Onkyo vs Denon Feature/Specificaion Comparison

Created 17-Jun-2007. Last update 28-Jun-2008. Also see Onkyo 875 vs Denon 3808

       
Feature/Function Onkyo
TX-NR905
Denon
AVR-4308CI
Comments
       
Amplifier/Audio      
Channels 7 7 7.1 support or 5.1 + Stereo Powered Zone 2
Power (each of 7 channels) 140W/Ch 140W/Ch  
Channels driven for Power rating 2 2 Onkyo confirmed in Sound & Vision Jul-08 Test report
THD - all channels .05 .05 Total harmonic distortion
THX Certified Ultra2 No  
Frequency Response 5Hz-100kHz 20Hz - 20kHz  
S/N Ratio 106db 102 db  
Bi-Amp capability for front Yes Yes  
Auto Calibration Audyssey MultiEQ XT Audyssey MultiEQ XT  
Auto Calibration seating positions 8 8  
Microphone included Yes Yes  
Speaker Impendence 4-8 ohms 4-8 ohms Onkyo manual states only 8 ohms but was later corrected with addendum
       
Processing      
Dolby Decoder DD PLus, TrueHD DD PLus, TrueHD Plus all the old stuff
DTS Decoder DTS-HD Master Audio DTS-HD Master Audio Plus all the old stuff
Neural Surround THX Yes  
DACs 192K/24 bit 192kHz/24 bit  
DACs mfg Burr Brown Burr Brown  
DACs part number PCM1796A PCM1791A  
DACs Signal to Noise Ratio 123 db 113 db  
Crossover 40-200Hz 40-250 Hz  
Crossover - Independent adjustment F/C/S/SB Yes  
AV Sync Yes Yes Over HDMI 1.3
Multi-Band Speaker EQ 7 Band 9 Band  
Compressed audio restoration No Yes To improve iPod, Network audio
Volume level trim for each input Yes Yes  
Network Audio support MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A (Mpeg4 audio) MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A (Mpeg4 audio). FLAC  
Network Image support No Jpeg For cover art, slide show, etc.
       
Connections      
Audio In 9 9 not including tuner
Audio Out 2 2  
Phono Input Yes Yes  
Digital Audio In - Optical 3 4  
Digital Audio In - Coax 3 3  
Digital Audio Out - Optical 1 2  
Digital Audio Out - Coax 0 0  
S-Video In 6 7  
S-Video Out 1 3  
Component Video In 3 3  
Component Video Out 2 3 Denon - One dedicated for Zone2
Component Bandwidth 100 MHz 100 MHz  
Hdmi in 4 4  
Hdmi out 2 2 Denon HDMI outputs are parallel (can't be selected independently), Onkyo select 1 output at a time.
Hdmi version 1.3a 1.3a  
Total Selectable Video 6 7 While there are more input choices, you have to assign this number of actual selectable inputs
Multi-Channel input 8ch 8ch  
Pre-amp outputs 8ch 8ch  
USB Yes Yes Denon supports command and control too, Onkyo unknown.
       
Video      
Hdmi Deep Color Yes Yes  
Component Video Upconversion Yes Yes  
Analog to HDMI Upconversion Yes Yes  
1080p Upscalling Yes Yes  
Video Processor HQV Reon-VX Faroudja DCDi  
Video Processor part number VX-50 FLI8638 Neither part number confirmed
Supports HD IVTC Yes No IVTC= Inverse telecine (deinterlacing)
       
Multi zone Support      
Zones 3 4 Denon 4th zone optical out only
Powered Zone 2 option Yes Yes When configured for 5.1 mains
Powered Zone 3 option No Yes Denon 3.1 main with powered zones 2 & 3
Zone 2 Video out Composite Composite & Component Both - No video conversion (i.e. requires similar input to get same type of output).
       
Integration Features      
RS-232 Yes Yes  
IR input Yes Yes  
Ethernet Yes Yes  
Wireless No Yes  
HDMI -CEC Yes No  
12 v Triggers Yes 2  
iPod ready Yes Yes Onkyo requires DS-A2 dock, Denon requires dock
XM Radio Ready Ready  
SIRIUS Radio Ready No  
HD Radio Yes Yes  
DNLA certified Yes Yes Play audio from a music server
       
Access      
Learning Remote Yes Yes  
Basic Remote No Yes Used for zone 2/3/4
Remote Back-lit Yes Yes  
Direct Input selection - Remote Yes Yes  
Direct Input selection - Receiver Yes No Denon requires rotary input select, or use 3 macro buttons
Two-Way Remote No Yes Text display shows info from receiver (i.e. name of track playing, etc.)
Discrete Remote On/Off Yes Yes  
Macro control 3 on remote 3 on receiver & remote  
Extensive discrete remote codes (beyond those on remote) unknown Yes See Denon IR manual
Display 2 line x 14 char 2 line x 16 char  
OSD style Full-color, 480p Full-color  
OSD Sample See Post #1, Picture 022.jpg See Post #496  
OSD functions over HDMI Yes Yes  
User applied firmware update Yes Yes Denon and Onkyo firmware updates now available
       
Odds and Ends      
Warranty 2 years 2 years  
Weight 54 Lbs 40.8 lbs  
Switched 120VAC outlet Yes, 1-120W Yes, 2-120W total  
Detachable Power Cord Yes Yes  
List Price $2099 $2499  
Dimensions WHD 17 1/8"x 7 5/8" x 18 1/16" 17.1" x 7.7" x 16.9"  
Colors available Black or Silver Black Denon has silver in Japan, Onkyo Gold in Japan
Heat Produced Medium-hot Medium? Onkyo gets hot, but doesn't affect the operation and includes two very quiet fans that automatically run depending on the temperature
       
Web site and links      
Company home page USA www.Onkyo.com www.usa.denon.com  
Company home page Japan www.jp.onkyo.com www.denon.jp  
Product page USA Product Link Product Link  
Product page/info Japan News release  
Other   ListenUp  
Manual PDF For similar Integra DTC-9.8
Onkyo 905 manual
4308 Manual PDF  
Primary AVS link Official 905 thread Official 4308 thread  
       
Price Comparisons (via Pricegrabber, when available)