I have a confession to make.

I've been collecting DVDs for almost three years now. And all this time... :sob: I've been running them through a Dolby Pro Logic decoder.

I feel so ashamed... :sob:

But I finally have about $500 saved up to pick up a DD5.1/DTS receiver. Problem is, I've looked at 10 different review sites and seen 10 widely different opinions on any given piece of hardware. This whole home-theater thing is awfully subjective...

After searching forever, the best recommendation I found was for the Sony STR-DE945, but I've since been warned off of that.

So now I need lots of recommendations before I make a decision. Here's what I'm looking for:
* Receiver that doesn't cost more than $500. Please, I know many of you are dying to tell me, "Save up for something better" - save your breath... I'll probably upgrade my whole HT kit in a couple of years, but for now I just need the best thing I can get for this amount of ca$h.
* DD5.1 and DTS are a must, obviously. DDEX or DTS ES would be nice, but I don't even have an extra speaker lying about at present, so it's not super-important.
* Volume is not important. I'm 26 years old and I live in an apartment; my days of rockin' the house are over (for now, anyway.) Sound quality is much more important.

Hit me with your best shot!

- David Stein


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I live by the theory that I'm immortal. By the time I'm proven wrong, it won't matter anyway.

For $500, you can pick up yourself a nice Denon, Onkyo, Marantz, or Yamaha. If you really want to go with Sony, stick to at least the DB series, if not the ES serious.

Here is my opinion of some receivers in your range.

Denon 2801 - Great build quality, can't go wrong.
Onkyo TSDX676 - LOTS of features, also a good buy.
Marantz SR-5000 - Musically speaking, superior to the other two. HT-wise, kinda flat IMO.

G'luck.

PS, if you have a little more than $500, look into the Outlaw 1050...it goes for $600 and has 6.1 Matrix. And it is lovely for music.

What's wrong with the Sony 945? I was about to purchase that myself...

If you want to play music too, the Denon and the Marantz would be my top two picks. If it's just HT, then the Onkyo and Yammy are good too. That is a good list of suggestions up there.

(Now David, I don't know if you can find it discounted, but I thought the Outlaw receiver was 6.1 and I think they mentioned a while back it's about $600. Don't know if you can get it discounted, but it might be worth checking around to find out)

Also look at the Sony ES V333 or V444 (save up another $100 or so). The Sony DB940 isn't too bad, and in your price range. I have the DB930, and it's fine for moderate volumes and does offer lots of features (I wish I waited and got the DB940 though for its variable bass management feature which the DB930 lacks).

I don't think you could go wrong with that Denon 2801 either, or the Onkyo 575X or 676. If you go used, you might be able to find a Denon 3300 in your price range, and that's a nice receiver (just doesn't the 6.1 decoding for DD or dts).

Do stay away from the JVC models (under-powered).

Sony DE line is their budget line and is more prone to break down than their DB or ES line of receivers.

You may want to look at the lowest end of the Pioneer Elite series: 21 or 24.

The Outlaw 1050 give you Dolby Digital EX decoding (with 6 channels of amplification for $600. It doesn't give you dts ES decoding though. (You'd have to go to a Denon 3801 I think to get both, but it's $1000 usually).


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PatCave ;HT Pix ;Pat's DVDs

I'll have to agree with ZenerDiode on his picks of receivers. All of them are excellent. Since you are strapped for cash right now, try out www.etronics.com. Everything is very cheap and they stock all of the above mentioned receivers. I myself own the Yamaha HTR-5280 and it is great. You can pick it up for $585 and it has the 6.1 matrix, and discrete amplification. I do like Denon too. Hope this helps. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

I have the Sony DB940 an am very happy with it. Nice multi brand remote **pre programmed** all you do is select the brand from a pull down menu and select form a few choices. I can easily program my Mitsubishi VCR from this remote. Plenty of power for HT movies and just about everything is tweakable. I bought my first DD/DTS receiver (Sherwood @ 275) and it sucked for options and quickly returned it. The Sony is loaded and is only about $400 at SoundCity.com shipping @ $25 you need to call them as its not on their website. This receiver also has multi room capability to run a second source. As for playing CDs it rocks the house and I'm happy enough with the music modes for other sources too. Definitely not underpowered and I have yet to get the volume high enough to distort when the wife isn’t home http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/wink.gif

My only complaint is that it stays in the sound decoder mode you play movies in when you switch to CD, since I started leaving it on AFD (Auto Frequency Decode) its not a problem though.

David, what would *really* help us spend your money is if we knew what speakers you were using...

yeah Sony DB series is the way to go.

Yamaha RX-V800

Striving
For
Sound,
David
Follows
DolbyDigital

Dude, I like the YAMs and Sonys too. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif
(Do you already have a sub-woofer?)

cin: Tryin' hard to win that DVD, eh? http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/wink.gif

Steerpike: Heh... I'm a little embarrassed to post my speaker specs, as they undoubtedly pale in comparison to those of most ppl here... but here we go:

Center: JBL Center 1
Left/right: JBL TLX-151
Sub: JBL PS-10
Surrounds: Uh... some crappy Infinity bookshelf speakers http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif obviously my rears don't get much of a workout with a Pro Logic receiver. This has been the weak link in my speaker kit, but of course these will get upgraded soon after I buy the receiver.

Everyone: Thanks for the great suggestions! Keep 'em coming...

- David Stein



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I live by the theory that I'm immortal. By the time I'm proven wrong, it won't matter anyway.

Some crappy Infinity bookshelf speakers eh? I happen to have an all Infinity setup except for the sub, and I love it. Infinity makes GREAT speakers. At least they used to, I haven't heard their newest ones. The Infinity RS-3 is one of the most popular speakers of all time.

