Hi,

I am in the market of purchasing a new receiver. Now, I seem to remember having seen some receivers with a network connection (RJ45). Why does this connection exist? Is it to connect to internet-radio for instance?

Ideally, I'd like to have the following:

- 5.1 is enough
- 2 HDMI in
- 2 component in
- that "internet radio" that I explained above
- around $300-$500

Any suggestions?

Not aware of any in that price range, but someone else might know of something.

Do you know of any at all? I'd be tempted to change my price range if the receiver is the right one? Kindly post some brand/models if you know any.

Denon 380x, whatever the current one is, uses its Ethernet port for real network/PC access. I assume Internet radio is part of that. You can also use the PC for direct control.

Presumably other models in this line also do so.

You could always get a sound card for the computer that has digital out and hook that up to a receiver to listen to anything on your PC through it. I've done that since I bought my receiver.

The internet radio requirement is the killer. There are lots of receivers that have all the other requirements in that price range but only the high-end receivers have ethernet ports, at the moment. I'm sure that will trickle down over the next few years.

Any cheap ones with token ring ports?

You get what you pay for. I wouldn't want less than any of these units, anyway.

Yes:
Yamaha RX-V3800 and up
Denon AVR-3808CI and up
Pioneer SC-05 and up

Nope:
Onkyo/Integra doesn't use its ethernet for network, yet
Marantz AV8003 preamp is a mess, receivers have no networking
H/K has nothing
Panasonic has nothing
I don't even look at Sony

I'd say the Yamaha is the best right now. ABT upconversion.