Help choosing (really) low-end receiver.

[Cap42086]

My uncle has finally decided to make the upgrade to digital surround sound after seven years with Dolby Surround (and after hearing Attack of the Clones on my set-up ), and of course, he came to me for advice. He's taking me to several stores over the weekend to look at some models so I can tell him about them. Now I already know of some receivers that are lower in price, but aren't too shabby as performers, so I was just wondering which receiver do you think is best out of the following. By the way, he probably won't spend more than $400 and is looking for Doby Digital, DTS, and Pro Logic II, all of which these receivers have:

-Onkyo TX-SR500

-Denon AVR-1403

-Yamaha HTR-5540

-Harman/Kardon AVR 125 (Yes, I know. Yes, I'm listing it anyway.)

Any other suggestions for receivers around this price?

[keiths]

As much as I love my Onkyo TX-SR500, you can do better. Especially if your max is $400.

For one thing the SR500 does not have Component Input/Output.
Also, for the $100 more you can spend, you get more connections.

Yamaha HTR-5550
Sony STR-DE985
Pioneer VSX-D811S
Kenwood VR-6060
Sony STR-DE885

These can be found from anywhere from $300 to $400

The H/K AVR-125 is not a bad beginner Reciever, but it lacks Component Video Switching. You start getting Component input/output with the AVR 325, but thats also around $800

And unfortunately, the Denon AVR-1403 doesn't even have S-Video Inputs/Outputs. So that would severly limit any upgrade path. The next step up would be the AVR-1603 which has Composite, S-Video and Component.

On your list, the HTR-5540 would prolly be the best bet, but shop around, do some research and see what kind of inputs/outputs he needs.

[chlngr1970]

Don't rule out the Pioneer VSX-D811S as a very good alternative to any of the afforementioned choices. I tried this one out before I got my Kenwood last summer, and except for the speaker binding posts being to far appart for my banana plugs, I had no complaints whatsoever ( I was jsut able to get the Kenwood 6070 foe only 120 more. )

I just wanted to pop in here for a vote for Pioneer ...

j

[metallica50]

PIONEER VSXD811S.
the best reciever for the money period. its 6.1.

buy it online. its cheaper.

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by keiths
For one thing the SR500 does not have Component Input/Output.

He won't be needing that. Trust me. He has a TV from like 1995 (ProScan?) that's 36" and runs through S-Video (which he didn't even know about until I told him about it). So video inputs are not even a concern. How does this unit perform otherwise?

Originally posted by metallica50
PIONEER VSXD811S.
the best reciever for the money period. its 6.1.

buy it online. its cheaper.

Okay, guess I'll be looking into that one.

He has no clue what all these inputs and outputs are. He just wants something that sounds great and is at a good price. He won't be upgrading everything else for a while (long story). But thanks for the suggestions regarding that anyway. Which unit under $400 would perform the best audio-wise?

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Cap42086
Which unit under $400 would perform the best audio-wise?

If you can, take your Uncle and some of his favorite music CDs to your local A/V store(s) and audition some of these receivers so HE (your Uncle) can determine whch produces the "best" sound.

Good luck!

Peace.....

[NotaNumber]

Are you a Costco member? They are selling in the warehouses the Pioneer VSX-D511 for $189.99.

I've been thinking of picking one up as don't really care about 6.1 sound and the fluorescent display on my Kenwood is crapping out. I'd be interested in any opinions on this Pioneer model.

Pioneer VSX D511 Info

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by NotaNumber
Are you a Costco member? They are selling in the warehouses the Pioneer VSX-D511 for $189.99.

Hell, at that price I say GO FOR IT!

Then again, I tend to like Pioneer equipment as it has always served me very well.

Peace....

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by tomdkat
If you can, take your Uncle and some of his favorite music CDs to your local A/V store(s) and audition some of these receivers so HE (your Uncle) can determine whch produces the "best" sound.

Good luck!

Peace.....

I was going to do that anyway, but I was just curious as to which brands/models in particular to be looking for, so when we head down to some place like Tweeter, we can pop in a CD from one of his favorites bands (Stone Temple Pilots, thank you very much ), and he can hear "Dead and Bloated" and "Plush" in a whole new way. Then he can bring it home for himself.

Originally posted by NotaNumber
Are you a Costco member?

Unfortunately no. Though I've heard good things about them so I may look into them.

Originally posted by keiths
Sony STR-DE985

He has a small-to-medium sized room, and I know Sony is known for giving their receivers a lot of power, so I don't think 100X5 watts is something he necessarily needs. So we can scratch that off the list.

But right now, I'm pretty sure it will either be the Yamaha HTR-5550 or the Pioneer VSX-D811S that I'll point him towards. Again, it's his decision and I'm just here to help, but he doesn't know a whole lot on the topic, so I'm just pointing him the direction of the best so he can judge which of them are the best.

Who knows? He may end up going with that RCA he was looking at earlier on before he came to me for help.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Cap42086
He has a small-to-medium sized room, and I know Sony is known for giving their receivers a lot of power, so I don't think 100X5 watts is something he necessarily needs. So we can scratch that off the list.

Well, he can always turn the volume down if it gets too loud.....

The Pioneer receivers mentioned also have 100wx5 power output as well.

Peace.....

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Well, he can always turn the volume down if it gets too loud.....

Always the smart-ass.

Originally posted by tomdkat
The Pioneer receivers mentioned also have 100wx5 power output as well.

Okay, so the Sony is back in. I guess I'm just going to have to take names and go down to the electronics store and let him listen for himself.

Any other suggestions?

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Cap42086
Always the smart-ass.

Well, I prefer to be a "smart-ass" rather than a "dumb-ass"...

