Urgent advice needed insurors ring tomorrow

bilge

Established Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2002
Messages
150
Reaction score
10
Points
81
Location
Leicester
Having just suffered a death in the family (3801 RIP) my insurer is getting a company called "Empire commercial" to ring me tomorrow to see what I want to replace it with... (God bless the Pru)

I havn't seriously looked into AV stuff since 2000 and I havn't time to go through the usual spec checking, demoing etc. so what should I ask for to replace it?

I assume they will offer the current model which is the 3805 but I am told that I could upgrade if I wished
Any help gratefully received.

See post below (Denon 3801 has been terminated) for speakers dvd etc.
and no it wasn't overdriven they carefully polished the wine stains off it!!
 
I quote "Empire EC Plc, established in 1982, is one of the UK's largest independent electrical retailers. It has three major out of town electrical superstores; a clearance outlet; Empire Commercial which specialises in the supply of replacement electric goods to the insurance industry; and Empiredirect, the internet sales division of the company." so have a look at Empire Directs website to see your choices. 3805 isn't a bad choice but any day now (if it isn't already) it will be old stock and replaced by the 3806. Try and get that instead if you can although there are rumors this will be in store only.
 
Thanks Tony
Presumably as a retailer they qualify as non-internet???
If I were prepared to put £2-300 to whatever they offer is there anything that stands out other than the Denon?
Looking on this forum I see Pioneer and Yamaha bandied about...
What's hot at the moment?
 
I've just had a look at Empire.co.uk and the best thing they have on-line is a Pioneer VSX1015S at £370...
I do hope they can do better than that :rolleyes:
 
Check out the pioneer AX5AIS can be found a great prices!! excellent AV amp
 
:thumbsup: Keep-em coming... Keep-em coming I need help

Or in the immortal words of No. 5
"Input I need input!"
 
I don't want to put a dampener on this....

but, new for old means a new model :thumbsup: but similiar to the spec of the old unit :eek: not always current spec model in the range at the price you paid for your original 3801 several years ago.


I had a PDA stolen a few years ago and this happened to me.

dropped my flash unit on concrete floor again same thing, lower spec item offered as the whole range had improved over the years.

Be prepared to put money in to get what you want.

Good luck!!
 
Look at the higher Marantz models, 7500 or 8500 would be around the equivalent of the mid range Denons.
 
So... worst case scenario if what Duffers said happens to me
What is the LEAST I should negociate for... Denon 2106?

Or to re-phrase it What is a modern day equivalent to the 3801 that would give me the same or similar functionality with no drop in sound quality :eek:
 
You need to be clever about this and look around. Blag as much as possible and don't take any rubbish from the sales man. From memory you are not required to accept the nominated replacement provider and can instead insist on your local hifi dealer or potentially a cash equivalent. If you'd rather do this phone up your insurance company and ask the question directly (ask for a supervisor or complaints department if you think the assisting is winding you up).

Do some research on your amp and check out the specs.

From first glance it looks like your 3801 has 105 watts per channel and 7 in all. If you look quickly at denon's website that would only get you a 1906. But if you look closely you'll see that's only into a 6 ohms load whereas the 3801 is into a 8 ohm load. To get this much power, the lowest model is still the 3805 so insist on this :thumbsup:

See here and here for full specs. Click on the 'more information and product comparison' for full specs. Tell them you have hard to drive speakers (you have every right to an equal replacement so push hard) and insist on that model. You can insist on the same brand so may be best sticking with the Denon.
 
-- As an eBay Associate, AVForums earns from qualifying purchases --
tbh, just phone the insurance company back up, tell them that you need a like for like replacement, and the nearest thing is the 3805......altho it may have a few more modern whistles and bells, its the quality of the amplification that is what you need, and this model is the nearest to your version (as its basically an updated version)........because you can pick up the 3805 relatively cheap now, find the cheapest place, and tell them, they may well say sure no problem.......then you get the cheque from them, top it up with some of your cash and get the 3806 when it comes out...heh, or just use their cheque to get the 3805 and save the money.....

even tho technology moves on, things like amplification still hasnt budged that much from what it was a few years ago.....the 3803 i have isnt really bettered that much by the 3805 from the power amp section, its mostly in the digital domain that its improved, and in the DA conversoin....use this crap on the insurance company and hopefully they will agree......its simple, your speakers need the same kind of power to drive them, so the amp needs to be the 3805....or similar....

