Get it from the local dealer. First, because it helps keep a local dealer, second, you will avoid any pitfalls in the warranty area. I'm a big B&M supporter, and find it funny that nobody thinks anything about going to a local dealer, getting his advice, attention, and borrowing his facilities to compare products, and then will run to the internet, thinking the local dealer did nothing but try to screw him. I try to do as much as I can with locals, since I frequent their places to see what is going on. I try to stay with independents if I can. $160 is a lot of money, but, the local can't survive selling it at $585, that's not much more than what they have in it. The internet guy can sell for that because all they need is some warehouse space, or a garage, and a computer. They can't answer questions, can't let you see it, and if you don't like it, you pay the freight to get it back. To me that is just wrong.

Now, when you try to get your 1400 on line, be aware that there is a good chance that they will try to talk you out of it and sell you something they do have because they don't have it, and on that piece will probably have a hard time getting one from some dealer lacking moral fiber. Bait and switch is how most of those operations work.

There is not, and from what I hear, may not be an HTR version of the 1400.

Availability has probably been a bit tight on the 1400 as well. There hasn't been so much attention paid to an upscale receiver for about 5 years. Yamaha had a similar thing going with the 995 which was $1000. But now there is a pretty good run going on both the 1400 and 2400. I for one feel really good about that. It will also keep the price up a bit until Yamaha can catch up. Supply and demand, basic economics.