I have recently installed a Denon AVR-4308 into the centre of my Home Cinema. I sold my Bryston 6B-SST on eBay to finance it, in spite of warnings that the Denon would not be in the same league, and in soite of my retailer who strongly recommended the Onkyo brand.
My old system used the SST to power the front and centre channels, with an Arcam P85 looking after the rear surround channels. My DVD player was a Tag Maclaren DVD32FLR with the retro fitted 192 digital board,decoded by a Tag Maclaren AV32. That old front end is now replaced by a Yamaha S-2700 universal player, with the human interface set up by a Samsung PS50P96 plasma screen, and an Optoma H72i projector showing on a ceiling mounted 8 foot wide screen.
This major change has taken two or three weeks to get to grips with, and settle down for major viewing. The main attraction of the Denon Amplifier was the HDMI set-up, with 4 inputs and two outputs. The two outputs are both powered simultaneously, and drive the plasma screen and the projector. Due to native resolutions limited to 720p for both viewing systems, it isn't possible to go mad with the HD settings, so the Yamaha player is setup to output its video at 480/576 from NTSC or PAL discs, leaving the Denon to upscale to 720p for viewing. I must say, that while I thought the Tag player would be hard to beat, I am most impressed with the Yamaha player; the colours are most noticeably improved to the extent that friends remark on them. And I have even bought some SACD demonstration discs to sample high definition sound-in itself a revelation!
It must be said that I do not miss the solid clout of the Bryston, as the Denon can be configured to assign two amplifiers from the Zone 2 stereo capability which I don't need anyway, to bi-amp ny front left and right speakers (KEF 104-2 reference). In spite of the very capable bottom end of these speakers, I have configured the sub-woofer (B & W PV1) to take over below 80Hz for the whole system, and it all seems to integrate very smoothly with no noticeable quirks. I have left the centre speaker (KEF C200) in the care of a single Denon amplifier channel, and it handles dialogue clearly unless the American actors mumble as they seem prone to. I drive the rear channels from a pre-amp output facility in the Denon via my old faithful Arcam P85 power amp to the rear suround speakers (Monitor Audio Silver Fxi wired bipolar) which although only a 5.1 set-up, provide a realistic sound.
This new system provides us with a very creditable Cinema experience, which entertains enormously, with DVD's ranging from Classic Opera, through Rock concerts from the likes of Pink Floyd, to the latest blockbusters. And it's OK on music too, from vinyl though a Rotel mc pre-amp from the Rega P25/Blue Point Special, and my iPod containing all my 350+ CD's.
It also shines on BluRay, from my old Samsung BD-P1000, even at 720p. Maybe I will up date that one day, if the decline in prices continues.
My advice? If you've got a big expensive Bryston or Krell system, don't hesitate to audition the Denon AVR-4308. You'll be glad you did!
And our favorite DVD? Roy Orbison 'Black and White Night'. It gets them boogeying all round the room.
