Like the review and the video. Just grabbed an X3600H for $325 on marketplace and relatively happy with it. Just running a 2.1 system with my energy conniseur C9s and I'm not blown away by how loud it gets - I have to jack the volume to get it really up there. Also, it ahs the old style Denon UI. But overall I'm pretty happy for the price and excited to start using audyssey, etc.
@SimplyTechReviews Sony sounds good right out of the box. I still have my adh 750 that's amazing, considering I spent 300 dollars on it. I have been thinking about using it again for music ..that's how fatiguing I find this Denon.
I bought denon AVC-X3800H, now i have used it one week. I dont recommend denon 3800H, i had old yamaha reciver rx-657 + pre amp as701 for front speakers. All klipsch speakers. Front: Klipsch RP-8000F Center: RP-504C Surround: klipsch Reference R-51M. Top height: klipsch Reference R-51M With old yamaha reciver speakers was alive and volume goes very high, super quality, and super clear audio. with denon 3800h quality is just awful. Very quiet volume levels, yes i have done all source levels, calibration and try every diffrent settings. It feels like i dont have anymore klipsch speakers, music is like boombox, this can happen when you buy low quality unit like denon 3800h. Also denon avc-x3800h runs very hot compered yamaha AS701 and yamaha rx-657. My hopes were very high, but im really disappointed in this unit. Also it starting up very long time. Menu is also slow. I wouldn't recommend it even if it costs 500 euros, i paid lot more. My first and last denon for sure.
Hello. Great review! Can you tell me is it good for movies? I plan to buy it for home theatre. I heard that for movies it is good to have slightly brighter sound. Thank you
For movies Denon having 4 individual sub channels gives you bass management. Both Marantz and Denon have a kick down low in mid bass region and make your woofers come alive.
@@SimplyTechReviews Thank you very much for quick reply. I hope it will have enough strenght for little active subwoofer and wharfedale evo's 4.2 when I add one more subwoofer.
@@SimplyTechReviews thank you very much for advices...I'll look into it. Just one more question - Did they fix HDMI issues with this receiver completely with updates? I've heard that it had problems when it came out with incorrect switching between them...
Not night and day… overall room correction doesn’t magically transform your system. I like dirac’s user interface, responsiveness and the ability to load harmon curves.
If Denon x3800 sounds bright then can the treble setting be lowered to being it to close to neutral or warm tone? Just a thought and would like to know your honest opinion.
You can’t EQ out the native amp sound characteristics. Having said that unless you listen back to back to these amps, you perhaps won’t notice the bright highs as much. So go ahead and buy it if it makes sense for you. Good luck 👍
Hoping for a quick reply on this one......but I have an opportunity to grab an X3800H or a Marantz Cinema 60 at roughly the same price. I know these aren't the two receivers you would normally compare, but here I am! I don't need the added channels that the X3800H provides, nor the extra power....though both could come in handy if my situation changes. I run a 5.1 home theater, and that's not likely to change in the short-term....I'd bi-amp the front towers and be done with it. My priority is better sound quality, which makes it sound like the Marantz is (perhaps unsurprisingly) the better option. It sounds as though I'm answering my own question, but to you and anyone else who reads this and wants to offer their opinion....would it be foolish to leave the value of the X3800H on the table, and instead opt for the less-featured, but perhaps better sounding Cinema 60?
Denon leans slightly on the brighter side. It really impresses with detail at first, but over time it can feel a bit fatiguing. That said, if your speakers are warmer, or if you adjust toe-in or EQ settings, the brightness might not stand out as much-especially since you’re not A/B testing. The differences are subtle, so I’d go with whichever offers the better deal. Personally, I’m drawn to the new Marantz series, but keep in mind that if you’re considering future upgrades for additional subs or channels, it’s worth factoring that into your decision to avoid needing an upgrade down the line.
