Reciever for Small Apartment Room

[seeyouauntie]

Hi,

I am a college student in an apartment room as said in the topic. Currently I use a two-year old Aiwa CD/Reciever as my means of audio when watching movies. All in all it is not a bad system. It included 5 speakers (two fronts, rears, and a center) and has Dolby Pro Logic sound. However, I have some extra speakers at home that are nice and I want to put to use and I am looking to upgrade to a real reciever with Dolby Digital. I don't think I will need DTS as I do not have the equipment to fully appreciate it. I'm loooking for something under $200 if possible. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

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"On a traffic light green means go and yellow means yield, but on a banana it means just the opposite. Green means hold on. Yellow means go ahead. And red means where the f*ck did you get that banana?"

-Mitch Hedberg

[El Scorcho]

Don't make the mistake I did when buying equipment the first time around -- plan for the future. You're living in an apartment now, but I'd spend a little extra cash now and buy a receiver that would be decent for a mid-size family room for when you purchase your own home. I, myself, have a Pioneer DSX-409 receiver that I got from Amazon for $283 (I think). Although you can't "fully appreciate DTS" now (actually if you can appreciate DD5.1, you can appreciate DTS), you should plan ahead now and buy a DTS capable receiver so you're not tempted to buy one later on down the line.

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Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.

[chess]

$283 for the 409 seems a bit steep DTSC. but i'm guessing MCI picked up about half of that. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/wink.gif i got my vsx-d509s for $253 shipped from ubid.com

i've recently seen it lower on a couple of ebay vendors. i also recently saw the 409 for $149.

anyway, to answer the original question, DTSC is right. there are several good receivers in the $200 range (online anyway). namely the pioneers and the kenwoods.

and when you decide to buy speakers, DO NOT skimp on them as you will live with them for a LONG time. speakers last forever.

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chess' DVDs (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~chess) chess' Web Site (http://www.geocities.com/chessmartin)
chess' modest home theater:
TV: 61" Sony KP-61S75, DVD: Panasonic A-120U, Rec: Pioneer VSX-D509S, Front & Rear: Energy e:XL-16 (birch), Center: Energy e:XL-C, Sub: Sony SA-WM40, Total: $2696

[El Scorcho]

Chess,

I can't remember the exact figure but GCs did pay for a good chunk of it, so I had to get it from Amazon. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.

[egbok]

Once in a while, Fry's Electronic sale the Pioneer 509S for $199. I got mine on the after Thanksgiving sale. If you don't live near Fry's, go to www.frysad.com (http://www.frysad.com) and print out the ad, I'm sure Best Buy or any other place will match it.

[This message has been edited by egbok (edited January 17, 2001).]

[slaycon]

Onkyo 474 for < $200 on ebay. No DTS but 5.1. Good for small rooms.