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Bargain Receiver Opinions

DefDC

DefDC

Golden Member
I'm done with Onkyo. At least for a few years. I bought a TX-NR509 in 2009 and already had it warrantied for HDMI failure complete sound loss. Well, it just died again. I think I'm covered by 1 year warranty and will return it, but it shall be my new basement gaming receiver, if it lives again.

I've bought Onkyo my whole life, except for one cheap Yamaha, that is currently doing my gaming. (and it's a long lived champ, but it's 11 years old now...)

I'm not an audiophile, but more of a technophile. Also, my house is relatively small, and wife and kid are almost always home, so I never crank anything loud enough to appreciate the detail, so getting as much quality as I can for a cheap price is what I'm looking for.

I see a Denon AVR-S500BT for $200 and under at Amazon and Best Buy. (And as low as $169 including refurbs). I have a 3D TV and decent speakers. I use a HTPC with Windows Media Center as my primary DVR, with occasional use of a standard Comcast DVR. I also use a Roku box (for ease of use for the wife) and occaional Wii play by my daughter, and an Xbox One on the way.

The Denon receiver looks really good for the price. I loved my former Onkyo products when they work. My old Yamaha wasn't the best performer, but it's held up for over 10 years of constant daily use, so I have no complaints. I'd pay a bit more, but I don't think I'll ever get to appreciate any finer features. (But I can be persuaded!)

Anyone have a favorite economy receiver they'd like to champion?
 
I have two Yamaha RX-377's and they do a pretty darned good job considering the price. One is running my 5.1 surround system in our movie room, the other is just doing 2.0 duty on the main TV in the living room.

I was also an Onkyo guy for 20+ years but started having problems.
 
in the past the cheaper Yamaha AVRs gave you more for the same price. im not sure if that's true anymore

But any cheap denon, Yamaha or pioneer that has the features you want should be fine
 
I have a 2006 era Yamaha. It's kicking strong except that I learned my lesson with hot-plugging HDMI. I'm pretty sure that back then when it was designed HDMI hot-plugging wasn't the in thing. Receivers still except you to turn it off before plugging. I learned this when I burnt out one of it's HDMI inputs. Yours is a 2009 so perhaps it could be that or an overbent cheap HDMI cable that has developed a short in it.

I'm pretty sure I burned mine out, because I often use the HDMI cable going to my PS3 and connecting it to my laptop while the receiver it on. It was probably the fact that the HDMI cable touched the carpet and perhaps a spare carpet fiber crept up inside the connector and carpet has a ton of static electricity so that's probably what burned mine out. Lesson learned for me since. Always turn the receiver off... at least my old HDMI receiver.
 
Anubis said:
in the past the cheaper Yamaha AVRs gave you more for the same price. im not sure if that's true anymore

But any cheap denon, Yamaha or pioneer that has the features you want should be fine
Click to expand...

Agree with this. If you can't crank it up and enjoy it, it's really not going to matter. Just get whichever one you like the looks of in the price range you want to spend.

I'd lean towards Yamaha, too, FWIW. I've always thought that Denon's amp sections colored the sound somewhat.
 
I feel you on the Onkyo. My 709 had a similar HDMI board failure, and even when they do work, seem to have more EDID handshake problems than some other manufacturers. I have an older Yamaha that works well, but their YPAO equalization system isn't as advanced as the Audessey systems used by Onkyo/Denon. But in the $200 range, you would do fine with either Yamaha or Denon.
 
Another recommendation for Yamaha.

I've had an RX-V375 hooked up to my main TV for almost 2 years or so. Very happy with it, especially at the price I paid for it brand new. Something like $279.
 
The entry level Denon's are good. I got the E300 when they were going for around $200 new and its been great. Granted, I dont use much of the functionality, but it seems fine.
 
Yamaha RX375 going 4 years strong. Replaced a sony stereo receiver that made it almost 15 years but developed a grounding issue on one of the speakers. I would hop on the 377 if it has all your needs.
 
From reading this thread - and from other similar complaints I've seen on the 'net - it looks like Onkyo's main issue is the HDMI board, which seems to die frequently.

I haven't seen anyone gripe about any other problems with this brand.

Strange.
 
LoveMachine said:
I feel you on the Onkyo. My 709 had a similar HDMI board failure, and even when they do work, seem to have more EDID handshake problems than some other manufacturers. I have an older Yamaha that works well, but their YPAO equalization system isn't as advanced as the Audessey systems used by Onkyo/Denon. But in the $200 range, you would do fine with either Yamaha or Denon.
Click to expand...

