Comments about MARANTZ SR5003 Home Theater Receiver:

I needed a reference quality AV receiver for a 2nd home theater system to test my own speaker designs. The SR5003 fits the bill with all the features. The sound quality is smooth and creates a depth in the soundstage that you will not find with the standard $800 receiver. Front panel is set up well although direct access inputs would help, they are at least on the remote...which is backlight and well laid out. As for idiot proof...my technophobic father visited for 3 weeks and had no issues using it. Definately for audiophiles, it does include video transcoding to HDMI but the upconversion is poor at best. Pass-through seems to be untouched. I have experienced the occassional hiccup with the HDMI on my Satellite receiver. I have not yet determined whose at fault. Over all I am very pleased with the SR5003 for the price.