PICK ONE... ONKYO 805 or MARANTZ 8001

I haven't noticed any brightness or video delay (I'm not really sure what you're referencing in regard to video delay). The only audio lag I have noticed is when watching a TV show that is broadcast in Dolby 5.1. Most commercials are not broadcast in Dolby 5.1, but rather have 2 channel audio. The 805 has a momentary lag while switching from Dolby 5.1 to two channel audio (PLII in my case). The lag is probably 1 second or so. Frankly, I hardly even notice it as i don't pay close attention to commercials, but it is a big deal to some. I'm also not sure how seamless other AVR's handle the switch, so if this is a bothersome issue for you should probably audition before buying. Otherwise, I don't have any audio lag issues either with TV or other sources. Some have reported lip sync issues, but the 805 does allow you to compensate for that if it shows up. Sync issues can usually be blamed on the broadcast source - TNT-HD for example was notorious for lip sync issues for a while, but it mostly been resolved. I haven't had any sync issues while watching dvd, blu-ray, etc.

I have the 805 and like it a lot. To my knowledge the 805 is a current model, but it's true that you can find them discounted. Previous to the 805 I used a Rotel 1066 processor with a Rotel 1075 amp and, honestly, I don't miss the Rotel at all. The Onkyo is a piece of cake to set up and the functionality is great. I have three HDMI cables running into the Onkyo and one out to my display, so that's 4 cables instead of the 25 or so I had in my prior setup. The unit does run a little hot, so you'll need a few inches clearance overhead. I will point out that I use the Onkyo almost exclusively for HT duties, so I can't honestly comment on its music only abilities. The Marantz and Denon receivers historically have a better reputation for their DAC quality, but the Onkyo is definitely comparable for a lot less money. As mentioned, go over to AVS forums and you should find plenty of info.