Peace....

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Well, I prefer to be a "smart-ass" rather than a "dumb-ass"...

Peace....

[palebluedot]

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
-----
My Home Theatre
http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...threadid=24525

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by palebluedot
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.

He's getting Polk for his new speakers, so it appears that Onkyo is the front runner at the moment.

Can anyone else comment on the quality of the lower-end Onkyo receivers, specifically the SR500?

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Cap42086
He's getting Polk for his new speakers, so it appears that Onkyo is the front runner at the moment.

Why is that? Do Polk speakers "mate" well with Onkyo receivers or something?

Peace....

[keiths]

In regards to my TX-SR500. It does and admirable job for the money and 6 to 7 months that I have owned it.

The specs are a bit bloated as I believe that its closer to 35 watts per channel, 5 channels driven @ 8 ohms (forgot where I got the actual number) but I doubt most people are trying to power a true theater sized room with an under $300 reciever.

If you get decent to high sensitivity (read 89+) speakers, then it should not matter.

I have my TX-SR500 mated to a JBL N-Center, JBL N-38's and a pair of Cerwin bookshelves as surround (hope to upgrade em to N-24/26's or change to an entire Studio Series) and it sounds great.

My Room is roughly 12 x 15 and loudness isn't a problem and there is no clipping but I also have never had to bring the volume up above 65 for DD and 55 for DTS (the volume goes from 0 - 98 but i dont know what it is relative to).

It does lack an OSD (on-screen display) and you have to rely on the front panel of the unit but it works fine and is easy to read.

The remote is not back lit and but over all is not hard to work with even though the buttons are a wee bit on the small size.

All in all, it is a little workhorse of a reciever. Does the job and does it well. If you have no need for component outs and are not looking to connect a large number of sources to this reciever then it would make a great choice.

Just make sure you purchase from an authorized Onkyo Dealer.
Many online sources are not authorized and therefore you will not be covered under the Onkyo warranty.

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Why is that? Do Polk speakers "mate" well with Onkyo receivers or something?

Peace....

They apparently work well for palebluedot. I'll have to look into that a little more, though.

Originally posted by keiths
In regards to my TX-SR500. It does and admirable job for the money and 6 to 7 months that I have owned it.

The specs are a bit bloated as I believe that its closer to 35 watts per channel, 5 channels driven @ 8 ohms (forgot where I got the actual number) but I doubt most people are trying to power a true theater sized room with an under $300 reciever.

If you get decent to high sensitivity (read 89+) speakers, then it should not matter.

I have my TX-SR500 mated to a JBL N-Center, JBL N-38's and a pair of Cerwin bookshelves as surround (hope to upgrade em to N-24/26's or change to an entire Studio Series) and it sounds great.

My Room is roughly 12 x 15 and loudness isn't a problem and there is no clipping but I also have never had to bring the volume up above 65 for DD and 55 for DTS (the volume goes from 0 - 98 but i dont know what it is relative to).

It does lack an OSD (on-screen display) and you have to rely on the front panel of the unit but it works fine and is easy to read.

The remote is not back lit and but over all is not hard to work with even though the buttons are a wee bit on the small size.

All in all, it is a little workhorse of a reciever. Does the job and does it well. If you have no need for component outs and are not looking to connect a large number of sources to this reciever then it would make a great choice.

Just make sure you purchase from an authorized Onkyo Dealer.
Many online sources are not authorized and therefore you will not be covered under the Onkyo warranty.

Thank you.

[Cap42086]

Well, we're off to pick one out. Thanks for all your help guys.

Note: Moderators, feel free to close this if you wish. There really isn't much use for it now.

[Jellodyne]

Hey, you could at least let us know how it turned out!

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by Jellodyne
Hey, you could at least let us know how it turned out!

Oops, sorry. I completely forgot about that. Just goes to prove my point: I am a total fucking idiot. (And damn proud of it. ) But I'll definitely let you guys know how it turned out. I'll be back tonight and let you know.

Note: Moderators, don't close it just yet. These guys want to know how it turned out, and I must appease the masses.

[Cap42086]

He got one! And the final choice was... may I have a drumroll please:

The Yamaha HTR-5540!

In a very close second:

The Pioneer VSX-D711S

And in a respectable third:

The Denon AVR-1603

He ended up going with the Yamaha after talking to the guy at Tweeter (who seemed adement about Yamaha being the best) and trying out the 5560 and being impressed. But instead of spending that extra $300 on a better receiver with features he's never even going to use, he just went with the cheaper one (which did sound great) and is going to look into new speakers next.

The journey (so to speak) is over and in the end, Yamaha reigned supreme. One receiver to rule them all.

Thanks for all your help guys.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Cap42086
The journey (so to speak) is over and in the end, Yamaha reigned supreme. One receiver to rule them all.

Well, I'm certainly glad the Pioneer didn't win the "bottom of the barrel" , I mean "low-end", receiver contest....

(just kidding... )

Peace....

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Well, I'm certainly glad the Pioneer didn't win the "bottom of the barrel" , I mean "low-end", receiver contest....

(just kidding... )

Peace....

Oh, Tommy Tommy. If you weren't so damn likeable....

[palebluedot]

On the polk club forum, I've noted many have stated "Denon" as their choice for powering Polk speakers. Although Onkyo is mentioned quite a bit as well.

Yamaha is certainly a respectable and quality choice. I don't think many could argue is a wrong choice by any means.

[Cap42086]

Originally posted by palebluedot
Yamaha is certainly a respectable and quality choice. I don't think many could argue is a wrong choice by any means.

It actually sounded really good. He's not complaining and I did my good deed for the day. It works out.