I need multiple inputs (at least 6) and would like to have RS-232 control for the future. The customer will have the works including HDTV. Current install would use infrared control. Considering the Marantz 8200 Receiver. Would appreciate if anyone has had experience with performance and IR control with the 8200. Budget for RX - around $1500.00. Customer will watch TV mostly in Stereo mode and only switch to Surround mode occassionly. Can I force the Marantz to play in Stereo mode with most sources then switch to Surround as an option? Probably will use Marantz RC5200 as the remote. Keeping the budget and requirements in mind - are there any other receivers that I should take into consideration?
PS - equipment does not need to be purchased for 45 days.

This message was edited by dvd on 08/05/02 05:56.04.

Perosnally, I would do the Denon AVR-3802. Depanding on when you need the equipment, they are having a new verision coming soon. You will need a nice remote though, like a pronto. But still, receiver + pronto you could sell for about $1350 and make good dough.

The Integra DTR8.2 (soon 8.3) is configurable to stereo with the surround option, has lots of power and zone 2 options, comes with a CHAD remote for about $2000. They've purposely made the Integras more installer friendly than the Onkyo cousins. The little brother DTR7.2 plus remote would be around $1600.
=Tom

Check out Yamaha's RX-V2300, or better yet the RX-V1. The 2300 is in the $1000 range, the V1 just had a price drop to $1499. BOTH offer RS-232, a huge inventory of discrete IR codes (see www.yamaha.com) that include surround modes, volume banks, input mode (auto, analog, dts...) and many more. Good sound quality for the price, and rock solid reliable...I have been installing at least 2 a week of these receivers, most with custom control systems, and have had only a couple show up DOA in the last 3 years; no other problems!

See if you can get a deal on the Marantz SR14EX. It is musically superior and more powerful than the competition (IMHO) and you get a Marantz RC5000i. This formally $4300 can now be gotten foras little as $2300 or so. No RS232 tho. Do you really need it?

This message was edited by Shoe on 08/21/02 00:31.35.

232 in the home is for a higher budget that that, so I agree with Shoe...

SUBMIT !

BUY A PLAYER IN EUROPE AND BRING IT HERE !

Because the idiots who have seen their profits soar every time that a new format finally overcomes their initial fears and zzzzzzzzzooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmss throughout the world are at it again: making it as hard as possible for their products to be purchased and used.

By the way, this is so terribly not new, although the attitude is a lot more paranoid -- when electric recording of records was introduced in 1924 (you know, playing into a microphone instead of a big horn), the sages at Victor said, well, no, the public will not be interested in records that sound any better than the acoustic ones....

www.obeygiant.com

I am a big fan of the Marantz receivers, good performance to price basis. I would stay away from the Yamaha as it seems most of their budget is spent on the hundreds of different surround (echo) modes rather than a good sounding piece. Also this year, although I am not a fan of Sony, their new ES receivers DA5es and DA7es has RS232, and 7 channel capabilities. I am a fan of Sony for one reason, I program all of our remotes including the RC5200 and Sony has discretes for EVERYTHING and promise to have even more this year as well as custom software for Crestron and AMX systems.

Sony has discretes? For everything? Wow...I've heard it with my own ears, but I still don't believe it.

I lied, no discretes for Satelite

I knew it was too good to be true...not that I'd ever buy another Sony product though.