[Delacroix]

I am interested in fellow members'  recommendations for a decent 2 channel receiver in the $500 range. I am hoping for something with enough power to drive a range of speakers that move through this space and which maybe could handle DAC duties for an old CD player or two. Sonics are more important than convenience but the latter doesn't hurt either. My only previous experience with receivers is an old cheaper 25w Sansui that does duty in the garage/patio acceptably but it's staying there, this new one will need to be seen by normal people who inhabit other parts of my home I am having a difficult time making sense of the receiver market which seems so aimed at HT and multi-channel.  So who is making a sonically pleasing stereo receiver these days that does not cost an arm and a leg?

Thanks

Patrick

[Letitroll98]

NAD, Marantz, Outlaw, Onkyo, perhaps Harmon Kardon, in that order.

[milford3]

The HK AVR 645.  It's 7.1 but a brute of a receiver.  It has everything you need. 

[Doublej]

Also consider Outlaw Audio, Cambridge Audio, Yamaha and Denon too.

Sadly Onkyo has been having horrendous quality issues over the past few years so read up before you purchase an Onkyo.

Denon, Yamaha and others make networked receivers that allow you to listen to internet streams and access content on your computer.

[Delta Wave]

Marantz or "pre Alpine" Luxman.

[jarcher]

If you don't need tuner / internal dac / multi-channel, you might be better off with a integrated amp - new or used.........? Many options there.

I happen to have a 25W Sansui (a vintage 2000A) which I'm pretty happy with for 2 channel music - so don't discard another of those or something similar....

For newer mass market, common wisdom seems to be that Marantz's are perhaps the most "musical". 

With the above said, the Marantz PM6004 is a highly regarded / awarded integrated amp that retails for $600.

If you need / want more bells & whistles, then one of the entry level Marantz home theater receivers would be a good deal.   The SR5006 would have all the power + bells & whistles you'll ever need.  Many of us (myself included) buy refurbs from Acessories 4 less to save a lot.  The SR5006 refurb goes for $499.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR5006/Marantz-SR5006-AV-Receiver-with-Networking-and-AirPlay/1.html

Lastly, Pioneer receivers seems to be getting good press lately for their decent / warmer sound quality.  I'd put one on your shopping list if it can be had at your budget.

[Wasatch]

I would go with Marantz, Denon, NAD, Harmon Karmon in that order.

[Doublej]

Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony and have higher end series called Integra, Pioneer Elite, and Sony ES.

FYI, if it matters, the lower end Denon AVRs lack AM radio.

[geowak]

Marantz or Yamaha

[ajzepp]

I'll throw out another vote for the Outlaw receiver...I've never heard that particular piece, but I've owned a lot of outlaw gear over the years and it's always performed well above it's price point. Their customer service is top notch, as well.

[Soundminded]

I'd go for a used high end Marantz or Pioneer receiver from the 1980s in mint condition. You'll get far more bang for the buck than you will from anything new at the same price level. Among the receivers I've bought used are Pioneer SX950 80 WPC for $10 at a garage sale, Marantz SR 930 135 WPC for $135. I've also bought a used JVC RX500B 100 wpc for $65 I haven't opened yet (sitting around so far for about 8 months) to replace one I bought new but is in another system.  TOTL receivers from Marantz, Pioneer, and Sansui of that era will cost more than $500 used but will compete with the best available. They're generally scarce but the do occasionally become available. They're collectors items too so there's a premium for that. They also weigh a ton.

[Guy 13]

I'd go for a used high end Marantz or Pioneer receiver from the 1980s in mint condition. You'll get far more bang for the buck than you will from anything new at the same price level. Among the receivers I've bought used are Pioneer SX950 80 WPC for $10 at a garage sale, Marantz SR 930 135 WPC for $135. I've also bought a used JVC RX500B 100 wpc for $65 I haven't opened yet (sitting around so far for about 8 months) to replace one I bought new but is in another system.  TOTL receivers from Marantz, Pioneer, and Sansui of that era will cost more than $500 used but will compete with the best available. They're generally scarce but the do occasionally become available. They're collectors items too so there's a premium for that. They also weigh a ton.

Hi Soundminded and all Audio Circle members.
I saw on classicaudio.com website a Pioneer receiver model SX838
for 350 USD with warranty.
Too bad they don't ship to Vietnam,
otherwise I would have bought it right away,
even if I would have to rob a bank to get the money. (LOL)

Guy 13

[budget minded]

if you have soft dome tweeters that sound closed in and polite, a used class D panasonic can really perk the entire frequency range up, but it sounds sterile with metal domes. the choice of receiver you make should take into account synergy with your speakers. NAD & marantz are going to sound more warmish usually, while harman kardon & cambridge will probably have more treble extension & detail. it depends on your gear and preferences eg. i've seen someone buy a well respected tube DAC they found way to warm sounding with their marantz which will lean more towards a similar warm & forgiving sound.

someone someone gave a thumbs down to onkyo, but they had a class D receiver that scored pretty decent in a mostly class D mini amp shootout where a cheap trends unit under $200 actually won. it beat my panasonic in the shootout, and i really liked that with soft domes that needed extra speed and control.

for the same $500 you're looking to spend, i'm planning on swapping to a bare bones 1 input, 30wpc TBI millenia MG3 amp as it's been compared to much more expensive tube amps. in general, class D is very fast and detailed, but can have some of that etched sound the most revealing solid state gear has, but some units, especially newer ones have a more musical and effortless sound. you'd lose a lot of functionality getting one of those though, but if you only want to listen to CDs or some other source, i bet you'd be hard pressed to find a receiver that's as detailed, but effortless sounding too.

integrated amps, as mentioned, will tend to give you better sound for your dollar too, like if you could find a deal on an old creek unit.

it might stretch your budget some, but either denon or marantz has a receiver that does room EQ correction. THAT feature to compensate for both your speaker's response anomalies as well as room acoustics should make a huge improvement in sound quality, if lacking the ultimate ease and detail of higher end amplification.

i really like my panasonic, even with metal domes, but if it got beaten before even facing the trends, which was surpassed by the kingrex amp which was itself surpassed by the TBI, then it sounds like a great high end solution for 2 channel audio in a system where minimalism and 1 source is OK, or you allow for upgrades to a preamp/switcher in the future.

back to full integrated amps, those tend to have better sound quality, even when a mainstream company like sony or pioneer make it.

you could also look into vintage receivers. those were built like tanks, right up until the early 80s, and had more beefy power supplies. i just gave a 1983 kenwood, i think, away and it had a 35wpc rating, but so much power reserve that it made little 2 ways sound like i had a sub, much like NAD used to to with their "high current" designs and i bet if you go back even further, there has to be some really collectable tube receivers from the 60s.

no direct answer, but some options to consider, but system matching matters. i hated my NAD on my superzeros and thought it sounded a little muffled where the panasonic was much more open, but now that i have energy speakers with aluminum domes, i think i might like the ease and warmth a little better now. try and figure out if your system needs more speed and detail, or ease and musicality, or something in between the extremes to find the best match. the best thing to do is bring your speakers and source into a high end shop that has better gear than best buy etc. and demo in the shop, or at the very least, listen to units to find which one has the kind of sound you like best.

i replaced my NAD with an onkyo that had more treble detail and crisper imaging, but it wasn't until i switched to the panasonic that i noticed it had just a little bit of grain to it's sound i only noticed when it was gone. it was very subtle. it also had weaker bass than NAD or panasonic which wasn't an issue, but would be more for you as you probably won't be using a sub in a 2 channel system.