I'm setting up a 5.1 system in a bedroom, but also want to enjoy stereo music. I don't have a blu-ray player, and I don't expect to buy one for 2-3 years. My budget for a receiver is approx $1000 USD.
Should I get the best receiver I can find, with all the latest HD decoding in anticipation of a bluray upgrade in the future? Or go with a cheaper one with regular DTS and DD as a preamp, and use the remaining money to get a decent stereo power amp?
For the second option, does it mean that everytime I want to listen to stereo I need to switch the Front channel speaker cables between the power amp and the receiver?
There is no need to get a expensive $1000 receiver which has hd audio and all of that stuff if you dont have a blu ray player or ps3, since ur just/mainly going to be using ur front speakers for music, i would just get a avg high current receiver with 100+ watts. and spend more on a speaker system with a nice sub. all of this implies if you dont get a HK, HK receivers have less watts listed then other recivers but they are VERY powerful.,if u want a surprisingly good receiver then test out the Harman Kardon avr 154, yes it only has 40 watts but there is a HUGE difference with 40 watts of a HK and 100 watts of a sony, huge, trust me. buy it from a place where u can use it for a while and then if not happy ur able to return it. first get something else then buy a hk to feel the difference. if u search my post, i have written how many receivers i have had, rite now i have a130watt onkyo for $1200 cad, i have had a pioneer 9130 and 2 different types of yamaha and a HK 247, and the best was the HK 354. which was 70 watts , it sounded much more powerful then the pioneer and better.
no matter what get it from a place where you can bring home a receiver, use it, and if not happy then return it. thats wat i do, i get my stuff from future shop, which is the same as best buy in usa. good luck