Going from a 15 year old Sony, albeit a $500 model at that time, to a current Pioneer for about the same price, I was shocked at how little (if any) improvement I heard out of the box. Didn't A/B, just exchanged one for the other in my rack. But now I have HDMI, and MCACC which does seem to improve at least the quality of the bass heard in my room.

Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris