Entry level HT tuner advice for B&W speakers

[brandon]

Entry level HT reciever advice for B&W speakers

I am just getting into this HT stuff and since the wife has agreed on a HD plasma for Christmas, I need to fill out everything else prior. The item I am having the most trouble with is the receiver. Some room specs...

Very small 250 SF room (NYC apartment) w/ hardwood floors, 10ft ceilings.
I currently have a pair of B&W 600 S3 speakers that will probably become rears with 602 S3s the most likely fronts, a B&W center and MAYBE a sub - later if needed.

I need to keep the entry-level receiver down in the $500 range and have been looking at the entry level NAD T743 receiver has a slightly more expensive option or a mid-range Harmon Kardon, but open to any sugestions. The $699 list for the NAD is really more than I want to spend however. Anything more than 5.1 is really overkill at the moment and I have no need for a AM/FM receiver.

It has also been very difficult to listen to the different receivers with MY speakers and the different receivers heads up so PLEASE HELP me. My head is spinning!

 

[mdevitre]

Brandon, B&W speakers are amazingly good and you will be putting together a decent HT with them. But don't skimp on the receiver. It will make a huge difference sound-wise, especially with B&Ws. My advice: loosen up the budget a bit, say around $800, and go find a refurbished Denon 3805 (their newest midline receiver). You can find them on Ebay, and some here have mentioned Dakmart. You can also check Ubid.com, I bought a refurbished Denon receiver there once, and to this day it performs beautifully. Scan the articles and reviews in these forums and you'll find that people rave about this receiver, and at the refurbished price (should be around $800), it is a steal for what it is. You will not have to replace it soon, if ever. If you're going to spend the dough for B&Ws, don't skimp on what powers them. My $.02...

Mark