Need new 7.1 receiver. $600 budget. What would you get?

[Semp1]

Neither. The Onkyo TX-NR709 is with in your budget and better than all those receivers. My 707 died in 24 months too. Onkyo repaired it 40 days past it's warranty and I put it in the bedroom, and a 709 in the living room. Honestly Onkyo can't be beaten in sound quality by either of those receivers unless you raise your budget a little.