Receivers - do they matter that much?

$200 is a hard price point for buying something that isnt consumer-quality, like what youd buy from a big box store like BestBuy etc.
Reciever sound and build quality does matter. I have I have 5 in my room right now that all sound different.
The best recievers ive found so far in my opinion are from OutLaw, Marantz, Old Vintage late 70s and 80s Pioneers, Rotel, Carver/Sunfire.

On Ebay if you want Vintage, id look for Marantz, or a Carver Reciever 2000, or a big Pioneer, or one made by Pioneer for RadioShack in 1980 Realistic STA-2100D.
Depending on the model, most can be found from $100-$500 on Ebay.

New? I really like the OutLaw 2150.
Outlaw Audio
But its like $600, and i realize you werent planning on spending that much, but looking at your other posts for equipment, your other choices may be a cut above a $200 reciever, and you can grow a little with that OutLaw reciever. It has alot of good features, a great headphone out, USB input for a MP3 player etc, preamp outs if you ever want to get a bigger amp for it. I feel youll eventually want to upgrade anyway, but if you dont want to wait and youre really stuck on finding a $200 reciever, then get a vintage one like i mentioned, or look at Yamaha, if you like mellow, or Denon if you like more of a forward sound. Onkyo isnt a great reciever, and at that price a Sony would sound cheap. Pioneer isnt great when you spend under $200 either really.
You may find something good used.


As far as a CD player....i think alot of people are using their PC as a source. Id look into a Marantz 5003
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo...umber=MACD5003

Its a good sounding player and versatile for $349, and you can upgrade it with a DAC later, which can also be used for the pc etc. This player has a really good transport for the price, which is why i chose it, and with an external DAC, can make a really good player.
It sounds decent on its own for the price, but makes an excellent dac.
Its a very solidly built player.

For cheap, Oppo has a $169 player thats supposed to be really good. I heard it sounds like a $700 player, but ive never heard one.

Slick deals has a mention of an offer for a yamaha receiver:
Yamaha RX-V765 665 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver $389 - Slickdeals.net

Onkyo's entry level stereo receivers are quite good. They have an ok phono input (get Cambrdige 540p or 640p to improve on that) and have decent SQ for the price. You'd have to shell out twice or thrice the price to get a significant upgrade IMO.

If you find a late 70s Marantz go for it. They don't make them as they use to anymore.

are you in the US? I eBay'ed Onkyo amps and lots of stuff came up.

this seem in good condition, or this?

Onkyo or Denon there both pretty good brands. just my $0.02

Here's a nice Marantz 2270 receiver in excellent condition with optional wood cabinet for sale at Classic Audio.

classicaudio.com..... For Sale..... Marantz 2270

Here is another nice receiver for a little less money.

Pioneer model SX-850 AM/FM receiver — $399.95

http://www.classicaudio.com/forsale/pio/SX850.html

If you don't need surround or a radio, don't pay for them. Look for older integrated amps on Audiogon or eBay, you'll get much better stereo performance from those.

I think to get a combined CD player and amp that sounds any way decent you'd need to go with an NAD or Arcam thats going to cost a lot more than $200.

Used is a good idea but I wouldn't buy anything from the 70's....

You can get used NAD, Adcom, or Rotel from the 90's early 00's, thats what I would suggest.

Onkyo's and Sony's under $200 arent good.
I wouldnt buy any of those new under $200, because they sound cheap.
My vintage stuff would totally blow them away!
I got stuff i got for $40- $200 from Carver, Realistic (made by Pioneer), Marantz, Tandberg, from the mid 70's to the 90's , and theres no comparison at all.

Id search Ebay. Carver recievers are really good and can be found in your price range if you look daily and wait patiently. My Carver Reciever 2000 is about 200 watts per channel, and thats not Onkyo watts. An Onkyo's speaker outputs couldnt drive a set of Koss KSC75s without coughing.

If youre in NewYork, ill bring my old RadioShack boat anchor over and blow away any Onkyo amp you want.
If you find a Realistic STA-2100D in good shape under $150, grab it!



Heres a Rotel reciever a guy sold in 2008 for $250. Prolly find one even cheaper now, and its a great reciever! Rotel rsx965:
For sale: Rotel RSX965 AV Receiver - High Def Forum - Your High Definition Community & High Definition Resource


Heres another great Rotel reciever you can find in your price range, Rotel rx975:

ROTEL RX-975 Reviews


Check those out. Much better class of equipment.

Onkyo makes great bang-for-you-buck receivers, especially if you can get one as a refurb, like this:

Onkyo Tx-sr507 5.1-channel Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

If you'll be using multichannel, seriously consider a receiver with Audyssey room correction. If not, a stereo receiver or an intergrated amp is probably a better choice.

Surround Sound Calibration Solutions - Audyssey | MultEQ Solutions

old 70s receivers for $400? someone is having a laugh there!


edit: omg the first one is $800? cripes...