Denon 3803

Name: Denon 3803
Brand: Denon

The Denon 3803 - officially the AVR-3803 - is a 7.1-channel A/V surround receiver. It was considered alongside the 4802R and 5803, and it succeeded the 3802 (which was also sold as the model 1082, described as “exactly the same unit”). The 3805 later became the natural upgrade path, largely for its auto-setup feature.

Documentation on the 3803 is thin. No official power ratings, dimensions, or production years have surfaced in the record. What is known comes mostly from owner discussions. The receiver uses four PCM 1791 DAC chips, which impressed owners enough that one forum commenter called it “a true 7.1 system” with “superior DACs and other video conveniences.” It handles Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS ES Discrete 6.1, and includes high-grade video up-conversion. A service manual and owner’s manual exist. Per the service manual, the reset procedure must be done from the front panel, not the remote.

Owners generally praised its sound. One Klipsch owner called the pairing “great mates” and described Denon’s presentation as “warmer” than some rivals. Another buyer reported paying $648 shipped for a new unit when the retail price was around $999. The 3803 also has documented quirks. The most common complaints involve the receiver getting stuck in standby mode (a reset from the front panel is the usual fix), back-surround channels not functioning despite following the manual, and difficulty assigning the coaxial input. One owner put the era's limit plainly: the 3803 cannot decode Dolby HD, DTS-HD, or AAC audio tracks, which is why he moved on when Blu-ray arrived. Another, comparing it to Yamaha, preferred Yamaha for two-channel listening and sold his Denon.

Little hard specification data survives in accessible form, even though the receiver was widely sold. Owners generally describe it as a solid, warm-sounding home theater receiver, with a few setup quirks that they worked out together on forums.

Type: 7.1-channel A/V surround receiver (Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS ES Discrete 6.1)
DAC: Four PCM 1791 chips
Video: High-grade up-conversion
Known inputs: At least one coaxial digital input (assignable)
Street price (new): ~$648–$1,050 depending on dealer
Predecessor: 3802 (also sold as model 1082)
Successor: 3805