Couple things I will add from my experience of owning a Denon receiver (AVR1702) and adding a nice 2 channel amp to it (old McIntosh 2105):
- Keep in mind the Denon redigitizes all signals that are fed to it, even analog inputs (block diagram on Denon.com for my model shows this, almost positive it's the same for the 3802). For this reason, you should always feed it digital inputs, and you should not bother buying any CD or DVD player for anything other than a transport. Any fancy D/A converters you buy are wasted, since the Denon forces you to redigitize the signal.
- I would agree that a better option than a 5 channel amp is a good 2 channel amp. Especially for a 65% music listener. During movies, I think you will find, as I have, the better 2 channel amplification is very noticeable during movies. Remember, Dolby Digital, etc. routes the music in the soundtrack to your front L and R channels. Your ears will thank you for putting the extra money into the two channel setup, and the following reasons should help convince you not to go 5 channel amp (unless you've done so already):
1. Better music during movies will involve you more than upping the amp to the surrounds. The great lion's share of movie audio still goes to your front speakers (I admit the center is included in this). I think your Denon is plenty to drive your rear speakers.
2. 3 channels of your purchase are wasted during 2 channel music playback.
3. Once you add a nice analog preamp for music playback (and trust me, the day is coming eventually), your 2 channel amp will be of very nice quality and match your system overall.
Of course a 5 channel amp could work also, no wrong way to go necessarily.
- Keep in mind the Denon redigitizes all signals that are fed to it, even analog inputs (block diagram on Denon.com for my model shows this, almost positive it's the same for the 3802). For this reason, you should always feed it digital inputs, and you should not bother buying any CD or DVD player for anything other than a transport. Any fancy D/A converters you buy are wasted, since the Denon forces you to redigitize the signal.
- I would agree that a better option than a 5 channel amp is a good 2 channel amp. Especially for a 65% music listener. During movies, I think you will find, as I have, the better 2 channel amplification is very noticeable during movies. Remember, Dolby Digital, etc. routes the music in the soundtrack to your front L and R channels. Your ears will thank you for putting the extra money into the two channel setup, and the following reasons should help convince you not to go 5 channel amp (unless you've done so already):
1. Better music during movies will involve you more than upping the amp to the surrounds. The great lion's share of movie audio still goes to your front speakers (I admit the center is included in this). I think your Denon is plenty to drive your rear speakers.
2. 3 channels of your purchase are wasted during 2 channel music playback.
3. Once you add a nice analog preamp for music playback (and trust me, the day is coming eventually), your 2 channel amp will be of very nice quality and match your system overall.
Of course a 5 channel amp could work also, no wrong way to go necessarily.
