05-16-2006, 06:27 PM
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#1 |
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Lieutenant Junior Grade
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The Golden State
Posts: 115
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best receiver for the money
i'm putting together my parent's home theatre system and need some advice.
I'm willing to spend 350 for a decent 5.1 surround sound receiver and would like to get a dvd player for an additional 150 if possible. I'd love some suggestions. |
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05-16-2006, 09:25 PM
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#2 |
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Admiral
  
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Recession Central
Posts: 5,898
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Here's the receiver I'm using. I bought it for under $200 refurbished.
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/ampli...4_2718crx.aspx Unless you're desperate for 7.1 surround, it's probably the most bang for the buck you can get. I'd buy one for my parents in a heartbeat. |
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05-16-2006, 09:37 PM
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#3 |
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Captain
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,529
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I would look at Harman Kardon and Onkyo.
Take a look at www.onecall.com. They usually have pretty good prices and they have great customer service.
__________________
-The nerd formerly known as vectorcalculus |
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05-16-2006, 09:49 PM
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#4 |
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Lieutenant
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Northen Indiana
Posts: 357
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Go with the Onkyo HT-S780 system directly from Onkyo. $349 as a refurb system - based on a REAL receiver (TX-SR503) and bundled with surprisingly good speakers - especially the 10" self powered subwoofer. Shipping is free.
To to www.shoponkyo.com, sign up as a "Club Onkyo" member and you'll get points for signing up... points that come off the price dollar per point. Onkyo's refurbs are so good, you'll search for a blem or flaw and not find one. I have this system, and am very impressed with it. The 4 surround speakers (it's 7.1) are lackluster, but big whoop - most HTIB systems have lousy speakers all around - this one does not. Be warned - this system comes in a 100+ pound box the size of a small refrigerator. |
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05-18-2006, 02:19 PM
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#5 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA
Posts: 13,621
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I got a demo Yamaha at BestBuy for nearly half retail. I don't know how it rates compared to other units, but I am quite happy with it.
I like BestBuy's Open Box deals and they generally can be bought with extended warranties for not very much extra money. |
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05-18-2006, 06:04 PM
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#6 |
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Lieutenant Junior Grade
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The Golden State
Posts: 115
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Interesting
All good ideas. Is onecall.com really that good in terms of prices though?
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05-20-2006, 11:27 AM
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#7 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 5,054
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Demos are usually ok. Onkyo makes some damn good hardware without ridiculous pricing. I wouldn't worry about 7.1. Most things are encoded for 5.1 still, and unless you have a serious system, with a true home theater, high-performance speakers, and an ideal room setup, you won't miss the extra two channels. Or even 6.1 for that matter. Two rears can easily mimic a rear center when phased correctly.
At any rate, if you're interested in a 7.1 receiver, go for the best you can afford, and you better have speakers worthy of it.  I've used a Sony for 8 years or so now - bought it before Dolby Digital/AC3/5.1 even came out, but it was "5.1 ready." My dvd player has a nice decoder. The only problems is, my receiver is plagued by the "protect" bug. Occasionally, while watching a movie or something, it just stops working and flashes "protect." Frustrating as hell. Not a reason to avoid Sony's, but just avoid my 8 year old model. |
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05-22-2006, 01:35 AM
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#8 |
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Lieutenant Junior Grade
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 168
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A DVD player you might want to look at that I purchased recently and love is:
http://www.oppodigital.com/ I found it searching the web and the reviews I found on it where all very good. It's a little more than your $150 but based on my past experiences with DVD players is worth the extra $50. |
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05-22-2006, 10:49 AM
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#9 | |
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Admiral
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Recession Central
Posts: 5,898
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Quote:
I also have the Oppo and I absolutely love it, but I wonder if it's worth the extra $50. If we're talking about a non-HD display, then there are many solid progressive-scan players under $150 that will look just as good as the Oppo. I guess it would help to know what kind of TV nomad's parents have. Last edited by ArkiStan : 05-22-2006 at 10:52 AM. |
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05-22-2006, 10:56 AM
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#10 |
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Rear Admiral Lower Half
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,177
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The best receiver for the money is Anquan Boldin. Although he signed a new contract last year.
Oh snap! wrong forum. Please disregard. |
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05-22-2006, 02:43 PM
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#11 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: woah... why is welfareloser here with me so early in the morning and more importantly why am I wearing her clothes?!?
Posts: 13,754
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Larry Fitzgerald is cheaper now
__________________
********************************** DCM #1 (Founder)  "Nobody beats Vitus Gerulaitis 18 times in a row." - Vitus Gerulaitis on beating Jimmy Connors after 17 failed attempts. |
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05-22-2006, 03:12 PM
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#12 |
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President, Cowboys Nation
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In the 'burbs, west of D.C.
Posts: 5,139
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__________________
 
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05-23-2006, 02:13 PM
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#13 |
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Captain
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,812
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I vote for a Yamaha reciever.
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06-09-2006, 07:51 AM
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#14 |
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Plebe
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 2
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Can't go wrong with a Yamaha. Onkyo is solid. If you can swing it, Denon is a highly regarded receiver by audiogeeks. Best bang for the buck as far as I'm concerned.
Ebay has some great deals also... Last edited by galager : 06-09-2006 at 07:53 AM. |
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06-14-2006, 10:38 AM
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#15 |
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Commander
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,002
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my son has a Denon-very happy with it
__________________
 It's the POINT
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06-21-2006, 07:47 PM
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#16 | |
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Commander
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pekin, IN
Posts: 1,377
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Quote:
Well I have a 113 pound box sitting in my living room, because of your post. I will be holding you acountable if I hate this thing.  Of course it will take me a couple of weeks before I can manage to get it all setup. |
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06-23-2006, 06:44 PM
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#17 |
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Admiral
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Recession Central
Posts: 5,898
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sounds like a killer deal. hope you love it. don't forget to post impressions.
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07-02-2006, 11:42 AM
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#18 |
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Commander
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,002
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just how risky are REFURBS?
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07-02-2006, 11:08 PM
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#19 |
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Commander
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pekin, IN
Posts: 1,377
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As soon as I get it fully hooked up, I will post some impressions. Frankly I am just too lazy to get it all hooked up the way I want.
It wouldn't be that bad, except I really want to hide the rear speaker wires...I am still working on how I want to do that. |
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07-03-2006, 12:07 AM
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#20 |
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Commander
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,002
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go behind the baseboards
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07-05-2006, 09:11 PM
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#21 |
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Commander
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pekin, IN
Posts: 1,377
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That's way too easy!
 Considering I don't have any basebords AND I have to go around a door.For now I just ran them ugly, and got them to where they need to be. I'll work on hiding them later. The system sounds good, darn good! Much better then my old Kenwood system. |
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07-06-2006, 09:16 AM
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#22 |
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Lieutenant Commander
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 696
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When my family or friends ask about an affordable but good sounding Home Theature system, I always point them to a refurbished Onkyo system. In the inexpensive price range, I think it's the best system you can get for the price. 3 people I know have bouht it and they are all really happy with it.
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Linear Mode
