Decent < $400 Home Audio Receiver ...

[Blieb]

I have a 6.1 setup and was lookin' for the best bang for the buck ...

Right now Circuit City has:

Onkyo - TXSR503 $240 ($299 ret)
Panasonic SA XR50S $255 ($299 ret)
Pioneer VSX D814x $199 ($299 ret)

I have some SWEET Polk speakers I got on blowout from Sound Advice ... just looking for something to push 'em!

I'm gonna get the Polk CS2 Center channel, it's like $260 at CC right now ($350 retail)

-------------

The sales guy was giving me this whole pitch about how great the onkyo is. I said under $500, and he directed me to it ...

Thanks

 

[superjohnyo]

I haven't personally listened to those receivers, but I have this receiver at home, with these speakers, and this sub, and I don't really think I'll ever buy any more home theater stuff. Unless I win the lotto.

 

[Wag]

I currently own a Pioneer but I thought the Onkyo I owned before sounded better.

 

[dsfunk]

you can get the bigger onkyo 602 for 350

 

[Excelsior]

Onkyo.

 

[Blieb]

Originally posted by: dsfunk
you can get the bigger onkyo 602 for 350

Where at? I'd do it for $350

It's $409.99 after $30 rebate at CC

 

[Blieb]

Ecost has Refurb for $285
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail....ewbfroogle&adcampaign=email,ewbfroogle

Is that what you meant?

 

[arod]

Also look at the Yamaha Receiers (there are quite a few in your price range).... awesome receivers.

 

[knyghtbyte]

i can very heartily recommend the Denon receivers around ur price point......

i listened to some when i was demoing the one i got just to get an idea of comparison between the price points.......i ended up putting myself in hock tho to afford the higher level model...heh....

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: superjohnyo
I haven't personally listened to those receivers, but I have this receiver at home, with these speakers, and this sub, and I don't really think I'll ever buy any more home theater stuff. Unless I win the lotto.

Wow. I wish I could justify to myself ~$1100 on audio equipment.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I too recommend checking out Yamaha as well, though Onkyo and Denon recievers are quite awesome.

You may also want to check http://www.onecall.com I have purchased from them several times, and have always been happy with them. The prices are typically better then Bestbuy/Circuit city, and it's new, not refurb.

Another suggestion, would be to peruse the home theatre spot forums and perhaps read some reviews there as well. .http://www.hometheaterspot.com/

 

[Shawn]

My Denon rocks. But I've heard good things about Onkyo also.

 

[Blieb]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
I too recommend checking out Yamaha as well, though Onkyo and Denon recievers are quite awesome.

You may also want to check http://www.onecall.com I have purchased from them several times, and have always been happy with them. The prices are typically better then Bestbuy/Circuit city, and it's new, not refurb.

Another suggestion, would be to peruse the home theatre spot forums and perhaps read some reviews there as well. .http://www.hometheaterspot.com/

sweet thanks!

looking at yamaha's now

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I just went in to my local Best Buy two days ago and found a floor model Pioneer 1014 for $287.

Today is my first day listening to it and so far I'm very pleased.

This is going to be replacing my HK AVR-325 that I was using up until a couple days ago.

I just got some new speakers, so it's kind of hard to tell if I like it more than the HK, but it sounds darn good to me without an A/B test.

I thought my original HK decision was a very good one. I got a factory refurb HK from the ebay seller harmanaudio with a new 2 year warranty.

I think Onkyo is a good bet too.

Check out AVSforum and hometheaterforum for more suggestions.

Also, if you're getting serious about this, it might be worth a trip to go out and listen to some to see if you can tell the difference / see what you like better.

EDIT: oh, and if you can get a good deal on that Panasonic digital unit, that would be an excellent choice too.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I just went in to my local Best Buy two days ago and found a floor model Pioneer 1014 for $287.

Today is my first day listening to it and so far I'm very pleased.

This is going to be replacing my HK AVR-325 that I was using up until a couple days ago.

I just got some new speakers, so it's kind of hard to tell if I like it more than the HK, but it sounds darn good to me without an A/B test.

I thought my original HK decision was a very good one. I got a factory refurb HK from the ebay seller harmanaudio with a new 2 year warranty.

I think Onkyo is a good bet too.

Check out AVSforum and hometheaterforum for more suggestions.

Also, if you're getting serious about this, it might be worth a trip to go out and listen to some to see if you can tell the difference / see what you like better.

EDIT: oh, and if you can get a good deal on that Panasonic digital unit, that would be an excellent choice too.

Excellent deal on the 1014, jello. That is a most awesome receiver.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I just went in to my local Best Buy two days ago and found a floor model Pioneer 1014 for $287.

Today is my first day listening to it and so far I'm very pleased.

This is going to be replacing my HK AVR-325 that I was using up until a couple days ago.

I just got some new speakers, so it's kind of hard to tell if I like it more than the HK, but it sounds darn good to me without an A/B test.

I thought my original HK decision was a very good one. I got a factory refurb HK from the ebay seller harmanaudio with a new 2 year warranty.

