I just purchased a Denon 3803, Paradigm Monitor 7 fronts, waiting for the OTW-cc370 and ADP-370. The speakers are great. The Denon 3803 is great. The two together don't produce the volume I would expect. I would never have expected to be able to turn the volume all the way. The speaker cables are just OK 16 gauge monster until the other speakers arrive then Canare quad.

The source is a Denon 1600 (soon to be upgraded to a Denon 2200) or a HD SA cable box. Again all w/ just OK temporary interconnects.

Any advice?

Monitor 7's are great speakers for low to mid volume listening IMO. Mointor 11's are much better for higher volumes. I replaced my 7's with 11's and now use the 7's as side speakers for M/C music. They excell at that task, me thinks, anyway... There's only so hard you can push 7's. They run out's air, so to speak.

The volume output on the SA HD box is week, turn it up all the way, or better yet set in to fixed. (under settings).
My 2

Similarly, if you have some reasonably current hungry speakers, use a seperate power amp(s).

Thanks everyone. The volume on the SA cable box is set to fixed so Its putting out everything it has (but prob. not all that much).

I 7s are not suppose to be power hungry (rating 15-180 watts/channel). I know power hungry as my Dahlquest DQ-10 sound great but are hungry.

I have to use the ADP-370 as sides because of space. Wouldn't going up in speaker size/numbers require more power?

The power rating means nothing. What is important is how sensative the speaker is . For exasmple a speake at 89 db would play at a lower volume at the same volume setting compared to a speake at 92 db.

The Monitor 7 has a sensitivity rating of 93 dB & the 9s are 94 dB. Will 1DB make a difference? Are we thinking speakers or receiver? Should most stores be able to test the AMP output power? I bought the Denon from Tweeter. The speakers from a hi-end store next door. Hence the problem. The speaker store question if the AMP is B stock but I didn't think Tweeter carried B stock and should that matter if Denon certified?

Does anyone think the problem will go away when I add the better cables? Wishful thinking only.

1db will make a 1db difference, not much. But the 9s should be more capable in other ways.

How high have you turned up the 3803? And have you measured the db with a meter, or is this just your ears telling you it isn't loud enough? And what is your preference. Ex: some people would consider mine to be too loud, others would say it can't go loud enough. I can hit peaks of over 110db without damaging my receiver or speakers (maybe ears, though).

Oh, I have Klipsch tower speakers with a sensitivity of 98. So my Onkyo can drive them a bit louder than your Denon can drive your 93 rated speakers. Our receivers are about the same in power. But that's still only about 5db louder, you should be able to get pretty loud, unless those smaller speakers are just running out of ability over 100db.

Thank You but I could have figured the math. The db rating was from the lit. since I don't have a meter.

The room is rather large (12x35) and the rears aren't installed yet. I have had the 3803 all the way +8.5. The dealer told me that the 9s had a 8" speaker that doesn't respond as fast as the 6.5" and the 7s match the cc370 and adp370 better.

Like you I like music and TV loud so most people might think that it is loud enough but then most people prob. would but the kind of equip. we have.

I do think the volume from my stereo (acarus A250 w/ Dahlquest DQ10s) is loud enough.

Speakers or AMP?

Had a customer that had a Sony 5 ES reciever, B&W CDM 7's, wanted to upgrad to B&W 804's, I told him to do that he would need something other than the 5ES , when all was said and done he kept the CDM 7's and upgraded to Rotel seperates, brough the CDM 7's to life, now he is going to move the CDM7's to the rears and get the 804's for the front, he also upgraded to a Veloydne HGS 12. Sounds great.
In this case, cleaner power made the difference.

MY 2
cb1

Yeah, it's probably the amp. That's what we get with receivers, weaker amps. Also, you'll be able to get more volume with more speakers for surround. Do you have a sub? Pulling the bass out of your receiver's amps will give you a bit more headroom, too.

Get a meter, they're under $40. Well worth it. Then you can set your speaker levels correctly and see what exactly you are doing in terms of volume, always pays to protect your ears a bit.

My kids wanted it loud this weekend, so I played my favorite THX trailer at 0. Oops, too loud. Scared the crap out of them! Didn't actually measure it, though.

The power output specs on the 3803 makes interesting reading. They quote 7 X 110 W into 8ohms, 20Hz-20KHz at 0.05% THD. BUT - they don't tell you if that power is RMS continous, or how many channels can provide that output simultaneaously. Nor do they state how far down the ouput is at 20Hz and 20KHz - -1dB? -3dB? makes a difference.

If you look at the Power Consumption rating, they state it is 380W. Which suggests that the maximum total RMS continous power output of the amps is going to be around, say 250W.

Which in turn suggests that the power supply in the amp can't produce enough current.

I've e-mailed Denon about this, but they so far haven't had the courtesy to reply. I think I'll try phoning them.

Easy. That is not rated RMS, and the 110 wpc is with 2 channels driven. Very similar to my Onkyo, also rated 110 wpc with 2 channels driven. Although I think mine does say RMS.

Mine can put out somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 wpc RMS, 5 channels driven with below .1% THD. A bit less with 7 channels driven. I imagine the 3803 is very similar.

Which is why I've slung a Meridian 559 between my 3803 and PMC OB1's.

I have emailed Denon a number of times about a few issues and have NEVER received a response. Don't bother emailing since they just don't respond (read care). I bought this unit because it could drive 5/7 channels. I didn't want to spend the money or space for separates on the HT. I have separates for my stereo, Acarus A250 and B&K. I thought that Denon made quality products. I haven't given up on the 3803 yet but I have given up on the company (at least emails).

I guess I shouldn't try to run all 7 channels. I was only using 3 channels (waiting on additional speakers) w/ a powered sub. Maybe I should set the crossover higher.