Here in the UK the 4400 goes for about £800 and the 3400 can be got for £550. The Marantz 7012 is around the £1K mark and the 6012 is £750. A lot of the time its $=£ for us but I saw the US listing for 6012 at just under $1500 which I think could be got a lot cheaper. The Yamaha 2070 is roughly £1K.
Thank you for the information, but can you clarify the following:
$=£?, isn't it about 0.75 so £800 = USD1060?
Also, is the £800 from authorized dealer and is at the lowest/or near lowest outgoing model clearance price you have seen so far?
In the US the X4400H's discounted price is expected to be around $800, currently not on sale so still at $1599
The RX-A2070 is also at around $1599.
Regarding Denon vs Marantz pricing, the price gaps between the comparable models in the US and Canada are typically much larger. People seem to be willing to pay 15-40% premium most of the time probably because they believe what they were told by the hearsay generators (sales reps, internet forum talks..) that Marantz has a better sound quality due to HDAM, the inherited legendary Marantz warm sound since ancient times etc.
In the far East, Japan and probably even parts of Europe such belief seems less popular and the price gap is much smaller, and justifiable because comparable models (e.g. 4400 vs 7012),Marantz typically comes with only a touch more features. So in the UK, those who believe in the HDAM and a "voiced" warm sound, should definitely go with Marantz even if they don't need that couple of additional features.
Oh, just for example:
D&M list price for the AVR-X4400H is $1599, vs Marantz SR7012's $2199
The only extra feature the SR7012 offers is the 7.1 analog input, unless I missed something else.