@@SimplyTechReviews Man, thank you for the quick reply! I wish I had a chance to hear both AVRs before making the choice. I'm pretty well acquainted with the Marantz sound, which I love. So maybe the story should end right there. But the value that the 3800 presents for the same price makes a compelling case....and just how "different" can it be? I'm not typically a fan of brighter sound signatures so that's another notch for Marantz. For further context, my current AVR, and what I've used for the last 10 years is an Arcam AVR360. I find the sound to be fantastic, but I don't know how I would describe it, or how it maps over to a Denon or Marantz. Thanks again!
@@SimplyTechReviewsi have the same issue, only with the marantz 50 and denon 4800. Both same price at €1400 right now. I know quality of the dac and amp of the denon improved a lot of the 4800 compared to the 3800. I think its a very close call between the 60 and 4800. I lean more to the denon because it has more power than marantz, im not planning to get an external amp, and i heard marantz is very slow in streaming music or starting up. I want the avr for nice clean stereo music and i will use it as a 5.1 movie set up. So what shall i get?
Hey I am having Denon x3600h, Do I need to switch to x3800h ?, I do know difference in 4 subs, Diarx Live and new menu. Any other change that worth it replacement?
I agree about room correction - I always leave these systems off and just set the amp up myself. I just did so with a new Denon 2800, which replaced an Onkyo 605. I do kinda disagree about the Denon sound, though - to my ears, running no EQ or Audyssey, the Denon sounds considerably warmer and more laid back compared to my old Onkyo. The Onkyo house sound is definitely more aggressive and in your face, while Denon seems to dial that back a little.... almost like a more mature, refined delivery. I can see why HT enthusiats gravitate to Onkyos for this reason.
Nice review. Does it have a high pass filter - so that I can turn off LFE below a certain level (to avoid shaking the house/upstairs while keeping the volume at a good level)?
Hola, buen día. Saludos desde México. Agradezco tus revisiones porque en otras (y he visto muchas jejeje) al ser principiante, son muy amplias, contradictorias y complicadas a veces de entender para mí. Estoy en la indecisión total con mi presupuesto. Vi tu revisión entre este DENON 3800H y el Marantz 7015. Tengo una bocina central KEF Q650c, 2 torres KEF R5 y 2 surround Q350, compre 4 polk OWM3 como atmos para hacer un 5.1.4 en el futuro ya que mi yamaha TSR-700 no da lo suficiente para ello y lo tengo conectado a mi pc y pantalla. Mi subwoofer es un polk audio que pienso cambiar el próximo año a finales de ser posible por 2 svs 1000 ya que el gasto es bastante considerable para este gusto 🥲 Esto se vuelve adictivo y he tardado bastante en armar poco a poco lo que tengo😅 No sé si alguno de estos 2 modelos me ayuden para lograr un 5.2.4 sin problemas y que le den vida o mejor sonido a mis bocinas. O si me recomiendas esperar y ahorrar más e ir por algún modelo mejor de receptor y cual sería tu recomendación de ser posible. Mi sala es pequeña y mi búsqueda es poder conseguir un buen sonido envolvente y de calidad en videojuegos y películas aunado a disfrutar de la música. Una disculpa si quizá no me doy a entender completamente. Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia y conocimiento. Saludos 😃
Updated and looks like i need to calibrate again...sounds different. Doesnt sound good. Need to check internal amp performance...lost hope with it anyway
@@SimplyTechReviews checked another 4800 in a showroom connected to kef q950 and that too sounded very similar!! No power...however kef q750 was sounding better - still not as good
It has a setting to select ohm ratings for speakers and theoretically can support 4 ohms. Know this that this amp has a good DAC, great software, good EQ out of the box…. What it lacks is connectivity and a big power supply. So if you want to drive hard to drive speakers and have oodles of power then this won’t be the right fit. But in general unless you are doing something very advanced, this should do the trick with 4 ohm speakers.
@lgmediapcsalon9440 I have the same speakers and at 87db they are not the toughest to drive but not the easiest either. Make sure amp is stable at 4 ohms and crossover at 90hz if you are using a sub. The speakers can get very loud before you hit issues.
Dear Sir, I have heard the sound of AVC X3800H but not satisfied when i played only Audio like MP#, or audio CD, the sound is artificial i guess, what you suggest, can i buy AVR X2800H or 3800H ?
