2009 $750 Receiver Comparison Guide

[admin]

In this comparison article we look at receivers around the $750 price point. We have offerings from Yamaha and Harman Kardon at $649, Pioneer at $699, and Denon, Marantz, and Sherwood Newcastle at $799. While you'd think that the differences in receivers at this price point would be a matter of inches, you'd be wrong. Manufacturers are trying pretty hard to differentiate themselves. The question is - what do you need?


Discuss "2009 $750 Receiver Comparison Guide" here. Read the article.

[croseiv]

Nicely done! It's good to see those guys compared. Surpirsed that the Denon didn't have multichannel outs....

[anamorphic96]

Nice article.

However the new Pioneer VSX-21 only weighs 29 lbs and not 36. However Pioneer only states this on the product sheet. 36 lbs is the shipping weight.

It would have also been nice to see the Onkyo TX-SR706. It came out around the same time as the HK.

[bandphan]

Nice article.

However the new Pioneer VSX-21 only weighs 29 lbs and not 36. However Pioneer only states this on the product sheet. 36 lbs is the shipping weight.

It would have also been nice to see the Onkyo TX-SR706. It came out around the same time as the HK.

Also the 3po room correction, unless this a brand new feature for them

[fredk]

Nice article. Its interesting that, with the exception of Sherwood there is not much difference between the different receivers. Enough that different receivers will be more attractive to different groups of people though.

I am a little surprised that you did not mention power handling (probably not the right term) in this group as it is something you highlighted in a separate article not that long ago. I am willing to bet that not all the receivers in this group will comfortably handle a 4 Ohm load and that will be important to some people.

[anamorphic96]

Very good points anamorphic, thanks for the correction. There is always a considerable weight difference between net and shipping. It was probably only a small mishap from the litterature of the Pioneer receiver that Tom didn't catch in time.

As for an Onkyo receiver to not be included , I too feel a bit sad. I agree that it would have been nice to see the 706 included.
Too bad also that the TX-SR707 is not released yet, but just about.

I love comparisons like that, of receivers from various manufacturers.
Thanks Tom.

One thing I have to say; it's sad that from all of them, none offer a second HDMI output.

Now, from that list only, which one(s) is(are) the winner(s)?

Here's my own personal take: The Denon 890 And Sherwood 772; NO 7.1 Multichannel outputs?!!
Give ne a break!
The Sherwood; only 2 HDMI inputs!!! Unbelievable. Onkyo receivers (706 & 707) that cost much less, have 6 of them (and one on the front too).
The Pioneer Elite 21TX; only 5.1-channel input!!! Come on now! And for an Elite model?!!

Well, for my money, I would have to pick ....., got you!, I bet you guys were thinking that I would have pick the Yamaha 765, right? Close then, but no cigar.

Nope sir, the one I'd spent my money on, is the Marantz SR5003.
It has what I like most; Audyssey MultEQ XT, the heaviest of the six, at 28.8 pounds (well slightly behind the Elite at 29 lbs), the most gorgeous looking , two (2) components outputs, 7.1-channel inputs and outputs, and the Marantz sound quality, build, performance, reliability, ergonomics, value and best set of features overall.

The Yammy 765, would be my second choice, with the Harman Kardon 254 right at his side.
* Isiberian should be quite happy with that (HK).

My vote is for the Marantz as well. The Marantz along with the HK have the most robust amp sections of all the receivers listed. The HT magazine did a review of the 5003 and it produced 103 watts per channel at .1% distortion with all channels driven and 88.2 watts with all 7 channels driven. Pretty impressive in my book.

The 5003 is actually on my list but I have really grown to like the Audyssey Dynamic EQ function on my Onkyo. So it's coming down to these two receivers. Plus I can get the Onkyo much cheaper.

[anamorphic96]

Wow! I'm impressed and at the same time I'm not surprised at all.

I did not read, just yet, the review of the Marantz SR5003.

And if the Onkyo TX-SR706 (or 707) would be part of that list, I think that it would have end up in second place, right along the Yamaha and Harman Kardon receivers.
Or perhaps, slightly ahead of them. Yeah, slightly ahead of the Yammy and HK, with it's 6 HDMI inputs and Audyssey Room EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, THX Select2 Plus, preouts for all channels, 7.1 multichannel input (depending of the model: 706 or 707), and the Onkyo name.
Yep, sorry Yamaha and Harman Kardon (Isiberian too), but you just don't cut it anymore. You are now both going down hill, visiting your little friends; Denon, Pioneer Elite and Sherwood Newcastle.

One Ring to rule them all: Marantz.
The finger for the ring: Onkyo.

But at least Isiberian admits he made a mistake after getting the HK and wishes he had his Onkyo back. Admitting your mistake is half the battle so he can still be one of the cool kids.

[anm]

I understand that the price mentioned are MRPs, but wouldn't it be fair if street prices are used for comparison? Amazon.com /JR etc can be taken as standard as these online stores are accessible by almost everyone.
HK 254 IIRC has support for iPod, though the dock is not included in the package. It is free with 354, which sells for $549 on amazon.

regards

[gqmagic]

IMO the best $750 dollar receiver today is one that cost 2-3 times more in the not to distant past, like the Pioneer SC-05 which was going for $699 recently or the Marantz 8001 for $699 at AC4less or some of the 8002s that have sold recently for $650 to $950. Any of these top of the line models to me sound much better than their less expensive stablemates.

I've been watching some Marantz 8500s go for $350 to $400 in the last couple of weeks, and other than HDMI (which I don't need in my receiver at this point) has the same specs as the 8001 and 8002s.

Sound Quality rules ( as I listen to Miles Kind of Blue)

[rnatalli]

Out of this list, the Marantz or HK would be my pick with Denon following closely behind. The HK 254 (refurbished) can be had for $220 on eBay right now and can't be touched by any of the competitors at that price.