New ht receiver needed for around $450

[Ldog]

I would like the help of the people here to point to some of the better ht receivers for around $450. I currently have a Sony STR-DE925. After 9 yrs of use, I think i'm going to upgrade. So if any of you have time, please point me to some good choices.....THANKS...

 

[Snap]

RX-V557 MSRP $449
AVR-1905 MSRP $499 (can get it for around 450 give or take some)

Pioneer has a few good modles I hear with lots of good features for around that price range. I think 1014 or something like that. I am not to familiar with Pioneer, but there is a lot people that have them and like them.

I do not think you can get into a good H&K for that price point but it would be worth checking into.

Sherwood Necastle is also another brand that you should check out. I hear lots of good things about them as well. But I have never tried one.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I would like the help of the people here to point to some of the better ht receivers for around $450. I currently have a Sony STR-DE925. After 9 yrs of use, I think i'm going to upgrade. So if any of you have time, please point me to some good choices.....THANKS...

Get one of these.
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10505167

 

[jaxvon]

I believe that Best Buy also has the Pioneer 1015TX for $450 online. I have one and it's pretty darn good.

 

[Ldog]

New th receiver needed for around $450

Thanks for all the recommendations... I'm going to go listen to the PIONEER VSX-1015TXK and a couple of Yammies this week end... I do have a question for the owners of these receivers though.. If the receiver is 7.1 and you just want to listen in 5.1, is there a setting for this... The reason for this is before I drywalled the room where the ht is, I installed speaker wire through the wall. Its wired for 5.1.. To get two more wires to the rear of this room would be next to impossible..

 

[rumble]

Thanks for all the recommendations... I'm going to go listen to the PIONEER VSX-1015TXK and a couple of Yammies this week end... I do have a question for the owners of these receivers though.. If the receiver is 7.1 and you just want to listen in 5.1, is there a setting for this... The reason for this is before I drywalled the room where the ht is, I installed speaker wire through the wall. Its wired for 5.1.. To get two more wires to the rear of this room would be next to impossible..

Not a problem. These receivers will not force you to use the 6th and 7th channels if you don't need them. Also I know that the unused amps on the 1015 can very easily be configured to biamp your front main speakers if they are capable.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha models.

I purchased the Yamaha HTR-5860 online from an authorized dealer for less than $400. It is identical to the Yamaha RX-V657 model. If you up your budget to $500 I would look at the RX-V1500 model. These receivers allow you to use the unused (rear surround) amp channels to power presence speakers used by Yamaha DSPs. Some models will also assign the amps to a remote Zone 2 for speakers in your bedroom, outside, etc.

 

[runninkyle17]

If you have $450 to spend I would take a look on eBay and check out either the Yamaha rx-v757 or the rx-v657 (mentioned earlier). Also like jcPanny said the HTR-5860 is identical to the 657 and they are both great receivers. If you want a more natural sound I would go with any Yamaha, but if you can find a good deal on a Pioneer they are good too.

Personally I am searching for an rx-v757 for under $400, probably not going to happen, but you never know.

Just a general question for anyone reading this thread, is there a huge difference in the offerings of the Yamaha 657 and the 757?

Okay, so back to the main topic. You can also find some very good deals at this link http://store.yahoo.com/eusa/receivers.html (the Pioneer 52TX for $396 is a great deal).

Hope this helps.

 

[jaxvon]

I was considering the 657 and 757. The only differences I could find were amp power, and that is very negligible. The Pioneer has 1 more component video input (the 1015TX), but the Yamahas have lip-sync delay. Aside from that, I think the features are pretty much equal (OSD, upconversion, assignable amps, etc).

 

[Ldog]

Great....So thats what the function is that I need is called? "Assignable amps".. My friend is telling me to get the Sony 998 or something like that.. I don't think I'm going to go with another Sony.. I think the other brands are a little or alot better quality. I'm Going Sat. to listen to a few of the ones mentioned..

 

[jaxvon]

Assignable amps means that you can change the purpose of the amplifiers. Take my 1015 for instance, I can use the last two channels of amplification to:

1. Run the back surrounds for 7.1 sound
2. Run a set of stereo speakers in a second zone
3. Biamp the front L&R speakers

Many receivers have this feature.

 

[runninkyle17]

The thing that you need to look for is the ability to run two seperate sources at the same time. For example, say you have a 5.1 setup in your living room and you have two speakers in your office. With a receiver that has multi-room/multi-source capability, you could watch a movie (in 5.1 surround) in your living and say have the radio on in your office at the same time all running through the same receiver. There are certain receivers that can do this (Onkyo 602 and above, Pioneer Elite 52TX and above, Yamaha Rx-v1500 and above, etc.). Other receivers have the ability to hook up a second zone (two speakers) or presence speakers (two extra front speakers usually) and this way you could run a movie in 5.1 surround, but you could also have the extra two speakers powered by the receiver (the extra speakers would act as either extra front speakers or extra surround speakers). However, you could also put the two extra speakers in another room and run say the radio in two rooms at the same time (or you could switch between rooms, but you cannot run two seperate sources at the same time through the same receiver).