I also dislike the sound quality rendered by the 3800h. I don't get it... why would an amplifier ruin music like that? Like building a car that doesn't drive straight. wtf.
kindly advise i have 7 channel power amp and can i assign my front, center, and surround and surround back total 7 speakers to my preouts settings and rest 4 channels to my main AVR, and choose 11.1 assign mode in the speakers/amp setting? without adding extra 2 channels to my external amp? OR what will be best setting. Thank you
You can go into the Denon AVR settings for speaker setup and assign the necessary speakers you want to use. This will keep the internal amps active, while still using external amps. I did that before using preamp exclusively. You can go with 7.1.4 or 5.1.6 (1 or 4 subs)
Someone could explane to me why buy denon-x3800h instead of marantz cinema 50? they are egual and have identical internal boards. They haven't got dirac if you don't pay so much. So I think if could be better a pioneer vsx-lx305 or 505.
I haven’t tested the Cinema 50 at home but have heard at Best Buy. Historically even with mostly similar components and software Marantz and Denon have different DAC’s and sound signature. If you like the Denon sound, go for it!
@@simplymusic487 the history of marantz doesn't exist anymore. The hdmi boards with dac have are the egual. They change only on the firmware of course.
I won’t say that… it depends on your sonic preferences. If you like slightly forward highs you will love it. If you prefer your highs to be slightly less bright and forward then you may not like it. A lot of people like Denon sound.
I did a back to back with 3 other recievers and to my ears it was bright. Also other reviewers have said the same to varied degrees. But yeah sound is personal so I am happy you like your receiver.
I bought the 3800h, "upgraded" from my pioneer elite vxt-81. The 15 year old pioneer produces better sound. The Denon sounds muddy and lacks clarity. Sucks because I though denon was a step up from pioneer.
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/48PxwspDvrE/mqdefault.jpg)
Whoever said it sounds either warm or cold, I feel it does both but depends on the source and mode
Very good video sir. Quite enjoyable.
Like the review and the video. Just grabbed an X3600H for $325 on marketplace and relatively happy with it. Just running a 2.1 system with my energy conniseur C9s and I'm not blown away by how loud it gets - I have to jack the volume to get it really up there. Also, it ahs the old style Denon UI. But overall I'm pretty happy for the price and excited to start using audyssey, etc.
Enjoy your purchase …. There is always an upgrade in the future 😊
See if you can set the not gain to +4db
Not gain?
Input gain…
Good review. I own the Denon and it's the dac. The akm dac in the previous versions was simply better for audio.
Thanks, glad you liked it. The sonic signature of Denon is bit bright, of all avr’s tested, while none is perfect, sonically I like Sony the most.
@SimplyTechReviews Sony sounds good right out of the box. I still have my adh 750 that's amazing, considering I spent 300 dollars on it. I have been thinking about using it again for music ..that's how fatiguing I find this Denon.
Nice fun review.
Thanks new one coming up shortly
I bought denon AVC-X3800H, now i have used it one week. I dont recommend denon 3800H, i had old yamaha reciver rx-657 + pre amp as701 for front speakers. All klipsch speakers.
Front: Klipsch RP-8000F
Center: RP-504C
Surround: klipsch Reference R-51M.
Top height: klipsch Reference R-51M
With old yamaha reciver speakers was alive and volume goes very high, super quality, and super clear audio. with denon 3800h quality is just awful. Very quiet volume levels, yes i have done all source levels, calibration and try every diffrent settings. It feels like i dont have anymore klipsch speakers, music is like boombox, this can happen when you buy low quality unit like denon 3800h. Also denon avc-x3800h runs very hot compered yamaha AS701 and yamaha rx-657. My hopes were very high, but im really disappointed in this unit. Also it starting up very long time. Menu is also slow. I wouldn't recommend it even if it costs 500 euros, i paid lot more. My first and last denon for sure.
Hello. Great review! Can you tell me is it good for movies? I plan to buy it for home theatre. I heard that for movies it is good to have slightly brighter sound. Thank you
For movies Denon having 4 individual sub channels gives you bass management. Both Marantz and Denon have a kick down low in mid bass region and make your woofers come alive.
