Which Denon AVR (under $500) is for me?

[JesseNYC]

Jesse, what kind of speakers will you be using. Also, tell us how the Pioneer sounds.

Well, the speakers I currently have are as follows; Fronts/Klipsch RF-15 Center/Klipsch SC-1 Surrounds/ Klipsch SB-1, Sub/ Klipsch KSW10. My listening room is about 19 feet x12 feet. Boy oh boy, AVR technology sure has changed in the past 10 years. The setup required me to use my tv to access menu. This may be normal to you but not me. With the auto setup and enclosed mic, will I still need my Radio Shack sound meter?

So far, I only have my speakers in and my iPod playing. Gotta hook up the rest now. You know the drill. Neaten the wires, clean all the dust & make eveything shiney and new. This thing sound reeeeeally nice. I hear the difference. As a matter of fact while I was playing Nora Jones, my wife walked past, stopped, stepped back and said "wow, that sounds nice". This is the person I have to convince before all my big technology purchases and then says to me, what's the difference now you have this instead of that.

Me happy.

[kktvbob]

Oh yes the wife factor. Back in 84 when I bought my first pair of Cornwall's and the Carver C4000 pre pro and the Carver M500T power amp she said you want to spend how much. I told her to trust me and she did. And something happened I didn't believe, when we went to other peoples houses after we left she would say how bad their systems sounded and your system sounds so much better. Now all she will ask is are you sure you need to spend that much and I say yes ans I get a ok. Now to wait for the upgrade of the Sunfire theatergrade.

Now that you have a good AVR start looking at your room. You can find some big improvements. Like where is the book case and where are the chairs? And for your sound meter use it to check before you use the mic and after to see how good it will setup the room. And have fun.