500w Dolby Digital Reciever ($149 after MIR + $30 BB Giftcard) at Bestbuy

[Eymar]

Just when to BestBuy yesterday and they have a sale thru Saturday for the Technics DX750 (normally for $199) 500 watt Dolby Digital Reciever. They're selling it now for $169 with a $20 MIR and you get a $30 BB gift card with any Dolby Digital Reciever. Add the 10% Preferred Coupon going on 'til 12/9 and total comes to $103 + tax (169 - 10% (17)- 20MIR - 30GC = 103). Not a bad start for a cheap Home Theater system. I bought it because it has multiple digital inputs (2 opt and 1 coax). They also have a 6 Speaker system (5 sats + 100w sub) from KLH for $99(reg. $199) to complete the set.

 

[idr]

Anyone know how this setup would compare with the Philis MX955? I keep seeing that advertised for pretty cheep (i.e., < $300).

 

[welshman]

You might want to take a look at CC's sherwood deal over the weekend - $130 I think for a Sherwood, judging by the one they have now it's a RD7103 which has had pretty good reviews.

The techinics ones are similar to best buy's sale one didn't have such good reviews.

As always ymmv

Good deal on the 5.1 speakers, they've had pretty good reviews.

Combine the Sherwood, with these speakers and my recently acquired Daewoo 3000N (went out of stock at buy.com after I ordered it, but more came in and I received it today - in all it's easily hackable glory) and I've got a pretty good home theatre system for ~ $300.

 

[ZenerDiode]

Just a bit of warning....check out the wattage rating. I believe it's 100W per channel on a 6ohm load driven at 1khz. That would translate to approximately 30-40W per channel on a 8ohm load (which the vast majority of speakers are rated at) driven at 20Hz-20khz (20Hz is the important number because that's the low frequency range).

Numbers aside, I did buy a similarly rated Technics model for my parents and it works well and fills their living room sufficiently. But just beware of the numbers you see quoted.

 

[Maverick319]

And watch the HEAT. Technics receivers are notorious for holding in heat, leading to early meltdown. Just ask me, as my Technics receiver died two months out of warranty. Personally I will never buy another POS Technics product, as I have be more than pleased with my JVC receiver and its Two Year warranty.


All bitching aside, check the case and back of your Technics receiver, and if it feels hot, you better do something about it. Many people have just taken the top of the case off, or installed fans that come on or stay on independent of the receiver to solve the problem. And I believe that is the crux of the problem that the fan included in the receiver doesn't come on until it is too late.

 

[ZenerDiode]

Indeed...heat is a big problem with Technics....and it goes beyond a late starting fan. The most obvious culprit is the actual casing itself...just compare the Technics with any other receiver (DD or not) and you'll see there is much less openings for hot air to escape on the Technics. Why something so basic is ignored on the Technics is a pretty good warning.

BTW, my parents have their's in the open, not in a cabinet, and it still gets pretty darn hot.

 

[Rab]

<< installed fans that come on or stay on independent of the receiver to solve the problem. >>



That is what works best.



<< And I believe that is the crux of the problem that the fan included in the receiver doesn't come on until it is too late. >>



Yep. It seemed to be tied to power, at least on my unit. (When I cranked it almost all the way up after turning it on, the fan kicked in.)

It never turned on when I used lower volume settings.

Rab

 

[TigerDude]

Heat ... Heat ... Heat = Melt down.
Don't buy this unit, save your $ and buy a better receiver for the same price.

 

[jamnjk]

WELSHMAN, what is CC Sherwood deal you mentioned? Need more details. I've been looking for an inexpensive DD receiver. thanks in advance

 

[ConnCarl]

WELSHMAN, I checked out the Sherwood at CC but I can't find a shred of info on the net. Any links to the reviews you mentioned? Any further info on the CC deal? The salesman there was mum on any specials and it was marked $179.

 

[welshman]

Sorry no details, was at work - just wanted to let ppl look into it before jumping on a technics.
As a kid I was always under the impression that technics was kick ass, but everything I've seen on Technics A/V receivers tells of heat problems.

Anyway:
Thread Title: CompUSA, Circuit City, Office Max Staples 12/9
Sherwood 500 Watt Surround Sound Reciever w/ Digital Inputs, Subwoofer Outut & Remote $129.99

Oh, and anyone in Atlanta with spare 1c books, monitors, scanner/printers etc. pm me

 

[WindWalker]

Concarl

I couldn't find any reviews of the 7103 either, but here's the receiver
I'm leaning towards a Sherwood based sysem myself, but looking at the 7106, has S-video conectors and can be found for around 199.00
Except for the heat problem the Tech at this price point seems right if your trying to go low $$

Good site for user reviews is here

The thing that blows about receivers at this price point is that none seem to have phono inputs and I still have some of those black round things. Anyone remember records?

 

[Apoptosis]

Another decent cheap DD receiver is the AIWA AV D-58. My local BB had it for 189.99 with 30 gift card. I bought one for a cheap DD setup, and it actually sounds ok. It only has one optical digital input, that sort of blows. But for 160.00, not too shabby

 

[Macro2]

Buy a Denon 1602 for $288 at Brandsmart in FL.
High current, discrete circuitry.

Mac

 

[Eymar]

I would go with Welshman's deal on the Sherwood and get the KLH speakers (decent surround speakers and definetly better then their low end model which are $50 more right now). I'm going to return the Technics for the Sherwood. I'm trying to stay as cheap as possible (and Technics is as pretty cheap as you can get), but keep the multiple digital inputs . The biggest beef I have with this Technics model is the lack of adjustment of the treble and bass when in digital mode as the KLH speakers have a slightly overbearing tweeter (your taste will of course differ). The combination did sound clean at moderate playing levels, but I did not play them long enough to see if heat buildup in the reciever or speakers distorted the sound too much. I would check audioreview.com as Windwalker suggested for reviews. Circuit City's website also has good newbie info on what the reciever specs mean and what to look for.