This auction is for a Denon AVR-2308CI AV Surround Multi-Zone 7.1 Channel Receiver with remote. The receiver is in very good condition. The receiver has been played for many hours in stereo for breaking in. It has been tested with stereo, Dolby, etc. but only with front and center channels. I do not have the hookup to test multi-room of 7.1 mode. The auction comes with the receiver, power cord and the remote. I can spell. eBay has some wacky rule that somehow I am tempting you into buying my item - BECAUSE I DON'T CLAIM THE RECEIVER AND THE ORIGINAL REMOTE AS A BUNDLE. Sheesh. 

A Review:

The AVR-2803 combines muscular 7-channel power and advanced processing savvy to deliver stunning, high-end 7.1-channel home theater excitement. This receiver boasts 90 full-bandwidth-rated watts x 7 channels of ultra-clean power plus Denon's Widescreen 7.1 mode, which lets you turn any surround source into enveloping 7.1 audio. Of course, you also get a full complement of surround decoding, including Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES® DTS 96/24, DTS Neo: 6 modes, and Pro Logic® II. The multichannel thrills will never end! An Analog Devices Melody 100 SHARC processor and sixteen 96kHz/24-bit DACs (two per channel!) ensure clean, precise handling of all your digital sources. The AVR-2803 also offers flexible dual-room/dual-source options that let a housemate listen to stereo music in another room while you enjoy surround sound in your home theater room.

While the competition in the receiver market has always been fierce, the rivalry has been considerably more intense over the last year or so. Low-end models now boast the sort of extensive feature lists that were de rigueur on multibuck models of the late 20th century. Judged even in that context, the originally $799 Denon AVR-2803 receiver is a remarkable achievement. 

Connectivity facilities are comprehensive. There's wide-bandwidth, component-video switching for two HDTV sources, six digital inputs (four optical, two coaxial), and one optical output. Analog audio/video ins and outs are plentiful and include an eight-channel input for multichannel audio sources--in other words, DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD players. The 7.1 pre-amp outputs provide an upgrade path for those owners who would like to add a separate power amplifier. All that's lacking is a front-mounted set of A/V inputs. 

Next up, the U-571 DVD served up an extremely active surround mix. This World War II submarine drama has more than its share of really big explosions and thundering low-frequency effects. Those sounds made heavy demands on the 2803's power amplifiers, which delivered the goods without strain. The 90-watt-per-channel rating seems rather conservative. 

After we finished the home-theater trials, we couldn't wait to test the 2803's musical abilities. Bob Belden's Black Dahlia SACD was first up. This big-band jazz is wonderfully dark and moody, in a film noir kind of way, and the layered brass sections twist and turn; we find this complex music sounds right on only the best systems. The 2803 positively reveled in the horns' rich harmonics, and the recording's soundstage was deep and spacious. 

The Denon coaxed great sound from our NHT Super Audio ensemble and our reference Dynaudio Contour speaker systems. The sound was so weighty and full that we thought the bass level had been accidentally bumped up a notch or two. It was flat, but it proved that the AVR-2803 is just richer-sounding than most receivers. This is an audiophile-grade receiver, and we love it.

The Denon AVR-2803 AV receiver is easy to adjust both from the remote control and from the front panel. The volume control is very smooth (0.5 dB step). The levels of each channel are set with the same accuracy, and for the best pairing with a subwoofer, three steps of LFE-signal amplification are introduced. You can pair different audio and video inputs, as well as program which signal goes into the recording. The Fader function allows you to quickly change the volume ratio of the front and rear channels while viewing. FM radio stations can be searched automatically (names, frequencies, etc. are displayed on the TV screen). The individual memory of the spatial effects settings, modes, etc. for each selected input is praiseworthy. 

Front channel amplifiers can be connected to two pairs of speakers and use different acoustics when working in, say, stereo and multi-channel modes, and the "rear rear rear" can be transferred to the sounding of the second room. The Denon AVR-2803 remote control is the heaviest in the test (it is powered by three AA cells) but it is ergonomic: the volume control buttons are always under your thumb. We recommend the Denon AVR-2803 for both music lovers and home movie lovers. Denon AVR-2803 will interest those who are planning to create AV-system covering several rooms: its Multiroom-opportunities are very wide (Room to Room bus, RS232C computer port, two proprietary control buses and 12 V Trigger output).

Dolby Digital EX / DTS-ES and DTS 96/24 with 7ch Power Amps and Multi-room Flexibility
■ Fully Discrete, Equal Power Seven Amplifier Channels, 90 Watts Each
Front ..................... 90 W + 90 W (8 ohms, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.05% THD)
Center................... 90 W (8 ohms, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.05% THD)
Surround............... 90 W + 90 W (8 ohms, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.05% THD)
Surround Back ..... 90 W + 90 W (8 ohms, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.05% THD)
The AVR-2803 features an equal power 7-channel amplifier section, with
identical amplifier design on all 7 channels, with high current discrete output
devices on all channels. Each of the 7 amplifier channels is rated at 90
watts, into 8 ohms, from 20 Hz - 20 kHz with no more than 0.05% THD.

Shipping will be $35.00.