I can certainly second the recommendation for the Denon X4000.
One reason for suggesting that model over the X3000 or lower models is because it includes the highest consumer level of Audyssey, which is Audyssey MultEQ XT32 + Sub EQ HT. Not everyone is a fan of auto EQ/"room correction", but XT32 + Sub EQ HT, in my experience, has been a very impressive system.
The X4000 can also drive a maximum of 9 speakers. It can only power 7 itself, but you can add an additional 2-channel amp and make use of a 9 speaker setup if you ever want to. Personally, I've grown very fond of DTS Neo:X and the Front Wide channels. I haven't found any of the Front Height programs particularly compelling, but that's strictly one man's opinion
But with the X4000, you'd have the option of having a standard 7 speaker setup plus the Front Wide channels to make 9 speakers in total, and you could then use the DTS Neo:X or Audyssey DSX listening modes. You can also configure those 9 channels however you'd like: standard 5 speakers plus Front Wides and Front Heights, standard 7 speakers plus Front Heights, or standard 7 speakers plus Front Wides, like I mentioned.
If you buy a refurbished unit from accessories4less.com :
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...airplay/1.html , then you're well within your budget.
In case you're not familiar, A4L is a fully authorized refurbished retailer for quite a few brands. And they get their stock directly from the manufacturers. There's no shady dealings going on - no buying excess stock from stores. As such, you get a full manufacturer's 1 year warranty on all products sold at accessories4less. No 90 day warranty BS. And you've got the full backing of the manufacturers since it is their stock and their professional refurbishments. You'll also often find that the products sold at A4L are actually completely brand new - not even refurbished or ever opened - and the manufacturer is simply clearing out stock. So A4L is a great place from which to buy
Since you mentioned Onkyo - I've been an Onkyo fan for many years, but I'm becoming less and less of a fan every year as they continue to drop the features that interest me the most in favour of more and more wireless features that don't particularly interest me.
That said, if you go back a couple of years to models from 2 or 3 years ago, there are some really nice offerings:
The TX-NR818 is still feature-packed in all the ways that *I would want, and it's very affordable these days:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html
Much like the Denon X4000, you can add a 2-channel amp and run 9 speakers. The 818 remains one of the least expensive AV Receivers with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 onboard, although it does NOT have SubEQ HT. SubEQ HT gives you independent automatic setup and EQ of 2 subwoofer, in case you're wondering what it's all about. On the 818, the subwoofer channels are just set up in mono as usual.
The TX-NR1010:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html bumps you up to THX Ultra2 Certification and dual independent HDMI outputs if you want to feed two displays two different sources simultaneously. I used to dig a couple of the THX Listening Modes, and Onkyo/Integra are about the only consumer brand still bothering to pay THX for their certification (although they appear to be dropping that, too, in 2014). But I've pretty much transitioned over to DTS Neo:X for everything these days. That's just me, though
I use an Onkyo TX-NR5010 myself. If you want to run 11 speakers like I do, you'll need to go over your $1000 budget. Top choices there would be the Denon AVR-4510CI and the Onkyo TX-NR3010. They're both around $1400 these days, which is a darn good price, but certainly over your budget.
Overall, though, I'd say the X4000 from Denon is the easiest recommendation. Unless you REALLY want THX certification for those THX Listening Modes, the X4000 has every other feature that I would personally want or recommend to anyone else
Re: Receiver Recommendations for Sierra-2
Originally Posted by paulphoosreal
