[Otis]

Hi guys, new here after a short lurk    -- I'm looking for a digital receiver and want the best one for 2 ch. background music.

Sources will be 90% tuner, with the rest cd and vinyl.

Any suggestions?

Otis

[mcgsxr]

I notice that you mention vinyl as a source - do you own a separate phono preamp?

If not, I am not aware of any digital receivers with a phono section built in... I could be wrong though.

Outside of that, I would recommend one of the JVC receivers, since you will be using analog interconnects - I owned the ES-1 for a while, and understand that for harder to drive speakers, the newer F-10 is the ticket.

What is the rest of your system?

[John Ashman]

See if you can find an NAD C740 receiver, but you may have to call around.  They're recently discontinued and it has their $350 tuner built in, one of the best tuners for the money.  If not the new C720BEE will have a better power section and their $250 tuner in it.

[Otis]

Guys, yep, I have a separate phono amp, and am running vintage "west coast" speakers, ie JBL L150s, 4333s Pioneer HPM-100's etc. All are 8 ohms.

I guess what I really want to know is among the 'name' digital receivers, JVC, Onkyo, Panny, Pioneer, etc. which if any have worthy tuners and a well-balanced sound?

I've tried the tiny SI amp with a separate tuner, and the lack of dynamics and bass just wore me down.

[BenF]

The only receiver line I have seen mentioned with a very listenable tuner is the Panasonics. No other ones get any particular mention. See this thread - it has some very good things to say about the tuner from respected members:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=14922

I have the XR45 and I like the tuner very much. I often record off the FM and burn CDs from the result. I can hear the 19kHz carrier signal (and see it on the spectrum analyzer) so the freq response is pretty wide too.

Based on your particular mix of needs, I recommend you try a Panasonic digital receiver and let it burn-in before deciding on its merits.

Ben