the $500 receiver search is over & if you plan on buying anything, look inside!

[ndangrd]

Pioneer VSX-816-K ($283) to Pioneer VSX-1015TX-K ($449) to harman kardon AVR635 ($529) back to Pioneer VSX-1015TX-K ($287!!!)

thanks for your help.

i was going to wait for the 1016 but after shopping for DLP hdtv's, i realized that i don't want to waste any money on an hdmi-capable receiver until that connection isn't 100% guaranteed to work. right now, it isn't...just like hd dvd players aren't standardized (thanks again for nothing sony!).

i tried out all the above receivers & liked the 1015 the best & i got a great deal the second time...it pays to shop around. many of you are probably wondering why i chose the 1015 over the 635. two reasons for that...first the price difference. i need a new 7.1 receiver to bridge the gap (hdmi & hd dvd) like i stated above & didn't want to spend any more than i had too. second, i brought the 635 home & tried to upgrade it via serial cable, & it didn't work after that...so, i never got a chance to even listen to it. i'm sure i would have liked it the best, but it was hard to fault the 1015 especially for the price. it has everything i need right now & appears to be better built than the new 1016.

i'm going to buy a set of klipsch synergy speakers to go with my klipsch sub 12 (which i also got a good deal on). i know they're not popular online, but for the money they are nice speakers. essentially, this ruled out yamaha for me. i also don't have & won't get XM...& will never buy an ipod. another random note on the 1015...it is powering my 4-ohm DCM's for the time being & it sounds great & i haven't had any problems with this combo right now...i wasn't counting on that even though the DCM's are very efficient. i was waiting to hook up my harman kardon pa5800 back up, but i don't need to now...

lastly, here's the secret for my good deals...check it out!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&cmp=&id=pcmcat93200050017

 

[FierceTIMbo17]

Yea that is true they are not very pouplar i dont know why but as you can see (check out my set-up in my sig) i have them and i like then alot def. are good speakers for the money. I looked and tried the same reciever but test them out and picked the yammy over the pioneer, now while i have the 5890 which is a little more expensive i felt it simply not only had more features but also had more power, try out the 5960 i think you will like it, but im in the same boat as you im upgrading recievers now and cannot decide what to get

 

[ndangrd]

i was also considering the 2600 & 659 before i knew what speakers i wanted. i ruled out yamaha because i didn't want a bright receiver with the bright klipsch's.

the 2600 also didn't have all the newer features for $1200. the 659 looked decent but the 1015 has more power for $200 less in my case. i couldn't justify the yamaha's after all those considerations. i could justify the hk 635 i had since the hk's are typically warm-sounding & that's what i like...but it just wasn't meant to be...

as for the synergy speakers, i liked the way the sound for the money & the Sub 12 will make up just about every other difference. i'm more concerned about buying good sounding equipment for the money rather than good looking equipment to show off...but that's just me...

maybe someday i can have both...

 

[jdbwolverines]

Where can you get the h/k 635 for only $529?

 

[ndangrd]

it was an open box at circuit city. it had a few scratches on the sides & the remote was beat up pretty good...