HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #391: Denon Review, CEDIA 2009 Part 2 and Front vs. Rear Pro

My impetus to buy was the release of the PS3 Slim and its bitstream capabilities. I knew for a long time that I wanted an HDMI-capable receiver, and was willing to live without bitstream mode from my original PS3. After hearing that the slim has bitstreaming of lossless audio, I felt is was time to move the original PS3 to the basement and buy a Slim. I then convinced myself that it was time to take the plunge and get that HDMI receiver I always wanted.

I first bought an Onkyo NS-TX807. After setting it up, it sounded good and did everything I wanted it to do. Then the problems started. It began emitting distortion through my speakers and my TV, and then shut down the audio output completely. I think it overheated despite being in a pretty well-ventilated shelving unit. After letting it cool down for about an hour, I tried again. This time it worked, but it started pushing a thump to my subwoofer every the PS3 changed audio modes. I was obviously not going to live with this, so I decided to return the Onkyo and get a Denon.

I was going to buy a 2310, but realized that I probably would not buy another receiver for a while. I have plans to build a dedicated theater in the next five years, and I figured this new receiver was going to move into the theater when its built. SoI bit the bullet and bought the 3310. Its more future-proof.

This model has all the features youd expect in an a mid-priced AVR: multiple HDMI inputs, video upscaling, DTS-MA and Dolby True HD decoding, support for the new soundfields such as front high speakers, networking capability, HD radio, iPod dock support, and multi-zone output.

After going through the Audyssey set-up, I first tried one of my favorite CDs. I was blown away with how much better this Denon sounds. I have had a lot of different receivers from a lot of different manufacturers. This one, by far, has the most accurate, smooth, and balanced sound reproduction. It sounds even better than my high-end (albeit 7-year old) Onkyo which is mated to superior speakers (makes me want to move the better speakers upstairs!). The other nice thing about CD playback is that the receiver automatically senses the source material and sets the correct playback mode. When playing a CD, it chose stereo mode. When I switched to a DVD, it chose the correct codec for the disc being played.

After trying a CD, I popped in The Fifth Element to experience True HD. This blew me away. Not only was the sound quality better overall, the surround channels were much more alive. I was totally enveloped in sound, which was a very cool feeling. I cant wait for movie night this week, not to mention the Glee premiere tomorrow night on Fox.

I then switched over to the tuner and experimented with HD radio. For those who have no experience with HD radio, its CD-quality sound with additional information such as the artist and song title. This was a welcome surprise. I didnt realize how many HD radio channels were available in my area. The Denon picked up about a half dozen while using the supplied antenna.

Finally, the wife acceptance factor is pretty high on this one. My wife will really enjoy the Dynamic Volume, because she cant stand the large swings in sound during movie playback. We usually have to watch movies with closed captioning turned on because inevitably the dialog is too quiet in relation to the overall soundtrack. Dynamic Volume should fix this problem. Also, the remote is pretty straightforward. Denon placed most of the common features on the front of the remote, with big, easy to find buttons. The more arcane commands are hidden behind a panel on the back of the remote.

In all, Im really pleased. The sound reproduction is fantastic, the features are great, and its pretty future-proof (at least until HDMI 1.4 comes out!). It cost a little more than I wanted to spend, but I think it will last me a long time.