Good reciever for $500?

[necros]

I'm thinking about getting a new reciever, it's gonna replace my sony HT in a box reciever, I'm keeping the speakers for now, and then I'll be replacing them piece by piece (Thinking of going with JBL for speakers, anyone know if there's any reason why I shouldn't? .. because of their cost, how good they sounded to me, and the fact that they looked cool :))

I have around $500 to spend on a reciever. I know I can't get something with component switching on it at this price, and since my TV looks the same to me with component and svideo (it's a 27" Panasonic Tau).. I think I'm gonna switch to all s-video since I don't plan to get a better TV for quite a few years (when HDTVs are affordable)

So... I want something with a bunch of s-video inputs.. I have a Sega Dreamcast, digital cable box (just has rca video out though), dvd player, and I'll be planning to get Xbox once that comes out

So, I need at least 4 s-video in spots, but even more might be nice just in case. Also, I'd like to have more than 2 optical inputs for the sound. Right now I have 1 for DVD and 1 for TV/Satelite, but I wanna get a multidisc CD player too, and use the optical input just cuz it's cool :) And, Xbox might have optical for all I know, so it'd be nice if I could support that future expansion.. so...

I need at least 4 S-video ins, at least 3 Optical audio ins (don't really care for coax, dunno why) .. and it's gotta be able to do DD 5.1 and DTS also.. if it can do 6.1 that'd be great but that would be another future expansion thing...

Can anyone recomend something I might wanna check out? Maybe with a link or 2?

[knit-witt]

Onkyo has a new receiver coming out (595?) that is supposed to have DD/DTS/DPL2. It should be out very soon. MSRP $500 (I think). You might want to wait for it. Also, I heard Yamaha is coming out with new receivers, too.

[Draven]

Sounds like we have similar setups. I just got the Marantz SR-5000, which you should be able to find for around $500. I think it has everything you would need on it, and it's a great sounding receiver. I know the 7000 is supposed to be much better, but if you have to stick to $500, I recommend the 5000.


http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/AVReceiver/product_6354.shtml

[CaptainMarvel]

Howdy,
I just bought a Pioneer VSX-D710S, and I love it. It might not have what you want though: it has two optical digital inputs, and one digital coaxial. It does have component switching too, if you decide that's what you want. It was $399.99 from Crutchfield, with $9.00 shipping, but you can find better prices elsewhere. I just went with them b/c of the customer service.

Anyway, here's a link to it: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/HomeProducts/HomeProductDetails/0,1422,611,00.html

[dfriedland]

I just got the Denon 2801 for under $500 shipped. It's the most fantastic sound I've heard in a long time. I feel like my whole system is new!