Best New Beginner Receiver Under $150

[sparky77]

What kind of laptop do you have? Some of the new ones actually have a setting in the config for the soundcard to convert the headphone jack into a sp/dif output and you would still use the same cable recomended by seth=l, and simply connect it to the coaxial on the reciever. I use an soundblaster sb live 5.1 card and take advantage of the sp/dif output most of the time with my old dac, but I only run 2.0 so I'm not real sure how the surround decoding is going to work as of yet. The signal is even fed throuh 33 feet of coaxial cable and I've never lost the signal lock yet.

 

[agabriel]

I picked up two HP DV6000s with a dock a month ago, the dock has a sp/dif. I haven't put through it through its paces, but its digital out so I would imagines its decent.

 

[sparky77]

If the dock you received happens to be the ES631AA#ABA, you should be ready to go with any basic rca patch cable since the dock has a standard sp/dif connection rather than adapting from an 1/8th inch stereo jack like what I had to do with my sb live card. You should be well set in this case, just a matter of figuring out how to configure the computer to use the digital output.

 

[thecrunge]

My computer is a Dell Inspiron E1505. I am 99% sure it does not utilize an optical output of any kind. I think my best bet right now is to invest in a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro. For $30 it has an optical out and it plugs right into USB. Seems to be pretty good for what it is.

 

[thecrunge]

Sorry to bring this thread back, but I got a pair of Infinity Primus 162's for christmas from my girlfriend. Any suggestions of good receivers to pair with this for less than $200? I would prefer to stay around $150, but could go a bit higher I guess. Thanks in advance.

 

[Soundman]

For a starter sub, Sony has some decent ones in the $100-150 range.

Are you sure? I haven't heard any good subs in that price range.