Looking for stereo receiver under $400...

[[email protected]]

Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
(refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
that price range (or even up to $400 if worth it)? I've had my Sony
STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
time
for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy... just
want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

[Mark A]

> wrote in message
...
> Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> that price range (or even up to $400 if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> time
> for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy... just
> want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

Are you looking for stereo (2 channel), 2.1, 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 receiver (the
"point one" is an output for a powered subwoofer).

[iws]

> wrote in message
...
> Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> that price range (or even up to $400 if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> time
> for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy... just
> want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

Onkyo probably has a decent offering in that price range.

[[email protected]]

On Dec 8, 6:16 pm, wrote:
> Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> that price range (or even up to$400if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> time
> for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy... just
> want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

Well right now I only have two Cerwin Vega main speakers + a sub
woofer but suppose I'd like to leave the option open to expand so any
*.1 (including 2.1) suggestions you would have to offer would be much
appreciated, thanks! One problem I did have with my old receiver
towards the end is that it would cut off when I turned the volume up
high so the #1 priority would be a receiver that can handle loud
volumes and pick up bass well, thanks!!!

[JBorg, Jr.[_2_]]

> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> that price range (or even up to $400 if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> time for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy...
> just want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!


Why not give these two a try and audition them at your local parlor.


Marantz - SR-3001 - Home Theater Receiver $349.00

http://tinyurl.com/yrw8ju

a.. All discrete amplifier stages
a.. 32 bit DSP
a.. Decodes Dolby Digital EX and Pro Logic IIx, dts ES (discrete and
matrix),
a.. Neo:6, 96/24, SRS Circle Surround
a.. 192 kHz/24-bit D/A converters for all channels
a.. Component video switching (2 in / 1 out)
a.. HDCD® decoder
a.. SRS TruSurround headphone
a.. Surround Speaker "B" output
a.. Pure Direct mode
a.. Composite video, S-video, and component video connections
a.. 7 analog stereo inputs and a full 7.1 channel input
a.. x1 Optical / x2 Coaxial assignable digital inputs


And this:

Marantz - SR-4001 Home Theater Receiver $399.99

http://tinyurl.com/26wtoo


a.. 80 Watts x 7 Channels All Discrete Amplifier Stages
a.. Current Feedback Topology
a.. D/A Conversion: 192 kHz / 24-Bit
a.. Digital Signal Processing: Cirrus Logic© 32-Bit
a.. HDMI (v1.1) Repeating: 2-In/1-Out
a.. Decodes: DTS (ES, Discrete 6.1/ Matrix 6,1, Neo-6),
a.. Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, SRS Circle Surround II
a.. HDCD Decoder
a.. On Screen Display
a.. x3 Assignable Component Inputs
a.. S-Video to Component Up-Conversion
a.. Video off
a.. Display off
a.. Source Direct
a.. AM / FM tuner section
a.. Metal chassis
a.. Variable crossover
a.. 2nd Zone Audio Output (Same source)
a.. Dolby Headphone
a.. IR Flasher Input
a.. Learning Backlit Remote


I've only casually heard them while shopping for fullrange
front speakers for my plasma screen months ago. I don't
recall any specific aspect on their character whatsoever
other than their ability to produce acceptable clean sound.

The foreboding mishap with these two, unfortunately, is
with your power hungry Cerwin Vega speakers demanding
400-watt at their will. So, you might want to swing by the
demoed and clearance racks while you're at it.

[William Sommerwerck]

A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.

If I were buying one, and couldn't audition it, I'd go with Denon or Onkyo,
possibly harman/kardon as a third choice.

[AZ Nomad]

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 18:09:55 -0800, William Sommerwerck > wrote:
>A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.

bull****. It is a stereo receiver and more.
Just put it in two channel mode if you want stereo.

[Mark A]

"AZ Nomad" > wrote in message
...
> bull****. It is a stereo receiver and more.
> Just put it in two channel mode if you want stereo.

The point is that (believe it or not) they still make stereo only receivers,
although some are 2.1.

[Mark A]

"iws" > wrote in message
...
> Onkyo probably has a decent offering in that price range.

In fact, Onkyo has a stereo receiver (100W x 2) on sale for $249 at
Crutchfield:
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=10420&i=580TX8522&c=4&tp=4187
It has no Dolby Digital or DTS processing, but you could hook up a
subwoofer.

[Laurence Payne]

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 18:09:55 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
> wrote:

>A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.

Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.

[Mark A]

"Laurence Payne" <NOSPAMlpayne1ATdsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
...
> Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.

That is like saying that a stereo receiver is the same as a mono receiver
with some other stuff bolted on.

[William Sommerwerck]

"Mark A" > wrote in message
.. .
> "AZ Nomad" > wrote in message
> ...
> > bull****. It is a stereo receiver and more.
> > Just put it in two channel mode if you want stereo.

> The point is that (believe it or not) they still make stereo-only
> receivers, although some are 2.1.

Thank you.

If someone said they wanted a stereo receiver, I would not be giving them
advice on a 5.1 (or similar) product.

[William Sommerwerck]

"Laurence Payne" <NOSPAMlpayne1ATdsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 18:09:55 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
> > wrote:

>> A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.

> Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.

Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
bolted on.

[George M. Middius]

William Sommerwerck said:

> >> A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.

> > Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.

> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
> bolted on.

Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.

[Don Pearce]

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:28:52 -0500, George M. Middius <cmndr _ george
@ comcast . net> wrote:

>
>
>William Sommerwerck said:
>
>> >> A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.
>
>> > Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.
>
>> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
>> bolted on.
>
>Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
>VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.
>
>
I have a surround receiver, and can find no switch that will make it
perform even approximately like a VW. Where should I be looking?

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[George M. Middius]

Don Pearce said:

> >> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
> >> bolted on.
> >
> >Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
> >VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.
> >
> >
> I have a surround receiver, and can find no switch that will make it
> perform even approximately like a VW. Where should I be looking?

Har. Try looking on the back of your neck, right next to your wind-up
key.

[Clyde Slick]

On 9 Dec, 09:39, George M. Middius <cmndr _ george @ comcast . net>
wrote:
> Don Pearce said:
>
> > >> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
> > >> bolted on.
>
> > >Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
> > >VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.
>
> > I have a surround receiver, and can find no switch that will make it
> > perform even approximately like a VW. Where should I be looking?
>
> Har. Try looking on the back of your neck, right next to your wind-up
> key.

LOL!!!!
post of the month candidate

[AZ Nomad]

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:30:49 GMT, Don Pearce > wrote:
>On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:28:52 -0500, George M. Middius <cmndr _ george
>@ comcast . net> wrote:

>>
>>
>>William Sommerwerck said:
>>
>>> >> A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.
>>
>>> > Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.
>>
>>> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
>>> bolted on.
>>
>>Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
>>VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.
>>
>>
>I have a surround receiver, and can find no switch that will make it
>perform even approximately like a VW. Where should I be looking?

check under the hood.

Next question: why don't the british make TVs? They can't get them
to leak oil.

[[email protected]]

On Dec 8, 8:27 pm, "JBorg, Jr." > wrote:
> > wrote:
>
> > Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> > (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> > that price range (or even up to$400if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> > STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> > time for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy...
> > just want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> > play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> > be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> > my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> > box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!
>
> Why not give these two a try and audition them at your local parlor.
>
> Marantz - SR-3001 - Home Theater Receiver $349.00
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yrw8ju
>
> a.. All discrete amplifier stages
> a.. 32 bit DSP
> a.. Decodes Dolby Digital EX and Pro Logic IIx, dts ES (discrete and
> matrix),
> a.. Neo:6, 96/24, SRS Circle Surround
> a.. 192 kHz/24-bit D/A converters for all channels
> a.. Component video switching (2 in / 1 out)
> a.. HDCD(R) decoder
> a.. SRS TruSurround headphone
> a.. Surround Speaker "B" output
> a.. Pure Direct mode
> a.. Composite video, S-video, and component video connections
> a.. 7 analog stereo inputs and a full 7.1 channel input
> a.. x1 Optical / x2 Coaxial assignable digital inputs
>
> And this:
>
> Marantz - SR-4001 Home Theater Receiver $399.99
>
> http://tinyurl.com/26wtoo
>
> a.. 80 Watts x 7 Channels All Discrete Amplifier Stages
> a.. Current Feedback Topology
> a.. D/A Conversion: 192 kHz / 24-Bit
> a.. Digital Signal Processing: Cirrus Logic(c) 32-Bit
> a.. HDMI (v1.1) Repeating: 2-In/1-Out
> a.. Decodes: DTS (ES, Discrete 6.1/ Matrix 6,1, Neo-6),
> a.. Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, SRS Circle Surround II
> a.. HDCD Decoder
> a.. On Screen Display
> a.. x3 Assignable Component Inputs
> a.. S-Video to Component Up-Conversion
> a.. Video off
> a.. Display off
> a.. Source Direct
> a.. AM / FM tuner section
> a.. Metal chassis
> a.. Variable crossover
> a.. 2nd Zone Audio Output (Same source)
> a.. Dolby Headphone
> a.. IR Flasher Input
> a.. Learning Backlit Remote
>
> I've only casually heard them while shopping for fullrange
> front speakers for my plasma screen months ago. I don't
> recall any specific aspect on their character whatsoever
> other than their ability to produce acceptable clean sound.
>
> The foreboding mishap with these two, unfortunately, is
> with your power hungry Cerwin Vega speakers demanding
> 400-watt at their will. So, you might want to swing by the
> demoed and clearance racks while you're at it.

Thanks for the suggestions but would like a receiver that can better
handle high-wattage speakers. I've read about the Harmon Kardon
3485... would this be a good buy?

[Harry Lavo]

> wrote in message
...
> Hey - I'm looking for a good deal on a home theater receiver
> (refurbished or new) under $300? Any suggestions for a receiver in
> that price range (or even up to $400 if worth it)? I've had my Sony
> STR DE-525 for 9-10 years and it served me well but it's way past
> time
> for a new receiver. Don't necessarily need anything too fancy... just
> want a receiver that carries bass well and doesn't blow out when I
> play music at loud levels (I have 400-watt Cerwin Vega speakers). I'd
> be using the receiver primarily to play music but would be hooking up
> my entire home system (TV, VCR, DVD, Playstation, CD Player, cable
> box, etc. etc.) to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

Harmon Kardan makes a stereo receiver that hnadles low impedances well and
is honestly power rated. J&R usually has it "sale priced" at around $250.

Other than that, Outlaw Audio (web only) probably makes the best and most
up-to-date stereo receiver on the market (it has outputs for and a crossover
for a subwoofer if you later wanted to add one, for example). Also honestly
rated...but I think it goes for around $500 (but comes with a 30 day money
back guaranteer after in-home use).

[Paul Stamler]

> wrote in message
...
> >
> > The foreboding mishap with these two, unfortunately, is
> > with your power hungry Cerwin Vega speakers demanding
> > 400-watt at their will. So, you might want to swing by the
> > demoed and clearance racks while you're at it.
>
> Thanks for the suggestions but would like a receiver that can better
> handle high-wattage speakers. I've read about the Harmon Kardon
> 3485... would this be a good buy?

You're under a misapprehension about what "high-wattage" speakers are. They
aren't speakers that demand a lot of watts to drive them; instead, they're
speakers which will accept a lot of wattage before they blow up.

As I recall, Cerwin-Vega speakers are highish in sensitivity (as home
speakers go), which means they'll put out a bit more for a given wattage.
The high wattage rating does mean you can crank them to even more
ear-splitting levels with a larger amplifier, should you so desire. What
they'll sound like at those levels, though, is not stated.

My experience with H-K stuff, meanwhile, is a bit out of date, but when I
was dealing with it their gear sounded nice, but when it broke repairs
(warranty or otherwise) were a screaming pain in the ass. Things may have
changed since then, but I've inherited a profound reluctance to buy any of
their gear as a result.

Peace,
Paul

[Scott Dorsey]

AZ Nomad > wrote:
>On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:30:49 GMT, Don Pearce > wrote:
>>On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:28:52 -0500, George M. Middius <cmndr _ george
>>@ comcast . net> wrote:
>>>William Sommerwerck said:
>>>
>>>> >> A home theater receiver is NOT a stereo receiver.
>>>
>>>> > Sure it is. With some other stuff bolted on.
>>>
>>>> Then, by that reasoning, a Hummer is a Volkswagen with some other stuff
>>>> bolted on.
>>>
>>>Can you flip a switch on the Hummer so that it performs exactly like a
>>>VW? You can do that with most, if not all, surround rcvrs.
>>>
>>>
>>I have a surround receiver, and can find no switch that will make it
>>perform even approximately like a VW. Where should I be looking?
>
>check under the hood.

If it's a real VW, there's just a tire in there.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[JBorg, Jr.[_2_]]

> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for the suggestions but would like a receiver that can better
> handle high-wattage speakers. I've read about the Harmon Kardon
> 3485... would this be a good buy?

Sorry, not familiar HK.