Denon AVR5308CI Home Theater Receiver NEWEST VERSION

by Denon

Product Features

• 7.1-channel multizone/multisource A/V home theater receiver with 150 watts per channel power output
• Supports Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS Neo:6 Surround, DTS-ES Extended Surround, DTS-HD, and Dolby True HD multichannel formats
• Expanded LAN and Wi-Fi network connectivity lets people stream music directly from their PC to surround speakers
• 6 HDMI v1.3a digital video inputs and 2 HDMI monitor outputs; THX Ultra2 multichannel audio certification
• Measures 17.1 x 8.5 x 19.25 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 62.7 pounds; 2-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 23.8 x 14 inches ; 52.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 75 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001NNUBNY
• Item model number: AVR5308CI
• Batteries 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,281 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Denon has long been one of the elite names in home theater receivers, offering a combination of advanced technologies and user-friendly features that transform even the most mundane listening rooms into rich, powerful audio environments. Now Denon sets the reference standard for sound and video quality with the AVR-5308CI A/V receiver, which is packed with all the latest technologies to produce the ultimate home theater experience. In addition to the many standard features people have come to expect from Denon receivers, the company adds such forward-looking details as THX Ultra2 certification; Denon's legendary DDSC-HD surround sound decoding with no less than three high-speed DSP processors; HDMI v1.3a digital video inputs that bring with them the latest high-definition audio formats, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio; and video upconversion all the way up to 1080p via the top-performing Realta HQV video processor. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, as the AVR-5308CI also offers versatile multizone functionality, including independent high-definition and standard-definition outputs, and network connectivity through your Ethernet or Wi-Fi network.

Under the Hood: Component Technology

With a power output of 150 watts per channel, the AVR-5308CI multizone 7.1 receiver can handle most audio applications.

The AVR-5308CI offers a power output of 150 watts per channel, but adds a number of engineering advancements to get the most out of the technology. One of the most significant--7-Channel Equal Power--lets you connect seven speakers independently without connecting individual power amps via pre-outs. That's because the AVR-5308CI comes with a built-in internal amplifier for each speaker in your collection, along with five individual transformers that supply power to each discrete circuit. The all-new circuit layouts, meanwhile, shorten the audio and video signal paths to produce the best possible picture and sound. Finally, the receiver's Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit (DDSC) optimizes all the elements of the three 32-bit floating-point digital sound processors through the use of discrete high-performance components, including separate Burr-Brown audio digital-to-analog converters on all output channels.

The receiver also offers a series of escalating AL24 Processing enhancements. Denon's original AL24 Processing technology was designed to faithfully duplicate some of the delicate nuances of analog music in digital form, a technology that's particularly effective among next-generation media with ultra-high bit and sampling rates. The results sound particularly good when music quietly fades away or starts again following silence, helping the listener detect some of the low-level details. AL24 Processing Plus upped the ante by supporting the 192 kHz sampling frequency of DVD-Audio. Denon followed with Advanced AL24 DSP and AL24 Multi Processing, which further increased the dynamic range and spatial information among high-resolution stereo PCM and multichannel sources.

The receiver also includes High-Definition-Compatible Digital (HDCD), an encoding/decoding technology that encodes with 20 bits of real musical information--as compared with 16 bits for all other CDs--thereby greatly reducing distortion. This creates a better dynamic range, a more-focused three-dimensional soundstage, and extremely natural vocal and musical timbres. And from a video perspective, the AVR-5308CI offers several valuable essentials: progressive scan technology, which processes approximately twice as much video data to produce a sharper, noise-free image with finer details; DCDi video processing, which employs advanced algorithms to remove the jagged edges that appear when standard interlaced video is viewed on progressive scan displays; and 10-bit Realta HQV video processing, which accurately upconverts video signals up to 1080p resolution while also offering Deep Color support and multi-cadence detection.