My 709 is working just fine still. I've never had a problem so far with Onkyo. My friends have. Generally, I find those who have had a problem have a lot less air flow around their receiver. I just don't think the Onkyo's do well with heat but maybe I'm wrong and just get lucky.

I don't really like Denon because to get the remote control features that control your whole system, it costs a LOT to get to that model. With Onkyo it's a cheap feature they include very quickly. I'd get a Pioneer maybe. Onkyo's remote is pretty simple too which I like.

I honestly just can't see myself using Denon or Yamaha. I am not paying that price premium for a box that sits there and does HDMI switching, volume control, decodes auido formats and a remote that controls multiple devices. I don't think the amplifier portion is worth paying the premium either. The premium is so high, that I end up getting the CHEAPEST onkyo receiver I can that supports preouts, then add my own external amplifier to lesson the load off of the Onkyo receiver (also helps give me FAR more power at 300W per channel on one amp and I don't know the specs of the other but it's far more than necessary at something like a 1000 per channel or more available.).

Maybe for other people and their use cases, but I just don't see the benefit of paying more for a Denon/Yamaha. I'd go with Onkyo/Pioneer in the majority of instances.

Edit: I'm comparing my 709 I purchaed for $350 or so which I consider to be the top end of "bargain" receivers, vs getting a comparable receiver with the same specs new from Denon/Yamaha would probably be around 800+.
 
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Just to pile on, that Yamaha RX-V377 everyone keeps bringing up appears to be the highest rated receiver in Amazon's AV Receiver section...just ahead of the Onkyo TX-8020.
Amazon link.
(Only used and refurbs are available...no better than the newegg deal posted earlier.)

Check for whatever the latest version of this model is if you'd rather get new! 🙂

If you're going for a traditional receiver, this sounds like a pretty good bet!
 
AnitaPeterson said:
From reading this thread - and from other similar complaints I've seen on the 'net - it looks like Onkyo's main issue is the HDMI board, which seems to die frequently.

I haven't seen anyone gripe about any other problems with this brand.

Strange.
Click to expand...

I've had 2 Onkyos die, one was power supply related and the other HDMI. They both lasted awhile..at least 4 years on the first one and two the last. Oddly, each time I was thinking about upgrading anyway. Like most things, I dont expect receivers to last so I just buy on the low end with the features I want. By the time it breaks there will be some new feature I want.
 
I typically buy Pioneer. My first one lasted 20 years. I eventually made it my basement receiver when the remote was pretty much shot. The remote had some functionality that the receiver alone does not have access to. Important things like bass/treble are there though so it lives on.

The new Pioneer I have is nice. But the amplifier stage SUCKS. My mid 90s vintage Pioneer had a much better amplifier stage.

But atleast it has lasted the 3-4 years I have had it thus far.

<== Pioneer/Infinity fanboy .....
 
Ah Infinity...

I had some classic Infinity SM-15's that I miss a lot.

They were gigantic in every way that mattered (even had dial adjustments for mid and high end behind the grill on the front of each speaker) and they paired great with anything from 30w - 110w/channel.

Given that all the space I have to myself in the house now is a desk..😉..I'll probably never have another speaker that matches their sound.

To replace them, I got a Yamaha YSP-4100 (+150w Y'ha sub) sound bar a couple years ago as the best compromise I could muster. Sounds really good...probably better in a boxy room...my place is an open floorplan. 🙁 Definitely sounds better than anything similar I was able to listen to, so I do recommend it!
 
NTACvOS said:
Just to pile on, that Yamaha RX-V377 everyone keeps bringing up appears to be the highest rated receiver in Amazon's AV Receiver section...just ahead of the Onkyo TX-8020.
Amazon link.
(Only used and refurbs are available...no better than the newegg deal posted earlier.)

Check for whatever the latest version of this model is if you'd rather get new! 🙂

If you're going for a traditional receiver, this sounds like a pretty good bet!
Click to expand...
Definitely do not do this. Models change over the years. Example is that a model receiver I wanted had a decent audyssey. I waited for next year's model, it was cut down and had far more issues. Same with my HDTV. So if you're going to buy research based on the merits of that system but tbh, it's not much different below the 350 price point imo.
 
IHateMyJob2004 said:
I typically buy Pioneer. My first one lasted 20 years. I eventually made it my basement receiver when the remote was pretty much shot. The remote had some functionality that the receiver alone does not have access to. Important things like bass/treble are there though so it lives on.

The new Pioneer I have is nice. But the amplifier stage SUCKS. My mid 90s vintage Pioneer had a much better amplifier stage.

But atleast it has lasted the 3-4 years I have had it thus far.

<== Pioneer/Infinity fanboy .....
Click to expand...
I feel like the amps in most receivers are weak.

The key is buying the right gear for the task though.
 
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