Lowesst Cost Quality Receiver w/ 5.1 Preamp Outs

[rlj676]

I am in need of a new receiver, my NAD crapped out this year, and I've been using my bedroom Marantz for too long and need to put it back.

The NAD broke once under warranty and now seems totally shot. It had no features, at all, but sounded noticeably better than the Marantz, but due to the terrible reliability I don't think I want another. The Marantz was a refurb, and the volume knob quit working quickly, so I'm not sold on them either.

This has also led me to the realization that spending more is a waste, as I use very few features once setup, and they apparently just break!

I have a Emo XPA-5 (w/ Onix Rockets and SVS sub), so I need preouts. Turns out nothing in the reasonable price range I've seen has them any more? My Marantz 4600 and NAD 743 had them and were not super high level....so what gives now.

Anyways, does anyone have any ideas of AVR's under $300 (lower the better) w/ preamp outputs? I would like HDMI switching, auto setup like Audyssey, and decent crossover settings. I don't know that I'm familiar with all the other bells and whistles. Neither of my current ones had any of these so I figure an older model on closeout will still be an improvement. I've found many options that have more than I need, and look great, but no pre-outs of course.

 

[bikdav]

From what I've seen lately, I think that you're S.O.L. in the $300 price range. It seems as though the lower priced receivers have been stripped bare of some useful features. Any receivers that I saw with preamp out were over $700. Even there on up, not everyone is doing it. My thought is that you're going to have to look very high in the price scale and look carefully at the back of a prospective receiver to see if it has what you need.

 

[lsiberian]

Onkyo 708 at accessories4less.com is 350. That's the cheapest.

 

[rlj676]

Onkyo 708 at accessories4less.com is 350. That's the cheapest.

Thansk, I have seen that one, and also the Marantz S5004 there for $329. I'm really hoping to avoid refurbed again, but I guess my refurb Marantz has lasted better than the NAD. The remote knob went useless, but it otherwise works (just have to use the remote for volume).

Really hoping for a new old stock or something for $300 or less.

 

[96cobra10101]

Check eBay. Older/used equipment isn't always a bad idea if on a budget.

My Onkyo I bought new in 2000 had the amp section go out in it, so I use the pre outs w/ a UPA7 and its still going strong.

 

[jcl]

Amazon still has the Yamaha rx-a700 in stock for $333. NewEgg has recertified ones for $289.

According to the yamaha site it has 7.2 preouts. RX-A700 - AVENTAGE - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

This is the cheapest avr I've seen with preouts.

 

[GlocksRock]

My few year old yamaha RX-V663 has preamp outputs, you could probably find a used one of those for cheap, but it only has 2 HDMI inputs, but you could always get a splitter.

 

[rlj676]

Check eBay. Older/used equipment isn't always a bad idea if on a budget.

My Onkyo I bought new in 2000 had the amp section go out in it, so I use the pre outs w/ a UPA7 and its still going strong.

Right, but I have 2 different "nice" 5 year old recievers that are both broken, so I'm avoiding used as it appears anything built in the past maybe 10 years or less is a ticking time bomb.

Amazon still has the Yamaha rx-a700 in stock for $333. NewEgg has recertified ones for $289.

According to the yamaha site it has 7.2 preouts. RX-A700 - AVENTAGE - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

This is the cheapest avr I've seen with preouts.

Thanks, I came across this last night as well. It looks pretty good too, probably a better bet than the refurb Marantz 5004 for the money.

My few year old yamaha RX-V663 has preamp outputs, you could probably find a used one of those for cheap, but it only has 2 HDMI inputs, but you could always get a splitter.

I also saw this, and actually I have a manual 2 HDMI switcher now as neither of my recievers have HDMI in, so 2 automated is a big improvement! I only have 2 sources anyways, so that isn't a problem.

Looks like these 2 older Yamaha's are my better bet. Anyone have any comments on which of the 2, or the 5004, is the better piece?

