Why are receivers more expensive now?

[unfalliblekrutch]

It seems to me like the price of home AV receivers has gone up in the last 2 years or so. About two years ago, I was in the market for a budget AV receiver and snagged one for $100 (A yahama htr 61xx...forget the model number). A similar 5.1 receiver today costs more around $170-200. I understand they added HDMI, which mine didn't have, but does that justify an $50+ increase in price? Plus, electronics prices generally fall, so given 2 years time, I would expect a similar receiver with HDMI should be around the same price of $100 now.

The only thing I can think of is exorbitant HDMI licensing costs, but that seems excessive to attribute HDMI licensing to 50% of the cost of a receiver.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Tough to say - there's a lot more going on in a budget receiver than there was 2-5 years ago. HDMI, upscaling, conversion to component (if not to hdmi), multi channel analog, ipod/sat-radio compatibility, more inputs. The connectivity has improved quite a bit.

Those yamahas, in particular, used to get some pretty aggressive pricing, too. They were totally decent, but really, really basic.

The only part that hasn't been upgraded is the sound!

 

[s44]

Room correction is a big improvement over the old days.

 

[manimal]

HD audio for BD, Multizone, analogue ins, Im actually shocked how inexpensive feature rich recievers are today, pioneer 1019, Denon 590-790, Mid line Onkyos etc....

Yamaha receivers this year are cheaper but their quality has suffered as well. 500 bucks buys you alot of receiver. If you dont need those features buy a yam 365 Pio 519 etc..

 

[BoberFett]

I'm looking at picking up a Denon AVR1910 to replace my Yamaha and can't believe what a bargain new AV receivers are. I'd have to look up exactly how much I spent on my Yamaha RX V870 back in 1993ish, but I seem to remember ~$800 or thereabouts. What is that in today's dollars? $1500?

 

[vi edit]

Yeh. When I bought my first Dolby Digital AVR around '96 it was a middle of the road Yamaha that ran me over $800. And it had one freaking optical input and a coax for digital.

If anything, I'm completely overwhelmed by the features, inputs, and abilities of what an $800 AVR gets me now. And that's not even counting inflation.