Help me pick a receiver

[Jethro]

Which receiver would you get when bang for the buck is concerned, but the main thing is still sound quality.

Onkyo 805
Onkyo 806
Marantz 6003
Marantz 5003

Need Hdmi switching for blu ray and cable box... so 2 inputs, add 1 for flexibility say 3 total hdmi's. Needs to have tru-hd, new codecs etc...
Needs to have pre-outs.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I don't mind used/ refurbed/ dinged up/ etc... As a matter of fact I prefer it a little rough around the edges to save some loot.

[DavidJames]

Which receiver would you get when bang for the buck is concerned, but the main thing is still sound quality.

Onkyo 805
Onkyo 806
Marantz 6003
Marantz 5003

Need Hdmi switching for blu ray and cable box... so 2 inputs, add 1 for flexibility say 3 total hdmi's. Needs to have tru-hd, new codecs etc...
Needs to have pre-outs.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I don't mind used/ refurbed/ dinged up/ etc... As a matter of fact I prefer it a little rough around the edges to save some loot.

I just bought a 5003 refurb which arrives on Tuesday. I'm replacing an HK525. I don't pay much attention to the "sound" claims people make about receivers.

For me, with features being equal, it came down to wanting a current model, which "appears" to have fewer bugs at the price I wanted to pay.

[Jason]

805. Beastly amp for a receiver. Decodes everything (although I think most players decode internally still). Has pre-outs.

I have seen a couple reports that the 806 is inferior to the 805, in regards to SQ and actual amp power.

Disclaimer: I have one

[PhenomeNhan]

Just my opinion, but avoid the Onkyos if you want good sound. Between those 2, I'd definitely go Marantz. I'm ordering the 5003 when I can find a good deal for a friend. It seems to be $799 everywhere right now (minus the shady sites). I'll sell him my Emo LPA-1 later when he's ready to move up to better sound.

[Jason]

Surprised to hear you say that Nahn. I always kinda liked the Onk sound. Not to discount the Marantz. I kind of hold them in the same regard.

[PhenomeNhan]

Surprised to hear you say that Nahn. I always kinda liked the Onk sound. Not to discount the Marantz. I kind of hold them in the same regard.

Don't mind me, Jason. It's just my ears :)

I've heard a 603 or was it 604 on a couple of occasions and a 875 on another. Didn't like them either time.

[Jason]

Don't mind me, Jason. It's just my ears :)

I've heard a 603 or was it 604 on a couple of occasions and a 875 on another. Didn't like them either time.

Out of curiosity, how would you characterize their sound? Especially the 875?

I also really liked the older generation HK's. My 525 was nice.

[PhenomeNhan]

Out of curiosity, how would you characterize their sound? Especially the 875?

I also really liked the older generation HK's.

With the 875, I wasn't liking its sound with a pair of Rockets 850s. For HT, it seemed to do well. However, with music, it was kinda "uninvolving" and rather flat.

I used to have an HK 20vII. I loved that little thing. I wish I still have it, so I can see how it sound now in my system, esp. now that my taste is a little bit more sophisticated than back then.

[Jason]

With the 875, I wasn't liking its sound with a pair of Rockets 850s. For HT, it seemed to do well. However, with music, it was kinda "uninvolving" and rather flat.

I used to have an HK 20vII. I loved that little thing. I wish I still have it, so I can see how it sound now in my system, esp. now that my taste is a little bit more sophisticated than back then.

Hmm. We don't listen to much music through the 805. It does great for HT, though.

The few times I have listened to some music, I much preferred the 'pure audio' mode. But there's no bass management in that mode. I just don't listen to music much in that room since I have a 2 channel rig now.

I've never listened to any of the other Onkyo offerings.

To the OP...sorry for the little side track, but IMO I think your choices are solid, but I'd be wary of the 806. No personal experience, but have read that it's not the performer the 805 is.

[bp2007]

Which receiver would you get when bang for the buck is concerned, but the main thing is still sound quality.

Onkyo 805
Onkyo 806
Marantz 6003
Marantz 5003

Need Hdmi switching for blu ray and cable box... so 2 inputs, add 1 for flexibility say 3 total hdmi's. Needs to have tru-hd, new codecs etc...
Needs to have pre-outs.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I don't mind used/ refurbed/ dinged up/ etc... As a matter of fact I prefer it a little rough around the edges to save some loot.

... and award for the "bang for the buck" goes to ..... Onkyo TX-SR805. :)

Has 3 HDMI inputs too and fits your above mentioned requirements.

There is one listed in "Classifieds forum" here for $500 + shippingi, if interested.

http://www.tweakcityaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=797

[madpoet]

I had and liked the 805 before I got my Integra 9.8. Very flexible receiver.

[etcarroll]

I love my Pioneer 1018, meets all your requirements, but its now hard to find.

There's a 1019 coming out, but it may not have pre-outs.

I have the Acurus A200x3 driving the front three channels - very satisfied!

[engtaz]

Marantz 6003 would be the one I suggest.

[graphicguy]

Had an 805 for about two weeks. It sounded harsh with my Rockets. For amps that I'd heard were so "beefy", it left me wondering "where's the beef?".

Ran Audyssey.....no help.

Thought there was something wrong with it. So, I took it back to the dealer I bought it from. They tested it. Said nothing was wrong. Then, the glitches started to pile up. Dealer said FW would fix them. Trying to engage Onkyo for support, you'd think that I was speaking Martian to them.

Finally, I just gave up. Sounded bad....operationally, performed bad. Support was non-existent.

I took it back.

If the choice is between Marantz and Onkyo, go Marantz, hands down.

Or, depending on your budget, prices have really dropped on the Pioneer Elite ICEamp AVRs (SC 05/07/09). I own an SC 05. Wonderful piece of AV gear.

[Jethro]

Thanks guys. I'm going for the 805 or 6003. ~$500 for the 805 and $750 for the 6003.

Believe or not, one of the main reasons I'm not jumping on the Marantz is because it looks sooooooooo damn sexy and its going to be behind a wall hidden. It would just be such a shame...

Still leaning towards the Marantz however due to alot of negative comments on the 805.