Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Sub $400 AV Receiver

Looking for a sub $400 receiver for my TV. I have four M3's, center, rear, and a sub. (6 speakers + sub) Can any of you recommend a good new, or, refurbished under $400 AV receiver?

Is this a good receiver and price?

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=ONKHTRC160

Thank you.

You could get this refurbed Onkyo under your budget.

I bought a Yamaha RX-V663 from JR a couple of years ago for under $400. I am sure that you could get the current model for a compable price. Even though some would consider this entry level, it wasn't quite the cheapest in Yamaha's lineup, it decodes all the latest and I would go deaf long before the sound would be distorted due to the volume knob.

I don't think you can wrong with a Denon line up. Their 1909 is well rate, not sure of your connectivity reqirements.

http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/denon-avr-1909/4505-6466_7-33043397.html

Thanks all. Can a 5.1 handle my six speakers plus a sub?

5.1 will only have channels for front left, front right, center, surround left, and surround right, plus a sub out.

Do you have more speakers than this?

The Pioneer 5.1 VSK-520 will be available in April for $229 MSRP. It will almost handle your speakers -- it would require an external amp for your 6th back speaker. I don't know about your wattage requirements. It has HDMI 1.4 inputs (sufficient for 3D TVs) and processes all current audio types from HDMI. It does not convert from video component signals to HDMI, however, nor from analog to digital audio.

unless it has a preout for the 6th channel for an external amp I don't think you could use it. If you are using a 6.1 setup you will need to buy a receiver that has 6.1 (or 7.1 more than likely) capability.

The new Pioneer VSK-520, does have pre-outs which can be assigned for Zone 2, PLIIx Surround Back, or PLIIz Surround Height.

It does have such a pre-out, as ClubNeon says. That's why I said that with an external amp it will handle that 6th speaker. There are two extra pre-outs which can be assigned in 4 ways for use with external amps: one surround back, two surround backs, one front height, two front heights.

This lowest price 520 does not have MCACC, Pioneer's auto-calibration system. The next model up, 820 for $299 MSRP, does have MCACC. I'm thinking of getting the 1020, myself, which is a 7.1 with MCACC and various other features, for $549 MSRP. I wouldn't like to be without MCACC.

I haven't seen the 1020 announced yet, but I figure there will be one, and can guess at the specs. Although I'd like to see it have 9 channels of amplification in it, or at least allow the fronts to be run by external amps, and leave the 7 internal to the less important speakers. Or 9 pre-outs would be nice, a call back to the 1018 which has 7 outs.

Anyway, doesn't matter I'm done with integrated amps, and I guess that means Pioneer unless they start making a pre/pro.

cool, good to know.

However, perhaps looking at a 7.1 receiver in the first place may be cheaper than a 5.1 receiver with extra amp?

I had no idea anyone still made 5.1 receivers.

Only 5.1 for todays market, really? I wouldn't look at a receiver if it was less than 7.1.

The low end entry level receivers are still 5.1. Heck they still make 2-channel stereo receivers I think.

There are still people with setups that only require a basic receiver to 1) power L/R or L/C/R speakers and 2) conveniently connect multiple devices/sources to their display.

I just bought a stereo receiver 6 months ago to feed one of my whole house audio zones and to feed thru the selected source to the other zone amps. It's a great amp Sherwood $150.00

The manual is here. It seems that it does have 9 channels of amplification. But you can't run front heights and front wides simultaneously.

Cool, you found the manual. Does look like Pioneer is back on track at least feature/spec wise. But seems the pre-outs are gone for good on their non-Elite gear; shame. And the height/wide speaker terminals are spring clips, instead of proper binding posts; eww.

I like the low/mid Pio line. Lots of Elite-level features.

I saw this today. Why didn't anyone think of iPhone integration before? I HATE most receiver GUIs. This is a GREAT feature. I wish Denon did it.

http://gizmodo.com/5485322/pioneers-vsx+...l-it-via-iphone

Ooo, there's an 1120 coming. I hope it doesn't have pre outs, because I would have to buy that as a stepping stone to my pre/pro purchase.

I hope it does have pre-outs. Nyeah!

"Do you have more speakers than this?"

Yes, I have six plus a sub hooked up now. Also, I just purchased a Onkyo TX-SR507 5.1. So does this mean I will not be able to hook up all six plus sub?

That's right, no sixth channel.

The Onkyo HT-RC160 would have suited you better.

Cancel what I said about 9 channels. The manual doesn't say so, but although you can have a 9.1 speaker setup with the 1020, I suspect you can't have 9.1 sound, because the surround back speakers will stop playing if you use the front height speakers.

The VSX-1120-K has 9 full-size binding posts, and pre-outs. Hopefully that means all 9 channels get simultaneous amplification, or at least you can run all 9 (10 counting the sub) pre-outs at the same time.

Along with multi-channel phase control (my 1018 only does front and sub channels), this looks to be a really nice receiver. But a bit over the $400 price of this thread. With a $750 list, one will probably be able to pick it up for $600 in 6 months.

Oh, I know about the pre-outs, because I found this pic:
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/vsx-1120_rear_callouts.jpg

Just found, only 7 channel amplification, but looks like full 9.1 on the pre-outs.