Verizon Wireless
Entered CNET Catalog: 10/14/2005
SKU: 0081757506786
Manufacturer: Denon
Manufacturer description
The AVR-3806, an upgrade from the best-selling AVR-3805, continues to offer the finest in multi-channel audio performance and ensures ultra-rigorous standards of signal purity. Key new high-end features include HDMI switching, 7 channel amplifiers, HDCD decoding, built-in XM-satellite radio capability, and multi-zone functionality. The AVR-3806 also incorporates Audyssey MultEQxt Room EQ to calibrate your audio system and is packaged with a microphone to make your set-up even easier.Product summary
The good: High-end 7.1-channel A/V receiver; 120 watts per channel; High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) switching; XM Ready satellite-radio support; three-zone multiroom capability; large-screen remote reduces button clutter.
The bad: Analog inputs are limited to 480i output via HDMI, which many HDTVs can't handle; the confusing autosetup procedure will make you want to take the easier path and use the manual setup.
The bottom line: The successor to Denon's best-selling receiver gets even better for 2006, but the AVR-3806's HDMI implementation falls a bit short.
Average user rating: from 15 users
3.5 stars
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 User Rating: 
4/10
The Bad, the worst, the ugly....
Pros: Great sound and lots of power
Cons: HDMI passthrough is faulty (per Denon), so if you want great audio ONLY, buy the thing.
Review: I am an engineer and am seen by family and friends as a "first call" resource for anything and everything "tech". With that said, the engineering behind this unit defies explanation. To sum it up, when I have a babysitter arranged for an evening, I ask them to come over about 20 minutes early just to explain how to use this monster. The remote is counter-intuitive, the buttons on the front panel barely correlate to either audio or visual functions, and worse of all, if you hit a wrong sequence either on the remote or the panel, you can get yourself into no man's land. I have had do a hard reset on this thing more than a dozen times since owning it. Lastly, I have never been able to get any HDMI pass-through to work, so it has only been an audio reviever from day one. Denon support is worthless and the folks I spoke with knew less than I did about the unit. Horrible!!!!
User Rating: 
10/10
Plenty Power, Style amazing sound and image
Pros: Excellent design , plenty a power to offer u for all 7.1 channels , amazing image quality i use it with ps3 system at the moment , and the sound of a sacd wow u just cant beat that. the image is havesome on dvd and superb on Blue Ray.
Cons: with 4 ohms speakers (it gets hot) but it also powers off automatacly so it doesnt (overheat) but who said this is an amp to work with bad speakers.
Since i stuckd the f4 from tannoy the prob was solved.
Review: its all good here !!! simple?? no it isnt, enought hdmi? 3 i guess 4 0r 5 would be better.
But in what matters this does the work 5***** and with class.
The s image is fantastic the sound it audiophile quality when hockedin my tannoy ts12 and the tannoy f4 speakers , this is a fantastic peace of amp in all senses of the word.
Dont understand the reviews here. maybe to complicated for some ...i just have to say....even if u guys have the money stay away from the top of the line in denon brand it can get tricky for dumbs
But in what matters this does the work 5***** and with class.
The s image is fantastic the sound it audiophile quality when hockedin my tannoy ts12 and the tannoy f4 speakers , this is a fantastic peace of amp in all senses of the word.
Dont understand the reviews here. maybe to complicated for some ...i just have to say....even if u guys have the money stay away from the top of the line in denon brand it can get tricky for dumbs
User Rating: 
8/10
Very Good Unit
Pros: Great sound
Cons: confusing to use
Review: excellent unit, but you need to spend some time to figure it out. Very happy now that it's tuned in.
User Rating: 8/10
Great Sound/Features
Pros: Transparent HDMI switching
Cons: Illogical set-up, clunky adjustments, poor remote
Review: Receiver provides incredible sound and options. A bit pricey compared to the offerings from Yamaha, Onkyo, and Pioneer. If you are a die-hard Denon fan, you won't be disapointed.
