIIIA's. The sub out feeds either my DIY sonotube sub, or a Klipsch SW-12 depending on my mood.

I dont have a center nor "surround backs", but I'm using B&W AS6 dipolar surrounds, except I cant put them on my side walls no thanks to a window in the way and the room isnt that large. I have them on the rear wall, however they dont work that well being dipolar and they dont timbre match the Maggies at all. However the effect is still awesome. Learning remote makes everything a breeze.

Elminated from the system: Arcam Alpha 5 tuner, Audio By Van Alstine preamp, AudioControl Crossover.

So far observations:
Dont stack anything ontop the unit, even with just the 2 surround speakers hooked up this thing made my VCR which I had put ontop hot enough to be uncomfortable to the touch when I lifted it up. Its real flexible with looking up stuff. The front panel that hides the front A/V input is really cheap looking/feeling.

Remote is a little clumsy to use when switching functions


Things I wish for:
Ability to rename inputs
Ability to "trim" each individual channel
More coax inputs
More "tape" input(s)
It doesnt have a single tape monitor loop
External processor loop
"staple" preout/main ins


Overall, great machine.