Diverse Sound Modes

As with the best surround receivers, the AVR-5308CI is capable of reproducing a host of 5.1-, 6.1-, and 7.1-channel audio formats, with several processing technologies layered over the top. In addition to providing standard Dolby Digital, DTS, and Pro Logic II formats, the receiver also supports Pro Logic IIx, which allows 5.1-channel sources to be played in up to 7.1 channels; the expanded multichannel capabilities of DTS 96/24, Neo:6 Surround, and DTS-ES Extended Surround, all of which improve the digital surround impression for 5.1 or 6.1 channels; and dts-HD and Dolby True HD, which boost the maximum sampling frequency (up to 96 kHz) and faithfully reproduce the sound of the studio master on up to 7.1 channels.

To assist with film soundtracks, the receiver offers a Cinema Equalizer that corrects for the placement of your speakers vs. the way they're placed in the movie theater. Theaters that locate their front speakers behind the movie screen tend to emphasize the high frequencies, which can sound too strong in a home with a conventional surround setup. Denon amplifiers adjust the high-frequency range so that the sound is cleaner and easier to listen to than uncorrected audio. Listeners can also improve the image detail of their audio sources using Neural Surround technology. This audio breakthrough--which is 100-percent compatible with stereo--offers superior spectral resolution and channel separation, thereby drawing the brain's attention to the sonic details in musical instruments, vocals, and ambience that are typically masked by other playback systems. This allows the listener to fully experience the richness and subtleties in recorded performance as never before. Neural Surround is the chosen format for XM satellite radio's XM HD surround programming.

Perhaps the most significant audio enhancement, however, is the receiver's THX Ultra2 certification. The THX Ultra2 Cinema mode produces the appropriate sound field effects when 5.1-channel movie sources are played in a 7.1 system, helping accurately re-create a theater-type sound in a conventional home listening environment. The AVR-5308CI works by widening the rear soundstage, which effectively makes the side speakers play ambient sounds and the surround back speakers play directional sounds. There's no better way to immerse your ears in a rich, powerful, nuanced surround sound environment. Likewise, the THX Ultra2 Music mode produces appropriate sound field effects for Dolby Digital, DTS, and other 5.1-channel music sources when played in a 7.1-channel system.

Convenience Features

The AVR-5308CI offers 6 HDMI inputs, 2 HDMI outputs, and a host of other connectivity options.

Modern A/V receivers are increasingly designed for multi-room listening, and the AVR-5308CI is no exception. The four-zone, multisource system--which supports three analog and one digital source--lets you select different audio sources for listening in different locations, letting you simultaneously listen to the DVD player in the main room, the iPod in the bedroom, and XM radio in the kitchen, for example. The receiver also supports such multizone extras as a Zone 2 onscreen display, which lets you view the playback details of a second audio source through your TV; dual HDMI outputs for connecting to multiple TVs; an independent Zone 2 component output; and both digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion for multizone output.

The AVR-5308CI is also capable of connecting to your PC's wired or wireless network via its built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity. This lets you play back the MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, or WAV files stored on your computer's hard drive, access Internet radio stations, or play back JPEG photo slideshows. To make iPod playback easier, you can connect the receiver to Denon's separately sold ASD-1R iPod docking station, which charges and controls your iPod through the receiver's display.

Other user-friendly features include an EL touchpanel remote control, which offers an electroluminescent display similar to the technology employed by LCD backlights; built-in HD Radio; XM satellite radio compatibility (requires a subscription and an optional plug-and-play XM antenna); two-way remote capability; an attractive GUI with an onscreen display; and a night mode for neighbor-friendly listening.

Connectivity and Setup

The AVR-5308CI offers a host of inputs and outputs for connecting to diverse audio and video sources. The most significant is HDMI v1.3a, the digital interface standard for next-generation TV. With the receiver's six HDMI inputs and two HDMI monitor outputs, you can easily connect to such devices as HDTVs, DVD players, video game consoles, and cable and satellite boxes, each through a single cable that handles both high-definition video and multichannel audio signals. HDMI is also compatible with High-bandwidth Digital Contents Protection (HDCP), a technology for protecting copyrights that encrypts digital video signals. If your components don't offer HDMI outputs, you still have plenty of options, however, as the receiver also offers six component inputs, eight S-video and eight composite inputs, 11 total digital audio inputs (five optical, four coaxial, and two coaxial BNC), an Ethernet port, and two USB ports, among many others.

