Onkyo 674 versus 804?

[baraant]

I am a newbie here and here are the specifics surrounding my yet to be made receiver decision:

The room size this will be used in is 15' x 28' with about a 6.5-7' ceiling, it's my finished and very well insulated basement. The unit will be used mainly for video viewing on a yet to be decided or purchased plasma TV (I currently have a Vizio 42" plasma in my bedroom I got bone cheap and I will probably get another for this basement viewing area.) For a DVD player I plan on getting an Oppo DV-981HD. My question is using the receiver for mainly video viewing will I really notice any real difference between the 804 and 674, does the THX certification matter? The speakers so far have yet to be determined but I'm leaning towards the Onkyo 240's as a beginner set. At circuit city the 674 goes for $499 and the 804 for $850.

I have based the majority of my decisions on reviews from Cnet and they didn't really like the video of the yamaha 2600, so I chose to stay away from yamaha.

It did just occurr to me that the oppo dvd will up-convert so do I really need an up-converting receiver?

Let me know what you guys think, thanks.

 

[MDS]

The main differences between the two are THX certification, slightly more power, and pre-outs on the 804. One minor nit is that the 674 only allows absolute volume display whereas the 804 allows either absolute or relative.

THX cert does ensure the amp section meets certain performance guidelines set forth by THX (and it can drive 4 ohm speakers). The rated power difference is negligible. Unless you need pre-outs or want the THX post-processing modes, the 674 is a better deal.