Denon AVR-1908 Christmas Discounts!
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Denon AVR-1908 Christmas Discounts!.
Product: Denon AVR-1908 Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
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After doing some research, I decided on the Denon 1908 because it had most of the state-of-the-art features of higher priced receivers, and I wanted to conclude in the ball park of $1000 for both receiver and speakers. For the speakers I bought Harman Kardon HKTS-18 5.1 Channel Speaker System (which are fabulous for their brand!) .
Setting up the receiver does hold some distress. I fell into a few traps, and had a friend who is knowledgeable in home theaters near over and abet me. Here are some things to study out for:
(*) While it does have an HDMI out, it does not up-convert other inputs to HDMI. Simply set aside, the only signals which can be output through the HDMI out are those which are INPUT through HDMI connections on the receiver. It will not, for instance, steal a component signal and output through HDMI. Thus, you must hook up all of the TYPES of connections from receiver to TV that you have INPUT types for. If you have HDMI inputs, you need to hook up the HDMI output to the HDTV. In addition, if you have component inputs, you must hook up the component output from receiver to HDTV. BOTH, of course, can be crooked up at the same time. Sign that this also requires changing the TV input separately if going perform component to HDMI inputs (a little hassle, and those with shimmering remotes can area this up to be transparent to them) .
(*) The set-up conceal will NOT output over the HDMI line! So, even if you are going to purely employ HDMI connections throughout your system, you mild need to hook up the component or S-Video out to HDTV to do set-up.
(*) Auto and Manual Setup must BOTH be done to accumulate best results. The auto-setup is musty to have the receiver choose best output levels for all speakers via a 6-point process of setting up a microphone (supplied!) at various space. BE clear to have a tripod during this operation (the microphone has a tripod connector on the bottom) . The Manual Setup is stale for other stuff. For example, one must plot the speaker 'size' here (dinky or great, the contrast being substantial speakers do BOTH bass and treble, dinky speakers dedicated to treble, as in most 5.1 speaker packages) . But, most indispensable, it is in the Manual setup you must TURN ON any self-powered bass speaker. This is also where the system can be setup to have all bass output dedicated to the bass speaker (leaving the other speakers to do what THEY do best!) . Apt is, do BOTH the auto and manual setups.
(*) There are two remotes supplied. The MAIN remote has a 'hidden' feature. That is, if you turn it over, there is a door you can originate up to another station of remote buttons, and these are the ones ragged for setup. At first one can mediate one was sent the horrible remote when looking at illustrations in the setup manual, but it turns out these are objective the buttons 'hidden' on the Wait On of the remote.
All in all, once you find it setup, this receiver is awesome! If I had a complaint it would be that the main remote could have more input selection buttons on the front (it has six, but one can hook up many more than six external components) . Also, the names on these buttons do not think some of my components (e.g., I have a PS-3 bent up via HDMI, but there is no 'game' input button on the remote) . But one can save any input to any button, so this is a VERY minor complaint.
The sound is sizable, and I'm VERY overjoyed with this receiver! 
After 3 months I can say the Denon receiver 1908 is a spacious product. Matched well with my Athena speakers. The sound is warm and generous compared to the Yamaha receiver its replacing. You can listen for hours and not tire. Setup was easy for me. First I former the automatic setup with the provided audyssey mic. This discovers the distance & sizes of your speakers and sets up the sounds. Next I pleasing tuned the sound via the manual setup. My only gripe is that the remote is front and assist. I've twisted up my laptop via optical and external soundcard as "CD" so every time I need to listen to music I have to turn over the remote, launch the support and take "CD". Not a stout deal but seems like a hassle. I've seen a few complaints against the manual. Personally, it was very easy to follow. Its logically designed - manual or auto setup? If auto, insert mic, status in 6 different listening positions...If manual, 'setup one item at a time as you go step by step' in logical sequence. The English is easy to follow. Its similar stuff to that in my Yamaha receiver. Not that complicated, really.
UPDATE NOVEMBER, 2008: Now for the dreadful share - the receiver 'broke' after 3 months of employ. The scrape - within 5min of spend, it automatically turns off and puts itself in protection mode. Took it to a Denon repair shop, they changed some parts, brought it home and nope, it ain't fixed. Took it to another Denon repair shop a week ago, awaiting their response. Given how mountainous quality of the sound is, I'm standing by my Denon! You can never go infamous with this. I admire the remote, it has a heavy quality feel to it. Biggest surprise: The 1907 was selling for over $500 last year. I got the 1908 for a tiny over $300 mark recent on Amazon!
UPDATE, DECEMBER 3, 2008 - authorized repair shop fixed the pickle under warranty = free. Did the auto setup then manual to fine-tune. Now that I've gone through it for the 2nd time, I can understand how less tech-savvy folks would be intimidated. The apt news is that after the auto setup, you're pleasing considerable done. You don't have to mess around with the manual setup, if you don't want to.
I was inflamed to hook this up with my 5.1 system and worked patiently with Denon customer service. After all the trials, it turned out the receiver was putrid and Denon guys asked me to return it. I'm going to capture the same receiver (since I have heard raving reviews about this particular one) and try if that will work out. Keeping fingers crossed!
