One of the real reasons, is so I can also use blue ray. But I want to be able to just get rid of some of my hook ups, with HDMI, I am running out of ports. because I have Fios, Direct Tv, , x box, playstation 3, Wii, and regul. dvd, and now blue ray. So now I run it to my tv, but due to the lack of HDMI on the MHT, I am moving to where I can just run everything right to the proces. because I enjoy having all my sounds come from my Units, and not the TV.

besides, the new formats, really enhance movie tracks for Dialog, For the money I would have to pay to use the anlog hook ups for all of this, with the interconnects I use, would cost more then just buying this unit.

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Mcintosh 501(x2) ~ c2300 ~ Mc 303 ~ Marantz 8003 and 7004BD ~ Esoteric DV-60 ~ JL Audio F110 (x 2) ~ Music Hall MMF (Benz silver cart) ~ Audience AU24 E Interconnects/Audio cables/ Power cords ~ Ricard Gray 400 Pro (x3) w/ kubala Power Cords ~Speakers Totem Wind Design-Model one signature Center-Dali Helicon W200 rears

also, isnt 6.1 and up really for large rooms for where you have big gaps in sound?

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Mcintosh 501(x2) ~ c2300 ~ Mc 303 ~ Marantz 8003 and 7004BD ~ Esoteric DV-60 ~ JL Audio F110 (x 2) ~ Music Hall MMF (Benz silver cart) ~ Audience AU24 E Interconnects/Audio cables/ Power cords ~ Ricard Gray 400 Pro (x3) w/ kubala Power Cords ~Speakers Totem Wind Design-Model one signature Center-Dali Helicon W200 rears

Why would he not notice the difference between lossy audio, and lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA? There is a tremendous difference.

You do not need 7.1 to take advantage of anything. Certainly not the lossless codecs (PCM, Dolby TrueHD & DTS HD-MA) The amount of true 7.1 films are minimal. Most are still 5.1. Many 7.1 films are 5.1 films that were matrixed to 7.1. The vast majority of blu-ray films are still 5.1. There are good 7.1 films like Pan's Labyrinth, 3:10 to Yuma and a few others. But guess what? They sound excellent in 5.1.

The Marantz unit looks nice and I'm sure you will be happy. I am using my MX120 for my video switching and upscaling. I have my blu ray player's digitial fiberoptic out going to the MX120 and the same for the xbox and cable box. All I can say is the so called "lossy codecs" in my Mx120 blow away what the top of the line yamaha receiver did in my home theater. The Mx120 sounds excellent and sounds so good good I have yet to use the 7.1 analog out from my blu ray player to the Mx120. Once I do hook up the analog out from my blu ray player I will have the lossless codecs which may indeed hopefully sound better but most of my home theater use now is from either my cable tv on demand or netflix on demand. I am looking forward to comcast upgrading to 1080 p. I was out to dinner last night with a friend who is a executive for comcast based out of Philadelphia and he said they are starting out with the movie channels first. Another interesting thing is that they plan to offer 4G internet throughout the US . I know this is off the subject but instead of paying for internet access at your home, office and cell phone you will have access everywhere for one fee. Once that happens you won't need a cell phone contract anymore because you will be able to use the internet like skype, fring etc. Pretty cool.