Best AV receiver if I also want very good music?


Hello and I apologize if this question is a joke to some (most?) of you or is over-asked - though I tried googling to no avail! I know many believe that it's best to keep audio and video separate, but I can't help but wonder IF by now they might have a halfway decent all-in-one on the market?

History (skip past this paragraph if you want to avoid these details!):

I'm no true audiophile but music is my #1 love and I was spoiled by my parents' old analog Marantz system as a child which makes it very hard to like anything else (!). I like to know I can have my music loud and powerful with strong bass, treble and clarity (not the most descriptive words I'm sure), for my medium-sized living room (well, large if you count that it's a long living room and turns the corner into an open entry way which goes into dining room). I pick up on a lot aurally/am very sensitive to music and sounds in general (on a side note, I'm wondering how many on here also have found that they have a history of being more in-tuned to sounds in general or able to imitate sounds or have really good pitch, etc?) - so don't want to make light of it just because I don't consider myself an audiophile, if that makes sense. I want as good as I can get away with.

Preferences including budget:
Need to keep it around $1,000.00. I want the modern features for best all-around movie/TV/internet experience with our new TV but want to know I can switch from surround sound to two channels for best stereo sound for music. I don't have to have the best music but I do want better-than-average. All I have for speakers are two canada-made Clements speakers which are to my ears superb for their size (about 16" tall and 9.5" wide). Someday I can add more for the theater sound but I'm fairly content with movies being just in stereo for the time being. But I do need a receiver ASAP cause without a modern one we can't use our new blue-ray player with internet apps. I'd also like two extra zones though one extra is okay too - I want to at least be able to hear same music in kitchen. In general I want to find a receiver that does it all cause I don't have a lot of space (in the best location for whole system) and I want to leave room for record player and several other components as it is. There are several other features I would like but I won't bore you with it all here as the main concern is good music out of an AV receiver if possible. If there's nothing good enough on the market yet - subjective as that may be - can you point me in the right direction re. separates?

I've been wondering about the Marantz SR6006.

Thanks so much!
aria

Showing 1 response by arni

As you only have two speakers for the time being, and music is your #1 love, why not consider an integrated amplifier? A good integrated will outperform receivers and many separates, and will work fine with your blueray players analog outputs. Check out good classics like the Creek integrateds, which have capability for remote speakers as well.