|   Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 23, 2002 12:23 PM | | I'm looking for a good budget receiver in the $300 range. I would like to go more high end, but I'm a poor college student and just dont have the cash. I was looking at the Onkyo TX-SR500, Denon AVR-1603, and Harmon Kardon AVR-125. I could also get a refurbished H/K AVR-225 for $300. Basically, my question is, if it was your $300 which one would you buy? If you have anyother suggestions, feel free to mention them. |
| re: Budget receiver... | rpgamer
Oct 23, 2002 12:47 PM | | I'm also a college student. I have the Denon 1602 (same thing as the 1603 basically) and it is amazing! For the size room you'll be using it in - it has plenty of power. I'd go with the Denon. |
| re: Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 23, 2002 1:31 PM | | Thats what alot of people have been telling me. Supposedly the H/K and Onkyo are good, but the Denon is just better. The room is only like 8X13 so the wattage isnt really a concern. Itll be driving a Paradigm CC170, and one pair of Tians for the front, and one for the rear, and an AR sub. |
| re: Budget receiver... | Bowmah
Oct 23, 2002 1:50 PM | | hmm, if your room is that small and you are TRUELY a starving student (we have all been there) then why not consider the 1403? Sure it has less functions, less inputs etc.. and less power but won't this meet your needs? I love your CC170 btw, pretty good center!
Good luck!
Bowmah |
| re: Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 23, 2002 2:15 PM | | I was thinking about that, however at the place I'm planning to buy it from there's only a $25 difference between the 1403 and 1603. Seems odd, but I e-mailed them to make sure the price was correct and they confirmed it. The site is www.abtelectronics.com, the 1403 is $299 while the 1603 is $325, and shipping is free. ABT is also an authorized dealer which is good. |
| re: Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 23, 2002 6:53 PM | | Anyone know anything about the Yamaha HTR-5540? I can get it for $240 from an authorized dealer. |
| re: Budget receiver... | rayh78
Oct 24, 2002 4:19 AM | | I have the 5540 in my sons room and 5560 in den love both of them. Check http://store.yahoo.com/crazyeddieonline/yamaha.html
I vote for the 5560
the 5560 is better just for the inputs/outputs if you add components. And the yamaha should last a number of years after you get out of school. Then you could upgrade speakers and TV and the 5560 would still be fine. |
| re: Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 24, 2002 4:43 AM | | Thanks for the site. You know what I do, I find websites with real low prices then go to Sears because they match internet prices plus give you 10% of the difference. Since Sears is an authorized Yamaha dealer, I should be able to get a good deal there. |
| re: Budget receiver... | jdrum1
Oct 24, 2002 6:36 AM | | I am also a starving student. I recently got a refurbished Marantz sr4200 from ac4l. It is great. It has plenty of power, lots of features, and can be had for under $300 |
| re: Budget receiver... | ryewoods
Oct 24, 2002 10:01 AM | | I looked at the Marantz and was impressed. However it doesn't come with the analog inputs for DVDA/SACD, which I plan on upgrading to eventually. The SR4300 is supposed to be out this month, retailing for $430. It has 6 channels, DD-EX, and DTS ES. Looks very impressive. I think i'm going with the Yamaha HTR-5550. I can get it for about $270, and it comes with alot of features, along with Yamaha high quality sound. |
| re: Budget receiver... (silly copy protection on Hi-Res audio forms) | GodsMadClown
Oct 25, 2002 9:38 AM | | Bah, who needs analog inputs for DVDA/SACD when the encryption will be cracked about 6 months after they go mainstream? Already the SoundBlaster Audigy2 can deal with DVDA, albeit only outputting them digitally. When more computer support of DVDA or SACD comes online, It's almost inevitable that it will be cracked, and then I can have what I REALLY want, a nice digital signal coming out of my computer and into my HT setup. Analog wires are dinosaurs that I would just as well do without. |
| re: Budget receiver... (silly copy protection on Hi-Res audio forms) | Andrus
Oct 25, 2002 10:50 AM | | No way if all the signals go digital, how are all those $400 per foot cable company's gonna peddle their wires? THey can't say their cables increase soundstages of digital information can they? AHAHAHAHAHA |
| re: Budget receiver... | VW Golfer
Oct 24, 2002 2:32 PM | | I would look around for a Denon 1802. I just picked one up at a B&M store here in Canada for $525. Doesn't have Neo or DTS-es(dont think) though. |
| When you consider reliability... | spacedeckman
Oct 25, 2002 7:56 PM | | I'm not too keen on the h/ks, the Onkyo isn't bad, the Denon is okay, but for the money, I think Yamaha is the way to go. Either RXV430 or HTR5540 (same piece). Not a lot of features but best build quality, sound quality, and reliability in the class. |
| When you consider reliability... | ryewoods
Oct 26, 2002 8:11 AM | | I decided to go with a refurbished Onkyo TX-SR500. It was about $180 total. It comes with a full warranty. It may not be quite as good as the Yamaha or Denon, but for half the price and a full warranty, I think its a pretty good deal. |
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