 

[lsiberian]

Thansk, I have seen that one, and also the Marantz S5004 there for $329. I'm really hoping to avoid refurbed again, but I guess my refurb Marantz has lasted better than the NAD. The remote knob went useless, but it otherwise works (just have to use the remote for volume).

Really hoping for a new old stock or something for $300 or less.

You could certainly ebay an HK AVR 254. I've had my HK for a while and had zero issues. I'd not count on a receiver lasting more than 5 years. Things run too hot IMO. If you invest in a good cooling system you could probably extend the life some.

 

[rlj676]

You could certainly ebay an HK AVR 254. I've had my HK for a while and had zero issues. I'd not count on a receiver lasting more than 5 years. Things run too hot IMO. If you invest in a good cooling system you could probably extend the life some.

I did see one for $160 on there....but it looks pretty rough and I really don't want used.

I'm leaning heavily towards the A700 now, don't think I'll beat $330 for that nice of a reciever that also has preouts.

 

[its phillip]

The A700 for $330 is a great deal. I paid more for my RX-V667 which is a very similar unit.

 

[davidtwotrees]

My preprocessor is many years old. I had Shawn Fogg add 7.1 analog inputs so I could run my blu ray into it. Problem solved on crappy far eastern receivers. You don't sound enamoured of features, which is why you liked NAD, correct?
I bought a cheap receiver two years ago. I put it in the rig, and the cheap, plastic feel of the volume knob really irked me. The whole thing felt cheap. You have a nice amp. Just go with a prepro. My one hdmi (tv)goes into my blu ray.

 

[rlj676]

The A700 for $330 is a great deal. I paid more for my RX-V667 which is a very similar unit.

That's what my research is turning up, thanks. Seems they were $500 or more as recently as at the beginning of the year.

My preprocessor is many years old. I had Shawn Fogg add 7.1 analog inputs so I could run my blu ray into it. Problem solved on crappy far eastern receivers. You don't sound enamoured of features, which is why you liked NAD, correct?
I bought a cheap receiver two years ago. I put it in the rig, and the cheap, plastic feel of the volume knob really irked me. The whole thing felt cheap. You have a nice amp. Just go with a prepro. My one hdmi (tv)goes into my blu ray.

Yes and no on the features, I would like HDMI switching and auto calibration, the rest I don't know about. Maybe I will use/enjoy them. Given that, the seperates I've seen have been very spendy. I'd love to buy something American made and keep forever, but just don't have the budget to dedicate to it right now. I'm in the middle of a big car audio overhaul among other things, and want to spend the minimum as I suspect none of them will last too long.

 

[rlj676]

So I just went ahead and got the A700, hope it doesn't drop in price around Christmas even further!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So I just went ahead and got the A700, hope it doesn't drop in price around Christmas even further!

| Decide

 

[jcl]

So I just went ahead and got the A700, hope it doesn't drop in price around Christmas even further!

I think NewEgg, Yamaha, and Fry's may have blown them out for slightly less, but now everyone seems to be out.

 

[its phillip]

If the price does drop, you'll just have to deal with it. Is saving $20 two months from now worth the wait?

 

[lsiberian]

I did see one for $160 on there....but it looks pretty rough and I really don't want used.

I'm leaning heavily towards the A700 now, don't think I'll beat $330 for that nice of a reciever that also has preouts.

I'd lean toward the Onkyo. They are very solid receivers.

 

[rlj676]

| Decide

Haha, not looking to track it to second guess myself!

If the price does drop, you'll just have to deal with it. Is saving $20 two months from now worth the wait?

Exactly what I was thinking. They could sell out and then I'd be looking at refurbs for the same price from Marantz, etc.

I'd lean toward the Onkyo. They are very solid receivers.

Everything I've read indicates Onkyo's run hot and'll crap out more often, and Yamaha's are the most robust of the mainstream brands. I guess all I know is I don't trust NAD to last.

 

[rlj676]

So I just went ahead and got the A700, hope it doesn't drop in price around Christmas even further!

Ordered yesterday, here today! That's w/ free standard shipping. I'm impressed even for Amazon.