Good A/V Receiver for under $400?

[777php]

Okay guys no more audio questions from me after this one, at least for a little bit.


I was looking at the Sony STRDE875

100W x 5, 100W x 2 @ 8 Ohms
Preprogrammed Remote Commander® control*
32-bit Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic and dts decoder
32-bit DSP with 27 acoustic environments
Digital Cinema Sound system with Cinema Studio EX modes
Digital Concert Hall A/B for surround sound playback of stereo music sources
Virtual Matrix 6.1 mode
10-function input selector with Phono input
5.1-channel input for new high-resolution multi-channel audio sources such as SACD
3 Optical digital inputs, 1 output
Coaxial digital input
3 S-Video inputs, 1 S-Video output
Control S system
Subwoofer output

Is there anything comparable or better for under $400? The Preferable price would be around $350.

Just in case you need to know, I bought a set of Wharfedale speakers. 4 Vivendi Modus micro speakers, a WH-2 center channel, and a powercube 8 subwoofer.

 

[d33pt]

dont cripple your nice new speakers by powering them with a sony receiver.. i'd recommend a yamaha receiver with about 100x5 watts of power.. it will be more powerful than the sony for one..and sound quality is much better..

 

[777php]

Any model number in particular?

 

[CPA]

I'm looking at the Yamaha 5550 (2001 model) and 5560 (2002 model) myself. The only real difference is that the 5560 has the sixth speaker (rear center) hook up. You can get either through Yahoo shopping for $300 and $400, respectively.

Granted, both put out about 75w per speaker, but I have read many good things about them both.

Check out ecoustics.com for consumer and magazine reviews of all kinds of a/v equipment.

 

[glen]

Sony and Pioneer would be good choices.
I use a Pioneer.
Just see which one has the features you like.

 

[kami]

I agree, try to steer from Sony. For low-end receivers you can't go better than Yamaha and Onkyo IMO

 

[777php]

Basically the features that I would like are:

5.1 (6.1 would be nice, but I don't need it)
minimum 100w per channel
32 bit Dolby Digital
Dolby Pro Logic
DTS decoder
As many inputs/outputs as possible

So far the Sony meets these requirements and is under $400.

I'll go and take a look at the pioneer receivers, i haven't done much research on them.

 

[glen]

$300 at etronics.com

Pioneer VSX-D811S Audio/Video Receiver

Built-in DTS-ES Discrete/Dolby Digital EX/Pro Logic II Decoder
Virtual Surround Back Mode
7.1-Channel Input
DVD-Audio Ready
96kHz /24-bit D/A Converter
Equal High Power for All Six Channels (100W x 6)
Stereo: Continious average power output of 100 watts per channel, min., at 8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz with no more than 0.2% total harmonic distortion
Surround:
front: 100W per channel (8 ohms, 1kHz, 1%THD)
center: 100W per channel (8 ohms, 1kHz, 1%THD)
surround: 100W per channel (8 ohms, 1kHz, 1%THD)
surround back: 100W per channel (8 ohms, 1kHz, 1%THD)
Advanced Surround
6-Channel Stereo
Midnight Listening Mode
5 Digital Inputs (2 Coaxial, 2 Optical, 1 Front Optical) and 1 Digital Optical Output
Component Video Terminal (2 Inputs, 1 Output)
S-Video Terminal (4 Inputs, 2 Outputs)
Front AV Inputs with S-Video Input and Optical Digital Input
Large Screw-Type Speaker Terminal (L/R/C/SL/SR/SBL/SBR/SP-B L/SP-B R)
Semi-Dot Matrix FL Display
FL Dimmer (4 steps)
Pre-programmed and Learning Remote
Luxury Design with Front Panel Door
Quick Set-Up Operation
Tuner Edit Operation

 

[glen]

They also have the Sony you were looking at for $300

 

[Thegonagle]

I'd easily go for a Pioneer before Sony. While Sony's performance is usually good, Sony's reputation has been shot for the last ten years as far as dependability goes. I'll buy cheap stuff, like radios, walkmen, and ear buds from Sony, but anything pricey is too big of a gamble, IMHO.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've owned Sony, JVC, Kenwood, and Pioneer in the $300-600 range and all have been quite decent, with the JVC and Pioneer slightly better than Sony and Kenwood. I'd say go to crutchfield.com and look at the detailed features and even the pictures, or just go with the Pioneer Glen described since it has a better set of digital inputs than the Sony.

 

[777php]

The Pioneer looks great!

Pioneer VSX-D811S

I'm leaning towards that one.

Anyone have any other models to suggest?

 

[Viper GTS]

If you can pull off $500 I saw a thread on this a while ago, when I'm in the market for a receiver I'm getting one.

Viper GTS

 

[Mister T]

My vote is also for the pioneer 811S.

The only other quality model to consider is the denon 1802 but you will get less features for the $$ and it costs more.

 

[Mister T]

If you want to be a little bit more thorough, check out these threads over at th HTF:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72006

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72547

 

[777php]

Originally posted by: Mister T
If you want to be a little bit more thorough, check out these threads over at th HTF:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72006

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72547

Thanks MisterT, that first thread convinced me to get the Pioneer.


Thanks for all your help everybody.