@@SimplyTechReviews Thank you very much for quick reply. I hope it will have enough strenght for little active subwoofer and wharfedale evo's 4.2 when I add one more subwoofer.
When going multi subs highly recommend mini dsp 2x4 HD. Until you see what’s going on in your system very difficult to correct.
@@SimplyTechReviews thank you very much for advices...I'll look into it. Just one more question - Did they fix HDMI issues with this receiver completely with updates? I've heard that it had problems when it came out with incorrect switching between them...
@libertalian_8415 I know Andrew had said that in his reviews, but I didn’t experience it so can’t say.
Great review! X3800H has HEOS technology built-in. My question, is it able to stream apple itunes and smule app?
Thanks, this is what I found on Denon website: Currently, Apple Music is not available as a music service with the HEOS app.
@@SimplyTechReviewsyou can just use airplay to stream from any apple device including itunes airplay denon has build in airplay
Great info!! If I where to get the Dirac software do I calibrate using the mic that is included with the avr?
I used the mic that came with the AVR but some professionals use a more expensive mic. Not sure how big a difference it makes.
@@SimplyTechReviews How was Dirac Live to you compared to XT32?
Not night and day… overall room correction doesn’t magically transform your system. I like dirac’s user interface, responsiveness and the ability to load harmon curves.
If Denon x3800 sounds bright then can the treble setting be lowered to being it to close to neutral or warm tone? Just a thought and would like to know your honest opinion.
You can’t EQ out the native amp sound characteristics. Having said that unless you listen back to back to these amps, you perhaps won’t notice the bright highs as much. So go ahead and buy it if it makes sense for you. Good luck 👍
@Simply Tech Reviews is X3800Hs Audyssee XT32 measuring system worth it over XT from X2800H for running a 5.1 in a (very) difficult room ?
My personal opinion is no amount of dsp magic can fix or do wonders in a difficult room, not Dirac not audessey….
Plz suggest budget home theater setup for 16ft *14 ft bedroom
Totally depends on the budget and geography.
Use a bass shakers instead of a subwoofer if you're in a flat apartment
After Dirac calibration can you go in the app and change the curve like with the Audyssey app?
Hoping for a quick reply on this one......but I have an opportunity to grab an X3800H or a Marantz Cinema 60 at roughly the same price. I know these aren't the two receivers you would normally compare, but here I am! I don't need the added channels that the X3800H provides, nor the extra power....though both could come in handy if my situation changes. I run a 5.1 home theater, and that's not likely to change in the short-term....I'd bi-amp the front towers and be done with it. My priority is better sound quality, which makes it sound like the Marantz is (perhaps unsurprisingly) the better option. It sounds as though I'm answering my own question, but to you and anyone else who reads this and wants to offer their opinion....would it be foolish to leave the value of the X3800H on the table, and instead opt for the less-featured, but perhaps better sounding Cinema 60?
Denon leans slightly on the brighter side. It really impresses with detail at first, but over time it can feel a bit fatiguing. That said, if your speakers are warmer, or if you adjust toe-in or EQ settings, the brightness might not stand out as much-especially since you’re not A/B testing. The differences are subtle, so I’d go with whichever offers the better deal. Personally, I’m drawn to the new Marantz series, but keep in mind that if you’re considering future upgrades for additional subs or channels, it’s worth factoring that into your decision to avoid needing an upgrade down the line.
@@SimplyTechReviews Man, thank you for the quick reply! I wish I had a chance to hear both AVRs before making the choice. I'm pretty well acquainted with the Marantz sound, which I love. So maybe the story should end right there. But the value that the 3800 presents for the same price makes a compelling case....and just how "different" can it be? I'm not typically a fan of brighter sound signatures so that's another notch for Marantz.
For further context, my current AVR, and what I've used for the last 10 years is an Arcam AVR360. I find the sound to be fantastic, but I don't know how I would describe it, or how it maps over to a Denon or Marantz. Thanks again!
+2 db at high end… that’s the best way to describe it. If you don’t listen back to back you won’t notice it.
@@SimplyTechReviewsi have the same issue, only with the marantz 50 and denon 4800. Both same price at €1400 right now.