Audiophiles will dig the Denon Link jack, which is far less susceptible to radiated noise than coaxial or unbalanced cables. The Denon Link interface can transfer high-grade LPCM 24-bit, 192 kHz two-channel and 96 kHz, 24-bit multichannel digital output. The receiver also lets you input multichannel audio signals, whether in high-definition MUSE 3-1, SACD, or DVD-Audio formats, via the eight-channel input. Made using eight standard RCA cables--one each for front left, front right, center, surround left, surround right, surround back left, surround back right, and subwoofer--the eight-channel input receives discrete analog audio signals via a digital source such as a DVD player, creating an immersive multichannel audio performance.

Setting up the AVR-5308CI is easier than ever thanks to Denon's Audyssey technologies. Audyssey Equalized was the first technology to properly measure sound information throughout a listening area, and then combine the information to accurately represent the acoustic problems in the room. Based on these measurements, Audyssey calculates an equalization solution that corrects for both time and frequency response problems. Denon also employs Audyssey MultEQ XT technology, which automatically determines how many loudspeakers are connected, whether they are connected in phase, and whether they are satellites or subwoofers. After processing, it then analyzes all the physical details--speaker level, size, and distance--and determines the correct frequency response for up to eight listener positions simultaneously. It's a must for people who want to get the most out of their surround systems.

AVR-5308CI Accessories

The AVR-5308CI is compatible with the following Denon accessories.

• The Denon ASD-3N iPod/network connectivity dock
• The Denon ASD-3W iPod/network connectivity dock with WiFi
• The Denon AK-HM100 HDMI cable
• The Denon RC-7000CI two-way remote control

Product Description

Reference, Next generationA/V Multi Source/Zone, Network Streaming Receiver. THX Ultra Certified this all new receiver from Denon is the top of the line in terms of best of class technology. Setting the reference standard for sound and video quality, the AVR-5308CI is packed with all of the latest technologies for the ultimate home theater experience. Featuring THX Ultra2 certification, the AVR-5308CI features Denon’s legendary D.D.S.C.-HD surround sound decoding, employing no less than 3 high speed DSP processors, along with precision Burr-Brown DACs in differential mode on all output channels (12). Able to decode the latest high definition audio formats, such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio via the latest HDMI v1.3a specification. Video sources, regardless of resolution or format, are upconverted to high definition via the top-performing Realta HQV video processor, all the way up to 1080p. The versatile multi-zone functions include independent high definition and standard definition outputs. A host of digital media connectivity features includes network audio and photo streaming, via Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi, along with internet radio stations, built-in HD radio, and XM satellite-ready capability.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Future Proof Denon Flagship Receiver March 5, 2011

By John J. Barlow

I am a Home Theater enthusiast and have owned this wonderful receiver from Denon for almost three years now. It is feature packed and is the centerpiece of our stunning home theater. You can view an online video on Youtube, entitled The Silver Screen. You may be asking why I am writing a review for a receiver that has been on the market for over three years. Well, In my title of this review i stated that this receiver is future proof, it truly is. Denon will be offering an update/upgrade for this receiver in October 2011. The upgrade will include a combination firmware and hardware upgrade that will be performed at authorized Denon service centers. The upgrade will include a hardware upgrade to the unit and will enable 3D capability. They are also upgrading the Audyssey Multi XT to Audyssey Multi XT32 including Audyssey Pro, which is the latest and greatest room correction software from Audyssey Laboratories. Also included in this upgrade will be Dolby PLZll and Audyssey DSX. So, with the forthcoming upgrade/update in October, the Denon AVR 5308CIA Receiver will be state of the art once again. Denon is supporting customers that purchased their flagship receiver and Pre/Pro by providing this upgrade. That to me, is future proof. You can read about the upcoming upgrade on Denon's website.

