budget receiver suggestions

[shallots]

First, I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I performed searches but most of the budget threads were for different spending levels or requirements.

If you've seen my other thread you know I've decided on a pair of Onix x-ls speakers. I am not going for a sub or surround now, but that is an option I'd like to keep open for the future. My main concern is music quality. I'll be hooking up a DVD/CD player (component, optical audio), xbox 360 (component, optical audio). In the future it is possible I'd like to add a standalone higher quality CD player as well.

2 or 3 zones would be a huge bonus. I don't need to be playing different sources simultaneously. I would be running the same music across my house.

My budget is $350-400. I've been eyeing the low-end Yamaha and Onkyo receivers, but specific recommendations would be very helpful to me. Thanks!

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha receivers

I have the Yamaha HTR-5860 and would recommend it. You can find the newer RX-V659 and HTR-5960 models in your price range and they should have plenty of power for an X-LS system.

P.S. I think the RX-V version has the zone 2 feature and my HTR version does not. If you want to play the same source on all speakers, then you don't need the zone 2 feature.

 

[shallots]

People seem to be crazy about the Panasonic xr55. It lacks some features, but the only one I think I would really miss might be the EQ. SQ is my primary goal, and that seems to be its strength.