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Need basic advice on using Denon AVR-3805 for music only

dfun470

dfun470

Electronics Everywhere!!
Had an Amp die so I am going to use an Denon AVR for music in my office on four Polk R-15s. But I have never used this amp before ($70 at Goodwill :-)). I could use some basic hook-up info to speed my learning, while I work my way thru the manual.

How do I hook-up and set the amp to 1) listen to standard stereo on just Front & Back pairs of speakers. and 2) listen to straight stereo on the Fronts and Surround processed stereo (using the various DSP sound modes) on the rears? --perhaps that's not achievable and all four speakers will be DSP processed.

I previously listened in Mode #1 with a HK 3485 receiver, and this mode seemed to lack liveliness, and I thought it might benefit from a DSP sound mode.

Lastly, have you listened to music in these two modes, and what was your preference?
 
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Sorry for bumping this old post. My 3805 sounds bad. I seek thoughts.

I bought a Denon AVR-3805 new, some years ago. It was the bee's knees and I've used it with several speakers over the years: Polk, PSB, low end B&W, etc. Always enjoyed it.

I switched to XBMC about 10 years ago and use the 3085 as a DAC. I haven't done much of any critical listening in that time.

I recently picked up several pair of speakers (don't ask): Polk RTi A9, Pioneer towers, Heco Superior 700 (classic speakers in sweet shape that I re-capped), and some others. Since then, I've been listening critically and don't like what I hear.

Something is wrong with the mids. They sound shrill at upper medium volume.

There is still plenty of power to rock the house but the mids are shrill at medium volume with low bass. It's the same with all speakers.

I've heard the A9 requires a lot of power but all of my speakers have the same shrill upper midrange. Even my Dennis Murphy MB-OW1 sounds the same and they have always had outstanding midrange.

Assuming it was Kodi, I've tried some CD players but they sound exactly the same with analog connection from a CD player to the 3805 as the CDs ripped to FLAC and played through Kodi and spd/if.

I pulled out a Kenwood KA-7300 and it sounds brilliant. The A9s and Hecos are absolutely outstanding. MB-OW1s are delicious. I love it. It's not a small improvement. It's like FM vs AM.

I hear so much great commentary on the 3805, I wonder if it can be that bad. Perhaps something is wrong with my 3805. It's pretty old. Perhaps it isn't set up properly. I've tried a ton of different settings, including pure stereo, but who is to say I haven't missed something.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.
 
Headphones. Take the speakers out of the equation. Still shrill, you got electronic issues. Find out whether the problem's in the preamp or power amp section (use EXT IN to test power amp only). Once problem localized, grab a schematic, parts list, and service manual (all available online), some diagnostic equipment, and dive in. Let me know if you need parts, I got plenty of extras for most of the Denon 3800 series. Good luck.

P.S. I got 3801s, 3802s, and even a 4800 that sound as good or even better (I've calibrated them) than the day they rolled off the line in Japan, so it definitely ain't an "age" thing.
 
Finally had a few minutes to play with the system and learned a couple of things.

- It's an AVR-3806
- DC balance (16mV, -0.5mV)
- MultiEQ was on - not sure how, not sure how I got it turned off
- It's less shrill now but lacking depth, still not a match for the Kenwood but sounds good for movies
- The shrillness seems to have gone away when I got rid of the MultiEQ indicator
- Tried a few headphones, all had a strange, grainy sound
- Was particularly bad on my sony headphones mdr-cd999 (I was an audio nut back in the 1980s... my youth)
- Now I know I have to recap the Kenwood KA-7300
 
I thought the units were a little bright and edgy for sure in the HT modes, so my son bought a NAD instead as he concurred. It did sound a little better in the Stereo modes. That said if you are using 4 ohm speakers which drops close to 3 ohms I would look for something else. I,m not a Yamaha fan either, to much bad history in the past. Some of Marantz and Integra units sound better. I would just as soon have a Stereo integrated piece to avoid all those extras you don't really need.
 
TomB19 said:
- MultiEQ was on - not sure how, not sure how I got it turned off
Click to expand...

You had the Audyssey room correction software engaged, but it's tailored to someone else's speakers and room configuration, NOT YOURS! Also, unless you checked specifically, there were almost certainly level adjustment made for the various channels and who knows how the bass management was set up. All that customization to other than your unique conditions is why the unit sounds so crappy. Once you get it properly dialed in, it'll blow you socks off — guaranteed!

First, download the operating manual (its available in many online locations) and READ IT!

Then, initialize the unit back to factory settings (it's in the manual!) clearing all the customizations the previous owner(s) made to the unit.

Then, tailor the unit to your specific setup. If you don't have the setup microphone, I probably have an extra one kicking around that I could send you.

Finally, make a proper evaluation of the system, comparing it FAIRLY to other equipment, and determine its suitability to your needs.

Good luck and let me know if you need help with anything.
 
You mention you are using it for music only. This makes me think you may not have checked out the menu settings that are accessed by the "on-screen" menu. On-screen meaning on the TV screen. It may be well worth running a video cable from the "monitor out" on the back of the Denon to your TV just to see how everything is set up. You can always disconnect it when you are done.

