Looking for a budget reciever.

[Jeterocks]

Recently my receiver and left and right speakers to my surround sound were stolen by a maintenance employee from my dorm.

Luckily for me, they didn't take all my speakers (only the left and right ones).

Being a college student, I don't have a budget that is big enough right now to go out and get the best receiver available, so I would like some suggestions/links to what you would think could work for me.

A little info on what I had/have in terms of speakers currently.

I bought a home theater in a box a year ago -- yea yea, i know there not great but it worked for me -- It was a JVC THD50

200 watt per speaker and a 200 watt bass. I'm missing the left and right speaker and the receiver.

All suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

P.S. If you could suggest a left and right speaker that would work that would be great to. I would like to still be able to use the current speakers I have with the receiver as well.

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by Jeterocks

Being a college student, I don't have a budget that is big enough right now to go out and get the best receiver available, so I would like some suggestions/links to what you would think could work for me.

Bummer about your surround speakers disappearing! Some people...

It might be helpful for everyone to know what your budget might be. If you are looking raw basics, but want to upgrade from a HTIB, you can actually do okay for yourself for around $300 for everything you need in the way of a receiver and surround speakers.

Add a few bucks for some decent, 16-gauge speaker wire, and you're all set in a basic way. You can find some really great deals online if you look around as well. What I suggested is in no way what you are limited to.

Nezff has an Onkyo 605 receiver for sale. Check into it. That's a well-featured and versatile receiver, and might be more than what you are looking for, but if the price is right, then go for it, because it does handle lossless audio via HDMI (Dolby Digital TrueHD and DTS HD-Master Audio, as well as LPCM). Budget 5.1 receivers may not handle all of these.

One additional thought. You may find that you'll have to be careful that your current HTIB speakers may be a bit small for a full-out receiver, so you'll probably want to upgrade your front and center speakers as well. Then comes a new sub, and so on...

It's time to upgrade your life!

[Jeterocks]

Yea, I figure that if I could spend about $300 and get everything including the speakers it would be great.

also is it a problem that the sub woofer that came with the HTIB doesn't require an external power supply and was only connected through basic, cheap, speaker wire to the receiver?

I'm assuming that would mean that I would also have to get a new subwoofer if I wanted to get a decent receiver.

[nezff]

HTIB is all you are going to get with a $300 budget.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by nezff

HTIB is all you are going to get with a $300 budget.

yep

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by Jeterocks

Yea, I figure that if I could spend about $300 and get everything including the speakers it would be great.

also is it a problem that the sub woofer that came with the HTIB doesn't require an external power supply and was only connected through basic, cheap, speaker wire to the receiver?

I'm assuming that would mean that I would also have to get a new subwoofer if I wanted to get a decent receiver.

I see that you mean to say that the sub you have now is amplified by a speaker-level output on your HTIB amp. A dedicated receiver will have a line-level sub output, so yes, you would need to get a new, powered sub. For a budget, look into Sony's subs, or the Polk Audio PSW10. For around $100 or a little more for these, you can add low end which will exceed your HTIB sub's performance. Just about everyone who owns the Sony's or Polk PSW10 will rave that for the price paid, they are happy. I have heard these subs and I would have to agree!

Just about everyone here will encourage you to stretch your budget, even if a little. If you can muster $500, you'll probably do much better, and I can practically guarantee you'll be glad you did. I would strongly recommend that since you are looking for a dedicated receiver (albeit inexpensive), looking into receivers which can at least decode the lossless audio codecs internally will provide the greatest enjoyment for you.

[Jeterocks]

Well I just crunched some numbers and if I do buy the receiver off of Nezff and the sub woofer that you suggested Rob, I would need 2 bookshelf speakers for the left and right. So here is what I'm looking at for under $500

receiver from Nezff -- $290


Polk Audio PSW10 -- $120

Sony SS-B1000 5 1/8" Bookshelf Speakers -- $50

Total being $460

Does this seem like it would all work out and be suitable or am I missing something. Also are the prices for the sub and bookshelf speakers reasonable?

[Driver_King]

Or you could get the Polk RM6750 here and skip the sub.

[callas01]

If your going to get Sony Bookshelf speakers for your fronts then let me suggest the B3000 for about $99 on amazon.com. You will be happier in the Short term, and in the long run with them when you move them to the back of your setup as surrounds. Trust me I have an all sony setup.

