AV Amp Upgrade - Help & Advice Needed Please !!

[Muttlee]

Hi All,
Newbie to the forum, seeking advice from those in the know.

I am looking for an AV amp upgrade to drive my HT setup.
Setup is Jamo E770 mains with E7 Centre & E7 Sub. There are also some E700 rears but not connected at the moment. I have a Tosh EP10 HD-DVD, FoxtelIQ2 with HDMI out (1080i video).
I am mainly interested in HT use but use it for CD playback via the HD-DVD and FM radio.

I am looking at a few amps shortlisted by reading other posts :
Onkyo TXSR606 - $1000
Onkyo TXSR875/6 - bit over budget tho!
Yamaha RXV863 - $1100
Yamaha RXV1800 - price reduced in local store - $1300
Denon AVR2308 - price reduced in local store - $1100
Denon AVR2808 - price reduced in local store but still over budget $1600
I have a 1080p panel which is connected to the amp via HDMI thus am looking for video upscaling to 1080p (606 is 1080i tho), through HDMI.

Questions:
A. Will any of these amps be suitable (musically) for my speakers (6ohm) as a matched setup? I've read so much about how the amp speaker combination colours/warms the sound, that l'm confused about it all.
It's also hard to make an audition with any of these amps as they are boxed and in general electrical stores, not 'hi fi shops'. The price reduced amps are also 'last unit' clearance items.

B. Read so many reviews about HDMI pass through that i think i will have to connect the IQ2 through analogue inputs to get a decent HD picture on non-HD channels. Is this correct?

C. Is there a real difference in reliability between any of them. I dont plan to upgrade it again for 5yr, so comments on non-Japanese Denons and general Onkyo reliability have made me think twice about them too.

D. Any good buys in Melbourne at the moment for about $900 - $1200
Any advice is appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[Cavediver]

Those aren't amps. They're receivers.

 

[zumbo]

Those aren't amps. They're receivers.

Those aren't receivers. They're A/V receivers.

 

[zumbo]

Denon 2809CI. Authorized dealers. $999
http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=DENAVR2809CI

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=92127

 

[zumbo]

Contacted 6th Ave. They will not ship to Australia. Onecall is not open yet.

 

[zumbo]

None of them will ship to Australia.

I would recommend trying to haggle with the dealer offering you the Yamaha 1800, and getting them to sell you the 1900 for the price of the 1800. I can't believe they are charging you retail price for a prior year model. If that don't happen, then offer an even $1000 for the 1800. If that don't happen, I would walk.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Has the op considered used on ebay.au?

 

[zumbo]

What about Amazon? They may ship a 6th ave, j&r, or onecall item.

 

[Muttlee]

Thanks for advice ...

Thanks for the replies guys.
It slipped my mind that l wasn't talking US$ when l made the post. Sorry for that.

But what mostly concerns me is not the costs, but whether they will go with my speakers.

The E770 is a floor standing 3way (with rear facing woofer) speaker.
With 2x6.5", 1x1", 150Watt (220Wattpk), 90dB/2.8v/m sensitivity, 35 - 20kHz

I will take a look through the weblinks you mentioned.


Also just found a Aus ebay dealer with Onkyo 705 at good prices.

Cheers

 

[zumbo]

I would only recommend a Yamaha 1800/1900(preferably the 1900), or Denon 2808/2809.(or a higher model from either)

Remember that the 8 in 1800 is the year, and the 8 in 2808 is the year. Dealers should be giving a good bit off of these units, and you should expect to pay more for the 1900, and the 2809.

Some like Denon, some like Yamaha. When it comes down to it, for me it just depends on the deal of the day. I would purchase either. I have ended-up with Yamaha for my last two, and I loved both of them.

Of the four receivers I listed, the Yamaha 1800 would be my last pick. If it is not a good bit less than the 1900/2808/2809, I would look to those three.

Onkyo will give you more for the money, but I believe the quality is better with Denon and Yamaha. It's just a personal opinion, and many love their Onkyo receivers.