That is one of the reasons I stay with plain stereo receivers for music - Don't have to mess with that stuff. Also, on some HT receivers, even if you do not use a sub, turning the bass management TOTALLY off can be a problem. For whatever reason, some HT receivers don't let you totally turn off that feature. I had one receiver that would not allow passing anything lower than 60hz to my speakers EVEN with No Sub selected and speakers set to large. That didn't last long as my stereo unit.
 
I use the system for both music and home theater.

I've made some headway.

The MultiEq XT light was off but Audessey was still processing. Perhaps this is correct behaviour but I suspect it's a bug.

I read the instructions and discovered the mic needs to be pointed toward the ceiling during calibration. Doing so and re-calibrating improved things a little bit.

Far greater improvement was had with bi-amping the Polk A9s. I used heavy gauge speaker (12g, I think) for the woofers and light cable (18g, I think) for the MTM. This has completely tamed the highs. Upper end response is now smooth and detailed. Something is missing from the mid bass but the bottom end is still there. I'm going to run it like this for a while and then re-calibrate. The caps on the surround back amplifiers may need to form.

Whatever the case, it sounds radically different and way better at all volumes. It's still no match for my Kenwood/Heco Superior 700, though.
 
Sounds like you still don't have it set up correctly.

Lemme look at the manual real quick and I'll get back to you.

OK, see pages 28 AND 29. You'll want to set Audyssey to Flat instead of its too "rich" Normal setting (p. 28). Then you'll want to determine whether you want Audyssey EQ applied when listening in Direct or Pure Direct modes (p. 29). I suggest you try it both ways. I find Audyssey Flat in Direct mode is optimum. YMMV. Good luck and be sure to post back on how it goes. The 3805 is a fine machine and should produce excellent quality music (and HT surround) given a proper setup and configuration.

Oops! Disregard above, I was thinking you had a 3805, I missed the correction to 3806. See next post by me.
 
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OK, see page 69 in the 3806 Operating Instruction manual on how to set up your main front speakers for 2-channel listening (separate from auto/manual setup of your full surround speaker system even though it uses same mains and sub). To go full range (i.e. NO bass management), simply designate you have no sub in this setup.

Then, see page 80 in the same manual for selection of Audyssey EQ curves AND selection of whether to apply EQ or not to 2-channel listening (Direct and Stereo modes). I generally prefer to apply EQ to 2-channel but change the default "Audyssey" curve to the "Audyssey Flat" one. I believe this gives you speaker and room correction without "coloring" the sound with Denon's default (over)emphasis in the mid-bass.

Suggest you experiment with the various options until you get a good feel for what they can and cannot do. Then you'll be in a position to choose the correct settings to suit your tastes and technical preferences. Good luck, and be sure to post back on how things go.
 
Tom White said:
You mention you are using it for music only. This makes me think you may not have checked out the menu settings that are accessed by the "on-screen" menu. On-screen meaning on the TV screen. It may be well worth running a video cable from the "monitor out" on the back of the Denon to your TV just to see how everything is set up. You can always disconnect it when you are done.

That is one of the reasons I stay with plain stereo receivers for music - Don't have to mess with that stuff. Also, on some HT receivers, even if you do not use a sub, turning the bass management TOTALLY off can be a problem. For whatever reason, some HT receivers don't let you totally turn off that feature. I had one receiver that would not allow passing anything lower than 60hz to my speakers EVEN with No Sub selected and speakers set to large. That didn't last long as my stereo unit.
Click to expand...
This is something worth remember for us Denon 3805 owners ... I have been using the menu via the buttons on the front of my 3805 ... and while I am tech savvy and familiar with the menu system, it is still complex and can be pretty confusing. Given that most of the remotes for the 3805's have long since died, plugging the receiver into an external monitor (I use mine for music only) IS GENIUS. I can't recall what type of cable connection you use for "Monitor Out" or if I even have a TV that can take the older style connections ... but it is a great tip to fine tune this A/V receiver. Thanks Tom White.
 
dfun470 said:
Had an Amp die so I am going to use an Denon AVR for music in my office on four Polk R-15s. But I have never used this amp before ($70 at Goodwill :)). I could use some basic hook-up info to speed my learning, while I work my way thru the manual.

How do I hook-up and set the amp to 1) listen to standard stereo on just Front & Back pairs of speakers. and 2) listen to straight stereo on the Fronts and Surround processed stereo (using the various DSP sound modes) on the rears? --perhaps that's not achievable and all four speakers will be DSP processed.

I previously listened in Mode #1 with a HK 3485 receiver, and this mode seemed to lack liveliness, and I thought it might benefit from a DSP sound mode.

Lastly, have you listened to music in these two modes, and what was your preference?
Click to expand...
I have my Denon wired for studio tracks. Only used the 2 anolog channels bridged. All speakers are in Parallel. Note : subs is in preamp witg Crown amp running simultaneously
 
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