Best bang for the buck receiver <$300?

[electron]

I currently have an Onkyo S-770 system, and would like to upgrade the receiver, so I can add more HDMI devices to my older RP TV. I see many good units, but being the deal hunter I am, I am looking for the best bang for the buck here. What do you recommend in the < $300 category?

 

[AnotherOne]

The Pioneer listed in this thread is a pretty good receiver:

http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/22061-recommend-51-or-71-receivers-with-ip-or-serial-control/

 

[electron]

That's a really nice receiver. I currently have a 6.1 setup (but don't have the center rear hooked up), can I use the same 5.1 speaker setup with this receiver without suffering from any sound issues?

 

[mikei-ma]

I've been really happy with my new Yamaha rx-a3000 adventege. My criteria was that it had controllability via serial and or IP so I spent a good amount of time on the roomieremote.com website looking at compatible receivers. The denon and yamaha receivers seemed to have the best controllability. I wasn't going to spend the big bucks either so I opted for a refurbished unit and paid 450 on eBay. The adventege units carry a 3 year warranty so I felt secure that if I had an issue I'd be able to get it fixed.

There's some great deals out there on last years units. I'd start there.

 

[electron]

That really is a VERY nice unit. Not sure how comfy I feel with buying a used unit, since I tend to keep my system for years, so I would rather know the history 100%. But, I'll have to research it tho, as I do like those specs.

CNet has this guide up, and the Onkyo on that list does look interesting for that price, but I need more data as I'm not convinced yet. I'll have to keep looking around while keeping a used Yamaha as an option, since it does look like the cheaper products (including the Onkyo) seem to have many quality problems (unlike my old Onkyo setup which is rock solid).

 

[pete_c]

Interesting thead. I still have yet to upgrade my MM room receiver. I redid the entire room a couple of years back. My wife still bugs me because I have yet to move the LCD / furniture back up to the wall until I replace the receiver (major procrastination here).

In the process I added speakers for 7.1 sound but still talking 5.1 to them. So what are the benefits of go to 7.1 versus 6.1 versus 5.1?

Here to go to 7.1 I put in ceiling speakers in addition to the externally legacy mounted speakers. Such that front, center, subwoofer and back are external and the pair in the center back is in ceiling. The room seating area was more square than the whole room rectangular area; so I divided it up with imaginary lines relating to sound placement.

 

[mikei-ma]

I went with the adventage receiver because of controllability. I put ALL of my equipment in the basement and control it via serial, IP, and IR. While I did go with a 9.1 receiver +3 zones. The WAF of anything above 5.1 is pretty low in my household. However putting outdoor speakers on a zone was the deciding factor to allow me to install the whole system. I was able to sneak in a zone in the kitchen too (well. not exactly sneaking because I had to do some sheetrock repair on a oops hole)

Dan - I sold my sony ES after 10 years to buy this Yamaha.. So I hear you about keeping equipment for a while. I just don't think a $300 receiver can ever last that long (not that it won't last but technology will zoom on by). I'd rather spend less on a high end open box that has a warranty than a new lower cost receiver. In my case I actually bought a receiver that had a bum surround channel. But it had a warranty. Yamaha covered the cost and I have a 'new' receiver that has been gone over carefully by a competent authorized service center (Approved audio in Litchfield, CT)

Pete - as stated before The WAF of anything above 5.1 is pretty low in my household. I've got to imagine in a "standard" living space anything other than 5.1 that wasn't planned when building / remodling just makes the WAF so low it's not worth the "but it sounds better at 11" applied to speakers argument.

 

[pete_c]

Thank you Mike.

Yup started on the master bedroom redo sound pieces (another sound project); going slow. Its already divided into two sub sound zones (master bathroom and bedroom) with its own MM "legacy" receiver. Going all in ceiling & in wall only at the 5.1 state though. WAF is good ....going slow. IE: another black MM device on the rack the family room blends in and isn't really noticible initially; as long as the media is presented to the LCD (it doesn't matter where it comes from). I do not really HA my MM mostly (only a bit of IR blasting, TTS, network stuff) but mostly keep HA separate from the MM in the house.

In a recap; I have Russound zoned amps on the rack in the basment now feeding 12 zones. Sub audio zones are divided into all of the bedrooms with a MM sound zone in the master bedroom and just stereo in the 3 other bedrooms (each though with the own MM receivers - old now) and the main floor MM room / family room. Thoughts here too of subdividing the bathroom to two sections in the future...

Yup I have the kitchen divided a bit into two zones with two pairs of in wall speakers; one for the "cooking" area and one for the "dining nook" area.

I am older so I savor the time in my endeavors moving slowly doing this or that.

So back to the OP; best bang for the buck under $300 would be 5.1 MM with basic specs or say 7.1 with better specs but less quality?

 

[roussell]

The Pioneer listed in this thread is a pretty good receiver:

http://cocoontech.co...serial-control/

I have three vsx-1021k receivers 2 in a 5.1 setup and 1 in a 7.1. They work great and the TCP protocol is easily integrated with HA systems. The only think I don't like about them is that there is no OSD for volume, Source, etc. I understand that this is corrected on the VSX-112x series but have no first-hand knowledge. I'll be adding one of their IP controllable BluRay players soon.

Terry

 

[mikei-ma]

One more point to consider. If I was buying a new receiver today and cared about apple's airplay I would wait to hear if the new airplay is being announced next week. While most of us have wifi and/or ethernet to our receivers already, rumors are that apple will be upgrading airplay to be a ubiquitous wireless receiver that would work outside of the protected network - which of course would require new hardware/firmware.

"Sources familiar with the iPhone-maker&rsquo;s plans said that Apple wants to improve the AirPlay wireless music streaming technology, which currently requires Airplay speakers and a WiFi network. The new version will require just speakers or a hifi and an iDevice; the iPhone, iPod or iPad would form its own network to allow a direct connection and music playback."

 

[rismoney]

I have the aventage rx-a2000. I love it. I haven't done anything yet with the serial port, since I use the android app almost exclusively. The remote is complex. I typically use the built in Pandora or streaming music from my pc. HDMI pass through makes WAF nice so I don't need to use receiver to watch the news, despite my HDMI going through it. I have it in a closet and have it on ethernet, and use Xantech stuff to control it with it's IR jack. Using it for two tv's in two rooms, with second remote.
Also multi-zone features are pretty solid, but remember that the 5.1 or 7.1 or 9.1 is the total #... just because the jacks are on the back, doesn't mean you will get sound out of them in each configuration. For instance if you use presence speakers, or 7.1, then you lose zone 2. same thing for bi-amp, but this is like this on any receiver. Basically there is a set number of amps, and you can't just connect everything.

 

[mikei-ma]

just because the jacks are on the back, doesn't mean you will get sound out of them in each configuration. For instance if you use presence speakers, or 7.1, then you lose zone 2. same thing for bi-amp, but this is like this on any receiver. Basically there is a set number of amps, and you can't just connect everything.

The PRE OUTS are always available. Depending on the way you setup your surround the AMPS may not be available.

 

[harrir]

i had pioneer receiver, really nice and good one try this