Receiver for TV with bookshelf speakers

[Lifted]

Want to grab the old man a new receiver as his is probably in the 15 - 20 year old range, so no HDMI and such. He has 46" LG smart TV I got him last year, and complains that the volume not loud enough with some sources or certain movies on netflix.

I'd like to get a receiver for < $200, and either a center channel speaker or sound bar as I think the high bookshelf speakers might sound a bit awkward when watching TV as the speakers are mounted on little shelves 2 - 3 feet above the top of the TV, up near the ceiling. He only uses them for music now.

I figured a center channel speaker in addition to the bookshelf speakers would aid in TV watching, but will this setup be a problem? If watching something with stereo sound, would the receiver send the same sound to the center channel speaker or just ignore it completely? Can anyone recommend a receiver for under $200 that would work with stereo and surround sources? The receiver should have at least 3 HDMI inputs, and 1 or more S/PDIF inputs (S/PDIF from cable box and TV).

 

[alcoholbob]

$200 msrp or $200 after shipping and taxes?

 

[Leros]

I bought a 55" LG TV a few months ago and found the audio to be unusably bad.

A lot of people pointed me to a $200 refurbished Denon AVR 1612. I have it hooked up in a 5.1 config and I'm pretty happy with it.

http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

 

[Lifted]

$200 msrp or $200 after shipping and taxes?

Doesn't really matter. I'm not pinching pennies, but no reason to go overboard here as he's not an audiophile.

I bought a 55" LG TV a few months ago and found the audio to be unusably bad.

A lot of people pointed me to a $200 refurbished Denon AVR 1612. I have it hooked up in a 5.1 config and I'm pretty happy with it.

http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

How would this work with in a left/right/center config? Can it be configured to send stereo sources to the center channel in addition to the left & right channels?

 

[Leros]

Doesn't really matter. I'm not pinching pennies, but no reason to go overboard here as he's not an audiophile.



How would this work with in a left/right/center config? Does it send stereo sources through the center channel?

Yup. In pure stereo mode it only uses the left and right speakers, but there other modes where it mixes the channels and uses the center speaker.

 

[Lifted]

Yup. In pure stereo mode it only uses the left and right speakers, but there other modes where it mixes the channels and uses the center speaker.

That would work. Could the Denon be set up to always work in this manner when it detects stereo, or does it have to be selected every time the source changes between surround and stereo, or after the unit is powered off?

 

[Leros]

That would work. Could the Denon be set up to always work in this manner when it detects stereo, or does it have to be selected every time the source changes between surround and stereo, or after the unit is powered off?

I'm pretty sure the default mode for 2 channel sources includes mixing the center channel. If it doesn't you can change the mode and I think it remembers your previous mode on a per source basis.