Guys, all great info...thanks. I was not aware of the reliability issues of the NAD gear. I do think that the sound ( at least to my ears) was in the upper echelon of these receivers. I have not heard the Onkyo TX NR-818 and I will now put this on my short list. My main goal is sound quality and then secondarily the ability to support multiple sources via HDMI. I was talking this weekend to a Sony rep, who told me to look into 4K pass-through...only thing is the Sony receiver's are the only ones to offer this...and I don't like them much.
Bob, the theater system is Totally secondary to my main two-channel...NOT going to be in the same league at all. However, I think the B&W's could shine with the right front end. As you say, they are fairly inefficient, so a decent amp section is warranted. ( which is why i was looking at the NAD). The room for the theater is actually much larger than my dedicated audio room, BUT will have no room treatment ( unlike my audio room)...reason...NO WAF
So, Audyssey might be a plus
Any thoughts on the Pioneer Elite gear?
1. You care about sound quality first; your main goal. ...Me too and him/her too. :b
2. Multiple HDMI inputs; Onkyo/Integra, Pioneer Elite, Marantz/Denon, Yamaha, ...they all have that.
3. 4K pass-thru ... The Onkyos were supposed to be, including the 818 I believe, but according to experts they aren't! That was a blow, an actual deceptive discovery.
BUT! I think that their newer models are now. Onkyo was aware of this and got their axe together.
- Do some quick research and you shall receive. ...But do not get a Sony receiver, it is not their specialty (video and 4K and front projectors are).
4. I know that your home theater is separated than your 2-channel stereo system.
And that Onkyo TX-NR818 (THX Select2 Plus certified) will take care of your B&W speakers; no worry here. ...It has the juice required (current, non-limited).
And besides, you can add an external stereo power amp (a spare one you have and like) to the front L & R preouts, if you want to experiment further.
And that NAD T748 receiver won't have anything more (power wise) than the Onkyo 818. Sound quality? The Onkyo has that in spade, and more so than the NAD! Why? Because it's for Home Theater (movies) duties, and the best sound quality for that is in that Onkyo 818 receiver (with Audyssey MultEQ XT32). Nothing like it in the NAD receiver.
5. Your home theater room consists of 5 speakers and one sub (I recommend another sub, eventually); that Onkyo 818 receiver has seven power amps, so if you're using only five of them it means less demanding requirement from the power transformer. And because it is THX Ultra2 certified it means good for rooms up to 2,000 square feet at reference level. Plus, able to drive 4 Ohm speaker loads across the front (6 Ohm rear). But this is just a rough THX guide. That receiver has all the juice necessary for your full speaker's arsenal. Also, you're going to cross them all at 80 Hz anyway. ...Add another sub to rock that room! :b ...And with XT32 it will balance that bass so superbly that you're going to be blown away. Trust me,
Audyssey is a big plus, for your untreated room, and mine as well. It'll do things good for you you just won't believe! And that, is the knack! ...The smack of the matter.
6. Pioneer Elite?
- Blu-ray players; no more, they are way superceded now (Oppo, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic).
- HDTV plasmas (KURO); gone.
- Speakers; low-end but rejuvenated thanks to
Andrew Jones, speaker designer extraordinary.
- Subwoofers; nil, only lower end.
- A/V receivers? ...Class D amps, their higher-end ones have always great reviews, well received praises, and their lower end ones are generally great budget value with innovative features.
--> ASR MCACC Auto Room EQ and Correction system, manually adjustable Parametric EQ, and Phase Control, plus more. ...From AIR studios at Abbey Road in London.
* Me? Class D amps, from the best experts audio reviewers, are missing some. ...But with each newer generation Pioneer is getting better and better at this.
People in Germany, they love Pioneer Elite and Yamaha Aventage AV receivers, because you can manually adjust their Parametric EQualizers from their Auto Room Correction & EQ systems (MCACC and YPAO respectively).
But now, more and more they are giving the due respect to Audyssey MultEQ XT32, about goddamn time! ...Because in the USA, in Canada, in France, in the UK, in Italy, in Japan, in Russia, in Brazil, ...they all love Audyssey MultEQ XT32. ...I'm not sure why the German audio people are so afraid of everything Automatic; probably because they trust no one else but themselves (they like to do things their way, and not being dictated).
+> Anyway Davey, I just spoke my honest mind and soul. None is better, only you are. And what is available in your area or not I don't know that.
But if you can audition or test or get a loaner, keep in mind that Onkyo TX-NR818 AV receiver (I think it's $699 at most best places), and check some of those Marantz receivers while at it, with Audyssey MultEQ XT (because XT32 starts at two grands with Marantz). And Marantz, even without THX certification has a good reputation for quality sound. But Marantz receivers at the lower end are not known for having the required power with more demanding speakers; fact.
Marantz has a newer receiver for $899, the SR5008, and with Audyssey MultEQ XT; you can check that one too. But I'm still quite confident (enough so that I would purchase it for myself) that the Onkyo TX-NR818 is more suited in all aspects of a great quality home theater sound system (high-end) at a bargain price.
You asked for it!
