Hi all, just purchased the Bowers & Wilkins Mt60d package with the PV1D subwoofer. Thought it was really transparent and thorough with detail yet still an expansive and strong soundstage. First ever B & W system I've owned and was really impressed with their signature sound. It was miles ahead of a Monitor Audio MASS 5.1 system I demo'd at another showroom.
With regards to the receiver I eventually chose the rx-a1030 over the other three receivers that were in the demo. These were the Pioneer sc-lx57, Denon x4000 and the Arcam avr380. The Pioneer surprised me as I was expecting it to be too bright or forward, especially paired with the mt60. However both the detail and the bass was exceptional with real clarity and never too harsh. When the Yamaha was hooked up though the sound was much more toy personal liking. The bass, treble and midrange was far more punch with no perceived loss of detail. There was far more weight and muscle behind it as the reviews have described. The MCCAC auto set up looked more easy and sounded more accurate that YPAO or Audyssey (correct me if I'm wrong). The pioneer would be a must listen but it's whether you'll still be happy with it after a couple of hours of listening or it may appear too "forward". Remember it's a major commitment purchase and you'd need to be one hundred percent satisfied.
The Denon x4000 may be an option for you as it does represent a cheaper choice , I was disappointed with the sound though, it was just slightly too flat although it did retain some of that distinctive Denon Sound. You have to bear in mind that Denon regularly participate in price cuts and have to evaluate whether the x4000 was ever worth it's original RRP of £1,200. It may be a false economy.
The final curveball was the Arcam avr380 that the sales assistant threw in, this was the most expensive at £1,599. It doesn't have near as many features compared to the others and the focus is on quality components alone. It was transparent and full bodied, music and dialogue kept up with surround effects on a variety of material. An extremely cohesive piece of kit.
My choice was then narrowed down to the Yamaha or the Arcam. Perhaps the Arcam drives the mt60s better and is more of all rounder, especially with music. The wow factor belonged to the Yamaha though and was just more impressive. Its far more weighty and muscular yet can still be crisp with detail, with that lovely warm Yamaha sound. The jump in any quality was not justified by the 600 quid more price and sacrifice in features. The other factor I had to bear in mind is I require a space-saving satellite/lifestyle system that can never be driven too hard as I live in a new build, top floor apartment with laminate flooring and plasterboard walls. I will be investing in a sound insulation too. This is also why the PV1D sub is beneficial as its sidewards firing. The Yamaha can provide me with that huge punchy soundscape without having to crank the volume up. Plus if you're showing off your system and want to impress others in my opinion the Yamaha is the go to option. The wow factor will really put a smile of your face.
Excellent build quality, exceptional list of specifications, renowned reliability, great sound and a £190 discount is what sealed it for me. Use your mk1 ears to make your decision.