Re: Receiver recommendations
As I understand it, the Marantz SR7005 is basically a re-badged Denon 3311 (admittedly in a much more pleasing package IMHO), so the 4311 is at least one model above the 7005.
My HK 745 bit the bullet last week unfortunately and I've been reading up on receivers since I haven't really been in the market for a while. I ended up ordering a 4311 today.
I called six different Denon authorized dealers by phone and only one of them would not come off the $2099 price, three of them gave me a price in the $1500-$1600 ball park, but two different dealers offered me the unit (brand new and factroy sealed) for $1299 shipped without even haggling at all...all I did was ask for their best price. I'm not sure how Dave would feel about me sharing which stores they were at but if you look in the deal threads on the AVSForum I posted my experience in the 4311 thread. From what I've read I don't know of any AVR that could top it at that price.
Speakers: Sierra-1 (across the front), HTM-200SE (surrounds), Epik Valor (subwoofer)
AVR: Denon AVR-4311CI
Display: Pioneer PDP-5080HD
Source devices: TiVo Premiere (2TB), TiVo Premiere (stock), Pioneer BDP-51FD, Oppo DV-981HD
Protection: APC H10