Originally Posted By: dparm
My two cents, which many of you may disagree with...
Until you start spending big bucks, the differences between all the big names (Denon, Sony, Yamaha, Onkyo, HK, etc) are slim. Some may boast slightly higher RMS output, have another HDMI input, have cleaner aesthetics, and so on. In that case, buy the one that has all the features you need. Don't get too wrapped up in the name.
Just be sure to properly size the amp based on your room's dimensions and the type of speaker: bookshelf, satellite, and floorstanding/tower. The best way to damage a speaker and/or shorten an amp's life is to be running it near full-power all the time. You need to over-provision the amp, so-to-speak.
I have owned Pioneer, Onkyo, and Marantz, and still have no particular brand preference, for what it's worth. My current one is a Marantz merely because I got an excellent deal on it.
Spend your money on a good center channel speaker and ensure it is timbre-matched to the two front channels. If you can, get some Sorbothane isolation pads under it to cancel out any strange reverb your TV cabinet has. Buy what sounds good, and ignore the name. Everyone's ears are different.
This is some of the simplest best advice in this thread. If it's boiled down to similar brands I like to look at distortion numbers first and then frequency response to pick a winner.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned NAD for a receiver. They're excellent if you want to take a step up from Denon, etc.
I still favor floorstanding speakers if you have a choice. A proper cabinet rounds out the sound in a way even the best satellite systems can't. In my case my Mirage OM-10's are so good I don't even need a sub and to this day myself and others are amazed at their quality. Since you can't get those anymore find a place you can sample Paradigm speakers.
If you're a good shopper you could put together a very nice mid-high-end system with NAD, Paradigm, and some good cables for a relatively decent price.
