Yet another "help me choose" thread

[project86]

Yes, I know there are several posted per day... I'm looking for a cheap receiver for a spare room. This room has a 27" TV, and since we've started spending more time in there recently, we want some better sound. Both for movies and for music. This will be paired with the Insignia speakers that everyone seems to enjoy, as well as an old Yamaha 10" sub. I already have these items, as well as a basic Samsung DVD player. The only thing needed is a receiver. Here is what I've been looking at, please tell me what you think:

Gateway LD220 (basically an HTiB receiver)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Retail-Gateway-LD220-FM-DVD-Player-Receiver-Remote_W0QQitemZ220067707013QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14981QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220067707013

$62 shipped from Ebay, new. I know this is the weakest as far as power, but we really don't play anything very loud so it shouldn't be an issue. It has a decent amount of ins/outs compared to other HTiB type units, and the bonus is that it plays DVD/CDs, so I could use my Samsung in the bedroom. Bonus points for that as well as being very very cheap.

Gateway LN520 (rebadged Sherwood Newcastle R-903)
http://cgi.ebay.com/GATEWAY-LN-520-6-1-HOME-THEATER-SYSTEM-RECEIVER-NEW_W0QQitemZ190058089575QQihZ009QQcategoryZ14981QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190058089575

$130 shipped, new. This is digital and should sound excellent, similar to the Panasonic XR55/57 (maybe not quite THAT good, but still). Can also handle s-video switching which might come in handy as the TV in there only has a single input.

Onkyo TX-SR504
http://shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?productid=TX-SR504&modelid=56&group_id=1&detail=2

$139 shipped after club Onkyo discount, factory refurb. Excellent little unit at this price, lots of power and options in case I ever do a full 7.1 setup in that room. Does s-video switching as well as component video switching, which might be useful someday.

Emotiva BPA-1
http://www.emotiva.com/bpa1.html

$199 shipped but I won a contest so I have $100 credit towards an Emotiva purchase. Unfortunately I don't have the funds for any of their other stuff, so this is my only option. It would work great powering the speakers I have now, and is probably the highest quality of all my options. Pro's include small size and low price, cons include no tuner and limited input options.


So what would YOU pick? I'd like to spend as little as possible, but all of these are do-able. Don't want to spend any more though.

 

[Crackerballer]

Never heard of Gateway receivers. Alot of people recommended a Pioneer to me as and entry level receiver, and then told me basically anything from Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz would be a good mid to upper level receiver. My first receiver was a Yamaha RX-v2500, I now have a Denon AVR-887, a Yamaha R-V1103, and an Onkyo Tx-SR304S on order.

Check ebay. You can find good new receivers there, in A stock, and get a store receipt from an authorized dealer for warranty purposes.

Out of your list I would go with the Onkyo, but not buy factory refurbed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Onkyo-TX-SR504-Black-Surround-Receiver-NEW-TXSR504-L-K_W0QQitemZ150075459075QQihZ005QQcategoryZ39797QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Onkyo-TX-SR504-7-1-Channel-A-V-Receiver-TXSR504_W0QQitemZ270075378704QQihZ017QQcategoryZ39797QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[furrycute]

That Emotiva has really low power ratings. That 75 watts x 2 is into 4ohms. Most receivers' power ratings are quoted into 8ohms. So that Emotiva is probably something like 40 watts or less x 2 into 8ohms. You really need to purchase two of them, each one used in a bridged mode, to power your speakers.