I have owned a slew of AV receivers over the last two and a half decades and didn't really get enthused until the newest generation of high definition receivers hit the market. By newest, I mean 1080P video and Lossless audio tracks encoded on Blu Ray Disc. A virtual quantum leap in cinema home entertainment that I had been waiting for for about 25 years. Home theater has always been fun. It started for us in 1985 when we bought our first high end television and hifi VCR. The TV was a Sony 25 inch XBR. This was the Holy Grail of televisions and we picked up a Hifi Stereo VCR from JVC. The first feature we watched on that set up was Pink Floyd's amazing feature film, The Wall. What a feast for the eyes and ears. I wish they would hurry up and release it on Blu Ray already. Around 1989 the first generation of surround sound receivers hit the market and I had to have one. Early surround sound was not that great. I mean there was no center channel and you only got two discreet surround channels but, it was progress. A couple of years later Dolby introduced Pro Logic surround with a dedicated voice center channel. Laserdisc was introduced by Pioneer. These rather large 12 inch silver discs never quite caught on.

It started getting expensive to keep up with the pace of advancements in Home Theater technology. Mid nineties, Dolby Surround and DTS surround along with the introduction of DVD, put home theater on the map for mainstream American consumers. The biggest advancement here was full frequency surround channels. DVD meant no more rewinding tapes and the picture was digital and much smoother. At this time period circa 1997, I didn't have a home theater set up and had become a high end addict. Two channels, separate pre amp and amp, tubes and a snobby vinyl enthusiast was I. Decided to delve into home theater again and placed a call to my dealer and ordered separates from Parasound, Marantz and Snell. Had fun with this for a few months and then lost interest again. It wasn't until flat screen displays and Blu Ray Disc hit the market in 2007 that I got the home theater itch again.

My 5308 arrived from Fedex in April of 2008 and Wow! What a beautiful looking receiver and built like a tank. I really appreciated the way they laid out the speaker lugs on either side in a vertical arrangement. No struggle at all to hook up 7 channels of speaker wire. These are very high quality lugs as well. Denon really had a thoughtful and well designed piece of solid audio gear here and I am not easily impressed. 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs. Ehernet hook up for firmware upgrade and networking features. You can connect to your home network and listen to saved music stored in your network, view videos and even listen to internet radio. There are two USB inputs for flash drives. A slew of legacy inputs that could probably accommodate every ancillary AV component I have ever owned. The remote was another story, kind of hard to setup with the GUI but, eventually after a few months navigating the remote and GUI it has become an effortless task and I can operate the remote with my eyes closed. A lot of owners really hate this remote and Denon could have done better. Many owners have opted for Universal remotes, the most popular being from Logitechs amazing line of programmable remotes.

Much has been written about the wonderful HQV Realta video processor built into the 5308. Denon has a stand alone version of this processor that the sells for 2k. The Realta will scale all video sources to 1080P. It's a wonderful processor that has received raves in the AV press. Another thoughtful inclusion is a great sounding MM phono stage for vinyl junkies and I happen to be one. Add to that, HD radio, Sirius/XM input, Ipod input, and on and on and on. Honestly, the 5308 has more features packed into it than any other receiver currently on the market.

My original set up with the 5308 consisted of Gallo Nucleus Reference Front, Left and Center speakers. The surrounds were a pair of dipole surrounds from our friends up in Canada, Totem Lynks. Totem is a high end speaker company with a line of very highly regarded speakers. For LFE I added a Sunfire True Signature sub woofer with a whopping 2700 watt built in amplifier. The Sunfire literally shook the foundation of our house. Cabling is a combination of HDMI and speaker cable from Monoprice. Monoprice offers a slew of AV wire and devices and really nifty networking components and rock bottom prices. The best value and selection of HDMI cable and as far as I'm concerned they have the competition beat. My sub woofer cable is from another specialty cable maker called Blue Jeans cable. The best sounding sub woofer cable I have heard and is value priced. Blu Ray playback is from the Denon DVD2500 BTCI Blu Ray Transport. They don't make this player any more but, you can find them slightly used and at a great discount from Audiogon and a few other online sellers. I've seen this piece as low as $250 on Audiogon. I paid a whopping $1000. for mine. It had just been released and was very hard to find one. I bought one from a local retailer at full price. No regrets and I still use it today. The 2500 is a disc transport only and the video and audio processing the raw bitstream signal is sent to the receiver and all processing tasks are performed by the 5308. I've got a Directv HR21 DVR and a Roku internet streaming box for streaming Netflix videos and a few other internet providers such as Vimeo and Amazon to name just a couple. There are many different streaming devices available in the market place. The Roku is very popular and their flagship HD XR can be had for $100, which is a great value. My Turntable is a Linn Basik with a Linn Akito tonearm and a pretty nice sounding Linn MM cartridge and stylus. Display is a Sony KDL52XBR4 52 inch flat panel 1080P.

