Mid-fi reciever recommendations (1 Viewer)

[ChrisAG]

I'm a disappointed owner of a second defective Marantz SR-6200 and will most likely ask the dealer for a refund. I'm looking for alternatives and have basically narrowed it down to the following:

Yamaha RX-V1200

Onkyo 797

Denon 2802

I would consider other makes, but my minimum requirements are 6.1 and DPL II, which all of the above have. I'm not willing to spend more for higher-end models, so 7.1 and THX-Ultra are overkill at this point.

Specifically, what I'm looking for are opinions on the sound and build quality, with good video switching. The Marantz, for all of its faults, has absolutely supurb stereo sound. I listen to music 60% of the time, and I don't want to choose a receiver with inferior sound.

 

[Jimmy P]

Do you have access to Sherwood/Newcastle in Canada?,in
particular Newcastle.
If so i think you would be surprised with the features and
performance this line has.Its worth a look.
The only lacking features are the remote and documentation.
www.sherwoodusa.com/newcastle/index.htm

 

[Sean Conklin]

The only lacking features are the remote and documentation.

Do you mean the remote is weak and the instructions are not that helpful, or do you mean you don't get a remote or instructions?

 

[Jimmy P]

Sean,

Both the documentation, and remote are weak.

 

[Sean Conklin]

Jimmy, I thought thats what you meant
I have heard good things about the Newcastle, does it do 6.1 and/or DPL2?

 

[Jimmy P]

Sean,

The Newcastle's will do DPL2 and 7.1 all amplified depending

on which model your looking at.

Here are some features of three models.

model R-863

100 Watts per channel (x 2) in Stereo Mode • THD 0.05% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 8 ohms

• 100 Watts per channel (x 7) in Surround Mode • DVD-A Ready, extended amplifier bandwidth to 100 kHz

• Supports (and decodes) new Audio formats including: Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1, DTS ES 6.1

• Discrete and Matrix, DTS-NEO, Dolby Pro Logic II

• Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoder Built In

• DTS Decoder Built In

• Dolby Pro Logic Surround

• Dolby Virtual Surround

• Automatic Format Detection

• 12 Advanced DSP Modes

• 7.1 Channel Direct Input with composite and • S-Video Input

• 24-bit, 192 kHz A to D and D to A converters, all channels

• 7.1 channel bass management

• Front Panel Optical Digital Input

• 4 Optical Digital Inputs (Rear Panel)

• 2 Coaxial Digital Inputs (Rear Panel)

• Optical Digital Output

• Two Component Video Inputs are "HDTV Ready"

• Analog Bypass for Purist Stereo Reproduction

• Dedicated Room 2 Audio/Video Output

• On-Screen Display from Composite and S- Video

• Preprogrammed Illuminated Remote with • Learning and Macro Capabilities

• Programmable Video Input Labeling for Front • Panel Display and On-Screen Display

Amplifier Features

• Dynamic Power (EIA Standard Rating)

• 180 Watts (x 2) @ 8 Ohms

• 300 Watts (x 2) @ 4 Ohms

• 370 Watts (x 2) @ 2 Ohms

• Totally Discrete Amplifier Stage for all channels

• Heavy-Duty Speaker Binding Posts

Audio/Video Features

• Crystal Semi-conductor CS-49326 24-bit digital processor

• Source/Feature Memory

• 8-Pre-amp Outputs (Left, Center, Right, Left

• Surround, Lft. & Rt. Center Surround, Right Surround, and Subwoofer)

• 4 Rear Panel Audio/Video Inputs (Including S-Video)

• 2 Sets Rear Panel Component Video Inputs

4 Audio Inputs

• Front Panel A/V. Input (including S-Video)

• Independent Video Record Out Selector

• 2 Video Outputs with Component, "S" and • Composite Video (Monitor, VCR)

• Cinema EQ

• Tone Direct

• Pink Noise Generator for Surround Sound Balancing

• Dynamic Range Control (Multi-Step)

• Auto Input balance

Tuner Features

• Advanced AM/FM Tuner

• Preset Scan

• 30 Station Presets (random)

General Features

• Headphone Jack

• Speaker on/off switch

• Digi-Link III Remote Control of Other Sherwood components

• Auto Function One-Touch Operation

• Digital Encoder Volume Control

• Multi-Room Remote Control Input

• 24K Gold Plated Input/Output Jacks

• Large Fluorescent Dot Matrix Display

• System Illumination (Dimmer)

• Sleep Timer

• Aluminum Front Panel

Model R-956

• 120 Watts per channel (x 2) in Stereo Mode

• 120 Watts per channel (x 6) in Surround

• THD 0.05% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 8 ohms

• Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoder Built In

• DTS Decoder Built In

• MPEG-2 Decoder Built-in

• 6.1 Channel Dolby Digital 6.1 Matrix Surround Built-in

• 6.1 Channel DTS Surround ES compatible Matrix decoder Built-in

• Dolby Pro Logic Surround

• SRS Tru Surround

• Automatic Format Detection

• 5 Advanced DSP Modes

• 6.1 Channel Direct Input with composite and • S-Video Input

• 24-bit, 96 kHz A to D and D to A converters, all channels

• 6.1 channel bass management

• 4 Optical Digital Inputs

• 2 Coaxial Digital Inputs

• Optical Digital Output

• Two Component Video Inputs

• Analog Bypass for Purist Stereo Reproduction

• Dedicated Room 2 Audio/Video Output

• On-Screen Display from Composite and

S-Video

• Preprogrammed 8-Device Remote Control

• Programmable Video Input Labeling for Front Panel Display and On-Screen Display

