AVR-5308CI Video Processing and Routing

OK, now that you've decided on the loudspeaker and surround configuration, it's time to factor in your video routing. This is key for several reasons. For starters, the AVR-5308CI may be (probably is) a better video processing device than your DVD player or even your display. This goes doubly if your display is a store-brand or made by a company known for instant photo cameras. Let's look at what happens when we feed it a 480i signal and output 1080p.

Audioholics/HQV Bench Testing Summary

Denon AVR-5308CI Benchmark Score: 130/130 (perfect score – it doesn’t get any better than this!)

*Source component was the Denon DVD-3930CI set to 480i via HDMI output upscaled by the AVR-5308CI to 1080p and fed to a Marantz VP-15S1 1080p DLP Projector.

With these results, only those with truly exceptional sources may want to bypass the upconversion and video processing capabilities offered natively in the AVR-5308CI. The additional reason for this is that each input of the AV receiver can customize the Contrast, Brightness, Chroma Level, Noise Reduction, Detail (Enhancer) and Sharpness of the source video. This basically makes the AVR-5308CI a video processor and AV receiver all rolled into one. About the only thing missing is an anamorphic scaler for use with special cinemascope projector lenses. Hue can only be adjusted with composite or S-video sources, so let's assume (correctly, we hope) that you'll never use those.

Enhancer, Sharpness and Hue were difficult for me to spot with HD sources at 1080i. After further experimentation I concluded that they have no effect on anything that doesn't originate in standard definition (480i). In taking DVD input at 480i I was finally able to see the excellent video processing quality of the AVR-5308CI. It was now that I got to really experience the DNR, Enhancer & Sharpness controls. Enhancer really brought out detail and didn't seem to affect anything negatively in the process. For example, when using the Detail video test pattern on the HQV Benchmark DVD you could clearly see an improvement in detail on the bridge. I'd recommend setting this to at least +6 and experiment on your own to see if it results in any negative issues.

Enhancer at 0 (left); Enhancer at +6 (right)

Some of the other controls, like Sharpness should be used sparingly - as is the case with most video processors. While the default setting of 0 is fine for Sharpness, if you crank it up into the positive range you're likely to encounter some artifacting on closely patterned objects (see pics below.) If you drop it below 0 the image actually blurs noticeably.

Sharpness Defaulted (left); Sharpness +3 (right) - notice the jaggies

The DNR noise reduction system is incredibly effective - so much so that it was hard to decide between Medium and High. I didn't notice any additional motion artifacts even at the highest levels, but purists may want to hang back before setting it to the maximum value.

For most, 6 independent and fully-routable HDMI and component inputs will be more than you'll ever need. As an aid to those using a Universal Remote Control, Inc product like the MX-3000 (which I use) or MX-950, you'll want to note that anything related to the DVR-2 source/input will need to be learned. It simply doesn't show up in the known IR codes list. Best practice might be to skip that input (#6) and use the others unless you actually need to use every HDMI and component input (we know who you are).

Lay Out Your Components

A good next step would be to lay out (on paper) all of your AV components and decide on a plan of attack. In my case I had an HD cableTV set-top box, a Sony PS3 Blu-ray player, a Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player, a Denon DVD-3930CI DVD player, and an Xbox 360. With the exception of the Xbox 360, all of these sources can utilize HDMI, however I wanted to connect the cableTV set-top box with component video as well. The reason for this is that since component video lacks HDCP, channel switching between different resolutions is much faster with component video. Until the industry mandates HDCP use for all HD channels I'll continue to grab component video whenever possible. My room also has a series of tie-lines which connect both my office and living room to the AV components in my equipment closet. Here's what my AV routing chart looked like:

As for my outputs, I connected up the expected HDMI to the projector in the theater room, but I also have a line going to my living room LCD display and a second component video feed to the projector:

In this way I can send the same program material to the living room, choose either the theater or living room to watch shows, or use the Zone 2 component output to check the status of my second Zone audio from the living room (you can find far more advanced ways to use the Zone 2 YPbPr).