AVR 254 worth the upgrade from RX-V2400?

[nm2285]

Hey all. I've been out of the loop for a while, so haven't been too up to date on the newest offerings. I did a bit of research recently and the HK AVR 254 and the Marantz SR4002 have caught my eye. I currently use a Yamaha RX-V2400. Going to either of those two newer receivers would offer me some new processing options and HDMI switching (I could get rid of my external switcher) as well as a more reliable (hopefully) autocalibration tool. The only thing I can think of losing, that I actually use, is the phono input which is OK bc I rarely use my turntable and could get an external phono preamp eventually. I understand that in the manufacturer's line up, the 2400 is a higher quality model, but I figure the newer models have had a trickle down of technology and are more up to date.

Anyone have any opinions/reasons as to whether or not I should change?

Thanks!

 

[Pyrrho]

I think you should think carefully about what you want your receiver to do. If you want new features, then, of course, you must replace it. But what you have is a good receiver, and can still be used for good sound. And a lower model is likely to have a less robust power amplifier section, so if you require your current power levels, you probably need to aim higher. But if you don't need as much power, then it need not be a problem.


I do, however, recommend that you forget about that HK. Read the reviews at Amazon, and you will find that many people seem to have problems with it actually working:

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-7-1-Channel-Receiver-Repeater/dp/B0016BGRX6

That Marantz, I believe, is not the latest model, and lacks the new surround formats on BD (Blu-ray). At this point in time, I would be hesitant to buy a receiver without the new formats, unless it were a great deal, like:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR6001/Marantz/SR6001-receiver-100w-x-7ch-HDMI-home-theater-surround/1.html

The two downsides to it are that it only has 2 HDMI inputs (which means you will probably need to eventually buy an HDMI switch box; this is worse than you might think, because HDMI devices can be finicky) and you need to do the new format decoding in your BD (Blu-ray) player (which can be sent as multichannel PCM via HDMI). Decoding in the player that way is fine as far as sound quality goes.

You can currently get free shipping on Marantz products at that site; see main page, where I believe it will tell you to simply enter the code FREESHIP when ordering.

For a new model with the new formats built in, I would recommend looking into the Denon AVR-790:

http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4891.asp

If they have implemented the video chip properly, it will have stellar video upconversion. See:

http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/2009-500-receiver-comparison-guide

It retails for about $500 as you can see.