Denon 3802(features) vs. Arcam AVR200(basics) (1 Viewer)

[Brian Johnston]

This week I will be taking the plunge and buying my first Home Theatre system.

I am pretty sure these are the speakers I will be going with:

Paradigm Ref. Studio 60

Paradigm Ref. Studio ADP

Paradigm Pw2200 sub.

No center for the moment ( no where to put it )

My dilema is which reciever? I was pretty much set on the Denon 3802 until I got to the second store yesterday, which doesn't sell Denon, and didn't have anything with all the same features. But the salesman asked me to listen to the Arcam AVR200, I did, and muscially it beat out a comparable Yamaha, Integra and Pioneer Elite.

I have no immediate plans to go to more than a 5.1 set-up, which the Arcam I think would handle well. The Arcam uses a Tirodial (sp?) transformer and has most of the feature I want ( PL2, pre-outs, SACD in ...) but lacks the extra channel capability of the Denon.

How many movies can I expect to actually take advantage of the extra channels which the Denon could handle?

What would you do?

The prices of the two units are almost the same, and suspect I would use the system a bit more for movies than for music.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Brian.

 

[Brian Johnston]

Okay let's put it this way, has anyone been able to compare a Pioneer Elite to a comparable Denon AV reciever? If so which receiver came out on top in terms of sounds quality?

The Pioneer Elite was definitely the closed in quality to the Arcam, so if the Denon is close to the Pioneer, then I would probably go with the Denon.

Thanks,

Brian.