need some help deciding

[ELSock]

Ok I'm kinda torn between two AV receivers.
I'm upgrading to HD in about a month, and i wanna make sure i'm doing my homework so as to get the biggest bang for my buck... and i want the new equipment to last at least a little while.
The two recievers i'm looking at are the Sony STR-DG800 and its big brother
the Sony STR-DG1000.
The 800 is like $400 and does as far as i've read almost the same as the dg1000 which is $800. now i'm just lookin mostly for which on is better or if for the same money i can another receiver thats even better, or one thats equally good for less money... keep in mind please that i'm lookin for hdmi which the 2 sony's have. also
if it has (the new) hdmi, and it says passthrough, will it covert the audio through the receiver or is just rerouting where the signal is goin?

thx for all your help.
soon to be in HD land,
~ELSock~

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

Make sure you check out the receivers from Yamaha, Denon, and Pioneer in your price range. I have the Yamaha HTR-5860 (similar to the RX-V659) and would recommend it if you don't need HDMI "built in" to the receiver.
Remember, you can always route HDMI video directly from the source to the display and audio to the receiver.

 

[apatel25314]

You really better watch out with the strdg800 because i bought one and it doesnt process hdmi audio, only video i am going to upgrade to a pioneer elite 84