Home audio & video forum: Onkyo vs. Denon

the Denon has PLiiZ, and ABT scaling. The Onkyo will probably have more power, and be easier to use: read better written manual. 806 also has preouts for adding outboard amps.

OTOH, Denon typically has better implementation of certain things, such as selection ability of different target curves with Audyssey.

PliiZ, you won't care unless you are willing to put a LOT of speakers in the room.

ABT you might not care because most decent displays already deinterlace and scale better than most any affordable receiver. YMMV.

Preouts, you might not care if volumes are only ever moderate and/or you use speakers that are easy to drive.

selection of target curves matter if you even implement Audyssey to begin with, and are somewhat an audiophile. I believe with modern Onkyos, using any THX mode uses flat target, and otherwise the Audyssey curve (with hi end rolloff). I have to double check on that, but I think that's the case.

they both use the vanilla version of MultEQ. not the XT variety. both have Audyssey Dynamic Volume and EQ.

Ok. So, if having more power is a concern, go with Onkyo. Otherwise, denon seems to win.

THX has a lot of brands. there are probably thx items on the Denon. Don't worry about it. for instance, 806 is called THX Ultra plus or something... but whatever. the previous 805 was a "true" ultra2, and that's why it weighs 52 lbs.

my only concern about that denon is the lack of preouts. that's it. what speakers are you driving, and how far are you sitting from them?

I'd go with the Onkyo. Denon has better Customer Service and reliability, but the Onkyo gives you more features, more power, better usability. Just buy it from a reputable retailer in case you have to deal with exchanging a bad unit or something.