I think Onkyo is a good bet too.

Check out AVSforum and hometheaterforum for more suggestions.

Also, if you're getting serious about this, it might be worth a trip to go out and listen to some to see if you can tell the difference / see what you like better.

EDIT: oh, and if you can get a good deal on that Panasonic digital unit, that would be an excellent choice too.

Excellent deal on the 1014, jello. That is a most awesome receiver.

Yeah, I was going in there with the intention of buying a 1015 for $499. I went over to the receiver section with my gf and saw the pricetag under the 1014 and I actually said out loud "Winnar!". She looked at me funny. I don't normally say that, but it seemed somewhat appropriate at the time....

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I just went in to my local Best Buy two days ago and found a floor model Pioneer 1014 for $287.

Today is my first day listening to it and so far I'm very pleased.

This is going to be replacing my HK AVR-325 that I was using up until a couple days ago.

I just got some new speakers, so it's kind of hard to tell if I like it more than the HK, but it sounds darn good to me without an A/B test.

I thought my original HK decision was a very good one. I got a factory refurb HK from the ebay seller harmanaudio with a new 2 year warranty.

I think Onkyo is a good bet too.

Check out AVSforum and hometheaterforum for more suggestions.

Also, if you're getting serious about this, it might be worth a trip to go out and listen to some to see if you can tell the difference / see what you like better.

EDIT: oh, and if you can get a good deal on that Panasonic digital unit, that would be an excellent choice too.

Excellent deal on the 1014, jello. That is a most awesome receiver.

Yeah, I was going in there with the intention of buying a 1015 for $499. I went over to the receiver section with my gf and saw the pricetag under the 1014 and I actually said out loud "Winnar!". She looked at me funny. I don't normally say that, but it seemed somewhat appropriate at the time....

ROFL! :laugh:

Yeah, the 1015 isn't worth the extra $200+, not at all. They almost completely indentical anyway.

 

[OffTopic1]

Originally posted by: ghostman

Originally posted by: superjohnyo
I haven't personally listened to those receivers, but I have this receiver at home, with these speakers, and this sub, and I don't really think I'll ever buy any more home theater stuff. Unless I win the lotto.

Wow. I wish I could justify to myself ~$1100 on audio equipment.

My home audio equipment cost over 5K in late 80s and it still serve me well today. So far they work out to be around $300 per year, and I'll not need to be upgrade for at least another 5-10 years. Most smokers spend more than what I pend in 2-3 years, and same goes for drinkers/partiers.

PS. I spend much more than $300 per year on my car.

As for the OP question. Go to your local shop and listen to the receivers that you want to purchase then base your decision upon that.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Onkyo 602 at jr.com
1. $249 + $30 shipping, _factory_ refurb tested and warranted by Onkyo)
2. $349 + $43 shipping brand new

The 602 has more s-video and digital ports than a 502, also more than most other brands.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
ROFL! :laugh:

Yeah, the 1015 isn't worth the extra $200+, not at all. They almost completely indentical anyway.

Seems like it's just a third component input pretty much.... which I have no plans on using in the forseeable future. One for my computer, one for my DVD player is all I'm going to be using for a while.

HD for the third component input would be nice (even though I only have an ED projector), but I don't know if I'd watch it enough to justify the cost, plus I'm going to be moving a lot over the next few years I think, so setting up a bunch of HD packages as I move around doesn't appeal much to me.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Excelsior
ROFL! :laugh:

Yeah, the 1015 isn't worth the extra $200+, not at all. They almost completely indentical anyway.

Seems like it's just a third component input pretty much.... which I have no plans on using in the forseeable future. One for my computer, one for my DVD player is all I'm going to be using for a while.

HD for the third component input would be nice (even though I only have an ED projector), but I don't know if I'd watch it enough to justify the cost, plus I'm going to be moving a lot over the next few years I think, so setting up a bunch of HD packages as I move around doesn't appeal much to me.

Exactly.

 

[thomsbrain]

onkyo makes good stuff. my dad's stereo is a 15 year old onkyo receiver and cd player and it still works and sounds great. it was the first CD player i'd ever seen! built like a tank by today's standards.

 

[Blieb]

I got the onkyo ... TXSR503 ... I couldn't justify the extra # for 10 watts and dual-room (since I only have 1 ) ...

I got her all set up, ends up the front right speaker port is bad! It gives fuzz like a mofo ... same speaker works great in diff port.

Oh well, at least I live 30 yards from Circuit City ... will be an easy swap!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Blieb
I got the onkyo ... TXSR503 ... I couldn't justify the extra # for 10 watts and dual-room (since I only have 1 ) ...

I got her all set up, ends up the front right speaker port is bad! It gives fuzz like a mofo ... same speaker works great in diff port.

Oh well, at least I live 30 yards from Circuit City ... will be an easy swap!

Bummer on the defective unit, but it's great that it's going to be so easy to get a replacement. I hope the next one works for you :thumbsup:

 

[Excelsior]

Yeah, good choice on the 503. Hope the replacement is good.