Picking a mid-tier HT receiver for optimal audio


Budget won't allow for separates for a while, but in the next few months I may upgrade my HTIB Onkyo 7.1 100w/ch receiver (which sounds surprisingly good btw).

As long as it gets the basic job done on 7.1 HT duty, I'm not too concerned about HT features (I let my TV do the HDMI switching, for instance). I'm looking to get the absolute most out of the audio quality, since this is also my primary 2-channel listening system.

The systems I've been looking at so far include:

Denon 3806
Outlaw 1070
Sherwood Newcastle R985
NAD T773

I'd love to hear some recommendations for a system that will give me great sounding audio in this range...

Thanks!

fwiw the rest of my setup:

Audionote DAC 1.1
Amphion Argon front l/r
Gallo Nucleus surrounds
joncourage
For the price of say a T773 you could just as easily get a T753 which has all of the same processing abilities along with a good 2ch amplifier. You would then be able to use main in/pre out to power the 7th channel if you wished while having a seprate amplifier for your FL&R. This would make for an easy upgrade to seprates eventually.

Good luck!
NAD all the way. I have had a 770 and 762. I like them better than the Arcam 300.
I am downsizing my HT. New Baby directives! I will be trying a few Receivers in the next month or so. I'll post my opinions if you wish.

I have heard nearly all of them already (not Sherwood, Outlaw, or NAD though), and not in my system. I agree, the Onkyo's do sound good. I liked the Yamaha sound as well.

I will be trying an Arcam first.