So far, I have to agree (to a point) with the other gentleman, in that the Nakamichi AV-10 is probably the best "sounding" at this price range that you'll likely find. Although, it "doesn't" sound as good as separates, but it sounds pretty clean and detailed for the bucks, that's for sure! The Denon is pretty well built, overall, and has as much power as your going to get from a reciever, and it has more body (but slightly more veiled) than the Marantz. Another option for you on this one (my prefernce...for giggles.), is that because none of these recievers you mentioned have any "trick" surround sound mode options worthy of mention, which I don't know how much of a movie set up your going for vs music only, you could opt for a reciever with better surround sound features (like the yamaha reciever at $700) and add an amp or two to it and use it as a pre/pro for the front channels! You will yield far supperior sound with any real world speakers (I don't know what you'll be driving though), even if they're only smaller book shelf models (I mean sound way better!). However, if your really trying to budget into this $1200 category, you'll probably do just fine with the AV-10, as long as you drive nothing more than smaller monitors! If you try to drive full range speakers, the recievers amp sections(and that means any reciever!!!!) won't yeield enough usable power (torque!!) to make the speaker sound dynamic and three dimensional! Personally, I use the little Sony SDPEP9es processor ($300 used!) with better amplifiers for my surround sound! Sounds excellent for the bucks!...And you could use some smaller 5/6 channel power amp, or combination's of amps to drive the speakers, have amazing flexibility for surround sound, with clean sound over all, and excellent audiophilia to boot! In summing, I'd go for the relatively clean sound of the AV-10. Otherwise, there's not enough time in the day to wast your time with mediocre (at best) sound like everybody else winds up with (receiver/speakers/sub...usually = BLAH SOUND) all the time! Otherwise, go for the quality separates that can be foraged together by adding quality parts! Even if that means using a surround reciever as a pre/pro and hooking up better amps to it!!! Have fun though...What ever you end up with! Alex...