(the household insurance we have has a clause in it for my 'multimedia setup'....anything goes wrong, they send me a cheque for what i need to replace it, providing its not more expensive.....this even goes for my puter...hehe)
 
Tony8377 said:
From first glance it looks like your 3801 has a 105 watts per channel and 7 in all.
Tell them you have hard to drive speakers (you have every right to an equal replacement so push hard) and insist on that model. You can insist on the same brand so may be best sticking with the Denon.

Tony that's two golden nuggets you've presented me with tonight!

I do have picky speakers... B&W CDM7NT's... They are certainly stressing my sons Sony amp right now and with any luck they'll fuse the bl**dy thing.. :mad: (not that I'm bitter or anything)
Anybody out there with a Denon 2106 who would care to comment?
 
ya beat me to it tony...lol
 
Hmmm... Very Interesting
Knight byte which Insurer are you with?
I've been paying insurance for N to the power X years and this is the first claim I've ever made but THAT clause sounds worth having.
And I'm sure there are lots of lovely readers out there who would like to know also...
 
just realised, the 3801 and 3805 had to be sold through approved dealers if memory serves correct, Denon will not supply them to just anyone......which means they are a specialist item, so yes, you should be able to challenge the insurers for where your replacement comes from, and what replacement you get.....go for the 3805! its getting cheap now cuz of the 3806 coming out....lol
 
if i remember right its Saga......its a household insurance, but my multimedia setup is listed as its own entry......i think there is a small premium on top but its not a lot and its worth it......my parents actually pay this so i dont know the full details...

all i know is when lightening hit the house a few years ago and took out everything connected to the aerial and phone line (their TV and VCR, my amp, DVD player and worst of all my computer) they gave my parents vouchers for currys or comets for their TV and VCR, but my stuff i got cheques for except the puter, they contacted Dell themselves and ordered me the nearest thing dell stocked, i was lucky my puter was 3 years old and i jumped from a 500Mhz P3 to a 1GHz P3, from a 16Mb Voodoo 3 3000 graphics to a 64Mb nVidia Geforce 2 Ultra...lol
 
ok, basically, phone insurers and tell them these things

1) your model was an approved dealer only model, so you dont want anything less
2) you need a replacement with the abililty to safely drive your speakers, after checking specifications on Denons website, the 3805 would be deemed the most suitable
3) the 3805 is simply the updated version of yours and not a leap up in product line, also its about to be replaced so you should be able to get it at a reduced price.

If the first person you speak to says no, tell them you want a manager on the line, if your lucky you will get one, if not then they will tell you how to follow their grievence procedures so you can contest the decision...but normally they will put you through to someone more willing to help.......altho hold back the 'i'll stop using you' card as long as possible, never say it too early or they will say fine, sod off...lol
 
I am feeling seriously heartened by these posts... Thanks guys

Regardless of the outcome (depending on my negotiating skills) I will post the results here because at some point some poor sot like me is going to have to argue this same toss with some other insurance company.

I need to get some shut-eye so on balance I will try for what I know...
3805 +/- 3806 will be my starting point

But I will check this forum at work tomorrow morning so if you have any other good ideas, negotiating tactics or worthy contenders for a replacement for a 3801 pleeeeease post

Regards

Bill
 
Get yourself a yamaha 2500/2600 as these are/will be availible from some online stores and i'm sure any hi fi shop worth their salt will stock it. The newer 2600 even has analouge to digital video upconversion.
 
Some excellent stuff in this thread but one further thing I've thought of: many contents policies include a maximum limit per "valuable" item of £750. This may cap the replacement amp you're provided with or the cash payment. Further, if you're 3801 cost (or retailed) for over £750, which I think it did, they may say that it's not covered at all or that they will pro-rata down your replacement amp or payout.

I hope I'm wrong. Best to check your policy
 
Well I've just got off the phone to a very helpful but stubborn, clueless Empire phone monkey.
They offered a Denon 3805 with no hassel whatsoever but will have to order it in specially and it will take 2 weeks :clap:
So thank you all for the posts and the good advice I'm very pleased to say it wasn't needed.

The one sour note is that I told the monkey that the 3805 was last years model and I should get the 3806 as like for like...
Sadly Denon let me down... He went straight to the denon web site and there is NO TRACE of the 3806 anywhere on the site AAAAArrrrggghhhhh
He was adamant that 3805 is current and I was unable to shake him.

But Hey 3805 is better than what I had at no expense to me bar a £50 excess
All I need now is a lockable AV cabinet for when I go away :devil:
 

The latest video from AVForums

TV Buying Guide - Which TV Is Best For You?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom