New receiver - need suggestions - Onkyo 606 vs. Denon 788/1908 vs. Denon 888/2308

[jtk27]

Hey guys, which of the three receivers mentioned above would you suggest?

With current holiday deals, it looks like it would be $340 for the Onkyo 606, $300 for the Denon 788 and $350 for the Denon 888.

Just looking for the highest quality receiver for my money.

Feature-wise it looks like the Onkyo is the top choice, unless the higher-end Audyssey setup on the 788 helps a lot or if the amp section in the 888 would be clearly superior.

I am replacing a faulty H/K AVR247 BTW. Apperently the recent rumors of quality control issues with H/K weren't exagerrated.

I guess the major thing is whether the 888 would offer a clearly better amplifier section since it was designed to compete against the Onkyo 7xx series, albeit the previous generation. I don't currently need to really crank my sound up since I live in a condo, but I'd like to keep that option open for the future (especially if I upgrade to the lower sensitivity Aperion 5b from my current
Aperion 532 l/r).

Also, have you had experience with the two auto setups? The Denon offers the Audyssey multi-EQ whereas the Onkyo offers the slightly lower end Audyssey QE2. Would that make a difference in your mind?

If neither of those things would matter to a more experienced audiophile, than I guess I'll go with the Onkyo.

 

[Seth=L]

The Yamaha RX-V663 and Marantz SR 4002 would be fine additions to your list, both feature the all important "preouts". It drives me nuts having a receiver without preouts. Believe me, I know, because the receiver I have now DOESN'T HAVE PREOUTS!!! *grrr*

 

[jostenmeat]

Also, have you had experience with the two auto setups? The Denon offers the Audyssey multi-EQ whereas the Onkyo offers the slightly lower end Audyssey QE2. Would that make a difference in your mind?

If neither of those things would matter to a more experienced audiophile, than I guess I'll go with the Onkyo.

First of all, Im not terribly familiar with your choices. But, for me, the version of room correction is a very big factor.

IOW, stepping up to m-eq is worth it.

Even better would be m-eq XT.

OTOH, at price point you're looking at, hard to find XT coupled with Dyn vol/eq (useful for quiet volumes, late at night).

The 606 is feature heavy, but does not sport pre-outs, if you wanted to add an amp for future power-demanding speakers.

However, room correction doesn't excite everyone else as it does me. Its all personal. YMMV.

edit: ok after bit of reading, it seems the 1909 is the nicest choice of listed. preouts, handles advanced bitstreams unlike 2308, has dyn vol/eq, one more hdmi input. bit more expensive though.

edit #2: oops 1908 listed, not 1909. Ok, then, I vote 2308. I hope your bdp is not the Pana bd-30 that only bitstreams.

 

[jtk27]

I guess the dillema here is that the 888 has the multi eq while the 606 has the qe2 but with the dynamic eq thrown in.

Would you say that the 888/2308 is a NOTICABLE upgrade in terms of the amplifier over the sr606?

 

[Davemcc]

None of the Denons will decode DTS-HD MA or Dolby TrueHD. I would put the Yamaha 663 at the top of the list and the Onkyo 606 a close second. You never know when those preouts will come in handy.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

He would need to step up to atleast the AVR-889 for this...

None of the Denons will decode DTS-HD MA or Dolby TrueHD. I would put the Yamaha 663 at the top of the list and the Onkyo 606 a close second. You never know when those preouts will come in handy.

 

[jtk27]

None of the Denons will decode DTS-HD MA or Dolby TrueHD. I would put the Yamaha 663 at the top of the list and the Onkyo 606 a close second. You never know when those preouts will come in handy.

I do have a ps3 as my blue ray player so those things aren't critical, though I would rather have them than not.