The Pioneer 1015 and Yamaha 657 and 757 have the multi-amp feature, but they cannot run two different sources at the same time (movie and radio at the same time). If you really want true multi-room/multi-source capability you are going to have to spend a little more money, or you could look at maybe the new Onkyo 603 that just came out (I think it is within your price range and I know it has the multi-room/multi-source feature).

All you audio-gods out there if I messed up somewhere in this post please correct me. I think I finally got a grasp on this whole multi-source thing, but I do not want to stear anyone in the wrong direction.

 

[Ldog]

I was really considering ordering a pioneer or Yamaha receiver off the web after going this week end and listening to them, but not now after reading their warranty policies. They don't offer warranties from unauthorized dealers. Its just so happens that all the authorized dealer prices are too high compared to unauthorized dealers.. Mann its hard trying to buy on a budget!!

 

[Snap]

Personally I am searching for an rx-v757 for under $400, probably not going to happen, but you never know.

Just a general question for anyone reading this thread, is there a huge difference in the offerings of the Yamaha 657 and the 757?

Kyle- I was compairing those 2 mods before I got my 657. What 5 watts a chan diff I think is what it boils down to. There is nothing really else that jumped out at me. So I save the 100 bucks and got the 657. Nice little unit!

I think Yammy should just drop the 757 all together. It is a waste I think.

 

[Hanse18]

I second Buckeye's motion earlier. http://www.ubid.com

Ubid has some great receiver models, they are usually auctioning around 30 receivers at any given time. I believe the model Buck was referring to was the onkyo 602, which is currently being auctioned to the highest bidder with no minimum payment. Definitely something to check out.

Also, Ubid is an authorized dealer, so no worries about not getting the warranty unless ubid SPECIFICALLY says so, which I have yet to see happen.

 

[Ldog]

u-bid is not listed as a authorized dealer for pioneer or Yamaha..

 

[Mayhem]

u-bid is not listed as a authorized dealer for pioneer or Yamaha..

Interesting point, they are selling the Yamaha RX-V557 (which is Auth Dealer only) and claim to offer the 2 year Manu. Warranty. Am I not understanding something?

 

[runninkyle17]

I recently just bought a Yamaha RX-V1400 for $300 (eBay). I know it is not under warranty, but as far as receivers go as long as I take care of it and do not drop stuff on it I think I will be okay. I would have liked to get the 1500 or the 757, but I found this one and I couldn't help myself. There did not seem to be that much difference between the 1400 and the 1500. Also, this is my first big (big for me anyway) HT investment so I am sure to be pleased because I have not heard really high dollar systems (I am not really that picky). So if anyone has any advice on some good speakers to match my new RX-V1400 please feel free to PM (hopefully budget type speakers cause I ain't rich just yet, hehe). I have been looking at the offerins from BIC and I like the DV5312's or even the DV62's with a decent sub and matching center would work. Basically I will see what I can find now and slowly upgrade my speakers. I would much rather spend a little more on speakers and have them last for twenty years and get a new receiver in around five years. Receivers change drastically every two years it seems, speakers usually will produce high quality sound for many years.

I still have a pair of huge pioneer speakers that my dad bought when he was a teenager and they sound great (not much bass though).

Oh yeah, sorry if this thread is off topic. But as far as getting a good receiver and worrying about the warranty I would buy the receiver as cheap as you can find it and then buy one of the extended warranties that are offered from companies all over the internet (they are like $50 max). This way if you ever have a major problem with your receiver you will have some type of insurance. As for me, I am fairly careful with all my audio/video stuff and even if the things do break I can usually find a cheap way to fix it. Good luck on your purchase though.

P.S. I will get my new receiver in the mail next week and I will be sure and let everyone now how it sounds.

 

[malvado78]

I second Buckeye's motion earlier. http://www.ubid.com

Ubid has some great receiver models, they are usually auctioning around 30 receivers at any given time. I believe the model Buck was referring to was the onkyo 602, which is currently being auctioned to the highest bidder with no minimum payment. Definitely something to check out.

Also, Ubid is an authorized dealer, so no worries about not getting the warranty unless ubid SPECIFICALLY says so, which I have yet to see happen.

Actully I believe Buck was actually refering to the Marantz 7400 for $443 I have been eyeing it for quit some time. The receiver looks lika beast. 30 something pounds. I am a fan of onkyo receivers but I am sure this receiver is much better than the 602 (Considering it is going on Ubid for double the 602's price). I would give that Marantz a serious look.