Need help deciding

I'm in the same boat and don't follow this stuff much so I'm completely lost with all the new tech.

Right now I have an HDMI DVR, HDMI Xbox 360, Component Wii, Component DVD player. I really want a receiver that will handle all the inputs and have a single cable to the TV.

I have a simple 5.1 setup now and I doubt I'll add any more speakers (7.1). I just need to know which receiver would work best in my situation in the same price range that you mentioned.

The Marantz will run you more than $500. The current $500 receivers to look at are Yamaha 663, Onkyo 606, Pioneer 1018, HK 254, and Denon 1909/789. I think the Denon is a great AVR as Denon usually meets their rated power specs and are typically bug free. Power is important as the new Aperion speakers are quite hungry. Plus, you get Audyssey with the Denon which is a nice bonus.

External amp.

if you really want all that stuff you may need to spend a bit more--the onkyo 876 would definitely fit the bill and is going for about 1k at jr.com (which is pretty good for a 1600 msrp avr). it uses reon for video which is probably the best you will find in an avr in that price range. hk and marants would be best choices for sound imho and teh denon is a goo dall around choice but forget about getting a good deal from a non grey market dealer. to me you get the best bang/buck ratio with onkyo in that price range esp for vidoe processing.

What do you guys think of the Pioneer. I've had pioneer AVRs in the past and liked them but I'm not an AV expert. It only has 3 HDMI, but I don't think I would need more than that since it has component too.

I believe the Denon does allow you to rename inputs. Not sure about the Pioneer. You can download the manuals and check.

Either receiver would be fine. The Denon will cost more, but offers Audyssey Dynamic and Denons usually hit their advertised power specs. Pioneer costs less, but won't have Audyssey Dynamic and it's likely Pioneer won't hit its advertised specs, but I'm sure it has more than enough to drive most speakers.

Let me take a stab at this. More questions than answers, though as that's the only way we can help. First, what types of sources are you planning to hook up? Just as importantly, what type of connections will those sources have?

one by one.....

1) that weight difference probably means very little
2) What are you going to connect? For example, if you're connection a BD player, that's one HDMI. Let's say you've got a recent DVD player, that's HDMI 2, Game system? Maybe HDMI 3.
3) Do you have any "S-video" components?
4) Do you have any sources with optical only outputs?
5) Phono....do you have a turntable?
6) Video bandwidth....what type of TV will you be hooking up?
7) Better DAC, affects CD playback
8) Really not that big of a deal with a detachable power cord, unless you're planning on buying one of those "high end" power cords to replace the one that came with the AVR
9) Triggers allow you to plug another piece of gear into the AVR. That, in turn, allows you to turn them on, or off at the same time.