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So Alan, are these characteristics normally found in low end receivers typically found sitting on the shelf at Wal-Mart?


I think a primary failing you will see in truly low quality receivers will come first with the power supply, followed by cheesy knobs, fewer settings and perhaps even limited DACs (e.g. my friend's Sony HTIB receiver had DD but not DTS and it had a Stereo option but nothing for a Direct signal).

Trying to exactly define what is low end quality is the hard part. Does it start with a crappy company perhaps or does it begin at around a certain price point?
Is it that JVC receiver or only JVC receivers under $300, Pioneers under $200 and H/K under $100?
I don't doubt that even some boutique names with pricey tags have made some badly designed units, ones that affect sound quality, now and again. I imagine Alan might know of some examples.
Would we classify those units as 'low end quality' as well?

Just a contemplation of definition.

"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."