Advise Needed for new receiver

Any particular features you are looking for? Might help us if you told us if there are any features that you just don't care about/won't use, as well, so we can try not to recommend something that is too expensive for no reason (for you). e.g. ethernet, Airplay, internet radio, preamp outputs, multiple zones, 12v trigger, OSD over HDMI, good video deinterlacing... etc.

^^^

if you have a "really nice display", the last thing you need to worry about is video processing in the avr...

If preouts are not necessary you could probably get away with a Denon AVR 2312 or Marantz 5006. They both have Audyssey MultiEQ XT

I recently upgraded from a Sony ES to a Denon 3312. The sound quality of the Denon is amazing. Also I noticed that the 3312 retains a .05 distortion rate yet the newer 3313 is up to .08. Thats almost 40% difference. I am very pleased with the 3312 once I got it all calibrated and if you look around you can find then NIB (not refurbished) in the sub $800 range. I am very pleased with the Denon

^^^

and a difference that is COMPLETELY inaudible... and you need to check your math...

fwiw, there are many errors on the denon spec pages... but even if this isn't an error, it makes no difference whatsoever....

that being said, if there aren't any features on the 3313 that the user "wants", the 3312 would certainly be a logical alternative (but not based on the thd spec)....

I'm happy that you are pleased with your purchase, but the comment about distortion may need some clarification.

Virtually all modern power amps have 0.02% or less THD provided that they are not pushed to or near clipping. This is even true of PA amps and car amps.

Let's say that manufacturer specs were actually connected with reality, which may be a stretch. ;-)

In the lab I can take the same amp and measuring it as having 0.01% 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.08%, 1% or 10% THD. The difference would depend on the power output that I speced along with the THD rating. The difference might be 80 wpc for 0.01%, 90 wpc for 0.02%, 100 wpc for 0.05%, 105 wpc for 0.08%, 120 wpc for 1% and 160 wpc for 10% THD. This is all for the identical same piece of equipment!

As a practical matter, an AVR might live its entire life in a HT room and never put out more than 50 wpc. Or it might get clipped out every weekend that the kids come home from college. In either case, the difference among the specs I gave above would have no significance at all.

I would suggest the Onkyo 709; it has full preouts, which can be good to have.

I would also suggest that you get rid of those speakers and get some better ones. That is where my money would go if I had some to spend.

XT32 would make a bigger difference than THX. I love my 3311 but I would probably have to pick the 818 for XT32. The only thing that would bother me is the lack of quality control that Onkyo has shown over the last few years. There is already some issues with the HDMI on the 616 so I would take that into consideration.

^^World Wide Stero via Buy.com is selling the 3312 for $698 shipped. Have them price match or return it.
http://mobile.buy.com/ibuy/Product.aspx?sku=222045211

How about the Marantz sr6006, 7.1 / 770 watt

Was $1199 now available at $400 less at $799 brand new at several reputable dealers.

I think this is a great deal, I was waiting for the sr7005 to price drop, but now may go for the 6006

I'm sure you'll be happy with that, I'm running the 2312 and it's incredible. Probably should've gotten the 3312 for the extra watts per channel.

I've always had trouble understanding the features of Denon, but I really do love them, on my third.

The few extra watts are not worth it so if the 2312 has all the features you need then you made the right decision. I used a Denon 2310 and then got a Denon 3310 and the difference in power had no effect on sound quality.

Yeah, don't step up to the 3312 just for power. If you want the preouts or other extra features then that is why you'd go with it. You wouldn't even notice the difference in power unless you were doing a head-to-head comparison.

So then a separate amp is really the only way to substantially increase the sound?

So let's keep this going. I got a 2312 and just don't like the sound paired with my Klipsch r25 series speakers. I calibrated many times and tweaked and played with setting and could never get a better sound to me compared to my HK AVR635. I reconnected my HK AVR635 this morning and it just sounds more crisp compared to the 2312CI. Any suggestions for another receiver? I like the HK except it has no HDMI inputs or outputs. I would like at least a true 110 per channel at 8 ohm. Network capable, 4 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. Clear crisp dialogue is critical to me. What I am noticing instantly with the HK vs the denon is the dialogue out of the center channel is much 'cleaner' than with the 2312CI I will be returning to onecall on Monday.