OK...well here's the final four. Rotel, Denon, Onkyo, and Yamaha...Be sure to take into account everything...ability to playback SACD/DVD-A, price, prestige, reliability, and obviously sound and picture quality.

As I had noted earlier, depending on room size he'll likely be purchasing M22ti or M60ti mains, a VP100 center channel, and QS4 surrounds. The LFE will be handled by a Hsu...likely the STF-2. Video will likely be a SD 42" Panasonic plasma.

i gotta go with the onkyo.. mine is fantastic, and you can get the refurbs cheap.

i would say the denon set in a close second, but i am feeling a case of owner loyalty.

ONKYO.

bigjohn

The Rotel reciever is likely the best reciever in the bunch, however, the Denon player is by far the most well reviewed player in the bunch, as well as being universal to boot. I have to go Denon, unless your brother is not interested in SACD, which he will be once he hears it on his Axioms.

Rotel is just charging too much for a DVD-A only player.

I also despise the way Yamaha products look (the whole orange display thing), and I love the gun metal silver Denon products and the silver Rotel products with the black on the side.

Enter the beauty of the Harman Kardon. Unless you get some sort of discount for matching name brands I see no reason to really be in a rut. My vote is the H/K 430 and the Denon 2200 (silver). You could probably pull of that combo for close to $1000 and he'd be quite content I'm sure.

ONKYO YOU FOOLS, ONKYO!!!!!!!

bigjohn

I would say Onkyo if I was sticking to the rules

But in my rule breaking heart of hearts I like my combo

Perhaps I'm just bias to my opinion and my newfound love for my H/K 630. Which if he wanted could probably pull even that model off and be in the same ballpark as the other models.

Maybe it's just my anti-HTIB mentality

Ultimately he'd like to keep the brands the same, but I guess it's not really a total deal breaker.

I too was leaning towards the Onk, but read more than one scathing review of their uni-player today. Bummer.

The ULITMATE choice of course would be to get the Rotel reciever and then hold off until Denon's new players come out. There should be a new model much like the 2200 but with DVI out. Of course the price starts heading north when you pair the best receiver with the best player. Dang it!

Same comment as on poll #2, Craig.

If you are not going to keep the brand of the receiver and uni-player the same....

Then I vote a HK 630 with the Pioneer 563a. Put the money saved into somethingelse.

This will be his setup for the next decade...a 563a isn't going to cut it.

decade? geez

Nothing will cut it then.

Well, clearly things will become outdated that's why I want to start him off now with something somewhat more cutting edge so he's not behind straight out of the gate.

It may actually be worth his while to wait for those new Denon players so he can get the DVI/HDMI outputs.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and comments you've been very helpful.