The menus are a bit goofy, and it was hard to get this unit set up to perform as I wanted it to (I.E. using 7.1 for all 5.1 tracks was a feature I stumbled upon, but couldn't get it set up that way when I was searching for it).
The remote is a flimsy piece of junk. Plan to use this unit with a universal. I appreciate that they tried to give a remote that is pretty, but it falls short. Luckily this customer wanted a nice universal anyway, otherwise I would have had a frustrated customer.
If you search long enough for the options you want, they are pretty much all there, and this unit will perform! A good buy, just check out the competeition and you might find another one that plays to your hand at a lesser price.
The menus are a bit goofy, and it was hard to get this unit set up to perform as I wanted it to (I.E. using 7.1 for all 5.1 tracks was a feature I stumbled upon, but couldn't get it set up that way when I was searching for it).
The remote is a flimsy piece of junk. Plan to use this unit with a universal. I appreciate that they tried to give a remote that is pretty, but it falls short. Luckily this customer wanted a nice universal anyway, otherwise I would have had a frustrated customer.
If you search long enough for the options you want, they are pretty much all there, and this unit will perform! A good buy, just check out the competeition and you might find another one that plays to your hand at a lesser price.
User Rating: 
9/10
What's With the Bad Reviews?
Pros: Excellent sound quality; loads of features; highly optimizable
Cons: No HDMI upconversion
Review: I'm really dismayed that some reviewers have been giving this receiver low marks for being "hard to use". This is a professional piece of equipment--if you want a color-coded remote & idiot-proof usability, get a $200 Sony.
This receiver is really not very hard to operate. It took me about 15 minutes to program the remote to operate every other A/V device in my home theater (TV, DVD player, CD player, VCR--all different brands) and less than an hour to calibrate the system settings specifically for my room.
The other big complaint that you will hear about this receiver is that it lacks HDMI upconversion. Now, I understand that this may be a key feature for some folks, but not for me. I personally feel "upconversion" is a misleading concept, seeing as your still at the mercy of your source material.
Where this receiver really shines is sonically. I use my receiver for about 75% music/25% movies, and the 3806 was by far the best sounding receiver in this price range. If you're a music buff & are battling back and forth between the 2807 & the 3806, keep this in mind--D.D.S.C, HDCD Decoding, DenonLink (24-bit/192-kHz digital input) and most importantly--Burr Brown 24-bit/192-kHz DACs.
I was pretty much sold on the 2807 until I did a demo of both units. If you REALLY need the HDMI upconversion, go with the 2807. If you care more about sound quality, get the 3806 (which, by the way, you can often find cheaper than the 2807--I got mine for less than $1k)
This receiver is really not very hard to operate. It took me about 15 minutes to program the remote to operate every other A/V device in my home theater (TV, DVD player, CD player, VCR--all different brands) and less than an hour to calibrate the system settings specifically for my room.
The other big complaint that you will hear about this receiver is that it lacks HDMI upconversion. Now, I understand that this may be a key feature for some folks, but not for me. I personally feel "upconversion" is a misleading concept, seeing as your still at the mercy of your source material.
Where this receiver really shines is sonically. I use my receiver for about 75% music/25% movies, and the 3806 was by far the best sounding receiver in this price range. If you're a music buff & are battling back and forth between the 2807 & the 3806, keep this in mind--D.D.S.C, HDCD Decoding, DenonLink (24-bit/192-kHz digital input) and most importantly--Burr Brown 24-bit/192-kHz DACs.
I was pretty much sold on the 2807 until I did a demo of both units. If you REALLY need the HDMI upconversion, go with the 2807. If you care more about sound quality, get the 3806 (which, by the way, you can often find cheaper than the 2807--I got mine for less than $1k)
User Rating: 
7/10
Very Poor User manual
Pros: excellent power handling for inefficient speakers, lots of connections
Cons: does not support 1080P, very poor manual, Does not support HDMI to DVI video.
Review: I am driving a pair of speakers that are rated up to 200 watts. The Denon does an excellent job with regard to my CD player. It let me down whe it came to connecting my Sony HD TV. The connection is HDMI satellite to a DVi connection on the TV. I could not get a picture. The manual is next to useless. They use acronym's but never explain them. If there are any twists in your AV set up you will get little help from the Denon manual.
User Rating: 9/10
Everything I Hoped It Would Be
Pros: HDMI upconversion and switching, 3 source/2 zone output
Cons: S-Video to HDMI upconvert with TiVo Series II
Review: I purchased this receiver for our main family room system and run it with Polk speakers in that room. It also powers speakers in the dining room and sends signal to speakers in the living room and dining room. (The third zone requires and an external amp.)
We have an HR10-250 and a Yamaha DVD-C950 DVD changer connected to the Denon via HDMI and an old TiVo Series II DVR connected via S-Video. Only a single HDMI cable runs to the television.
When upconverting the S-Video signal via the Denon, the TV displays odd sidebars in 4:3 mode. The fix is to view the 4:3 picture in "full" mode on a 16:9 set (i.e. stretch it). We don't watch the SD TiVo much, so it doesn't really matter to me.
I had everything professionally installed, but know this Denon has extensive connectivity and configuration options. It is working great for us.
We have an HR10-250 and a Yamaha DVD-C950 DVD changer connected to the Denon via HDMI and an old TiVo Series II DVR connected via S-Video. Only a single HDMI cable runs to the television.
When upconverting the S-Video signal via the Denon, the TV displays odd sidebars in 4:3 mode. The fix is to view the 4:3 picture in "full" mode on a 16:9 set (i.e. stretch it). We don't watch the SD TiVo much, so it doesn't really matter to me.
I had everything professionally installed, but know this Denon has extensive connectivity and configuration options. It is working great for us.
User Rating: 8/10
A great HDMI amp if you can set it up
Pros: HDMI, loads of other inputs plus 7ch and 3 zones
Cons: Very hard to setup, remote is difficult to master at first and can't really be used to control other devices
Review:
User Rating: 
6/10
Took it back and got Yamaha RXV2600
Pros: Very nice Audio
Cons: Terrible HDMI and on screen menu, very confusing instruction and orientation
Review: This was my dream receiver after almost a year of planning on the 3805. HDMI was an important feature that made me decide to go with the 3806 and not the closeout 3805. Was I ever disappointed. Took it home and couldn't get the HDMI to work with the cable box, (not a denon issue though) so I went to component and still never got a picture. I spent two days tring and going through the instruction manuel and awful onscreen menu to get anything other than the audio to work. I took it back thinking it was defective and I would have it replaced, when the saleman showed me the Yamaha RXV2600. After the demo, I took the yamaha home and what a difference. Easy to use on screen menu, a little warmer sound with more power and enough features to make anyone happy. I really wanted the Denon, but I think they got this to market too soon trying to pack in as many features they could and leaving the consumer as an after thought to their marketing. Anyway, Im happy with the Yamaha, and I would re consider the Denon next time only because of their reputation and the sound quality.
User Rating: 6/10
Very hard to use
Pros: Great picture, and sound. Lots of inputs.
Cons: Awful remote. Awful user manual. Awful interface all around. Don't buy unless you love troubleshooting.
Review: Every positive thing people say about this unit's sound and video quality is correct.
However this is the most difficult receiver to use ever built. I'm a network engineer who loves reading operating manuals and home theater is my passion. Forget about the casual user (wife, baby sitter, etc) getting the hang of this thing. How to change an option when I'm looking right at it is a challenge. They use different terms between the remote, the manual, the on screen display and the unit LCD. Is "RCA" the same as "composite"? Sometimes. The whole interface is inconsistant. It's like each section was programmed by different engineers in different countries.
