As always, system synergy is the big unknown, and I have no way of guessing which of the contenders is most likely to click.
While certain Marantz and Sansui models are attractive, I think that I'm going to give the Tandberg a try. It has been serviced by a specialist, and at under $300 shipped, I can easily afford to sell it on and try one of the others, should it be unsatisfying. It's also a bit of a gut feeling, which, when shooting blind, could prove beneficial.
I appreciate all of the input, and will post some impressions after the components all arrive.
Cheers,
Tony C.