Yes I realise all that.
The point I was trying to make was I can see no difference between the 6013 and the 6012 which does include eARC via a firmware update.
And given the cheaper price of the higher tier model 7012 why not buy that instead?
Yeah, that is ordinarily the case and the older outgoing models usually do end up being a better value for your money option than the new models that replace them. It is very rare that the new models introduced every year actually include anything new that is essential.
If it were me then I'd be looking at the SR7012 rather than spending as much on the SR6013. Maybe even look at the SR6012 which is available for half what you'd currently be paying for its replacement.
What's new or to be added via firmware update for the 2018 models?
- Able to overlay the Volume, Info, and Option menus on 4k video (including Dolby Vision) while Setup takes up whole page on black background
-
RESET - Menu setting that restores all settings to factory default (in addition to usual 2 button + power on reset)
-
PHONO input (also added as audio input available with <Video Select> feature)
-
Airplay 2 (via future firmware update on all current and former HEOS capable models)
-
Web Control (reintroduced for the first time on HEOS models)
- <Dialog Level> setting more appropriately relabeled as <
Center Level> as it simply adjusts the volume level of the center speaker
- <Center Level> (formerly Dialog Level Adjust) and <Subwoofer Level> (formerly Subwoofer Level Adjust) no longer have ON/OFF setting, but rather simply mirror the Center/Subwoofer Manual Setup - Levels - Test Tones settings such that they can be adjusted on the fly now correctly as opposed to being in addition to the Manual Setup settings on previous year's models
- Detachable WiFi/Bluetooth antennas (new for NR1509/NR1609)
- “ihiji Invision” and Domotz Pro remote system management technology ("SR" series)
-
eARC (SR6013/SR7013 only - via future firmware update)
IMAX enhanced DTS:X processing (SR6013/SR7013 - firmware update January 2019)