Today I got to listen to a pre-production 9000ES, the soon to be flagship. I really think Sony got something right with this one, cuz it wowed most of us listening to it. It is going to retail for $4499, $3000 more than the 5000ES. I listened to a number of different musical cuts and a scene...
Got a chance to see these two sets side by side today using different sources and different inputs. In every case, the Philips beat the Sammy in clarity, sharpness, and natural color. Dithering was completely absent and rainbow effects were extremely hard to see. We watched different scenes...
FWIW, I'd check out the Denon AVR-3803. It's right at the top of your budget for a receiver (about $1200), has 7 channels, multi-zone / multi-source, 110 watts per channel and plenty of digital inputs for your sources. Speaker-wise you might be able to get a good deal on Klipsch from Sound...
I don't really have a problem with it. Just be a little more careful. I suspect that if they ever sell these things seperately they will come out in keep cases, which will probably piss everyone off.
Helpful tip for the info sheet glued to back of box. With a little effort you should be able...
I am using a Terk 42 antenna, one of the kind that clips on the dish. I must be lucky cause every one of my channels comes in great. The only one that doesn't is FOX and that's just because of the excess red in the FOX feed.
I know it's not an indoor, but have you thought of one of those...