I know quality of the dac and amp of the denon improved a lot of the 4800 compared to the 3800. I think its a very close call between the 60 and 4800.
I lean more to the denon because it has more power than marantz, im not planning to get an external amp, and i heard marantz is very slow in streaming music or starting up.
I want the avr for nice clean stereo music and i will use it as a 5.1 movie set up.
So what shall i get?
@lennartl6662 I would go with Denon too. Just make sure your speakers themselves are not forward/bright. Else you won’t be happy.
Hey I am having Denon x3600h, Do I need to switch to x3800h ?, I do know difference in 4 subs, Diarx Live and new menu. Any other change that worth it replacement?
HDMI 2.1 if you want 120hz pass through, not only newer UI but faster UI as well.
Is there any difference in sound processing?@@SimplyTechReviews
I agree about room correction - I always leave these systems off and just set the amp up myself. I just did so with a new Denon 2800, which replaced an Onkyo 605.
I do kinda disagree about the Denon sound, though - to my ears, running no EQ or Audyssey, the Denon sounds considerably warmer and more laid back compared to my old Onkyo. The Onkyo house sound is definitely more aggressive and in your face, while Denon seems to dial that back a little.... almost like a more mature, refined delivery.
I can see why HT enthusiats gravitate to Onkyos for this reason.
Does it have the feature were you can turn off the main amp and use an external amp for the mains?
You can run the entire receiver as a pre-amp only.
Yes you can.
Nice review. Does it have a high pass filter - so that I can turn off LFE below a certain level (to avoid shaking the house/upstairs while keeping the volume at a good level)?
Thnx, Yea it does.
Have you tested MPEG-H through the AVR-X3800H?
Sorry I did not
Hola, buen día. Saludos desde México. Agradezco tus revisiones porque en otras (y he visto muchas jejeje) al ser principiante, son muy amplias, contradictorias y complicadas a veces de entender para mí. Estoy en la indecisión total con mi presupuesto. Vi tu revisión entre este DENON 3800H y el Marantz 7015. Tengo una bocina central KEF Q650c, 2 torres KEF R5 y 2 surround Q350, compre 4 polk OWM3 como atmos para hacer un 5.1.4 en el futuro ya que mi yamaha TSR-700 no da lo suficiente para ello y lo tengo conectado a mi pc y pantalla. Mi subwoofer es un polk audio que pienso cambiar el próximo año a finales de ser posible por 2 svs 1000 ya que el gasto es bastante considerable para este gusto 🥲 Esto se vuelve adictivo y he tardado bastante en armar poco a poco lo que tengo😅 No sé si alguno de estos 2 modelos me ayuden para lograr un 5.2.4 sin problemas y que le den vida o mejor sonido a mis bocinas. O si me recomiendas esperar y ahorrar más e ir por algún modelo mejor de receptor y cual sería tu recomendación de ser posible. Mi sala es pequeña y mi búsqueda es poder conseguir un buen sonido envolvente y de calidad en videojuegos y películas aunado a disfrutar de la música. Una disculpa si quizá no me doy a entender completamente. Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia y conocimiento. Saludos 😃
@@SimplyTechReviews ¡¡¡Excelente!!! Muchísimas gracias por tu tiempo y recomendación 😃 un cordial abrazo.
Upgraded to x4800 from pioneer lx57 and what i feel now is -no hi's or no lo's its denon (not bose)! My personal view! Heard hiss while at +5.5db.
Did the new fw fix that problem?
@@noomnoi4308 almost using it as pre amp. Will check!
Updated and looks like i need to calibrate again...sounds different. Doesnt sound good. Need to check internal amp performance...lost hope with it anyway
It could be a faulty unit. If under warranty I strongly suggest reaching out to Denon.
@@SimplyTechReviews checked another 4800 in a showroom connected to kef q950 and that too sounded very similar!! No power...however kef q750 was sounding better - still not as good
Can this AVR drive 4 ohm speakers or speakers like KEF R3 given that the listening distance is 3 meters?
