Please help me buy a receiver

[Animy]

Hi guys,
I'd like to buy a good receiver for my birthday.
I've never owned one before, so I'd really really appreciate it if you could help me choose one.

Okay, so here are a few details to start with:
*It's meant for the hall (which is a bit over average in size).
*It's not really for music listening, but mainly for watching movies and Sat-TV.
*I have 6 speakers, 2 weak(60W),2 average(75W) and 2 decent (100W).
*I do have neighbors (who doesn't?), so I wouldn't need the extra volume.
I plan to connect it to a DVD player, TV and a PC.

The price limit would be... $500, but do not hesitate to suggest a decent receiver at half the price, 'cause in my country, all US prices are somehow multiplied by 2.5, meaning that a $500 receiver is gonna cost me $1250!

I did some research and so far I've found 4 receivers that might sound good:
Pioneer VSX516, Harman Kardon AVR312, Yamaha RXV459 and Denon AVR1706.


I know, you may say these are old models and all, but this is what's hot in my country, at least for that price range. Just for comparison, Yamaha RXV657 costs here $900 and Onkyo TXSR605 is $1200!!

Thanks a whooooole lot in advance!

Animy

 

[Animy]

Please? Anyone?
I'm buying it in an hour...

 

[djsHTnut]

I would think any of those would be fine, especially for how you will be using them. If it is mainly for movies and sat-tv, any choice will easily power your speakers and sound fine. For how much you have to pay, i would go for te best deal I could get. What country are you in?

 

[Animy]

Thanks djsHTnut.
I'm from Israel.
I bought Yamaha HTR 5840. It sounds great and I'm very satisfied.

 

[djsHTnut]

Glad to hear you found a receiver you like. Sorry your prices are so steep. But whats important is that you found something YOU enjoy, because in the end you are the one listening to it.

How much do speakers cost you over there?

 

[Animy]

Thanks man. The receiver is great.

The speakers? It depends on the quality, I think.
JBL E80, for example, costs here $900.
JBL E60 is $675.

It's all taxes I think. They're way too high.

 

[djsHTnut]

That is steep, but the e-80's are nice speakers. I once owned the e-50 bookshelf speakers and they were really nice. Right now I have all in-wall speakers.

 

[abefroeman]

Can you just buy it over the internet??


RVX657

 

[Animy]

in wall speakers? haven't heard of that.
I've got some good old speakers which my friend gave me. He wanted to throw them away because he bought some new ones. But they're still great, as far as I can hear.

abefroeman, sorry but I can't. There are import taxes and I don't know any stores that ship such things internationally. The shipping cost of a 10kg receiver alone could reach a $100-150. But it's okay, I already bought one and I'm satisfied with it.

One day, if I ever move to USA, I might be able to buy some high quality equipment at much lower prices.

 

[djsHTnut]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31945&page=2

Here is my setup

 

[Animy]

That's a fine set you have there, man!
Now all you need is a PS3 and some blu-rays and you're all set.

I'm curious, how much did it all cost you? if it's not a secret...