My opinion still stands between 740 and 5400. But if we include Denon and Onkyo as well, then you have 3 extremely good amps.
What I don't like about my 4300, are the bugs (search on 4300), which we on the forum thought was rectified after x200, the remote is unfunctional, and if I turn it off, my delay settings dissappears. I do love the Circle SurroundII modes, the power, but it is not enough for me.
But this is my absolute favourite in the class atm although I haven't listened to it. I just wished more people in UK would dare to take the step and purchase an Onkyo. Just to let you know that Onkyo is a very respectable brand (their Integra line is as respected as Pioneer Elite, NAD, Harman Kardon), in US and Europe and Japan. I think it is due to bad marketing Onkyo hasn't got a foothold in UK.
The Onkyo 601, it as equal impressive sound in home cinema and stereo as 740, 1804 and 5400 according to Swedish and US members.
The only amp in this class to have all the way down to 40hz crossover (denon has down to 80hz, pio 912 has down to 100hz, while Yamaha is fixed at 90hz as well as Marantz, Sony I don't know). Now 80hz is the most commonly used but depending on speakers, 60hz can also be important.
It has 2 component inputs (1804, 740 has 2, but 5400 and 912 has none), ok only useful if you want to use the amp as a hub for video signals as well.
On paper more powerful than the others with 110w, which I have no doubt will transfer to good lab figures and real watts. See audioholics review, and the German audiovision got a incredible 119w on each channel when they tested the little brother 501.
"intellivolume" is really useful, you can match all inputs to the same level on the audio inputs. see page 3 and 4
It has really good bass adjustments - read the review page 3
It has proper zone2 feature, where you can e.g. listen to 1 2channel source one room and 2channel source at another room.
No one in this or even up one class has this feature.
The DSP chip is really good in practise
Other features are similar to others in the class, OSD, the same sound modes etc.
And some quotes from the audioholic review
Driving 4ohms and 6ohms loads
So far the TX-SR601 has proven to be a workhorse in my home theater system. I expected the receivers amplifier section to balk at the 4-ohm load of the Axiom M80ti(s), but Onkyo makes a decent amplifier section. I noticed no audible distortion in CD music played in excess of 100dB far above the listening levels I use when watching movies or listening to my CD collection and my Axioms were grateful to be able to exercise their bottom end throughout this test. During normal listening sessions, the amplifier drove my system with plenty of gusto. Highs were clear and precise, and lows were authoritative and controlled. Essentially, music sounded the way I expected it to, and at a level that I did not expect, having come from a receiver that priced out at twice the price, but only 20% more rated power. Onkyo credits its amplifiers performance on its High Current Power Supply (H.C.P.S.) transformer combined with high-capacity filter capacitors, pictured below.
The Onkyo employs two options for volume display on the unit: Absolute and Relative. Absolute displays the volume as a minimum level of 0 and a maximum value of 100 the default setting. The relative display option sets a designated reference point at 0, equaling an absolute setting of 82. You can then adjust the volume +18 or -81 from that reference point. It is always important to realize that all manufactures have their own way of setting and controlling the amplifier volume, resulting in different perceived minimum and maximum volume levels at which a certain expected level is reached. For example, on my current receiver a volume level of -40 would equate with an approximate setting of 60 using the TX-SR601s absolute setting. Add Onkyos IntelliVolume input level compensation into the mix and you can see why you should really judge an amplifier solely by its ability to produce enough levels for your system without distorting regardless of how the volume display may read.
Link -
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/onkyo_TX-SR601_review_01.html
Wasabi