I am in the market for a new AV receiver and am looking at various models of Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo.  The speakers I plan on running are the 6T, 5C, 4B. and 10D subwoofer.  My price range in under $1,000.  It's use will primarily be for HDTV, but will also enjoy music.  Any suggestions?

 

All three brands you state here are well received (no pun intended) here in our community. You cannot go wrong with any of those. I do lean toward the Onkyo, and I am a very happy 805 owner. If you can still find one of those (discontinued, 806 took it's place), you would probably get one heck of a deal. Onkyo seems to offer the most bang for the buck of the three, IMHO.

Regardless of your choice, it will sound great, since you have Aperions at the end of the chain! Good luck, and happy shopping.

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Scottiemon

Thank you Scottimon.  I have actually been looking at both the 806 and 805.  Have you had and difficulties with your 805 with video.  I have heard that the 805 Downconverts 1080i component video signals to 720p when outputting over HDMI.  Is that true?  And would it be true if you are using HDMI from the source such as HD cable to 805 and then HDMI to the TV?

Yes, it does downcovert component to 720. I always forget that point, since I have my components (only cable box, no HDMI) Y cabled up to my TV (WAF...wifey does not want to have to turn on Amp to watch TV). Every other source is HDMI. HDMI passes through, so no downcoversion there.

So that indeed could be a deal breaker for you.

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Scottiemon

I am in the same situation and trying to bone up on all of the possibilities. One that has caught my eye is the Marantz SR6003 which was listed at $1199.99 until 4 days ago, now I see there has been a $200 price reduction. Purchased online from an authorized dealer like Crutchfield and its $999 to your door no tax, and free delivery. Anybody have any thoughts on this temptation? Oh, 3 yr manufacturer warranty as well.

Marantz sells excellent equipment.  I ordered my Yamaha VX-1800 receiver and Yamaha BD-S2900 Blu-ray from Cruthfield, so no worries.  Like Aperion, they too have a 30 day return policy. 

Good luck, and be sure to fill us in on your decision.

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Speakers: Aperion 6T, 6C, 5DB, 6IC, Bravus 10Dx2
Monitor: JVC RS20U front projector with Stewart Velux 100" screen
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1800
Blu-ray: Yamaha BD-S2900
Amplifier: Emotiva UPA-7
Conditioner: Panamax M5300PM

"And would it be true if you are using HDMI from the source such as HD cable to 805 and then HDMI to the TV?"

No, it'll simply pass the signal through.  It won't downconvert it.

I see the downconversion as a good thing.  It forces me to upgrade my component video equipment to get HDMI outs.  Nothing like a reason to get the latest and greatest.  :)

Bryan

All these manufactures are good ones.  The Denon AVR 3808 (if you look close enough) can be had for the 1k you've budgeted for.  This model is all over the internet among audiophiles and I'm sure for good reason.  You might also want to look at Sherwood Newcastle models. 

Rich,

I purchased the SR6003 about 3 weeks ago from Crutchfield, along with the Marantz BD7003 Blu Ray DVD player, which I just received last week. I have been a Marantz fan for about 30 years, having first bought the Marantz 2270 stereo receiver back in the mid 70's. I have been a big Crutchfield fan for about 10 years, and have never had a problem with them.

I bought the Aperion 4T's (4 of them) along with the 4C center and the Bravus 8D subwoofer about 3-4 weeks ago. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the entire setup. I have been an audiophile for years, but just now got into Home Theatre. I doubt I will ever go away from Marantz. I have had nothing but great music from them for all these years.

The Aperion speakers are probably the finest I have heard, at this price point and considerably more.

I am once again a very happy man, and I have felt more relaxed, listening to my music these past few weeks, than I have in many years.

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Steve

A day without caffeine is like a week!

I just got a Denon 1909 and love it.  The Denons offer both Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic volume which are really cool features that the other brands don't have yet at that price level (Onkyo's do have Dynamic EQ, but not Dynamic volume).  The manual sucks for the Denons but everything else is great and the sound quality is really superb.

Sjfried,

What are the dimensions of your room?  Mine is 12x20.  I am debating whether to upgrade my 5B's to 4T's or 5T's... If I can get away with 4T's my wife would thank me for it..

 

Dan,

That room is an extended living room/dining room, about 18x40, with the listening area 18x20. The 56" TV is dead center along the 18' wall, with my 2 recliners 12 feet away, also dead center. Front 4T's are at about 2 and 16, 4C (center) is dead center, Bravus sub is at about 6 feet on left. Left and right surround 4T's are also at about 2 and 16, with about 4 feet between each tower and its recliner, each aimed at listeners ear. There is plenty of power left over. I would venture a guess that if I had the entire 40 foot depth, the 4T's would still be enough to fill the room. The sub also does an excellent job. Transformers and Iron Man Blu Ray were incredible! Musically, a great test is New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein performing Aaron Coplands Rodeo/Billy The Kid.

I am very pleased with what I have. 

 

 

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Steve

A day without caffeine is like a week!

So you sit 12 feet away from the front 4T's and you feel they are more than enough then.  That's comforting that you feel they could fill up your entire room.  What AVR are you using again?  I have a 120Wx7 Denon 3805..the things a monster.  Just don't get the lossless stuff with it. Thinking about just getting a blue ray player with analog outputs that does all the decoding like the Sony BDP S550 with the money i save with the 4T's vs 5T's.

Dan,

 I just bought the Marantz SR6003 A/V Receiver, 100W x 7, along with a Marantz BD7003 Blu Ray DVD Player. Additionally I have an XBOX360 Elite attached. TV is the Samsung 5685W. All connections used (input and output) are HDMI.

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Steve

A day without caffeine is like a week!