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 Location:  Home > Audio & Video > Home Theater Receivers > Denon AVR-4308CI 7.1-Channel/5.1- + 2-Channel/3.1- + 2- + 2-Channel Multisource/Multizone A/V Home Theater Receiver with Network Streaming and Wi-Fi (Black)  
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Denon AVR-4308CI 7.1-Channel/5.1- + 2-Channel/3.1- + 2- + 2-Channel Multisource/Multizone A/V Home Theater Receiver with Network Streaming and Wi-Fi (Black)

Denon AVR-4308CI 7.1-Channel/5.1- + 2-Channel/3.1- + 2- + 2-Channel Multisource/Multizone A/V Home Theater Receiver with Network Streaming and Wi-Fi (Black)

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Brand: Denon
Category: CE

Buy New: See price in cart



New (9) Used (2) from $1,848.92

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars 12 reviews
Sales Rank: 5958

Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 45.3
Dimensions (in): 21.2 x 20.7 x 13.3

MPN: AVR-4308CI
Model: AVR-4308CI
UPC: 081757508087
EAN: 8600103991131
ASIN: B000UL6KF8

Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Features:
  • 140 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.05% THD
  • Dolby True HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Pro Logic IIx, and DTS Neo - 6 decoding. WI FI
  • XM Satellite Radio Ready with decoding for XM's HD Surround channels (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
  • HDCD decoding
  • iPod integration (requires optional Denon ASD-1R)

Accessories:

  • Furman Elite-20 PF i Ultra Linear AC Power Source
  • Premium HDMI v1.3 Cable (2M/6ft.)
  • Furman IT-Reference 20 i Discrete Symmetrical AC Power Source
  • Furman Elite-15 i Linear Filtering AC Power Source
  • Sony MDR-V300 Monitor Series Headphones with Folding Design

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
140 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.05% THD * Dolby True HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Pro Logic IIx, and DTS Neo:6 decoding * Audyssey Laboratories' MultEQ XT eight-point auto setup and room calibration system (microphone included) * built-in HD Radio tuner with multi-casting reception * XM Satellite Radio Ready with decoding for XM's HD Surround channels (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package) * iPod integration (requires optional Denon ASD-11R) *


Customer Reviews:   Read 7 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Harmonic A/V Convergence   December 7, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

After an hour or so of firmware upgrades I finally got to test drive the AVR-4308CI and I am pleased to report that the performance is nothing less than stunning. The process was easy, except for setting up the wireless network connectivity. I had to use the remote to 'kick start' the configuration. After that it was web interface all the way.

Simply phenomenal HD performance when paired with the Panasonic bdp35k and the Samsung 750 series 52" LCD. Just finished watching the directors cut of BladeRunner on BluRay and it was spine tingling.

The Internet Radio feature is amazing. I had no idea the diversity of content available on the net, and I was happily surprised at the high fidelity when paired with a cable modem connection. The special audio enhancement modes did seem to improve the sound of bandwidth limited internet streams and our Zen Player.

Controlling the unit from the web interface is also a joy.

I can see how this unit would be daunting for those inexperienced in setting up and configuring electronic equipment. Absorbing the contents of the owners manual is a little like drinking from a firehose, but the remote controls and menu structure are fairly intuitive and have resulted in less hair-pulling than I might have expected after reading other reviews.

I removed about 20lbs of AV and audio cables from my setup when migrating to HDMI. A nice plus.

Why did I ever wait so long to get this AV receiver?



4 out of 5 stars Great Sound, Lot of options...but a useless remote   November 14, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is a truly fantastic AV receiver with an awesome amp with the worst remote possible.

This is my third Denon amp in 15 years and i must say that this receiver is truly awesome. It has the right combination of power and style. It has all the options you could want not matter how complex your environment is and how you may want to use it. I have an old turntable hooked up as well as a pioneer elite blueray and Kuro plasma. No matter what components you have to hook up to it, this is the amp can handle it... and blow you away.

I love the internet radio! I played with this several years back and I thought it was all hype. Playing it now is pretty awesome. That is probably because the internet backbone of america is a lot better now. But regardless several years ago it was a wasted feature but today is pretty neat.

I also got the ipod dock is great. I like how you can control everything on your tv screen.

The on screen menu is well laid out, but you can also read the information on the front of the receiver, which is very nice. It can easily be set up to handle multiple rooms- for example, I seet up a great surround setting in one room and have it power the outdoor speakers also. You can adjust the volume in one zone without affecting the volume in the other zone. This amp can handle pumping out a lot of power without a problem.

So why only 4 stars? The remote... This is the worst Denon remote that I've used. I happen to meet a Denon rep and asked him why their remotes haven't kept pace with the receivers.. His response was that they think that they people buying this level of receiver will be going out to buy a universal remote anyway. So they don't invest the money into a universal and usable remote. The second remote is nice to have to control zone 2, which is probably not going to be your complicated zone... But the old remotes were great compared to this main remote. With the way they have advanced their receivers, they should advance the remote.

To fix the problem, I purchased Harmony One by logitech. This is the type of remote that Denon should develop and include in their high end products.

7 star receiver
1 star main remote
3 stars for including a zone 2 remote



5 out of 5 stars Excellent Product   September 5, 2008
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

The setup is :
Denon AVR 4308
Denon DVD 1940
Polk ATi 7 family of speakers with Polk CS 5 center speaker
Sanyo PLV Z 5 projector

As am based in Bangalore, India, I have constraints on access to the latest goodies, especially media, and at price that folks in US/UK enjoy!

It was almost on impulse that I bought the 4308 in Dec 2007, especialy with the Internet Radio feature. The amp + Dvd player combo is simply awesome. I have been having som issues with the Internet radio as the signal strength of the WiFi is not all that great. That apart, the sound and video quality are superb. Had to buy the Z5 projector, which offer 720p, sadly. However, the overall quality and experience is great. The SACD audio quality is OUT of this world!!



5 out of 5 stars Excellent AV reciever with loads of features   July 4, 2008
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Denon 4308CI Receiver

Strengths: Great quality picture and sound, excellent build quality, nice display, GUI interface, easy to assign/rename imputs, HD radio, 4 HDMI, 140 Watt multizone output, good value for price point.

Weaknesses: Complicated user manual, Useless remote, Faroudja vs. Silicon Optix processor

Price paid: $1,780 (2/08)from a reputable retail store. (Please do not ask which one as I was given an insider price)

Summary: After considerable research I purchased the Denon 4308CI to upgrade a prexisting Sony STRDA555ES receiver. My main desire in upgrading was to obtain HDMI connection capability and take advantage updated sound processing and 1080P upscaling. I ruled out various other comparable recievers for a variety of reasons, including heat generation as my components are enclosed in a audio rack partially recessed into a closed media room.

As a longtime Sony fan and owner of three ES AV recievers, it came down to a choice between the STRDA 5300ES and the Denon 4308CI.

I opted for the Denon over the Sony for a few reasons. The display on the Denon is much larger. It might sound silly but I like to see the information displayed on the receiver from where I'm listing to music. The Sony display was rather small. I also liked the fact that the Denon has internet streaming capability and HD Radio reception. The Sony has more HDMI hookups and a longer warranty (5 years vs. 2 for the Denon) but the Denon has increased power handling and full 1080P upscaling. Pricewise the Denon was a few hundred dollars more then the Sony but I felt that it had a more "modern" feature set.

So far after 4 months of use I have been very pleased with the Denon. Sound is fantastic and the GUI was intuitive. I disagree with some of the other reviews that I have read regarding the ease of setup. It took a little longer then I anticipated to set up but as I previously noted the GUI was fairly intuitive. I really like the fact that you can rename the inputs so when you select them from the function selection dial it will display whatever name you decide on. I prefer optical connections so I had to reassign some of the optical connections. Rear connections seem pretty sturdy. The unit gets warm but not hot after a few hours of use. Still havent taken advantage of the 1080P upscaling as of yet. HD radio signal reception is pretty strong and so far no interference despite living in a New York City Apartment building.

Harmony 880 Universal Remote works better then supplied remotes.

Video processing is excellent. I have however occasionally noted video artifacts. This reciver uses a Faroudja DCDi FLI2310 processor which is simply not as highly regarded by professional reviewers as the Silicon Optix Realta HQV processor used by Denon's flagship 3800BDCI Blu-ray player or the Silicon Optix Reon chipset used by receivers such as the Onkyo TX-NR905 and Integra DTR 8.8. However, overall picture quality on standard 1080i and 720p cable source material is excellent.

3808CI vs.4308CI? The 4308CI appeared to have a slightly more "attractive" build quality and appearance. In comparing the two models side by side before purchasing, the 4308CI simply looked better. However, HD radio, increased power handling and WiFi capability were the primary reasons I opted to spend more to purchase the 4308CI.

4308CI and 3800BDCI blu-ray combo. Have had the 4308CI and the 3800BDCI paired for the last three weeks. The Blu-ray picture is simply amazing. Will never purchase another standard DVD again if available in Blu-ray format.

Conclusion: I've been very happy with the 4308CI. It offers great sound and picture features at an attractive price point. However,if you are interested in better video processing you may want to check out the Onkyo TX-NR905 and Integra DTR 8.8 as well.

Review system components: (used in review)

Panasonic TH-50PZ750U 1080P (limited Ed)
Artcoustic DF-65's
Artcoustic DF-Multi (center)
Denon 3800BDCI (DVD)(used three weeks)
Sony ES 5 Disc changer
Sony SACD player
Monster HPS7000 Signature Series
Monster AVS2000 Signature series
Polk XM Radio Tuner




4 out of 5 stars Great but complex   May 19, 2008
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have had the 4308ci for about a week. The picture quality and sound are outstanding, but as others have noted, this is a complex receiver with lots of options and a very poorly written manual. I have spent hours figuring things out by trial and error. Just one example: the receiver comes with two HDMI monitor outputs. Switching from one to the other should be easy, right? Well, it is, but it's taken me a week to figure out how to do it in the grahical user interface, since its buried a couple of levels down in a HDMI setting menu. Still haven't figured out how to do it on the remote. I actually thought the unit might be defective! So, this is a receiver for those who want great quality with lots of options and are willing to work to get it.

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