Help please...Onkyo, Denon or Yamaha (or another?!)

[abates25]

I am in the market for a new receiver....blah, blah, blah...and I have gotten my choices narrowed down, in current order of preference, to:

Onkyo TX-SR674
Yamaha RX-V1600
Denon AVR-887
Marantz SR 7500​

I have a Westinghouse 42w2 1080p LCD. My previous receiver was an Onkyo TX-SR601. I want, from this new receiver, the ability to convert analog to digital over HDMI (upconversion is a bonus, but my display does a pretty good job of scaling already, and to 1080p at that), OSD over HDMI (the 42w2 will accept 480i over HDMI), to have a nice, even sound - with a greater emphasis on home-theater than music - a usable remote, around $500, 3 component inputs, 4 opticals....

So, if anyone could help with this choice, or advocate for a different option I haven't listed, I'd appreciate it!

 

[Nick250]

Assuming you have done your homework and read up on the specs for each, and they all meet your requirements then go with the Onkyo since it's your first choice. Their should be minimal difference in SQ. I guess my message is don't over complicate it, they are all decent receivers AFAIK.

Nick

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'd take the Marantz in that lineup. TJMP.

 

[mike c]

and I would take the yammy just to confuse you some more

 

[Crackerballer]

to make it impossible, I have that Denon and love it. But I agree, if you have done the homework, just go with your first choice.

 

[abates25]

Thanks all for the answers, I do feel pretty comfortable with the research I can do prior to actually setting one up; I lean towards the Onkyo as the brand is a known entity to me (my past two receivers were Onkyo), but do know that all four hold pretty good followings...for those that have one of the models, if you are running any of them with a 1080p source input through HDMI, what was your setup experience - seamless or have you had any handshake issues, etc? Thanks in advance for any advice ;-)