Kenwood KRFX9060D is now the first on my list and I've read some reviews about it and it seems the stereo performance is not the best. Maybe it will be competent enough for me as I will use it mainly for my home cinema and maybe only 10-20% for listening music.
I was thinking that looking for a THX feature will warrant the quality somehow.
Well sort of..... but then maybe not
What it does is state that the receiver in question meets certain technical criteria laid down by THX, and that the receiver manufacturer has paid the license fee to THX for the badge.
It also then allows the use of THX-EX, and THX processing etc.
What it doesn't say
1. It does NOT mean that any or all AV receivers without THX approval cannot or do not meet or exceed most of their spec.
Just because a manufacturer chooses not to seek THX approval does not necessarily mean their design is in any way inferior, or would fail to the meet the spec if they decided to apply for it.
As the manufacturer has to pay THX for the privelege, many prefer to use that money to better the design, and/or keep the price down (and price point is very important at the budget end of the market)
2. As THX will not release all the details of exactly what constitutes THX approval (it's released to licencees on a non-disclosure basis), you really have no objective way of knowing what the approval really means, other than the obvious THX modes etc. Some details have inevitably leaked out though - you can search the net for these - but I have no idea whether such info is either complete and/or reliable.
3. It is NOT a "guarantee" of sound quality, or reliability.
Personally I would try to judge a product on it's own merits, regardless of whether or not it has THX certification.
One thing is certain though, you are paying for that certification.
It's up to the individual to decide if it's worth it.
In the Kenwood's case though, it seems the certification won't actually be costing that much - the unit has a very competitive spec for the price even without the THX Select certification.
If such things "float your boat" so to speak, then you could just consider THX certification as icing....
When is Marantz SR7300 going to come out? Is it worth the wait?
I believe it's imminent, ie within the next 4-6wks.
Whether it'll be worth the wait I couldn't really say for sure.
For the money though it certainly looks a decent enough product.
I even contemplated Sony STR-V-555ES at £590 (but it's out of my budget and I'm not sure if it's worth the stretch- or if it's a notable difference).
Be careful, the STRV555ES is an old model, and can't really be compared to the newer STRVA555ES.
£590 is either very expensive for the V555 (I think Richers used to do this for £300 or so), or else very cheap for the VA555.
If it's the VA555, you're really into the next class up - you really should be able to hear the difference!
With regard to colour and looks I couldn't care less (the same applies for speakers), all that it's important to me it's the sound performance for my home cinema set up.
Now you've said that, you'll probably get 101 different speaker setups recommended to you.
My opinion is that you'd probably find many of them offer fine performance for the money. It seems to be a very emotive subject, speakers, and often you'll find that, at a particular price level, one speaker simply sounds a bit different to another, not really better or worse.
True, you can listen to some, and they immediately sound "right" though - but what sounds "right" to one person isn't necessarily what will sound "right" to the next person.
For the money, I think you could do a lot worse than a set of Wharfedale Diamond AV3 from QED, around £300 (Diamond 8.3 fronts, 8C, and 8.1 rears).
It's probably true though that there are others around just as good or better, especially if you spend a lot more.
HifiBitz are/were advertsing Monitor Audio ASW100 subs for £150 - that would bring you right in on budget - £450 all in.