I dunno, over at Crazy Eddie's they have an Onkyo TX-SR600 for $378.95, a Denon 1803 for $332.95, a Pioneer VSX-D811S, a Yamaha HTR-5560 for $326.95...etc.
www.crazyeddie.com
Of course I've never purchased anything from Crazy Ed, and I don't know anyone who is, so use at your own risk...Check to see if serial numbers have been rubbed off with prices that good.
I've owned Onkyo, Pioneer, Kenwood and Sansui receivers. I like my current Onkyo the best of them all. Pioneer is really good, but my experience has been they produce a lot of flashy looking products for a bit higher prices. Kenwoods just seem cheaply made to me, and I haven't see any thing Sansui in ages. My folks own Denon, and they make very nice equipment, even at the low end. My dad has an old 40w/ch stereo receiver from Denon and I remember it used to blow my 100w/ch Sansui out of the water. I have an older Onkyo TX-DS494 and it does me perfect justice in the budget range...I think I paid about $300 for it. The new TX-SR500 seems to be about the same as mine only a newer model, little more power, etc etc. Very clean power, pairs up nice with my Polk/Definitive Technology speakers, and very affordable. I'll be buying another Onkyo if and when I feel I've outgrown this one.
PBD
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My Home Theatre
http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...threadid=24525