HDTV Forum

Interestingly enough, I picked up a discounted Denon 2803 as an interim receiver last night. I have always been more partial to Yamaha, and Denon, then Onkyo myself, but had read great reviews on the Onkyo. I had always been disappointed with the sound of my Sony over my old Yamaha. I new better, but at the time it gave me an all Sony setup which at the time seemed more important than the sound. I had fully intended to get a 3805 but changed my mind, as the 2803 had what I was in need of, cheap, and had good reviews. I wanted zone 2 for an outside speaker setup, and wanted to do it before July 4th. The 2803 had hard buttons for the b speakers in my kitchen and the zone 2 for outside. A very important feature for my remote disabled wife. As far as a high end Amp Pre-Amp setup, I'm just not enough of an audiophile to spend that kind of money. Although I guess I get the point your making after the comparison of the Sony to the Yamaha.
Later on I will buy a new receiver/dvd with HDMI or whatever once the wrinkles are all worked out.

curiouskeith wrote:. I wanted zone 2 for an outside speaker setup, and wanted to do it before July 4th. The 2803 had hard buttons for the b speakers in my kitchen and the zone 2 for outside. A very important feature for my remote disabled wife. As far as a high end Amp Pre-Amp setup, I'm just not enough of an audiophile to spend that kind of money. Although I guess I get the point your making after the comparison of the Sony to the Yamaha.
Later on I will buy a new receiver/dvd with HDMI or whatever once the wrinkles are all worked out.

I had the 2803. Good machine. Good luck getting the Zone 2 to work properly by July 4th. I was stubborn and it took me a week before I gave in and called the Denon support line. Btw, they have the best support by far of any manufacturer that I have ever seen. I was so close to having right all by myself. Seems like the less expensive the electronics get, the more difficult they are to operate.

Yeah, I started out thinking I'd just be watching movies and picked up an Outlaw 1050 receiver when I began this "hobby" of ours. But you know what? Everything I played sounded so good that I found myself listening to more and more music instead of watching TV. Btw, that $400 Outlaw receiver sounded better then the 2803, 3803, and 3805 that I have owned. Of course it's only a 5.1 and lacks all of the usefull features those Denons have.

Chuck,

Check out this link about jitter and digital audio connections

http://www.ilovehdtv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=515

tombanjo

It was about 1 am by the time I got connected. I think my neighbors may have had a problem with me trying it out. I was just looking at the online manuel and I was under the impression that zone 2 is amplified, or you can use the pre-out. It is amplified right? That was the whole idea.

curiouskeith wrote:tombanjo

It was about 1 am by the time I got connected. I think my neighbors may have had a problem with me trying it out. I was just looking at the online manuel and I was under the impression that zone 2 is amplified, or you can use the pre-out. It is amplified right? That was the whole idea.

I have the 2803 and yes - zone 2 (or the rear speakers for 7.1 modes) is amplified just like the rest of the channels. I use both channels for two rear surround speakers so I can't help with setting it up for zone 2 use but it should work.

curiouskeith wrote:tombanjo

It was about 1 am by the time I got connected. I think my neighbors may have had a problem with me trying it out. I was just looking at the online manuel and I was under the impression that zone 2 is amplified, or you can use the pre-out. It is amplified right? That was the whole idea.

Yes, they are powered. But if you are using zone 2, you can't use 5.1 in your main zone, although you can use 2 channel. You can also have different sources playing in both zones. If I remember correctly, you need to enable the zone two, turn up the zone 2 volume, all controled with the remote only. Then there's something else you need to do that I'm forgetting right now. Honestly, it's all much easier to call Denon and have the guy run you through it. I was stubborn, but no need for you to be. It's insane how hard they make these little dipshit receivers to work.

tombanjo wrote:

curiouskeith wrote:tombanjo

It was about 1 am by the time I got connected. I think my neighbors may have had a problem with me trying it out. I was just looking at the online manuel and I was under the impression that zone 2 is amplified, or you can use the pre-out. It is amplified right? That was the whole idea.

Yes, they are powered. But if you are using zone 2, you can't use 5.1 in your main zone, although you can use 2 channel. You can also have different sources playing in both zones. If I remember correctly, you need to enable the zone two, turn up the zone 2 volume, all controled with the remote only. Then there's something else you need to do that I'm forgetting right now. Honestly, it's all much easier to call Denon and have the guy run you through it. I was stubborn, but no need for you to be. It's insane how hard they make these little dipshit receivers to work.

Are you sure about that? You can't do a DD EX or DTS ES 6.1 soundtrack because that requires the rear surround channels. But I don't see why you can't do 5.1. Then again I've never tried it so I could be wrong.

Thanks. I had thought that zone 2 was ampified, but started to get that panick feeling. I didnt' want to run two amps - no room. Most of the time zone 2 would be used when the system is playing stereo anyway. So it shouldn't be a big issue, although it would be nice.

I remembered yet another thing about zone 2 hook up. You can't use any digital connections like coax or optical with your sources. Zone 2 operates with analogue (composite) connections only. All you have to do is double up on your connections. The 2803 will recognize the better quality digital connect for your main zone and automaticaly switch to the composite ones for zone 2 use.

Good to know! I would have spent hours trying to get the digital cable music to play. I spent an hour last night just getting the darn thing to stop playing stereo out of 4 speakers! I don't like the music coming out of the surround speakers.