Hello guys,

Does anyone have real experience with Home Theatre? Wondering how the Pioneer Elite & Sony ES Series stack up against the typical Onkyo, H/K, Yamaha, Denon, and Marantz units in 5.1/7.1 and 2-channel stereo? Most of these units still have a phono input.

I am currently using an Onkyo 5.1 unit that sounds good, but may change it out with a Pioneer Elite, that gains me 20-watts per channel. All units have discrete outputs. I am also running 4-ohm main speakers, with 8-ohm center and rear surrounds.

Or maybe use the HT receiver with 4 matched 2-way small wall mountable speakers and a sub, and use a separate non-HT or vintage receiver or amp to connect the CD/Phono/Cassette to?

Ideas, suggestions, comments?

When I was into Home Theater I always preferred Marantz AV receivers.

I tried/owned various Sony, Denon, Pioneer and Yamaha AV receivers. Ultimately each left me wanting more until I finally did a pretty exhaustive evaluation and ended up in the Marantz line.

I still own my SR19-EX. I recommended Marantz receivers to 2 family members and 1 friend and all still own and use them to this day.

It has been too long since I looked at HT stuff. Back when I was into it Marantz models seemed to lack a few features against the competition but always produced good music. It is no coincidence that Marantz's high end two channel stuff is very well regarded.

What's wrong with your Onkyo? I have an Onkyo and love it. Mine has no phono section. But I don't have a turntable connected to my HT system.

If I had a HT receiver that had a phono section, I'd probably bypass it anyway with an external phono stage. Better sound, more options for cartridges, etc.

FWIW: 20 watts extra per channel on the Pioneer ain't gonna do sh-%! unless you are already struggling for power.

Can't speak to the Marantz HT receivers but wouldn't see any reason to ignore them.

Might want to also look at the Outlaw stuff.

Jeff

I've used a Klipsch 5.1 decoder with a various gear and it worked quite well.

"FWIW: 20 watts extra per channel on the Pioneer ain't gonna do sh-%! unless you are already struggling for power."

The Onkyo does well, but Ihave had it now 6 years. The Pioneer is newer, and has the auto speaker set up with microphone, and still lets you adjust with a parametric eq. Also have a Denon AVR-3802.

I had 2 Elite pieces, both had serious problems with the digital input boards and ran hot enough to cook eggs on. The Sony, from what I read, do not meet power specs for HT use. Sony has done away with S-video inputs.

No problems ever with the Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz and Denon units I have owned.

I own the Yamaha 5450 (5x80), matched with Energy Take Five speaker system, does a great job.