Opinions on a good HT/Music AVR

If you really want to maximize stereo performance, buy a used $250 AVR receiver but get a 2 channel stereo amp and a 2-channel preamp ($2500 combined) with HT pass through. I can tell you from experience, there isn't a 5+ channel amp that can compare with a two channel amp for the same price (or even less for the 2-channel amp).

This is by far and away the best way to go. There isn't an AVR Receiver that will even come close to sound performance for music taking this route.

I have a onkyo txnr 902. After spending thousands on seperates, trying this and that including the butler amp I am happier than ever with the 902. I couldn't believe it but the 902 sounded better than anything else I tried whether I'm listening to 2 channel music or 7.1 movie surround. My audiophile friends wouldn't believe me until they heard it and agreed it sounds great. I'm using sonus faber speaks for 7 channels and a jl f113 for a sub. I definately recomend you look into this receiver. You won't be disapointed.

I come fom high end 2 channel audio world and have to say that - based on personal experience - Arcam makes very good sounding receivers if you're into music as well as HT. I've had several Dennons and I'm just not a fan, especially for music. For a music lover who wants to combine it all into one no muss-no fuss system you can't go wrong with Arcam.

I had excellent performance from my Arcam AVR300 - if I had the bucks I'd do the 600 in a heartbeat. If you could find a demo or used that would be sweet.

NAD and Rotel would be next level down IMO. Onkyo has some very good sounding budget receivers and are worth a listen.

If you're not gonna upgrade any time soon buy one of the upper end Arcams and be done.

However, if you're thinking you want to be on an upgrade path, consider buying seperates - I personally have liked Cary gear and think it very underrated. A lot depends on your speakers.

I've bought lots of gear used.demo and would recommend that option.

When ever I read, "I don't really need 7.1," I feel compelled to respond. After having a 5.1 system with dipoles and evolving to 7.1 the difference was more than a simple subjective improvement.

Even most mid priced receivers have the ability to matrix 5.1 media into 7.1. The matrixing improves if your AVR has decent room correction. The rear information becomes more discrete. If your LCR's are on the same plane the screen dialog becomes more located and the new side speakers transition the L and R with the rears with good effect.

A small space and the currently limited 7.1 mastered media are poor excuses not to have 7.1 in your future. The fly in your ointment are your dipoles. They tend to botch up the room correction and smear the surround to varying degrees.

My first question would be how much I could get for the entire Von Schweikert set then budget for a used pre/pro and JBL 4300 series powered speakers. Yeah, I rolled my eyes too.

joe this may be slightly contrary but I would suggest you pick the cheapest Yamaha, denon, onkyo, whatever that has a reasonable featureset (be honest about what you must have vs nice to have, make sure the remote works for you, and let rip. they you have maybe 2600 left over. buy a nice multichannel amp (shoot for 2000 ish) and then spend the leftover on the best dac you can get. Use the receiver for video decodes, the dac for audio decodes, a good amp for both, and then in a few years you will not be bothered when the video standards or whatever change and you only have to swap receiver. Make sure your players have analog outs of course. $2000 gets you a good amp and pretty good dac. you can get a pretty good receiver for $3000 but like many above I'm of the thought that they are not worth it and having a all in one solution is scary. just my $0.02