Amplifier Features

• Dynamic Power (EIA Standard Rating)

180 Watts (x 2) @ 8 ohms

300 Watts (x 2) @ 4 ohms

370 Watts (x 2) @ 2 ohms

• Totally Discrete Amplifier Stage for

All Channels

• Heavy-Duty Speaker Binding Posts

Audio/Video Features

• Motorola DSP-56362 24-bit digital processor

• 4 DSP Modes

• Source/Feature Memory

• 7-Pre-amp Outputs (Left, Center, Right, Left

Surround, Center Surround, Right Surround, and Subwoofer)

• 4 Rear Panel Audio/Video Inputs (Including S-Video)

• 2 Sets Rear Panel Component Video Inputs

• 5 Audio Inputs Including Phono

• Front Panel A/V. Input (including S-Video)

• Independent Video Record Out Selector

• 2 Video Outputs with Component, "S" and Composite Video(Monitor, VCR)

• Cinema EQ

• Tone Direct

• Pink Noise Generator for Surround Sound Balancing

• Dynamic Range Control (Multi-Step)

• Auto Input balance

Tuner Features

• 4-Gang Quartz PLL Synthesized Digital Tuning

• Preset Scan

• 30 Station Presets (random)

General Features

• Headphone Jack

• Speaker on/off switch

• Digi-Link III Remote Control of Other Sherwood components

• Auto Function One-Touch Operation

• Digital Encoder Volume Control

• Multi-Room Remote Control Input

• 24K Gold Plated Input/Output Jacks

• Large Fluorescent Display

• System Illumination (Dimmer)

• Sleep Timer

• Aluminum Front Panel

Model R-963

• 120 Watts per channel (x 2) in Stereo Mode, with no more than 0.05% THD, 8 Ohms

• 120 Watts per channel (x 7) in Surround Mode

• Up-converts PCM audio to 192 Khz sampling rate and 24-bit word length

• DVD-A Ready, Extended Amplifier Bandwidth to 100 kHZ

• Supports (and decodes) new Audio formats including: Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1, DTS ES 6.1

• Discrete and Matrix, DTS-NEO, Dolby Pro Logic II

• Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoder Built In

• DTS Decoder Built In

Dolby Pro Logic Surround

• Dolby Virtual Surround

Automatic Format Detection

5 Advanced DSP Modes

7.1 Channel Direct Input with composite and S-Video Input

• 24-bit, 192 kHz A to D & D to A converters, all channels

• 7.1 channel bass management

• 4 Optical Digital Inputs (Rear Panel)

2 Coaxial Digital Inputs (Rear Panel)

• Front Panel Digital Input

• Optical Digital Output

• Two Component Video Inputs are HDTV Ready w/ 40 MHz bandwidth

Component Video Inputs provide both Component and S-Video Output

• Analog Bypass for Purist Stereo Reproduction

• Dedicated Room 2 Audio/Video Output w/ S-Video. OSD Set-up for fixed or variable audio level.

• Rear center amplifiers may be used to drive Room 2. "Room 2" remote control included.

• On-Screen Display from Composite and

S-Video

• Advanced Touch Screen LCD Remote Control Preprogrammed and Learning Capable-Retains dedicated buttons for most used functions

• Programmable Video Input Labeling for Front Panel Display and On-Screen Display

Amplifier Features

• Dynamic Power (EIA Standard Rating)

• 220 Watts (x 2) @ 8 Ohms

• 430 Watts (x 2) @ 4 Ohms

• 600 Watts (x 2) @ 2 Ohms

• Totally Discrete Amplifier Stage for all channels

• Heavy-Duty Speaker Binding Posts

Audio/Video Features

• Crystal Semi-conductor CS-49326 24-bit digital processor

• 12 DSP Modes

• Source/Feature Memory

• 8-Pre-amp Outputs (Left, Center, Right, Left

Surround, Lft. & Rt. Center Surround, Right Surround, and Subwoofer)

• HDTV ready, 54 MHZ bandwidth Video inputs

• 4 Rear Panel Audio/Video Inputs (Including S-Video)

• 2 Sets Rear Panel Component Video Inputs

• 5 Audio Inputs Including Phono

• Front Panel A/V. Input (including S-Video)

• Independent Video Record Out Selector

• 2 Video Outputs with Component, "S" and Composite Video(Monitor, VCR)

• Cinema EQ

• Tone Direct

• Pink Noise Generator for Surround Sound Balancing

• Dynamic Range Control (Multi-Step)

• Auto Input balance

Tuner Features

• Advanced AM/FM Tuner

• Preset Scan

• 30 Station Presets (random)

General Features

• Headphone Jack

• Speaker on/off switch

• Digi-Link III Remote Control of Other Sherwood components

• Auto Function One-Touch Operation

• Digital Encoder Volume Control

• Multi-Room Remote Control Input

• 24K Gold Plated Input/Output Jacks

• Large Fluorescent Dot Matrix Display

• System Illumination (Dimmer)

• Sleep Timer

• Aluminum Front Panel