OK....I have another one of those "which receiver" questions for everyone. However, in this case, I actually posess one of these receivers. I'll start by providing the candidates:

1. Yamaha RX-V1400 - Approx $650 online shipped (maybe less in near future w/ 1500's coming out)
2. Denon AVR-2805 - Approx $650 online shipped
3. Marantz SR8400 - $850

As you can guess, it's the Marantz that I have in my posession. I picked it up at a liquidation auction new in the box with the intent to sell it on Ebay. The cheapest I could find it online was $1100.

However, here is my quandry. I am in the process of finishing my basement, including a home theater that is wired for 7.1. Though I could very well use my existing Yamaha RX-V995, I am keenly aware that it would only be a matter of time before I bite the bullet and upgraded my receiver to a 7.1....so much so that I have already done my research and had narrowed it down to the first two on the above list.

That brings me to where I am....sitting here with this beautiful receiver sitting in my dining room just screaming to me to open it. From what I've read out there and on this forum, Marantz is worth the premium you pay in terms of audio listening.

So....What is everyone's opinions on this? I know that the Marantz model is more along the lines of the next level in both the Yamaha and Denon, but I have to compare it to what I would probably buy versus the equivalents.

My speaker setup - m60s, vp150, & qs4s

Thanks in advance for everyone's input.

id say if you already have the marantz in your possession, just go with it.. especially if it has the 7.1 capabilities that you are going to want in the future..

as long as the wattage is comparible to the others, then go with it.

bigjohn

If you listen to a lot of music, from all accounts the Marantz is the way to go. I'm with bigjohn on this one, if you got it now....................keep it!

Thanks for your responses so far. If there's anywhere I can go to get someone to agree with a decision to upgrade, it's here.

Well....I guess that's the core question for me. Is the audio quality that much better? I know that it's a subjective question, but I'd love to hear from someone that has heard a high end marantz receiver....possibly done an A/B comparison, etc.

TD, in my view you should disregard any hogwash you've read elsewhere about the Marantz having some mysterious advantage in listening quality. If all three have flat frequency response and inaudibly low noise and distortion(and they do)then they won't affect the sound other than to amplify it, of course, when their settings are flat and the volume level is the same within 0.1dB. Even if all three were available to me at the same price I would pick the Denon or Yamaha for their features, especially automatic calibration and equalization. Very difficult choice between the two.

No one else has any opinions on this? Is what John is saying about all of these receivers having the same audio quality correct? I was under the impression that the different filtering technologies, etc led to varying sounds in receivers.

It's a hotly debated topic. But I think you've missed the hot debates week of this month by a couple days. You may have to wait for next month.

Hey TurboDog...I just sold my Harman Kardon 630 in trade for a Yamaha 1500. I was looking at that and the Denon 3805, Pioneer Elite 56TX, and the Yamaha 2500 in addition to the Yamaha 1500.
4 things brought me to my decision.

1) I wanted to try a new receiver, plain and simple.
2) The Yamaha's have a great reputation for being excellent movie receivers (great DSPs)
3) My friend is getting the 3805...so I can always play with his to test.
4) The Yamaha 2500 isn't out yet and I was growing impatient.
5) Yeah I said 4 things...but 5 is important too. It's really inexpensive compared to the others

I'll get back to you on a report of how the 1500 compares and sounds to me if you're still interested in changing up to a different receiver at that time.

Whatever you have, enjoy!