Replacing my 20-year old receiver

[Steven Howard]

Everything I have is old, but right now I'm interested in replacing just the receiver and looking for advice/recommendations.

Here's the setup I've got right now.

Receiver: Technics SA-918. I want to replace this so I can a.) get a Logitech Squeezebox to listen to all the music I only have in digital format on my computer; b.) have a way for friends to bring an ipod to a party and play it on the stereo; and c.) use my stereo speakers instead of the built-in speakers in my TV set when watching TV/DVDs.

Speakers: a pair of Boston Acoustics CR9s. Ideally, I'd like to keep these and not have to buy any additional speakers for a while yet.

CD Player: Technics SL-PC705 5-disc changer. This is staying.

Turntable: Technics SL-BD20. I'd really like to keep this, as I've still got a few vinyl LPs and 45s that aren't available in any other format. But I hardly ever listen to any of them, so if push comes to shove the turntable and the old receiver can stay in the closet until I have a chance to get some more speakers and find a place to set up a second "retro" audio-only system.

Cassette deck: Technics RS-TR333. This, I'm not too bothered about keeping.

That's the audio side. The completely separate (although sitting on the same ugly shelves) video setup is as follows.

TV: Philips 32PT8230. 32" standard-ratio (4:3) HDTV (1080i). This is staying for now although in a couple of years it might get replaced with a thinner, widescreen, non-interlaced model.

Cablebox/HD-DVR: This is a Motorola box from Verizon FIOS. Obviously, not something I can replace or upgrade.

DVD: Toshiba SD-2109. Will be replaced by a Blu-Ray player at some point.

VCR: an old JVC machine that I'm not too bothered about keeping.

----

My main concern is that most of the A/V receivers under $500 (which is ideally suited to my budget right now, especially if I'm picking up a Squeezebox at the same time) don't have a dedicated phono input. The ones that do seem to be in the next step up, closer to $800. I'm not sure I need to spend $300 to have the theoretical ability to listen to my beloved scratchy old vinyl that I almost never listen to anyway.

I've looked at the "Entry-Level Receivers" and "$500 Receivers" articles on the main Audioholics page, and I'm leaning toward the Yamaha RX-V365 or RX-V565, unless I decide that I really want to have the turntable available, in which case I'd go for the Denon AVR-890.

So, any thoughts, recommendations, caveats?

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, Steven!

I don't have any specific advice on which receiver to get at the moment, but I did want to mention that you can buy external phono pre-amps like the one linked here (and there are several brands/models available). So, you don't need to let the absence of a phono input on a receiver be a big factor.

 

[JerryLove]

Receiver: Technics SA-918. I want to replace this so I can a.) get a Logitech Squeezebox to listen to all the music I only have in digital format on my computer; b.) have a way for friends to bring an ipod to a party and play it on the stereo; and c.) use my stereo speakers instead of the built-in speakers in my TV set when watching TV/DVDs.

I'm not sure I see the need for the upgrade. I believe every component (and correct me if I am wrong) has standard R/L interconnects on it. (well, the IPod does not, it has a 1/8" jack, but you just put a cable on that).

What is the problem with the SA-918 that you are attempting to solve?

 

[Steven Howard]

I did want to mention that you can buy external phono pre-amps ... So, you don't need to let the absence of a phono input on a receiver be a big factor.

Thanks. I didn't even think of that.

What is the problem with the SA-918 that you are attempting to solve?

For one, it's full. It has three inputs and they're all in use. I suppose I could get some kind of external switch and run the CD player, DVR, DVD and whatever else into that, and then from the switch into the CD/AUX on the receiver. But that's just adding an extra step every time you want to watch or listen to a different thing.

And two, it doesn't have or work with a remote control, so it's not easy to quickly adjust or mute the volume on the receiver.

So basically the underlying problem is that I'm lazy.

 

[Seth=L]

I'd search for a used receiver or one less new than the newest available. Many AVRs just a few years ago had phono inputs on even their lower models. If HDMI is necessary as well as Phono inputs you may have to do more searching.

