I have been very happy with my Marantz AV8003, which I have owned for almost 9 months now. It is much better than just about every other A/V Receiver out there. It is a Surround Sound Processor, but if I were to spend this kind of money on say a Denon A/V Receiver or an Onkyo A/V Receiver, for example, their musicality just isn't in the same league.
I would be interested in checking out the Arcam AV888 Surround Sound Processor, when it eventually gets released here in Australia. The problem is that I am also awaiting Arcam to iron out all the bugs of its AVR600, which the issues I would assume would unfortunately be present in the AV888.
If the Arcam really does make the Marantz AV8003 sound poor in comparison, I shall certainly be interested in listening to the Arcam!
Dan.