Looking for a inexpensive possibly used receiver

[Master Shake]

I have been wanting to get some kind of surround setup for some time now, I hate the crap speakers on my 60" mitsu and my old receiver barely works anymore. I thought about going with a soundbar to save space and money but that really wouldn't do my ps3 and bluray any justice nor my 60" 1080p tv. instead of spending the $200-300 on a soundbar or cheap system I thought I mine as well add to what I have. I currently have a very nice pair of cherry Acoustic Research 303 speakers, they are very nice and are a 3-way speaker with a 12" woofer, they sound amazing and have very warm sound with a nice tight low end. I would hate to trade these beautiful sounding speakers for a crappy satellite speaker. I have read they work well with NHT Zero speakers as surrounds and a center and I think those are about $100 each online. So what I'm looking for is (probably refurbished to save money) is a 5.1 or 7.1 receiver to start with and then add the center and surrounds. I am looking for fully featured hdmi inputs and output, I want to make sure the video includes all the features like lipsync and all those other features I can't remember the name of. I just don't want to get something that takes away from the quality of the bluray source. I'd also like it to be able to decode trueHD and the newer formats through HDMI and an on screen display would be nice but it's not entirely necessary. I have seen some very nice used Onkyo 7.1 recievers but am not sure which to get. I saw one nice on but it had really bad upscaling, that's not a huge deal but I would like to have everything, including my Wii hooked through it. I currently have a ps3, which doubles as my bluray/dvd/streaming player and my hd dvr cable box running through hdmi and my wii running through component cables. I don't have my Sony cx90 ES 200-disc cd changer hooked up anymore since I stream through my ps3 because my receiver is about 25 years old and the buttons are too dirty to work usually. It will probably get hooked up again. It was one of THE best cd changers ever made, if you've ever used a sony ES model, you know what I mean. 7.1 is not a MUST but I think it would be nice to have for expansion and I could add the rears for only about $200 sometime down the road. Since I live in an apartment and my mains have 2 12"s I don't know that I'd need a sub right now. Anyways, I'd love to get some suggestions, I have yet to hear any bluray movies through surround, I know it's going to add so much to the experience and I can't wait to fire up my AR speakers again, those things are beasts! If you need any clarifications just let me know, I know I'm probably asking for a lot of features and that's why it will probably end up being a refurbished model. Thanks!

[Waylander]

the onkyo txsr 577 is probably the best budget option, a txsr 507 would also be a possibility but its 5.1 only not 7.1 like the 577 and with zone two active on the 507 it only does 2.1 in your main room, the 577 can still do 5.1 with zone 2 active

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/TX-SR577.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/TX-SR507.html

[spikey_richie]

Onkyo is an excellent compromise, value for money but great build quality and audio capability.

The Sony STRDH8000 is a little more expensive but gets very good reviews so may be a good alternative. http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/mo...CFUgA4wodXRNkIw

Onkyo also do a nice speak package http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?item=ef4c...1e9a8947a38cf38

Not sure which country you're in, but you can get Onkyo from CIrcuit City and Best Buy in the states (if they're still going)

edit: circuit city have an entry level Onyko receiver here http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/Se...&CatId=4584 or a complete package here http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/Se...&CatId=4584

[Master Shake]

the onkyo txsr 577 is probably the best budget option, a txsr 507 would also be a possibility but its 5.1 only not 7.1 like the 577 and with zone two active on the 507 it only does 2.1 in your main room, the 577 can still do 5.1 with zone 2 active

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/TX-SR577.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/TX-SR507.html

The tx-sr577 looks good but I can't find it in America!

[Waylander]

Onkyo is an excellent compromise, value for money but great build quality and audio capability.

The Sony STRDH8000 is a little more expensive but gets very good reviews so may be a good alternative. http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/mo...CFUgA4wodXRNkIw

Onkyo also do a nice speak package http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?item=ef4c...1e9a8947a38cf38

Not sure which country you're in, but you can get Onkyo from CIrcuit City and Best Buy in the states (if they're still going)

edit: circuit city have an entry level Onyko receiver here http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/Se...&CatId=4584 or a complete package here http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/Se...&CatId=4584

that 307 doesnt support audio over hdmi, iirc the 507 is the cheapest onkyo that does but the price difference between a 507 and 577 is minimal so its better to get the 577 , you have the option to expand to 7.1 in the future and it has much better zone 2 mode

[Master Shake]

that 307 doesnt support audio over hdmi, iirc the 507 is the cheapest onkyo that does but the price difference between a 507 and 577 is minimal so its better to get the 577 , you have the option to expand to 7.1 in the future and it has much better zone 2 mode

I agree but I can't find it in the US, do you know where I can find it? I'm also checking out the mentioned Sony STR-DH800 which seems to have good reviews but doesn't look like it has upscaling. I don't think that is a problem though because the only thing that isn't 1080p is my dvr which upscales to 1080i and my wii which is 480p of course. I use my fat ps3 for streaming and movies and it upscales. It also has no on screen menu which I'm not sure I'll get in this price range. It's $270 on Amazon new, which is a good. It has x.v.Color and Deep Color but no lipsync or some other features that I have heard of but not quite sure if I need. It also looks like it decodes just about anything. Anyone have any opinions on this receiver or any other suggestions?

edit - I'm also looking at the Sony STR-DN1000 which is slightly more but does have upconversion and an on-screen menu. I'm not sure how could the upconversion is though.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Master Shake

[Waylander]

maybe they dont do the 577 in America, its not listed on onkyo's us website. 607/707 are always a option but they arent really what i would call inexpensive

[Master Shake]

maybe they dont do the 577 in America, its not listed on onkyo's us website. 607/707 are always a option but they arent really what i would call inexpensive

Yeah those are out of my range, I'm looking at the two Sony's I mentioned and the Sony STR-DN1000 ($329) in particular, it has a simple on screen interface and decodes basically everything, I'm just not sure how well it upscales (I just don't want it to lag or be jittery) and need some opinions on it. I really wish I had a Bravia tv instead of my Mitsu! I want everything to be interlinked but I guess one day I'll get a logitech harmony one.

[jerzdawg]

Here is a used Sr-606 for $300

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=all

[Master Shake]

Here is a used Sr-606 for $300

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=all

Is it better than the more expensive sony I was looking at? I see it has 1080i upscaling but notmuch else info.

[jerzdawg]

Is it better than the more expensive sony I was looking at? I see it has 1080i upscaling but notmuch else info.

Its a good mid-level receiver - decodes HD audio codecs, does the HDMI output from all connections... I currently have my HD-DVR, PS3, Xbox and Wii all hooked up with 1 output to TV. I dont use the upscailing for anything other than the Wii.