Want more examples?
The remote: To control the reciever (the most common use) you have to click some hard button on the remote to get the soft buttons to light up. Already I'm annoyed. Then you have to click the "amp" soft button. But you better not click it twice because then you are in a different mode and then you have to click it three more times to cycle back to the regular amp control mode. And one of those modes you cycle through is 'system call' programming mode. How do you know you are in a different mode? Only by subtle differences in what buttons are enabled. Try telling your wife, "you've clicked the amp button too many times and accidently entered 'system call' mode and erased all of the programmed frequencies and macros". This is a very real possibility with this remote.
I could go on and on with the speaker binding posts being way to close together (too close for even my banana plugs), to the labeling of the inputs on the back, to the way you change the soundfield to the user manual that is full of conditions like "if this then this, except this and that, then only if the other thing." This equipment is user hostile.
However this is the most difficult receiver to use ever built. I'm a network engineer who loves reading operating manuals and home theater is my passion. Forget about the casual user (wife, baby sitter, etc) getting the hang of this thing. How to change an option when I'm looking right at it is a challenge. They use different terms between the remote, the manual, the on screen display and the unit LCD. Is "RCA" the same as "composite"? Sometimes. The whole interface is inconsistant. It's like each section was programmed by different engineers in different countries.
Want more examples?
The remote: To control the reciever (the most common use) you have to click some hard button on the remote to get the soft buttons to light up. Already I'm annoyed. Then you have to click the "amp" soft button. But you better not click it twice because then you are in a different mode and then you have to click it three more times to cycle back to the regular amp control mode. And one of those modes you cycle through is 'system call' programming mode. How do you know you are in a different mode? Only by subtle differences in what buttons are enabled. Try telling your wife, "you've clicked the amp button too many times and accidently entered 'system call' mode and erased all of the programmed frequencies and macros". This is a very real possibility with this remote.
I could go on and on with the speaker binding posts being way to close together (too close for even my banana plugs), to the labeling of the inputs on the back, to the way you change the soundfield to the user manual that is full of conditions like "if this then this, except this and that, then only if the other thing." This equipment is user hostile.
User Rating: 8/10
Correction on CNET Review
Pros: Speaker balancing... features delivered as promised
Cons: Remote, documentation
Review: 1st, a correction to the CNET review. The HDMI connection, while it does not upgrade video signals, does not degrade them either. I have a Sharp AQUOS LC-45GX6U with DVI, HDMI, & component inputs (& others). The Aquos reports on the input it gets (480p,720p,1080i,etc). Coming off a Scientific Atlanta 3250HD cable box (Brighthouse), I see the same input reports from the Aquos and the same options (dot-by-dot on 1080i) going through the 3806 via the component output OR the HDMI output as I do going to the Aquos directly via either DVI or component. Simply not true that the 3806 does not transmit anything but 480i via HDMI...I have opted to go via component from through the 3806 because of HDCP issues with the Brighthouse/cable box connection. See http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html for an interesting discussion of component vs digital connections.
As an aside, I have a Dennon 1920 dvd player going in via HDMI to the 3806. The 1920 has upgrade options for DVD output. The 3806 passes them through.
Unlike the reviewer, I think the speaker balancing calculated from 6 positions is GREAT. It does take a while, but does works great. What's a few minutes of setup?
Downsides: Most manuals aren't great, this one isn't either. Example, the 'A' speakers in the illustrated 7.1 setup (actually, 10 speakers supported in the main room including the subwoofer) are shown as side speakers...but if you are setting up 5.1, they are the main rear speakers. In the illustration, these are shown as 'B'...tough for literalists like me. Go for the full ten speakers if you can, wonderful.
The remote isn't great either. the lcd section needs to be lit up to work. Suggest taking a look at the Univeral Remote Control 200, URC-200 Automator, as a better, almost ideal combination of hard buttons and always available lcd.