It has a setting to select ohm ratings for speakers and theoretically can support 4 ohms. Know this that this amp has a good DAC, great software, good EQ out of the box…. What it lacks is connectivity and a big power supply. So if you want to drive hard to drive speakers and have oodles of power then this won’t be the right fit. But in general unless you are doing something very advanced, this should do the trick with 4 ohm speakers.
I wouldn't drive them with these. Those speakers dip below 4ohm. I would use a seperate amp. This amp makes it very easy to d
I have the R3 metas and the 3800h. The amp will drive them, but don't expect very loud spl. You will not max out the kefs with the 3800h
@@SimplyTechReviews lacks connectivity? What are you talking about? It even has pre-outs for every channel. HDMIs up the wazoo also.
@lgmediapcsalon9440 I have the same speakers and at 87db they are not the toughest to drive but not the easiest either. Make sure amp is stable at 4 ohms and crossover at 90hz if you are using a sub. The speakers can get very loud before you hit issues.
The problem i hear with denon is that the HDMI ports always quit working.
I never had any issues on my 1912 and X2400H
Dear Sir, I have heard the sound of AVC X3800H but not satisfied when i played only Audio like MP#, or audio CD, the sound is artificial i guess, what you suggest, can i buy AVR X2800H or 3800H ?
I haven’t tested the x2800H. Currently running Sony AZ3000ES and very satisfied.
@@SimplyTechReviews but i m from India, can sony AZ3000ES will play, i heard the ppwer supply os 110v, which is not acceptable in India, pls suggest
Check out Onkyo RZ50.
I also dislike the sound quality rendered by the 3800h. I don't get it... why would an amplifier ruin music like that? Like building a car that doesn't drive straight. wtf.
@@lgmediapcsalon9440 can you tell me what bothered you with this player? I'm planning to buy it for movies, home theatre. Thanks
kindly advise i have 7 channel power amp and can i assign my front, center, and surround and surround back total 7 speakers to my preouts settings and rest 4 channels to my main AVR, and choose 11.1 assign mode in the speakers/amp setting? without adding extra 2 channels to my external amp? OR what will be best setting. Thank you
Thanks for your question, I didn’t use external amplification so not sure but let’s hope someone else can answer this.
@SimplyTechReviews thank you for your response 🙏
You can go into the Denon AVR settings for speaker setup and assign the necessary speakers you want to use. This will keep the internal amps active, while still using external amps. I did that before using preamp exclusively. You can go with 7.1.4 or 5.1.6 (1 or 4 subs)
4:33 dialog clarity
Those noises when you add text are very annoying.
Thanks, have removed them in future videos.
Someone could explane to me why buy denon-x3800h instead of marantz cinema 50? they are egual and have identical internal boards. They haven't got dirac if you don't pay so much. So I think if could be better a pioneer vsx-lx305 or 505.
I haven’t tested the Cinema 50 at home but have heard at Best Buy. Historically even with mostly similar components and software Marantz and Denon have different DAC’s and sound signature. If you like the Denon sound, go for it!
@@simplymusic487 the history of marantz doesn't exist anymore. The hdmi boards with dac have are the egual. They change only on the firmware of course.
PRice? You pay a premium for the Marantz badge.
@HandicappedMind it’s now priced almost the same as Denon 3800H but I guess it depends on the region.
So denon 3800h is not good for music lover?
I won’t say that… it depends on your sonic preferences. If you like slightly forward highs you will love it. If you prefer your highs to be slightly less bright and forward then you may not like it. A lot of people like Denon sound.
I'll say it: The Denon is not good for music lover. If your ears work properly, the Denon lacks clarity and transparency.
Dirac is better no ifs or buts.
I found it the opposite, a tad warm and not all that bright.
I did a back to back with 3 other recievers and to my ears it was bright. Also other reviewers have said the same to varied degrees. But yeah sound is personal so I am happy you like your receiver.
I bought the 3800h, "upgraded" from my pioneer elite vxt-81. The 15 year old pioneer produces better sound. The Denon sounds muddy and lacks clarity.
Sucks because I though denon was a step up from pioneer.
The newer components have become cheaper
Ahrie bhaba very good