Topic: Receiver recommendations for home theater

[tapeworm48]

I'm looking to purchase a receiver for my new place.  Price requirement should be around $300 +/-100 i guess.  I'll primarily playback CDs, DVD-audio (if i buy the right player), DATs, and computer.  I'll hook it up to my plasma as well.  I'd like to move to 24-bit in the future, so the receiver should be compatible for that as well, and 5.1 channels should work for me.

I wanted to stay away from the HTIB concept because they might lack the sufficient amount of inputs, but does anyone know much about the pioneer elite EX-500?

Thanks in advance.

[Daryan]

Panasonic XR series with the hdmi.  I believe the current model is xr-70, though they have some new ones coming out soon I think.

[tapeworm48]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will look into it.  What is a good, thorough site where I could find some reviews for receivers and hometheater systems?

[pjdavep]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will look into it.  What is a good, thorough site where I could find some reviews for receivers and hometheater systems?

Hey Vikas,

Here are some consumer review sites, which a lot of times I find more helpful than a professional review:
http://www.avsforum.com/
http://www.audioreview.com/
http://www.audioasylum.com/index.html

Later,
  pjdavep

[Weirdness]

One of the best bang for your buck receivers out there right now is the Pioneer VSX-1015TX.  Apparently this is pretty much the same as one of the Elite models, less the glossy cabinet and a different remote.  There is alot of talk about Outlaw right now as well but I don't know much about that line.  The 1015 is a nice piece though. 

[tapeworm48]

Dave, thanks for the links, i'll look for reviews there.

I've been considering the pioneer VSX-xx15 series as well as some of the Elite series receivers.  I was going to look for consumer reviews of how the pioneers compare to the yamaha and onkyo receivers.  Denon might be a little out of my range.  Thanks for the recommendation.

[mhibbs]

I've been a big Denon fan for a while.  You can pick up this 2700 in your price range.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?miscrcvr&1149662676

[tapeworm48]

One of the best bang for your buck receivers out there right now is the Pioneer VSX-1015TX.  Apparently this is pretty much the same as one of the Elite models, less the glossy cabinet and a different remote.  There is alot of talk about Outlaw right now as well but I don't know much about that line.  The 1015 is a nice piece though. 

what kind of speakers are you running with the 1015?  i saw this unit at best buy the other day and was pretty impressed with it.  i'll have to A/B the denon as well.