Add power amp or buy new receiver?

[pestfriend]

I'm in the market for new speakers as I blew mine out with my budget receiver cranked to the highest volume... I'm all over the place with speakers right now, but I'm thinking that whatever I end up buying, I'll need to do something with my receiver/amp situation to get more power to the speakers to avoid this situation in the future...

Is it advisable to buy a new receiver or add a power amp to my cheapie receiver? If it matters, it was the cheapest stereo receiver they had at CC a few years back: Element STR200. I'm assuming the 'amp in' and/or 'pre out' jacks are used to add an external amp. Or is either solution acceptable?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Knucklehead90]

I've never heard of the Element stereo receiver. I have doubts about the results you'd get from adding a power amp with such a budget receiver. The preamp out jacks are used to connect a power amp.

If you will be staying strictly stereo take a look at the Onkyo 8555 stereo receiver - or the Harman Kardon 3390 or 3490. There are other stereo receivers as well but these are the least expensive options and should be able to drive most any speaker you want to add without problems.

 

[pestfriend]

Thanks for your help...I will definitely take a look at those receivers.