Here is a question that's been on my mind and Keith Barnes adressed it regarding the Denon 5200. I, too, intend to use the Marantz SR 7009 in a darkened home theater and have gotten used to the backlit remote controls of my Rotel RSP-1098 and my Oppo BD player. On the Marantz remote control, are all the decisive buttons backlit or are they just glow-in-the-dark buttons as most apparently are on the Denon remote control?

Thanx for listening. I wouldn't make a decision on which AVR I bought based solely on the remote. HST, both the Denon and Marantz units are good choices IMO. If you wanted to favor the Denon, then the purchase of a Harmony remote would perhaps be a good idea and would be very useful in controlling all of your equipment from a single handset.

As I said before, the Denon remote is, IMO, not reflective of the quality of the unit it controls, but in my case is irrelevant because I use a Harmony 1100 to control the entire system. I'd never go back to a manufacturer's remote for each and every item in my system - it would mean juggling 7 different remotes. I wouldn't make a decision on which AVR I bought based solely on the remote.

I agree, but the plastic one that comes along with the Onkyo AVRs aren't really an incentive (not to mention the lack of Audyssey). Since I have external Rotel amps I intend to continue using, the SR 7009 'somehow' matches their style (only wished its left and right 'wings' weren't made of plastic), it has an extra component video input, it has a 7.1 analog multi-channel input (good for either AC-3 decoder, SACD-multi-channel in via cinch or multi-channel from PC based solutions via cinch), a backlit remote control and last but not least a nicer price than the Denon X5200 - in comparison.

Since I do sell AVRs to projection screen customers which might not be interested in purchasing an external remote control, I find the SR 7009 somewhat more attractive than the Denon X5200 - which I'm certain some of my customers will prefer considering their positive experiences with previous Denons. I agree, but the plastic one that comes along with the Onkyo AVRs aren't really an incentive (not to mention the lack of Audyssey). Since I have external Rotel amps I intend to continue using, the SR 7009 'somehow' matches their style (only wished its left and right 'wings' weren't made of plastic), it has an extra component video input, it has a 7.1 analog multi-channel input (good for either AC-3 decoder, SACD-multi-channel in via cinch or multi-channel from PC based solutions via cinch), a backlit remote control and last but not least a nicer price than the Denon X5200 - in comparison. Since I do sell AVRs to projection screen customers which might not be interested in purchasing an external remote control, I find the SR 7009 somewhat more attractive than the Denon X5200 - which I'm certain some of my customers will prefer considering their positive experiences with previous Denons. Yes - they are both excellent units. Just a pity that Denon let themselves down with the remote for the 5200. The remote that came with my Onkyo 5509 processor was superb - but that was a flagship unit so it's to be expected.

On Sale Denon DN300Z. We take purchase orders and can provide special school, government. Wrestle with deep menus or use the instruction manual to perform.

I haven’t seen any of the new Onkyos - as you say, the lack of Audyssey ended my relationship with Onkyo unfortunately. I Think the quality of the remote may be a moot point for many people.

I would assume most of us use a universal remote. I cant imagine having spent many thousands of dollar on my system and having to grab a different remote every time i wanted to adjust volume or fast forward a blu ray. Download Frontline. What i would like to see on my marantz 7009 remote is a button for dynamic volume to learn to my universal remote.

That would be great instead of having to go into the menu several layers to adjust it to watch a movie late at night as not to wake the wife. I'm not Dan, but. Yes, Front Heights work fine for Atmos (and Dolby Surround). When using an SR7009, Atmos can make use of any of 19 defined speaker locations(*), up to a maximum of 11 simultaneously active. If you have the maximum of 13 speakers configured, then it does not make use of Front Wide, although DTS Neo:X does. (Neo:X makes use of Front Height but not any other overhead speaker positions.) ---- * - 9 locations at ear height + 10 overhead. Although there are 5 pairs of overhead locations (10 speakers) defined, only a maximum of 2 non-adjacent overhead pairs (4 speakers) can be configured simultaneously.

Dolby calls that a 9.1.4 speaker configuration, but the most Atmos can use in this first generation of AVRs is 7.1.4. I have a follow up for you guys now that I have my 7009 I currently have everything setup for 5.2.4 all on external amplification.

I should be receiving some in wall speakers which I was going to use for Front Heights in addition to my current setup. THe problem is, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to tell the receiver that I want to use 4 top speakers and 2 front height speakers. The only option I can seem to find with 4 top speakers is Front Wide.