After connecting the speaker system I peformed the Audessey Multi XT automated room correction with the supplied microphone. I suggest using a camera tripod for this operation. You can get an inexpensive one at camera retailers or a big box store like Best Buy. The Audessey Multi XT Allows for calibration of up to 8 seating positions, you must do a minimum of 3. I recommend doing all 8 as you will have a better sounding result. The room must be silent for this set up or the calibration will fail to have an optimum result. Make sure that there is nothing blocking the path from your speakers to the microphone as this will skew the result. Make sure the microphone as at the exact height to where the seated persons ear would be. Once you complete the calibration you can store and save the information.

Finally on to the review. Turn everything on and lets check out the video. Directv HR21 TBS broadcast of Law and Order. Scaling a 1080i signal and converting it to 1080P, In a word, WOW!. The XBR4 is an amazing display on it's own. With the Realta processor set to full function and this displays already amazing picture quality is even more refined, with deeper blacks and a much smoother picture with an incredible amount of depth. It was as if the performers on the set were in the room with me. Motion is smooth but, not artificial looking, the picture had a stunning film like quality. Blu Ray disc playback is where the 5308 really shines. Picture quality is absolutely beautiful. Lossless audio tracks from Dolby True Hd and DTS HD Master Audio are breathtaking. Twenty five years and finally digital audio is on a par with the finest of analog sound that in my opinion has never before been attainable. I could finally listen to digital playback and get the naturalness that until now, I could only attain from vinyl playback through very expensive tube audio gear. The sound was enveloping, transparent and open. Orchestral music soundtracks were full bodied with front to back depth. I could pick out instruments that had their own space within the sound scape. Events occurring on the screen correlated perfectly and the speakers worked magically in a coherent manner creating an auditory illusion that events on the screen were actually occurring within the boundaries of the theater. My favorite film to perform demos is Master And Commander Far Side of the World. Those cannon shots literally knock people of my couch, they sound so darn real. The result of this is that you the viewer feel as though you are right there and the events that are occurring are really happening in the theater. Finally, I can enjoy at home, what until now, was only possible at the best movie houses. Read more ›

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I am not dissapointed! October 26, 2009

By Dwight D. Jackson

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have a Denon 4306 that sounds good to me. In my opinion the 5308CI is in another league. The sound is cleaner at both higher and lower volumes. It has all the connectivity that I need. 6 Hdmi's in and 2 out. Has the legacy connections too. It produces a great picture via the onboard video processor. The GUI was a step forward compared to the 4306. I don't think I will need a receiver for quite some time. This is a receiver I'm glad I got a chance to experience. I love Amazon and (Prime).Denon AVR5308CI Home Theater Receiver NEWEST VERSION

12 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Denon AVR-5308CI January 9, 2010

By George W. Rowlett

Amazon Verified Purchase

The Denon receiver was delivered as advertised except the dealer delayed shipment for 5 days. The product was in perfect condition and has performed excellently. Denon's documentation, as with most technically complex products, is difficult to use if you are not "on the same page" with the industry vocabulary. Identifying what is possible with the main remote, then learning how to program the remote, and finally, learning to use it optimally are a real challenge that Denon apparently is not concerned about.