I have several friends who have good sized music collections on their computers, some even use lossless, but they're listening on crap clock radio quality computer speakers.
I use Squeezebox, which is much more involved than these people are ready to get into. I haven't invested in a third Squeezebox receiver yet, so I have my HK AVR 645 in my office hooked up to the computer/NAS via USB and play via MediaMonkey. If I could find a receiver to recommend that could be found for under $150, they might be willing to try it. I know many would just recommend a DAC, but since these folks don't even have a decent receiver (though speakers are around), I'd like to keep it simple so there's only one item to buy.
In my bedroom I have a Yamaha HTR-5730 I got used six years ago for only $65, and it sounds fantastic, drives Rega R3 and Wharfedale Evo 20 speakers nicely. I noticed Yamaha had some USB receivers that came out several years ago, and figured they could be found cheap by now. But looking through their site, it seems the functionality of the USB is limited to just iPod and/or Flash drives for RX-N600, HTR-4064, and RX-2700.
The only ones I could find are RX-1065 for $365 and RX-471 for $290, a bit too pricey. I couldn't find any Harman/Kardons for cheap. I haven't investigated Denon and Onkyo yet, and am unfamiliar with their lower end stuff. There's got to be something! If not, I guess it would have to be a DAC+receiver, like Fubar II ($139), and a Yamaha HTR-5750 ($89).
Thanks!
