Denon AVR-3808CI A/V Receiver

The AVR-3808CI is the latest update to Denon's acclaimed three thousand series A/V receiver line. Technology advances and careful engineering has yielded a receiver with the features and functions to take it well into the future of home theater. The AVR-3808CI has joined the CI ranking with the addition of expanded connectivity including networking and Internet radio. Updated Audyssey audio processing has refined the calibration process producing better sound and room balance, even with difficult acoustical conditions. Digital video connections in the AVR-3808CI now have HDMI v1.3a which brings with it the new surround formats for HD decoding. Portable device hookup has also been improved for ease of use.

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• Reviewed by: dsologoub

  05-28-09

  Duration of ownership: 2 Months

  Strengths: Quality, quality, quality. Wide support for input signals and formats. Sounds GREAT.

  Weaknesses:EL display, horrendous GUI menu and remote.

  Overall Evaluation: I purchased Denon AVR-3808CI receiver because I needed something that is capable of decoding all the modern digital signals and do HDMI switching for my projector. I owned a 12-year old Denon receiver, and it was time to upgrade. Basically, I got what I wanted. However, there are some gotchas people need to know about.1. Display. EL display technology reminds me of '70th. Information on it is highly inconvenient for perception. Also, this type of a display creates crosstalks to analog signals, and manufacturer turns it off in Pure Direct mode. Denon should seriously consider upgrading future models to graphic LCD or OLED screens. Nice color screen should not be too expensive considering the price range of the receiver.2. Menu. Denon definitely should fire their usability expert. This is probably the most stupid menu I have ever seen in my life. There are industry standards for building GUIs, and Denon totally ignored them. Important settings such as surround modes as scattered deep inside different subtrees of the menu, even the left arrow button may mean different things depending on where you are.3. Main remote control. This is a very logical complement of the menu system. Almost as stupid and un-intuitive as the menu. Don't even think of finding your way around without thorough reading of user manual.4. The need to use a TV for GUI menu. One major disappointment is the need to keep my projector turned on for navigating through the menus. I even thought of purchasing a small LCD TV for that. Well, you *can* use the built-in EL display for menu navigation, but it's sort of a masochism.5. As I said, I use an HDMI projector as a display device for my theater. Sometimes I watch movies on my computer. I connected the receiver to the secondary DVI port of my video card. Not sure if it's an issue with NVidia drivers or with the receiver, but each time I turn off the receiver and then turn it on again, my video card disables the output to the secondary DVI port, and I need to use NVidia Display Control Panel to turn it back on. Before I purchased the receiver, my video card was connected directly to the projector, and this issue was non-existent.6. One feature I'm definitely missing is the ability to switch the phase of the analog preamp outputs. I have PSB Image 7 spakers that have separate amplifiers for their woofers. I connect each speaker with two wires - one high-level for mid-highs (regular speaker output from the receiver), and one low-level for the woofers (preamp output from receiver). There is no chance to switch the phase of any of these two to match the other.Having said that, I would assure you that the receiver itself is a real thing. After all, you purchase equipment like this for its audio performance, and only then for the usability. Solid built, high quality piece of hardware. Clear undistorted sound (very pleasant to the ear), wide support of formats. Real HDMI switching with audio support over the same interface. Automatic speakers setup, plenty of inputs for all situations. Firmware upgradeability over the Internet. Once I have it set up, I'm really enjoying the unit as a centerpiece of my home theater.

• Reviewed by: shagnat

  01-06-09

  Duration of ownership:

  Strengths: Power, flexibility, sound quality, 7.1, HDMI inputs and output.

  Weaknesses:Fat fingers will have a hard time hooking up speaker cables

  Overall Evaluation: I did a tremendous amount of research. I had a Denon AVR several years ago that was killed in a lightning storm and just did without any AVR for several years.The bug bit me again once I got my new plasma TV. This is the AVR to buy unless you can afford separates (high end). There's nothing this AVR can't do. It's definitely a 5* AVR.

• Reviewed by: MikeK2008

  12-06-08

  Duration of ownership: 4 Months

  Strengths: Solid build, very powerful for any application, future proof

  Weaknesses:remote control, not very intuitive to use

  Overall Evaluation: This receiver has everything you would want in terms of power, inputs & outputs & even a great look. Unfortunately, the DVD output has gone into a funk, working for about 30 minutes, then the audio goes silent until I switch outputs to something else & switch it back. I will have to service the unit which has become a real hassle due to disconnecting it, getting it to the reapir shop & reconnect, I wish there was an easier way. I would give this product 5 stars if they built it with better electrical components.

• Reviewed by: bulldog93

  07-12-08

  Duration of ownership: 7 Months

  Strengths: Lots of power.

  Weaknesses:Remote.

  Overall Evaluation: The Denon 3808 has tons of power for most people's needs. It has lots of inputs including several HDMI inputs. This receiver barely gets five stars because of the main remote. I have never encountered a worse remote. Do yourself a favor and purchase a separate all-in-one universal remote.

• Reviewed by: mgiovannini

  04-23-08

  Duration of ownership: 7 Days

  Strengths: HDMI connectionsSoundCostEasy hookup

  Weaknesses:None at this point

  Overall Evaluation: This receiver sounds great,has four HDMIs and low difficulty setting-up. I compared this receiver to the Onkyo 805. The 805 scared me a bit with video processing. For a little more money, I decided on the Denon.

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