I forgot, do you have 80’s? is your system 5 or 7.1?

John will tell you to pick up one of the Yamaha RX knock offs or an Onkyo. After reading just about all the manuals of both of those lines, I had narrowed my choice down to the 2700 and the 804. Power output may / may not be enough for you if you are running M80’s. John will tell you they are, and he’s probably right. Yamaha does have its own room EQ system, as well as Pioneer. Some folks like them, some don’t. The Pioneer’s have a LFE boost problem that a firmware download is ‘supposed’ to fix. I don’t like Pioneer, so I didn’t research them all that much, but the 84 seams to be popular.

Emotiva at this time does not have anything that will process LPMC via HDMI.

I’m not even going to mention that ‘other’ brand with the silver and black cases.

Gotta love them Denons……they have a lot of features that no one cares about until you find yourself saying “I sure wish I could ……” It’s too bad you gave up on the 4806, I think that unit would have been about perfect for me. Really, I was just waiting to hear back from you before buying one. The CI version has the Video Processor in it, which, well….sucks. Sorry Denon fans, but their integrated VP’s suck unless you pop for the 5xxx serris AVR’s. Their new AVR’s are rumored to have some good VP’s (ABT and Genum), but only time will tell if they do are not. But even if they do, Denon can either screw them up or get it right. Take the new (and hottest) JVS-RS1 projector with a Genum processor in it for example. JVC totally screwed up one of the best processors on the planet right now. It’s just about friggin worthless.

I’ve have my Marantz 8001 for a couple months now, I think. Time sure flies when you don’t pay attention to it….

I still love the way it sounds. There are some things about it that I really like, but I find myself wishing it would do some of things that the Denons do. Like:

- process discrete 6/7.1 LPCM (it will only matrix from 5.1)
- independent LFE adjustment with Multi Channel surround mode over DD and DTS (Denons do this)
- independent X-over adjustment for each channel (Denons do this)
- HDMI output switching with discrete IR (why have two outputs if you can’t use both?)
- Display all seven channels when in use instead of only five (how stupid could they have been to display only five channels on a seven channel AVR?)

Personally, I’d just pick up a 3806 or a Marantz 7001. You can find both for under a grand. I’d buy one of them with the clear intention of buying something different within one year. I think within one year, we will have many more options available to us for HD audio as BR and HD becomes more popular. Save some money for now and buy a case of Provinence's 03 Cab.

I'm running the 80's in a 7.1 system, I would have considered the Emotivia but I'm already using an Aragon 2005 to drive 5 channels.
The 4806 is still my first choice but I'm having a hard time finding one at the right price, I don't need the extra features of the CI.
At this point I'm in no great hurry, but I'd sure like to listen to some Tru HD and my SACD's again.

Well I’m very happy to report that I just stumbled across one of my “wish it would do” features.

I watched the Covenant BR the other night and couldn’t make but half way through it. The LFE was low. So I’ve been screwing around with channels and the Avia calibration disk today. Well, I accidentally stumbled onto the M-Channel / Multi channel input channel adjust feature!! Way cool! I can set up the channels on ALL the different PCM inputs differently, including the sub.

I suppose I better read that owner’s manual again…..

In case you’re wondering why this is so exciting, well it has to do with HD audio. For some reason or other, Uncompressed Multi-channel PCM data streams are not all the same from the different players. In other words, there is no standard like with regular DVD or TV broadcasts. With DVD/TV there is a standard 10 DB boost on the LFE channel. My PS 3 sorta has this, but it’s not 10 DB’s. It’s closer to 5 DB. My Toshiba HD-X1 is zero. Both of these machines play Bitsream DD and DTS just fine, but who cares? That isn’t HD audio.

For the Toshiba, I am using the 7.1 analogue inputs because the Marantz allows for 7.1 channel adjustments. So I’m good to go with the Toshiba.

For SD dvd, that works just fine as is.

Now finally for my PS3, I can adjust the M-channel PCM inputs.

Before, the LFE was all over the place from these three different players, now they are all equal. Much-mo-better……

One more point for Marantz.

As far as your SACD's, they sound fantastic on the Marantz. With the latest firmware update for my Oppo 970, I couldn't be happier. I can even apply PLIIx to 5.1 stuff.

I just got a PFD review on the 8001. I can't copy and paste it to a posting though. Marantz tech set it to me today.

The reveiwer (Chris Martens) gave it a ten out of ten for music sound quality.

http://us.marantz.com/Products/1875.asp

Just click the review tab.

The Marantz is getting added to the short list also, I'm on a rickety fence right now, I want the 4806 but they are getting harder to find at decent prices, the 4306 is nice but is not that much different from the mid level Denons, so maybe a Marantz SR7001 or even really save some cash and just get the Denon 2807, this whole thing is really starting to give me a headache

Michael, "pick up one of the Yamaha RX knockoffs or an Onkyo"(I've struggled not to confirm Mike Drew's analysis, but couldn't resist any longer).

I almost went with something else, I finally found a Denon 4806 at a price I was willing to pay, when it arrives and I set it up some time next week I'll give my impressions.