Been gone too long, need help with AVR.

[topspeed]

Don't know if any of my cronies are still populating the joint, but I sure could use some help.

Just moved to a new place and decided to upgrade my 10 yr old Denon. Here's the rub, I've been away from audio for so long I have no idea who is making what and what features I should be looking for. My first stop was the Denon website as I've always been partial to their warmer sound and use of excellent DAC's. However, with all of the changes in the industry, I have no idea if they are the same company with the same priorities that I knew and loved 10 years ago. Do they still have the same sound? Are the DAC's they use still aimed at the serious listener? Is the quality still there?

Unfortunately, I simply have neither the time nor the resources (I don't have a real audio shop within a 3 hours drive) to audition gear so I'm going off of your trusted recommendations. The speakers are B&W CDMNT's all around, which are 8ohm, 90db/1/1. Fairly easy to drive but are happier with lots of current. The mains are driven off a PS Audio HCA2, so the AVR will only be driving 3 channels. The room they are in is quite large: 22'x40' with 30' ceilings. I'll have at least 4 hdmi inputs and have no idea if networking is important as I've never done it. You tell me if it's a good idea. I'd like to future proof it as much as possible if only because I obviously don't buy gear very often.

My first choices would be Denon, Marantz (which I understand is the same company?), and Yamaha, but I'm certainly open to suggestions. Price point is ~$1k and used gear is just fine.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Speedy

[harley .guy07]

They are both owned by D&M holdings but I don't think they share any parts or anything but I could be wrong. I believe they are still separate entities but report to the same owning company.

If I was to get a new receiver right now I really think I would lean towards Marantz. I have more time with Yamaha since i used to manage a shop in the 90's that sold Yamaha and Denon but I like the newer marantz due to their elegant simplicity and the fact that they seem to have a sound character that a lot of people love over other brands out there but this is my opinion and what you think are important in a receiver are different from mine.

[blackraven]

Go with Marantz if you like a warmer sound. I like their gear and would love to have some of their reference gear. If you need high power, then you are going to pay out the nose for Marantz.

[JohnMichael]

No advice here but welcome back!

[Mr Peabody]

Hi Speedy, good to see you.

To answer your original question Denon is pretty much the same today as when you bought your receiver. Marantz is also a good choice and IMO a bit warmer sound than the Denon. However, it seems Denon and B&W go hand in hand. Another good choice is Yamaha if you listen to music through the receiver. For actual high current you may have to investigate something like HK or Onkyo. Depending on your learning curve some like to keep with the same brand as to not have to deal with learning a new receiver's functionality. Onkyo has been having some quirks lately with some receivers and processors, they came on strong in the HT market and I'm sure they are working to get things ironed out.

Features depend on what you plan to use the receiver for.
* Will you eventually go to 3D viewing?
* Are you interested in streaming from internet?
* How many HDMI inputs will you need? Any older connections needed?
* How many channels do you have or will potentially use?
* Multiroom functions needed?
* Universal remote?

I'm sure I missed a few, all receivers have auto speaker set up with microphone. I'd plan for the future and get a 4k compatible, I think most are today.

[topspeed]

Features depend on what you plan to use the receiver for.
* Will you eventually go to 3D viewing?
* Are you interested in streaming from internet?
* How many HDMI inputs will you need? Any older connections needed?
* How many channels do you have or will potentially use?
* Multiroom functions needed?
* Universal remote?

Allow me to answer in order:
* My Set is 3D, although I never watch it that way. I guess it's important to have that capability if only because the set will play it
* The Sammy is a smart TV and the PS3/PS4 also stream from the net. You tell me if an AVR with a net connection is important. I'm a self professed idiot when it comes to tech stuff, but it would be nice to put all of my cd's on a hard drive and access them with the main system without resorting to a Sonos like system.
* At least 4 hdmi's for vid. The SACD will still need to hook up with 6 pairs of RCA's (unless you can transfer the signal via hdmi with the same fidelity).
* On this rig, it's 5.1 only with the two mains powered by a separate amp.
* No, I'll use my old avr for that.
* Logitech One

It sounds like Denon is still Denon, which is good to hear. I have two that are over 10 years old and work brilliantly. If not for the lack of HDMI's, I would happily keep one in the main system. Now, it will pull duty in another room that already had built-in speakers. I noticed they switched from Burr Brown DAC's to Analog Devices' ADV 8003. I'm unfamiliar with Analog Devices, opinions on sound would be much appreciated.

A quick glance on the web brought 3 AVR's to mind;
Denon 3313CI (out of production now, but can still be found)
Denon X3000 (the replacement for the 3313ci)
Marantz SR5008 or 6008 (The specs say the 5508 isn't SACD compatible? It has 7.1 pre-outs, so I don't know why it wouldn't be? Maybe I'm missing something)

Thanks again for all of your help and advice. I need to purchase this thing as soon as possible as the wiring is being done as I type this, so recommendations for stores/sites is also welcomed.

Speedy

It's great to see so many helpful people are still here. I actually converse with Doc Greene on Facebook, for those that remember him.

[Mr Peabody]

Kex, what's up man, it's been to long.

[kexodusc]

Kex, what's up man, it's been to long.

I blame my daughters, lol. This whole parenting thing is hard work. Since they were born most of my hobbies have been put on the back burner (though started biking). Have been working hard on improving my time management skills, so hoping to make more frequent visits, lol.

Let's see...when last I checked 3D was just about to take off and be incorporated in every AVR and multichannel audio on BluRay was about to sweep the nation...what'd I miss?

[Mr Peabody]

Well, I don't think you really missed that much then

You have to enjoy every moment you can with the little ones while you can, it doesn't take long for them to grow up.