denon/marantz/yamaha/integra ??

Looking for a 2 channel stereo am/fm receiver with about 100 watts per channel (at
8 ohms) to handle tape decks, CDs, DVDs, VCR, and a turntable and drive
four AR-2ax speakers (2 as A and 2 as B in another room). Listen often to
local FM jazz stations, vinyl jazz, and CDs, while using DVDs for videos.

So far I'm considering:

Denon DRA-685 (about $500) 100 watts
Yamaha RX-777 (about $600) 100 watts
Marantz 4320 (about $360) 80 watts
Integra DTM 5.3 by Onkyo (about $360) 100 watts

They all seem to sound pretty good, but I have not heard them with my ARs.

Forgetting price, what can you tell me regarding build quality? I've pretty much
melted down some old iron by JVC and Marantz back in the '70s and I want
something that will last. I am concerned whether the Marantz is up to the ARs,
and I've never heard of Onkyo's Integra brand before today. My old Denon 635
has done really well for 10 years or do, but the noisy input switching of the
685 bothers me a bit.

Suggestions for receivers please (no more room to add a tuner separate).

thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cciaffone

Looking for a 2 channel stereo am/fm receiver with about 100 watts per channel (at
8 ohms) to handle tape decks, CDs, DVDs, VCR, and a turntable and drive
four AR-2ax speakers (2 as A and 2 as B in another room). Listen often to
local FM jazz stations, vinyl jazz, and CDs, while using DVDs for videos.

So far I'm considering:

Denon DRA-685 (about $500) 100 watts
Yamaha RX-777 (about $600) 100 watts
Marantz 4320 (about $360) 80 watts
Integra DTM 5.3 by Onkyo (about $360) 100 watts

They all seem to sound pretty good, but I have not heard them with my ARs.

Forgetting price, what can you tell me regarding build quality? I've pretty much
melted down some old iron by JVC and Marantz back in the '70s and I want
something that will last. I am concerned whether the Marantz is up to the ARs,
and I've never heard of Onkyo's Integra brand before today. My old Denon 635
has done really well for 10 years or do, but the noisy input switching of the
685 bothers me a bit.

Suggestions for receivers please (no more room to add a tuner separate).

thanks

---

All good units. All built well. Return rates show the Yamaha on top with Denon a very close second. Onkyo's not far behind either. I don't think there's a looser in the bunch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cciaffone

Looking for a 2 channel stereo am/fm receiver with about 100 watts per channel (at
8 ohms) to handle tape decks, CDs, DVDs, VCR, and a turntable and drive
four AR-2ax speakers (2 as A and 2 as B in another room). Listen often to
local FM jazz stations, vinyl jazz, and CDs, while using DVDs for videos.

So far I'm considering:

Denon DRA-685 (about $500) 100 watts
Yamaha RX-777 (about $600) 100 watts
Marantz 4320 (about $360) 80 watts
Integra DTM 5.3 by Onkyo (about $360) 100 watts

They all seem to sound pretty good, but I have not heard them with my ARs.
...

---

Harman Kardon also makes a couple of stereo receivers in your price range:

http://www.harmankardon.com/series.a...at=REC&sType=C

Thanks for the quick response! I liked what I've read about the
HK 3480, but can't find any locally to look at. I want to see and
hear before I buy. CC supposedly carries them, but apparently
not here.

BTW - the prices I quoted are local prices. I can save some bucks
buying online and may do that. Currently there are too many online
sources for me to feel confident any more. Any suggestions for reliable
dealers??

Those are all excellent choices and as others have mentioned, you can't really go wrong with any of 'em. If you'd like to consider something a little off the beaten path, albeit it's a more expensive path :p, you might consider this Cambridge Audio 540R. It has received very positive reviews and I use a 540a to drive my 4 ohm speakers literally all day long and am very pleased with both the sound quality and apparent durability.

Another good place to look is spearitsound.com. They have the NAD receiver which would do the trick quite nicely. Don't worry about the 50wpc rating as watts are more marketing that real world substance. At least with the NAD, these are actual measurements taken with all channels driven, something the Japanese brands rarely do.

Hope this helps.

Can't see/hear a NAD receiver locally, at least not yet. But the online
specs do not mention a phono pre-amp section. Does it have such??

Also, it's several pounds lighter than the others I've seen, possibly
indicating weakness in the transformer??

BTW - how do we rate having King Feanor on this forum? Thought he passed
on after creating the Silmarils. Did they have 120VAC in Numenor??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cciaffone

...
BTW - how do we rate having King Feanor on this forum? Thought he passed
on after creating the Silmarils. Did they have 120VAC in Numenor??

---

Two well-know internet audio equipment sellers are ...

Music Direct
http://www.amusicdirect.com/default.asp

Audio Advisor
http://www.audioadvisor.com/

its just a question of what you are looking for? are you looking for durability? sound reproduction quality? all of your options are good brands. just listen to each of them and let your ears decide for you.
well if youd ask me, ill go for the one with the best sound. i like the sound of marantz over all the other brands.