 

[JerryLove]

For one, it's full. It has three inputs and they're all in use. I suppose I could get some kind of external switch and run the CD player, DVR, DVD and whatever else into that, and then from the switch into the CD/AUX on the receiver. But that's just adding an extra step every time you want to watch or listen to a different thing.

And two, it doesn't have or work with a remote control, so it's not easy to quickly adjust or mute the volume on the receiver.

So basically the underlying problem is that I'm lazy.

I'm glad you gave more than the last sentence. Knowing what your reason for upgrading is makes it easier to make useful recommendations.

One big question is whether plan to move up to surround-sound at some point (IOW, while you still have this receiver). If you do not, I cannot personally come up with a reason you should buy a current-gen box. You can get a top-of-the-line unit from a decade back that will have all the inputs you could want, and a remote, and tons of clean clear power, for pennies on the dollar. (I've got a 1978amp and 1990avr in use in two rooms because they are just stereo music).

If you want to switch *video* sources with your AVR, or if you want to move to surround sound, then you should be considering current or near-current generation. HDMI only showed up a few years back, and HDMI 1.3a more recently still, as well as some of the decode modes (like DTS-Master).

I'll leave specific model suggestions to those more familiar with the complete range of what's out there right now.

 

[strube]

Everything I have is old, but right now I'm interested in replacing just the receiver and looking for advice/recommendations.

...

My main concern is that most of the A/V receivers under $500 (which is ideally suited to my budget right now, especially if I'm picking up a Squeezebox at the same time) don't have a dedicated phono input. The ones that do seem to be in the next step up, closer to $800. I'm not sure I need to spend $300 to have the theoretical ability to listen to my beloved scratchy old vinyl that I almost never listen to anyway.

I've looked at the "Entry-Level Receivers" and "$500 Receivers" articles on the main Audioholics page, and I'm leaning toward the Yamaha RX-V365 or RX-V565, unless I decide that I really want to have the turntable available, in which case I'd go for the Denon AVR-890.

So, any thoughts, recommendations, caveats?

Hi, and welcome! I have been obsessing over sub-$1.5k receivers of late, and just ordered one last night, so I am really up on them at the moment.

Onkyo can't be beat for bang-for-the-buck. You can buy a very feature-packed refurbished unit for $450 with a Phono input, or with a few more features and a better power supply for $530 refurbished or $580 new with coupon code EMCMLLT48.

I always have to throw in the caveat that Onkyo quality and customer service isn't quite top notch - it seems their failure rate is higher than, say, Denon or Yamaha, and if you have to send it in for repair, it has taken a very long time for some people. That said, there are plenty of people who have never had a problem. I almost think buying refurbished is a good idea, because any issues they had have been repaired and the unit has probably been tested more rigorously than a new one, and they have a 1 year warranty, which you can always extend with a 3rd party warranty if you feel you need to.

I guess at the end of the day I am personally kind of a Denon guy, but I didn't like the 2310/890 and lower of the Denon products because they don't have preamp outputs. Unfortunately, the next level up, the 3310/990 are spendy, and a refurbished last years model, the 2809/989 refurbished is between $725 and $750 shipped from Dakmart.com. Denon bang-for-the-buck is way lower than Onkyo, but their made-in-Japan AVRs seem to me to be a cut above in quality.

 

[rnatalli]

Denon bang-for-the-buck is way lower than Onkyo, but their made-in-Japan AVRs seem to me to be a cut above in quality.

I believe only the 3310 and above are still made in Japan; the budget line is all made in China this year.

The Onkyo 706 is a nice unit for the money. My choice would be a new Denon 2310. For the same price as a 1910 and external phono preamp, you can have it built in for the same price and a better receiver to boot. The 2310 can be had for $549 using the name-your-price feature at 6th Avenue.

 

[HDPCsound]

Before buying, you must compare prices, quality, and features. The Denon AVR-1910 is great with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital Surround EX, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz decoding.

 

[Steven Howard]

Thanks to everybody for the suggestions.