What shoudl I look for in a receiver

[Keego]

I've been looking at receivers, but I don't know what to look for. I'd like one that has digital out for my digital speakers, but I might just get regular speakers too. As for ins/outs, I need a regular miniplug/rca in and outs don't really matter nowadays since they all come with that. Mostly, I need to know what kind of power that it should be putting out, and some good model #'s to look at.

My price range is low/mid performance, it won't be hooked up to anything else for a while (cd changer, etc)

 

[luvya]

look for RMS, to see if your speakers can handle it or not.
look for the sound it delivers, some receivers have warmer sound some have dryer sound.
Since you mention low/mid performance, I suggest you to look at yamaha, marantz, NAD receivers. They are pretty good for their cost.

 

[Viperoni]

<< Since you mention low/mid performance, I suggest you to look at yamaha, marantz, NAD receivers >>



Those receivers are anything BUT low/mid performance. They're pretty good

For a lower end receiver, Pioneer is probably the best....I believe Onkyo clones them or something (glenn1 where are you? )
I myself have a Pioneer vsx-d608 (2 years old), and it does DD and DTS decoding (you dont really need DTS decoding, but you might as well get it since its only a few bucks more usually)...

Don't be too concerned with power, remember a doubling of power only results in a 3db loudness inscrease....which is pretty small. That's why NAD receivers, with the usually low power (like 20-50watts a channel) are still great receivers (due to their build and sound quality).

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

most receivers will put out 100 watts (RMS) so that's what you're probably gonna be going for.

 

[TuffGirl]

Crutchfield has a pretty good FAQ on what features to look for in a receiver. Check it out!

 

[DanJ]

Onkyo DOES NOT clone Pioneers.

For mid cost...we'll say $500...i'd go Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon, or Outlaw.

For $499 you can't beat the Outlaw 1050 (www.outlawaudio.com)...6.1 DTS/DD etc...

Don't worry too much about wattage on most quality, non-Sony receivers, as long as you have fairly efficient speakers you'd be set.

I'd recommend the Onkyo TX-DS595...can get it from JandR.com for about $365 if you call and talk to them about price matching other online vendors.

Also, check out hometheaterforum.com for just about any question you can ask.

 

[glen]

Its Glen not Glenn1.
Pioneer is the OEM for a lot of the brands out there.
Go to the store, talk the guy into opening up the case and look for your self.

 

[Keego]

woah, I didn't think that "Mid" would be $500!

Maybe 300 max was mr range for this little toy

thanks for the link klee58, I'm reading it right now

 

[glen]

About $200.
I use a simillar one with $10,000 speakers.
HERE

 

[AaronP]

over 6 feet tall, 40 meter dash time < 4.4 seconds, good hands, and no off the field problems.

 

[TuffGirl]

<< thanks for the link klee58, I'm reading it right now >>


Yay!


~EDIT~

Yeah Crutchfield r0x0rs... I'm planning on getting a car CD receiver from them for my sister's Xmas gift. I hear their car self-installation instructions are awesome!

 

[DanJ]

If you're around $300...I'd go with the Onkyo 494...check out prices at YourInsider.com

 

[Sugadaddy]

Denon 1602 or Onkyo 494.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Speed, Size, and good hands....duh!?


Oh, you were talking audio equipment...in that case: dobly digital & dts, low THD (total harmonic distortion)...like below 0.1%, and then look at watts per channel...don't just look at the total...you need front channels that can hit!

I, myself, am seldom home long enough (except to sleep to enjoy my house...let alone a decent sound system...so I don't even own one. Hell, I don't even own a TV. But I do own a computer and that's my entertainment center for now...

 

[SuperTool]

Kenwood HTB-504 (Receiver + 5 speakers + Sub) on sale at fry's for $399
600 watts surround setup for 400 bucks. It got good reviews on audioreview.com.
But then again, I am a cheap bastard.