Sony STR-DA2400ES or Yamaha DSP-AX863SE?

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Recently invested in a Sony KDL-40W4500 & a BDP-S350 (local Sony Store did me a great deal on the TV with a 5 year warranty and only £100 for the Blu-Ray player with 5 free disks). But after many years running my trusty Toshiba CRT with built in Dolby Surround I really miss the surround sound so an AV amp & speakers are next on the shopping list

Speakers will more than likely be the Kef 2005.3 package, room size limits me fitting anything else bigger in and also limits me to 5.1 rather than 7.1 (no room for a set of rear speakers behind the sofa) but I'm unsure which amp to go for. I'm leaning towards to Sony as it's available for less than £400 and will integrate well with the TV & BD and all things 'Bravia' but would I be better off spending the extra on the Yamaha?

Have considered the cheaper 763 Yamaha but only two HDMI sockets puts me off, BD player & Sky+HD will use them up straight away and I don't want to get into using switch boxes or swapping cables for future additions

 

[Pindi]

I'm looking at the Sony and Yamaha too. ÿI know the Yamaha is the better amp, but you can save at least £100 if you go for the Sony. I'm set on the Sony now...

 

[Anonymous]

The Yamaha DSP-AX863SE is available here for £499 http://www.newcastlehifi.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/yamaha_dspax863.shtml?gshop

I wouldn,t worry about only two HDMI sockets on the AV amplifier where the video signal can be directly routed to TV and audio signals fed to either Analogue or more usually Digital audio inputs.

The option to buy the Yamaha DSP-AX763 at under £300 would ultimately be your best option sonically within budget. You may find that you can operate everything from its remote as well.

http://www.giftideassolved.co.uk/search.php?id=3700 http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4165 http://www.froogle.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=YAMA-DSPAX763-BLK

I snapped up the Yamaha DSP-AX861SE recently £239 New to replace my Marantz 5200 that required servicing and discoverd that I had a major upgrade beyond my wildest dreams for less than the cost of my old one.

There has always been something special about Yamaha AV amps for as long as there has been multi channel processing. They have been forced into realigning prices to compete against inferior products through late inclusion HD audio.

The Sony Amp may seem right for symetry and everything Sony is possible. You should audition both at your local dealer then ask him to match the best deal you can prove or get Dom.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that's a good price or the 863, would rather buy local but handy for bargaining

Still not sold on the 763, would rather put everything through the amp. Budget isn't really an issue either, I can afford the 863 just don't know if it's worth the extra (can get the Sony for £360)

I do intend to audition both, if I can find a dealer that has both, though I know from past experience that until they've (amp & speakers) been run in for a few weeks you don't get to hear what they're really capable of