I'm looking to replace the Yamaha RXV992 that I've been using for the last couple of years (mostly for DTS, and more digital ins / outs).
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My primary use is home theater sound (my ears are nowhere good enough to be an audiophile).
I'm driving a pair of the "baby" magnepans, Cambridge Audio center and sub, and (don't laugh, they're actually quite adequate) Minimus 7s as rears.
I need at least three digital audio inputs, one digital output (surround headphones), and a few s-video ins /outs to associate with these. I don't care about component switching as I'm using a RGB (RGBHV) mega monitor (KLW-9000). I also don't care about second room audio.
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I'm looking to spend around $700. A mere pittance next to everyone else here, but there it is.
After doing a bunch of spec research, my final candidates are
- Yamaha RXV 995 - still pretty limited in digital audio, dts, has setup menus I already know, supports 4 ohm speakers
- Denon AVR 3300 - 4 digital audio in (assignable!), dts , high current amp (makes magnepans happy)
Pioneer Elite VSX 26TX - THX Ultra (should I care about this?), dts, 4 digital audio inputs + 1 out, Burr Brown 24/96 DACs, digital noise reduction.
I'm currently leaning towards the Denon, in spite of at least one user review complaining of flimsy speaker terminals.
Is there any reason why I should not go with this receiver?
Any other suggestions?
On line reviews of the price/power comparable Sony complained of slew (so poor bass?). Another didn't like the Onkyo (poor audio). NAD doesn't make one. Marantz doesn't appear to, either...
The Harman Kardon doesn't have the digital audio connectivity I want (neither does the Yamaha I mentioned above).
Many thanks!