BTW, I chose this name to honor Infinity Speakers.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sfsdfd:
cin: Tryin' hard to win that DVD, eh? http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/wink.gif</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What goes around, comes around.
I challenged you for your 1K Haiku run, didn't I?
So I figured, I might as well take yours! :


Stop
Finical
Search
David!
Finalize
Decision!!!

Sony DB/DE
First-Class
Sound!
Definitive
Fantastic
Deal! http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by cinemaphile7 (edited December 14, 2000).]

I only have one suggestion, and it saves you $150 too. The Harman Kardon AVR-65. It's $350 factory direct from Harman, full warranty and everything. Only downside is it is a refurb. Which wouldn't concern me because the full warranty and I've owned and do own HK gear and love it. Hell, you already own Harman gear. JBL is owned by Harman International so your speakers would more than likely be a great match for the Harman receiver. As far as sound quality goes this thing is incredible. I own an old AVR-25 MkII receiver and my dad has an old HK from the 70's that still works! Great for music and movies.

The Denon or Marantz might be better for movies but this HK will have better amps than etierh of those and over all performance. I never buy into all those bells and whistles anyway. DD/DTS for $350 (retail $999). www.harmanoutlet.com

-Great buy at that price!

The HK AVR-65 was good in concept, but HK's execution wasn't up to snuff. There were various problems with the 65, like bad power supply, channels blowing fuses, buzzing, and s-video switching, and minor quirks. I say it's a gamble to bring home a refurbed unit, but you just might win.

Check out this link on this particular receiver model for the various testimony of good and bad experiences from people.

An average of 3.67/5 isn't all that great.
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PatCave ;HT Pix ;Pat's DVDs


[This message has been edited by Patman (edited December 14, 2000).]

Well, I have had two HK's and love them (AVR20MKII & my current AVR300)

I love my AVR300. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The Onkyo, Yamaha and Denon's are all good. Sorry Sony fans but I'd just buy their TV's.

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Chrisedge
Everything is a pad.
Booger Flix
I Hate Blockbuster

I have the SONY 333 ES
and I love it. Nice features and plenty of inputs. I got it for $450 back in May.

Yamaha RXV596.

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Toshiba -- SD-2109
Da List -- no longer being updated

"Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens ... ... I'm getting tired of your gas, now jerk that pistol and go to work ..."

My personal opinion would be to go here:

http://moreaudiovideo.com/Shopping/I...cfm?ItemID=263

and print out the Yamaha HTR5240 product page and pricematch at Sears for a great receiver. Wonderful hometheater and BEAUTIFUL music comes out of this thing. Buy this entry level system...don't go half way to high end, but stay at the entry. Then make a big jump 10 years down the road when technology has changed and you have more money. I'm pretty sure this Yamaha will probably last your whole lifetime with various applications. Maybe move it to a music only setup down the road as home theater technology changes.

A lot less then I can say with my Kenwood...and I think I've been pretty lucky with it (VR2080 http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif. Almost certain to need it replaced in a few years, though.

Good luck,

Barry

I have to agree with the folks pointing out Harmon, Onkyo, Yamaha, and Denon. Whatever you do stay away form the Sony crap. I personally like Pioneer stuff. I would look at the Elite 35TX. It is THX Select and alot of reciever for a little more than 500 (if you look around that is, seems like wholesaleconnection.com had it pretty cheap).

I have to agree with the folks pointing out Harmon, Onkyo, Yamaha, and Denon. Whatever you do stay away form the Sony crap. I personally like Pioneer stuff. I would look at the Elite 35TX. It is THX Select and alot of reciever for a little more than 500 (if you look around that is, seems like wholesaleconnection.com had it pretty cheap).

<$500 from an authorized dealer (e.g.Onecall.com):
Yamaha 5250
Onkyo 575X
Sony DB840

Just over $500:
HK AVR 500 for $530


Unauthorized/refurb retailer:

Marantz 5000 (B-stock at TSTO) for $459
Denon 3300 (Refurb, Spidergear.com) for $540

For JBL's I'd probably match them w/a warmer/darker sounding receiver, since IMO, TLX's are a little bright. They're pretty efficient speakers, so a modest amp will do. A HK500, Marantz5000, or Onkyo 575X.
The HK and Onkyo have very solid amps.

If your tastes favor detail/clarity, a Denon 3300, Yamaha 5250 or Sony DB840 would be a good match.

The Denon's probably the best out of these 3, but it is a refurb. A really nice machine, though.

The Sony DB840 doesn't have a great amp, but does have some great features (EQ's, bass management) usually available at much higher price marks. Great for tweakers. BTW, I'd hardly characterize a Sony's DB or especially a ES series receiver as "crap".

Once you have a short list, it's usually best to demo the choices for yourself (preferably w/gear w/your own source material). I demoed a boatload of receivers.
and they all sounded pretty different to me.
YMMV.


[This message has been edited by BEC (edited December 15, 2000).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Whatever you do stay away form the Sony crap. </font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Spoken from the ignorance of someone who has never heard a Sony ES receiver! Geez these nozzles who make blanket statements like this just show their lack of knowledge!

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My DVD/LD List
My Home Theater Equipment

Yamaha all the way! I picked up an open-box RX-V595A at The Good Guys for $209 and added a 5-year warranty for $30 more. $250 for a sweet box, not bad at all. Stick with the RX-V line if you can; the consumer line (i.e. Sears) sounds good, but the construction is not the same (I believe they have plastic faceplates?).

I'm a big fan of Yamaha when it comes to reasonably ($500 or less) priced receivers.