I just got a phone call from a friend who works for Sears here in Canada, they've got a discontinued SONY: STR-DE885 for what he 'says' is a very good price ($400 Cdn).
Anyone have any experience with these? I've got to let him know in the next two hours, but I don't want to get burned.

I really wanted a H/K AVR325 but they're pricey, and I'd rather put my money into some Axiom's. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Reading some reviews here:
Audioreview

Looks like:
1. CAD 400 + taxes is just a "good" price, not that spectacular for a discontinued model.
2. 100x5 really is 50x5, but you would normally expect that with a consumer grade A/V receiver anyways
3. Lots of inputs and outputs and electronic gadgets

I don't know, I see Futureshop has these inexpensive Panasonic or Sony receivers for less than 300, I don't know how they compare, but this one doesn't really look like the deal like your friend made it out to be.

Good luck.

Our shop in Ottawa has the Yamaha RXV430 on sale today at $350.00CAN.
It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the Sony but has a higher current amplifier which will sound better and have alot more dynamic headroom than the Sony.
http://www.audioshop.on.ca/specials.htm

Hey Marc & OGS20, thanks for the replies!

I just got back from looking at that Sony 885 (2hrs driving return!), and it's not bad, but not what I'm looking for. Your right Marc, it's not such a hot deal. Your Yamaha looks much better.
While at Sears I compared the Sony to a JVC RX-8020VBK they also had on special (same price), and the JVC was MUCH better.
Now, do I go for the JVC 8020 ($400)?, or hold out for the Har/Kar AVR-325 ($750-$1,100)? Driving to Ottawa is out of the question.

If you are open to buying refurbished gear, then the Marantz SR4200 can be found in your price range; the newer SR4300 is a little more. Most reviews rate Marantz receivers very favorably, far ahead of JVC.
Not having lots of "disposable" income, over the past three years I have bought the Denon AVR-3801, Denon AVR-3802, Denon DVM-3700, and Denon DRW-585 all as refurbished gear (can you tell that I favor Denon?). My experience has been very positive with no problems whatsoever with any of the gear.

Here are a few links that may be of help:
http://accessories4less.com
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/marantz_sr4200.htm
http://www.home-entertainment.co.uk/grouptest_print.asp?GroupID=2363&ArticleID=2360

1pha,

Audioshop does do mail order. But that aside, where do you live? There are quite a few Canadians on these boards that might be able to help you find better deals. I live in Halifax, but I'm from Toronto (moved 2 years ago), and know Hamilton, Mississauga, Thunder Bay, and Saint John NB pretty well.

I'm in Napanee, between Belleville & Kingston, (and no, I don't know Avril Levigne - thankfully!).
Sorry for all these postings, but I'm in "information overload" now and getting totally confused, but I simply can't afford to get burned.
I wish buying a receiver were as simple as it was picking speakers (Axiom)!
I had seriously considered the Denon line but thought they were a little pricey (as if H/K isn't), and I haven't done any research at all on Marantz.
Any help on a deal (fairly close to me?) would be more than greatly appreciated.

Thanks everybody, you guys are great!

I think you ought to take Marc's offer and buy that Yamaha for 350$ CAD. You're not likely to get a better offer anywhere else. The power out of a Yamaha is far better than the power out of a low end sony.

I haven't owned a single piece of Sony gear other than their TV's that I was happy with. Either their proprietary lameness screws up functionality or the machine dies. Buyer beware.

i sold my jvc 8010 a few months ago-paid 200$ usd new off u-bid.
very good sounding amps, decent tuner -but it had a clipping problem at high levels so i sold it, my friend bought one also when i did he had the same problems till one day his caught fire, since it was fixed it doesnt clipp any more-kinda wierd.
now i have a yamaha