New Onkyo v Ex-Display Denon?

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The choice - £400 Onkyo TX-SR605 or £500 for ex display (display only, not used) Denon 3806 (£1k when new).

Still to choose the Sub/Sat combo to go with either - today's plan is Monitor Audio Radius combination (45x2, 90x2, 180, 360) .... or kef 3005SE.

Requirement - to feed my 1080p Sony KDL40W2000 TV with Blu-ray (via PS3 for now) and Sky HD, Sony DVD recorder too..

What sound developments (formats and HDMI etc) have been released since the 3806 was brought out - do they justify buying a brand new Onkyo at £400 new, or should I go for the presumably better amplification of the denon?

 

[Anonymous]

i went for the onkyo sr 605 its really superb money well spent.

 

[Andy Clough]

Go for the Onkyo, no question. It will handle the new HD audio formats on Blu-ray (which the older Denon won't), and although the Denon was a good 4-star product in its day, it lacked the sparkle of rivals from Arcam and Yamaha. You're much better off buying the future-proofed Onkyo at £400 IMHO.

 

[Clare Newsome]

You'd be amazed at the advances in amplification over the last couple of years - my beloved Yamaha DSP-Z9, a five-star Award winner at @£2400 in 2005, is bested by the Onkyo 875, available for under £1000. And that's just for 5.1 sound, let alone HDMI switching/scaling, HD audio formats etc....