Which HT Receiver would you buy?

I'd go seperates, even for your $1,000 budget, if you don't mind shopping around here, eBay or Harmon audio outlet, you can find yourself a decent preamp/processor and power amp.

Suggestions (just by doing a quick search)..

1) Harmon audio outlet has their Signature 2.0 preamp and 2.1 poweramp refurbed with warrenty for under $1,000.

2) Audiogon classfieds, a Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080R preamp for $500.00 and pair it with a Rotel RB-985THX 5 channel poweramp that can be found in Audiogon classifieds for $450.00. The Rotel 985 is about the biggest bang for the buck poweramp you can find for the money.

Just my thoughts anyway...
Mark

I would buy a Harmon-Kardon Signature 2.0 preamp/controller and Signature 5 channel amp. from J&R in NYC. They have factory re3conditioned and guaranteed units for @ $700.00 that retail for over $5,000. I got set and could not be more pleased (other than an awkward remote.

Stownel:

Those are some good choices that you have listed above. Check out all of those choices, but for about $550.00 to $1,000.00, I would also check out the Harman/Kardon AVR-510 (I believe now, they are going to discontinue the AVR-510, because they are coming out with an AVR-520). This receiver may be conservative in the power department (in fact, all Harmans are that way), but you will more than make up for that shortcoming with a high current amplifier design, excellent sound quality and a decent feature set. Personally, I have the AVR-210, and had it for about the last six months, and I couldn't be any happier. It has more than enough power for my needs, has a nice set of inputs and outputs (sans component inputs and outputs), and it is well built and it is reasonably priced to boot. It even has outputs for all channels which allows me to add an amplifier if I should get into upgrading later on. Now, whether or not I would use it in a "music only" system is another matter entirely. At this point, I don't need to. I already have an excellent preamplifier (the Adcom GFP-750), so the Harman's outputs is a moot issue at this point. But now, if I want something for home theater or something like that, I couldn't be any happier.

Let us know what you eventually end up with.

--Charles--

Thanks to all so far for the quick responses.

Just to help out, I have already delved into the world of HiFi Seperates and crazy outrageoug money on audio and HT equipment. I have become somewhat disenchanted by the limited differences in audio gear - especially for the price. Also being financially a little more savvy here is my plan.

Get a decent HT receiver, keep my nice speakers, and someday upgrade my Sony DVD-S500 DVD Player to utilize DTS. I own Soliloquy 5.0s mains, KEF Reference Center, B&W 600i Surrounds and a HSU VTF-2 Subwoofer. I do care about two channel CD sound, but spend more of my time watching movies on my 35" Toshiba CF35-F70. Currently my Sony DVD does all of the processing, and I have a Yamaha DSP-E492 3 channel DD ready processor and an old NAD Receiver used as a 2 channel amp stacked on it. Looking to neaten up the mess.

I am leaning toward the Yamaha because of my past experience - real power, nice processing features, nice build. But, I am open to options. The NAD seemed relatively a better deal but looking for real life receiver experience.

My Dad (who was also trying to simplify his system) bought a discontinued NAD (the T771, I think) which had everything but DTS (which was why it was discontinued) and has really loved it. You can often find incredible deals on these units and in my experience the audio quality is much higher than mass market Yamaha. I have owned lots of NAD and have had no problems in over 20 years so at least for me the reliability has been astounding.