Hi all,
I know this has been asked and answered in various forms in different threads, but I'm at a point where I need to make a decision about what receiver to get with my very first home stereo system, and have been pulling my hair out in my indecision. The stereo system is:
Klipsch RF-62 II (tower) front
RC-62 II center
RS-52 surround
PA-120 12" 200W RMS sub
The two receivers I've been considering most are the Marantz 5006 or the Harman Kardon 2650, since the company selling me my speakers carries them both, but I would also be open to a Denon, Yamana, or Pioneer, or Onkyo which are equivalent.
My thoughts so far:
1) I hear MultEQ-XT is fantastic, is it as good as I read and should I definitely get a receiver with it to calibrate my system?
2) I most likely won't be passing my HDMI through the receiver. Will this be a problem for configurating any receivers, for example the Marantz with the tiny display on the front, or is this a non-issue?
3) Is there a big difference in video quality, either direct HD or upscaled, between the various receivers?
4) Is there a noticeable difference in sound quality between the brands and receivers? Is there any particular receiver that "pairs" well with the speakers I'm getting?
5) I'm going to be watching mostly movies but also listening to some music. I likely won't be using multiple zones or any other fancy features on the receivers. Is there something that I'm not considering which should be a deciding factor, or if I'm not going to be a "power user" does it not really matter which one I get?
6) I read that the Marantz 5006 overheats, is that a serious issue and do others do that too, or is that something I need to be concerned with?
I know this post is pretty vague and covers a lot of ground, any insight anyone can provide would be extremely helpful. It's been very hard getting information to compare so many different receiver brands, and even the different audio gurus I've spoken to at various stores (even ones who know what they're talking about) couldn't really make a solid suggestion on a receiver.
Really, any help would be appreciated! If there's another brand or model I didn't consider above please let me know.
Thanks all, and have a happy Thanksgiving!
~Berj