I think the best thing you could do, is get the receiver from Nezff and invest in a decent front 2 speakers and skip the sub for the moment. You could get some Sony 5000's for $150 or 6000's for $199 off amazon. they will give you decent enough bass, and then save up for a sub and add that in a month or 2. Continue to use the surrounds you have now.

good luck.

[Jeterocks]

I just checked to see how many ohms my current JVC speakers has and they are at 3 ohms. I hear that with the receiver I'm looking to get from Nezff that anything other than 6 or 12 ohms is going to hurt the receiver. If this is true then I might as well just get the POLK RM6750 set and replace everything.

If I am mistaken then I will keep the JVCs and get the Sony SS-B3000 front speakers and wait for the sub.

If nothing I currently have is compatible with the reciver...I might as well go with the Polk.

[callas01]

get the polks and a new receiver. Its just time to drop HTiB.

[Jeterocks]

alright. That is what I will do then.

Now what kind of speaker wire would you suggest. I also hear getting banana clips are the best idea for connecting speakers to the receiver, is this true?

[callas01]

Monoprice.com, you can get 16 gauge wire, and you would be fine. I don't use banana plugs, that is more of a convience thing if your gonna be moving them a lot or for asthetics. But you don't need them.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Jeterocks

I just checked to see how many ohms my current JVC speakers has and they are at 3 ohms. I hear that with the receiver I'm looking to get from Nezff that anything other than 6 or 12 ohms is going to hurt the receiver. If this is true then I might as well just get the POLK RM6750 set and replace everything.

If I am mistaken then I will keep the JVCs and get the Sony SS-B3000 front speakers and wait for the sub.

If nothing I currently have is compatible with the reciver...I might as well go with the Polk.

Correct. You want to go with 6 or 8ohm with the 605. Honestly, in terms of a budget receiver, it is in my opinion the best of the bunch.

Speaker wire depends on the length of the run. Personally I would say 12 or 14 AWG from Monoprice just because they have it at such a good price: ~$25 for a 100ft spool of 12AWG in-wall wire is awesome. Banana plugs are purely for convenience, but in my opinion are worth it for that reason alone.

[Lacit170]

Hello.... im lookin for a good receiver for about 5-600 bux... any suggestions?? and where to get it for the cheapest?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

Hello.... im lookin for a good receiver for about 5-600 bux... any suggestions?? and where to get it for the cheapest?

I like the pic of the best Willy Wonka ever..... Gene Wilder, love it.

Man, there are lots of options for you.

Denon 2308CI
Yamaha 6180
Onkyo 706
Denon 1909
Pioneer Elite

[Jeterocks]

With the help of Callas01 I have finalized my setup.

Here is what I ended up with:

Marantz SR5002 Receiver

and for speakers I got:


Polk Audio RM6750 Surround Sound Speaker System

total being a bit over $500. More than I WANTED to spend, but figure heh, it's only money and nothing I can't make back in a week or 2 by working in the summer.

Now I figure I will buy some speaker wire and some bookshelf speakers (used only for college).

I have some best buy gift cards that i need to get rid of so I can spend a little more just to get them from BB.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[Phatferd]

Originally Posted by Jeterocks

With the help of Callas01 I have finalized my setup.

Here is what I ended up with:

Marantz SR5002 Receiver

and for speakers I got:


Polk Audio RM6750 Surround Sound Speaker System

total being a bit over $500. More than I WANTED to spend, but figure heh, it's only money and nothing I can't make back in a week or 2 by working in the summer.

Now I figure I will buy some speaker wire and some bookshelf speakers (used only for college).

I have some best buy gift cards that i need to get rid of so I can spend a little more just to get them from BB.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Why do you want bookshelf speakers if you got the Polk 6750 system? Are you trying to do 7.1?

[Jeterocks]

Nah, the polk system is going to stay at my house in my room while the bookshelf speakers I will use in my dorm for some sound. I will bring the Receiver, sub, and bookshelfs to college -- leave the polk system home and then when i go home, all i have to bring with me is the receiver and sub instead of carying the entire 5.1 set.

I see you have the Polks, how do you like them?

[Phatferd]

Originally Posted by Jeterocks

Nah, the polk system is going to stay at my house in my room while the bookshelf speakers I will use in my dorm for some sound. I will bring the Receiver, sub, and bookshelfs to college -- leave the polk system home and then when i go home, all i have to bring with me is the receiver and sub instead of carying the entire 5.1 set.

I see you have the Polks, how do you like them?

I love them for the price I paid! I am like you and a college student, so my budget isn't that large. I think they sound very good and will definitely last me for a few years until I start making solid money and can afford an upgrade.