Pros:
OK, this thing is truly a great bargain. 6 HDMI inputs with one HDMI out, optic and coax digital audio inputs if you are not using HDMI devices and/or the audio signals over HDMI make this a flexible reciever. There are still several analog inputs and even a second zone feature (which I have not used) that offer some added functionality. There are extra speaker outputs (2 extra, I believe), but apparently only 7 speakers (plus 2 subwoofers) can be used for 7.1/7.2 THX/DTS EX sound. (currently I have only a 5.1 sound speaker setup)
Some other quick pros:
Great sound, flexibility in setup, quick speaker configuration/EQ with the included microphone, on screen TV display (only over HDMI) makes it a bit easier to read options compared to the front panel, not over powerful LEDs that cause it to "stand out" in an entertainment center, plenty of extra options and sound capabilities. Truly a great piece of hardware. Network capability is great, but be aware, it will not work with iTunes. Internet audio streams are easy to setup and work fairly well.
Cons:
There is a small delay when switching between input channels. I imagine that this would be reduced if I didn't want to upconvert everything to 1080P, but it still isn't bad. (see other thoughts below)
Other thoughts:
Flexibility and features can be translated to complicated as other reviews suggest. But don't be afraid of it. If you are new to home AV receivers, then it may seem overwhelming at first. But a few moments spent is well worth it. Quite honestly, I don't see how things can be made much more simple in a receiver. It isn't bad, and not any more complicated than other brands that I have worked with. So far, every HDMI device I have tried works great (XBOX 360, PS3, PC, HD camcorder, etc)
**NOTE I spent a few hours trying to figure out why I couldn't get HDMI working properly to my TV. After sleeping on it, I decided to try a different HDMI cable, and suddenly everything started working perfectly. For the record, I was using an HDMI cable that I received with my XBOX 360, apparently it is of older technology, or something. Because replacing that made all of the difference. It has worked flawlessly since.