BTW: Crutchfield gave great support on setup issues.
As an aside, I have a Dennon 1920 dvd player going in via HDMI to the 3806. The 1920 has upgrade options for DVD output. The 3806 passes them through.
Unlike the reviewer, I think the speaker balancing calculated from 6 positions is GREAT. It does take a while, but does works great. What's a few minutes of setup?
Downsides: Most manuals aren't great, this one isn't either. Example, the 'A' speakers in the illustrated 7.1 setup (actually, 10 speakers supported in the main room including the subwoofer) are shown as side speakers...but if you are setting up 5.1, they are the main rear speakers. In the illustration, these are shown as 'B'...tough for literalists like me. Go for the full ten speakers if you can, wonderful.
The remote isn't great either. the lcd section needs to be lit up to work. Suggest taking a look at the Univeral Remote Control 200, URC-200 Automator, as a better, almost ideal combination of hard buttons and always available lcd.
BTW: Crutchfield gave great support on setup issues.
User Rating: 9/10
Perfect for a home theatre
Pros: Does everything you want it to
Cons: Isnt a $5000 receiver
Review: When it comes to getting a receiver you have a number of options to consider. The real question is what type of home theatre am I assembling, and how much am I willing to spend. If you are considering the 3806 then you already have decided that cost is a factor because you have bypassed the 4806 or other more expensive receivers. Now for $1000 dollars or less, you can get the JVC or the Sony but neither offers the quality that the 3806 does. The easy set up (cnet is wrong on this one) makes putting together your system incredibly easy. The 3806 can handle anything you through at it, from dvds to cds to video games.
Sure not having an upconverting feature through HDMI is a drag but how many of you are spending $1000 on a receiver and still have a video tape player? Really its not a feature you need, and dont miss.
I hve had my 3806 since October and has been a dream. I have a dvd and cable box in the hdmi's and an xbox 360, an ipod, turntable, and cd player hooked up and everything sounds crystal clear and works perfectly. This is the way to go.
Sure not having an upconverting feature through HDMI is a drag but how many of you are spending $1000 on a receiver and still have a video tape player? Really its not a feature you need, and dont miss.
I hve had my 3806 since October and has been a dream. I have a dvd and cable box in the hdmi's and an xbox 360, an ipod, turntable, and cd player hooked up and everything sounds crystal clear and works perfectly. This is the way to go.
User Rating: 8/10
Better HDMI? Check out AVR-4306
Pros: Excellent receiver with great sound and features
Cons: HDMI scaling is not up to par with other models
Review: The new Denon AVR-4306 has better HDMI scaling support with other features similar to this model. It is much less than the AVR-4806. Another one to check out is the Yamaha RX-V2600. It is similar price to the AVR-3806, but has HDMI functionality similar to the AVR-4306.
User Rating: 9/10
VERY nice AVR
Pros: Very Flexable
Cons: Remote is difficult to Figure out...
Review: Had this unit for a few weeks now and I must say it is SWEET, power to burn and very flexable. Still getting things tweaked in here, do to some speaker upgades. But you will not be dissappointed with this rig, it looks good and sounds better. Operators manual does leave a bit to be desired (I dropped my rating a point because of it), remote is different. As with any system in this class, just takes a little time to figure out.
VERY happy camper with this unit...
VERY happy camper with this unit...
User Rating: 9/10
AMAZING SOUND and FEATURES
Pros: SOUND and Design.
Cons: NONE to mention from this end.
Review: I traded up to this unit from my DENON AVR-3801 which I owned for over 5 years. This updated unit is by far the best sounding DENON to date. The user options allowing you to move a microphone around your listening area to achieve the best room acoustics for your listening room is exceptional. The unit will adjust the room acoustics to the amplifier. You will not go wrong with this new comer which also features full HDMI switching. Features are to numerous to mention here. Check it out at your nearest retailer.
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