I had in my own house side by side Denon 5700 (140W x5), Yamaha DSP-A1 (120Wx5), and Sony STR-DA333ES (80Wx5), the Sony was helped by Sony TA-N9000ES (115Wx5).
I know that a lot of people here don't "like" Sony, so I just want to remind that this is my own personal experience.
I also have very limited experience on pure stereo, unlike most others here deeply into it.
The 333ES even without 9000ES is way better than others in controling speakers, setup, sound quality (in the meaning of transparency which is biggest factor in HT), after adding in the 9000ES, I sold the others.
I tested all of them in combination with multiple different sets of 5.1 speakers, Norh wood (8ohm load), Paradigm Mini Monitor, B&W 601S2, NHTs (8ohm load) and Dyns (4ohm load). Sony always is clearly winner.
If you can overcome the "feeling" of owning a Sony, you may have chance to know.
I know that a lot of people here don't "like" Sony, so I just want to remind that this is my own personal experience.
I also have very limited experience on pure stereo, unlike most others here deeply into it.
The 333ES even without 9000ES is way better than others in controling speakers, setup, sound quality (in the meaning of transparency which is biggest factor in HT), after adding in the 9000ES, I sold the others.
I tested all of them in combination with multiple different sets of 5.1 speakers, Norh wood (8ohm load), Paradigm Mini Monitor, B&W 601S2, NHTs (8ohm load) and Dyns (4ohm load). Sony always is clearly winner.
If you can overcome the "feeling" of owning a Sony, you may have chance to know.