Piecing together my HT....looking for opinions/recommendations/comments

[Blu-Benny]

Alright, I’ve started to do a lot of reading and research on building my HT w/hopes of having the basement done and some/most of the components in place by next fall/winter.

I’m hoping to use this thread to continue to get feedback on equipment and find out pros/cons any other members have had w/units. I’d like to get into more online shopping for things like this but am nervous about buying w/o trying things first.

I’ve decided to start w/a receiver b/c I’ve got some small bookshelves that will get my by until I actually get a nice tv and 2nd blu-ray player in my basement.

My sister and brother-in-law are cleaning out some of their old equipment and they are selling an Onkyo TX-SR706 receiver for $400.

I’ve read a couple threads on this unit but they’ve mostly been sale/hot deal threads. The unit needs a new HDMI board…..(I believe that is what he said, it’s giving him some digital blocks when he games through it but there’s nothing when he’d watch movies)…..but it s/b covered under warranty he said.

Almost everything I’ve read about this unit is positive but am a little concerned about any issues w/it.

Does anyone have any comments on it or recommendations of a similar/comparable unit??