1. Posted: Aug 25 2008

   This receiver loses synchronization with Sony TVs. It happens randomly and Denon is not doing anything about this problem. They've released several firmware updates and some of them made the problem better and some of them made the problem worse. The latest firmware revision is the worst. It happens 2-3 times a day. The worst part is that it didn't do it at first, then they posted a firmware update and it began doing it and there is no way to revert to an older firmware version. Please stay away from this receiver. If I could return it I would not hesitate for a second.

2. Posted: Aug 11 2008

   I have had this unit for 9 months now and really like it, but its sort of a love/hate relationship. First the love: the unit has excellent sound with my Klipsch RB-61 speaker system and has a very nice easy to use menu system. Setup was a piece of cake with the Audyssey calibration too, but there is hate: The remote. I still haven't figured out the advanced features and the biggest issue is it isn't compatible with Sony. I also have the DirecTV DVR, Sony Blueray BDP-S500 and XBR5. Every now and then, probably only once or twice during a movie the Denon blanks for a few seconds and resyncs itself. Calling Denon support they blame the Sony TV, but when connecting the DVR or Blueray directly to the XBR5 I never have the problem. I've tried countless sets of cables but to no avail and Denon has nothing to say. If the unit worked with my TV I would give it 5-stars, but for now its a love / hate relationship.

3. Posted: Jul 31 2008

   [Before purchasing this receiver I highly recommend going to the Denon web site and downloading the user manual] I am using this receiver in our bedroom for TV and music. I purchased after weeks of careful study. It was a close call between this unit and the Yamaha RX-V3800BL Yamaha RX-V3800BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black), but the Denon won out for the following reasons: (1) Yamaha made me register with them to download the manual (2) The Denon has better video upscaling (3) In October Denon is supposed to release a firmware update which will add HDMI-CEC support, a feature I really like. If this had been primarily a music system, or if I didn't need to up-scale my standard def satellite box, the Yamaha might have won out. As the Internet will tell you, the main remote which comes with this unit is annoying to use, and I am expecting to receive a Denon RC-7000CI two-way remote from Amazon sometime today. (NOTE: You need the RF unit (RC-7001RCI) if you want the two-way feature to work.) From downloading the manual for this remote I suspect that it is being outsourced from Universal Remote. It is PC programmable, and I hope it will be a good controller for my 3808 and my other home theater components. I will post a review on it when I know more. I am a very technical person so factor that in to the following. Initial setup was fairly straightforward and was done with very little reference to the manual. I did have to restart the receiver to get the network to come up. While it is easy to get a little lost in the menu system, there isn't anything that is overwhelmingly obscure, and after a couple of weeks of use it becomes less of an issue. When my son and I first set the receiver up we were a little unhappy with how unstable it was. Too many lock-ups, especially when controlling the receiver over the web with my Mac. Updating to the latest firmware has greatly improved stability, and made some small refinements in the interface. Also, I lost my OSD until I fully powered down the unit and powered it back up. Things I like: Internet Radio (but then I like shortwave radio too) Nice Upscaling Flexible Configuration and Labeling Web Interface (wish all my components had this) RS-232 Phono Input XM Functional auxiliary remote Things My Wife likes: iPod Interface Things I don't like: Miserable main remote XM User Interface Needs Work GUI could be better What's Missing: HD Radio 3D (9.1) HDMI-CEC (promised in October, and I'm naively counting on them to keep their word) NOTE: HDMI-CEC currently passes through, so my TV and other components CEC just fine, it is just that the Denon ignores it all. Most Amusing Feature: Has a jack for Denon's $500 cat-5 cable Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable. Fortunately I don't need this feature, so I don't have to figure out if this is just a plain old cat-5, or if it has some sort of non-standard pinout. (I know if you have other Denon equipment this may be a nice feature, but you have to poke fun at that cable) My Setup: Samsung 40A750 (CEC supported) Samsung LN40A750 40-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color Denon AVR-3808CI (CEC planned) Denon RC-7000CI two-way remote Denon RC-7000CI IR/RF Remote Control RF unit Denon RC-7001RCI RF/IR Remote Base Station for the RC-7000CI Remote Control XM mini-tuner (Integrated with AVR) iPod Interface (Denon ASD-1RBK iPod Docking Station (Black Finish) (NOTE: You probably should just buy the basic iPod interface. As I understand it, the wired networkable interface Denon ASD-3N iPod/Network Connectivity Client Dock (Black) and the wireless Denon ASD-3N iPod/Network Connectivity Client Dock with Wifi (Black) duplicate some of the functionality of the receiver. (If anyone knows otherwise, please leave a comment and I will correct my review - thanks) Panasonic DVD Recorder (CEC supported) Panasonic DMR-EZ28K 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder with Built In Tuner Samsung BD-UP5000 HD/Blu-Ray (CEC supported) Samsung BD-UP5000 1080p HD-DVD Blu-Ray Disc Combo Player Boston Acoustics MCS 130 5.1 Speaker System Boston Acoustics Horizon Series MCS130 5.1-Channel Surround Speaker System (Black) Boston Acoustics MCS 130 Additional Surround (x2) Boston Acoustics MCS 130 Surround Single add-on rear-channel satellite speaker for MCS 130 system Midnight Apple-TV (CEC Not Supported - time for an update to HDMI 1.3a/CEC capable product Apple!) Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive - MB189LL/A Load Balanced Dual DSL (CEC N/A) Netgear FVX538 ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (I've exceeded Amazon's silly 10 product link limit, so you'll have to cut and paste the last few if you want to view the items - sorry)

See all reviews...