Home > Consumer Reviews > Denon AVR-2308CI A/V Dolby Digital Surround EX 7.1 Receiver w/ HDMI Switching

After a major house renovation, we set up a home-theatre system with built-in Parasound speakers (5.0 surround...still need to buy that subwoofer!), the Denon AVR2308ci A/V Receiver, a Sony 52KDLXBR4 LCD TV (1080p), two TiVo DVR/DVDs, VCR and a Slingbox. We did have a professional do all the wiring, and install/hook up the Denon, and I'm very glad we did.

The receiver connects to the TV through HDMI, and the TiVos connect into the receiver through component video and digital audio for the highest-quality signal possible. I will be upgrading one of the TiVos to a TiVo HD soon, and can't wait to see how the picture looks. At some point when the DVD wars settle out, I'll buy an HD DVD player too. But for now, everything works well with regular low-definition input sources.

The receiver also has a lot of other capabilities which we are not using (e.g., audio and gaming). It has more inputs than you will probably use.

It also comes with a full-functioning remote control. But if you're going to get this product, you should also plan to buy a universal remote (say, one of the Logitech Harmony's), because the remote supplied is probably one of the worst (and most complex) I've ever used.

Setup is a bit painstaking. The manual is awful -- poorly organized and explained. But if you play around with the set up on the front panel of the device, you can figure things out for yourself and get everything set up. (That being said, we had a professional installer, but I still had to change some things after he left, so I was forced to figure it out.)

Pros: The receiver performs really well. Both the sound and video are great. The upconversion functionality works well and lets you take advantage of the TV's full capabilities. Once it's set up, it works great. I can't attest to its merits as an audio receiver, as I haven't used it in that capacity, but it certainly has all the functionality you'd need.

Cons: Set up is complex (be prepared to be a bit frustrated, or hire a professional), the manual is bad, and the remote is unworkable (you'll want to invest in a universal remote right off the bat).

All in all, I would recommend this receiver for the quality of sound and picture, and the functionality it provides and the number of inputs it supports.

The quality of the audio is excellent, far better than that of a very good Onkyo receiver that cost about twice much 13 years ago, which I've replaced with the Denon. I bought this Denon 2308CI largely to listen to music either on CDs or Apple TV. It matches nicely with my B&W DM602 S3 speakers, when bi-amped. I'm very pleased with the result. I also use this for playing DVDs and watching HD channels with digital audio.

The best advice I can give those who have trouble setting this up is to not use the remote, but the buttons on the front of the receiver itself, which is what I ended up doing until I later figured out the funky remote control.

For those who get frustrated with all the remotes and all the "modes" that have to be set to use each kind of media device, I would highly recommend getting one of the Logitech Harmony remotes. Just plug it in to a USB port on your computer, tell what your devices are, and then set up each of the activities. After that, you just need the Harmony remote, and life gets much simpler since it turns on the appropriate devices and puts everything into the right "modes" so it all works. My wife loves it.

Also, you need to know that the Denon 2308CI is being replaced by the newer 2309 model. So the 2308CI is about half the price it was before, around $450 where I bought mine online in Nov., 2008. If you need more HDMI inputs, then you'll need to go with the newer models. A lot of the frustration in the initial setup could be avoided, if you use only the buttons on the back of the main remote control, or you use the buttons on the front of the 2308CI itself. Even so, once I got my bi-amped speakers wired up to the 2308CI, I was playing CDs my DVD player in about 5 minutes.

Granted, I'm experienced in setting up electronics, home networks, computers, etc., so I did not pay attention to the manual much (and that's why I missed the part about using the back of the remote). If you use the buttons on the front, some of them do not work in the Menu setup--e.g., the Return button, to go back to the previous menu--so you end up getting stuck).

The Denon engineers ought to do some usability tests of their menu systems for setup, which sometimes use unconventional ways of selecting or setting things and are inconsistent in some button functions which have further "modes". For example, in the setup menus, the left-arrow button is sometimes used to go forward to a sub-menu, whereas the convention in most user interfaces is to use the right-arrow. At other times, the left/right arrows are used for scrolling through horizontal lists of choices.

The main remote control that comes with this 2308CI is also laden with "modes" especially when it comes to controlling different devices--using the combinations of different positions on the 2 slide switches at the bottom. This can drive you nuts, if you're not paying attention. E.g., if the left switch is not set to audio, then the buttons on the back for the Menu setup won't work, yet another obstacle to doing the initial setup that is frustrating.

The fact that I'm very happy with the quality of the audio (and HD video) outweighs the initial frustration of dealing with all the "modes" that need to be understood to do the initial setup. The excellent quality of audio/video engineering this receiver and the bargain price, for me, outweighs the usability challenges in the remote control in setting this system up, due to all the modes. In my opinion, as one who has done hundreds of usability tests of software interfaces, Denon ought to hire some usability evaluators, and observe the problems people have in trying to user their manuals and remote controls. Then maybe they would improve their manuals and remotes, which unfortunately are a far cry from the excellent engineering of the audio and video quality.

The sound is amazing on this unit, but oh... the SETUP!! The wiring on the back isn't the bad part, it's figuring out how to program this BEAST! There is no more "spin to the left" for left channel or right for right channel, no preset buttons for AM/FM and no push button selectors for function. It's super-digitized, everything is a pull down menu with on-screen selections. Also, setting up "Zone 2" is annoying. Right out of the box, the last set of speaker plugs (7.1) are pre-set to Zone 2. Why? You have to tell it NOT to be there, and assign it. It's frustrating, but the pay-off is worth it. Stunning, powerful sound. I'd give it 5 stars, but the remote prevents me from doing that...TOUGH ONE. Also, don't think you can go HDMI in and component video out (I have a slightly older plamsa with no HDMI) It cannot be done. BUT, all the things i have trouble with on this unit, do not take away the end result: Earthshaking power and clarity. Just be prepared to call customer service and wait in the que.

I upgrade to the Denon 2308 ci after inputs and outputs started to go out on my old Yamaha. As well as i wanted something that could handle some HDMI switching for when i upgrade my system to HD.

I have been very pleased with this receiver and it has been a nice upgrade from my old Yamaha. Great sound and i am now getting allot more range out of my speakers. Also, with the included microphone for auto setup, my speakers are almost perfectly tuned without having to fiddle with the levels manually.

Once you get used to the "interesting" user interface of various twisting and pushing nobs and the intermittent use of up and down arrows, it is quite easy to set up with the menus popping up on what ever monitor(TV,Projector, exc.) you are using. More inputs then i could ever use and the True Audio sound is amazing. The low dialogue is clear and easy to hear and i don't find myself adjusting the volume up and down between action sequences and dialogue scenes in movies and on TV like i used to with the Yamaha. It also seems to run cooler then my Yamaha did and is whisper quite.

My only complaints are that the remote is huge, bulky and quite funky as others have said, that there are only 2 HDMI imputs (which i new when i bought it) and that I can not find a remote code that will work with my dish network echo star 5.0 remote.

Overall its a great receiver at an unbeatable price.

I was apprehensive about the trouble I would have setting this up since we have an earlier Denon at my father's beach house. No one can figure out how to configure the Denon in the beach house. (sorry, I don;t know the model number).
This one.... on the other hand, was quite easy to set up. This is the least expensive Denon that uses full hdmi switching including audio. Many of the receivers in the $500 range from yahama and pioneer don';t. Don't buy them. Setting up components with HDMI out (most new equipment does this) is a breeze. Setting up the audio profile was a breeze with the auto set up. I am really pleased with the sound, the flexibility etc. My 14 year old can easily use the system without getting confused .