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Advice needed Please, To Fix Or Not To Fix?

My AV receiver needs repairs totalling 317 bucks. This includes the 60 bucks diagnostic fee and tax. The repair man tells me it needs a new output board, multiple caps are leaking, and there is signal loss all over. He will also thoroughly clean it up inside. A complete referbish as he puts it. It's a Integra DTR 5.4 and I have had it for years. I always thought it sounded good. I have it paired with a combo of Energy and Yamaha speakers, sub is Energy too. What do you guys think? Worth fixing or should I get a new piece? I really miss not having 5.1 and want the sound back but I do not want to spend too much on a new piece. What would I have to spend new or used to at least match this piece? Thanks in advance to any one who responds.
P.S. The price quoted for repair sounds pretty fair, but I admit to not having too many things fixed so I don't really know.
zar
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I got the price with a quick Google search. I don't recall exactly which store had it listed for $549. My guess is that if you find one, any other will match it, so Google on!

Marty
zar OP
185 posts
 
Marty, Amazon has it listed for 499.00! Here is a dumb question. My Integra was 5.1, this is 7 channels. Do I need to get more speakers? Can I just hook up my previous gear and be cool? Sorry I must sound ike an idiot.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I run my new 9.2 channel Integra 50.4 AVR in the family room in a 5.1 configuration (front L&R, rear L&R, and center - no side channels) with subs and 2 additional height channels. My front L & R are Silverline Sonatinas and they sound quite good for music (on the rare occasion that this system is used for music).

However, the room came pre-wired with 2 speakers pretty high up in the walls next to the TV nook and 2 more near the back of the room in the ceiling. I assume they were intended as front L & R and rear channel speakers.

Since I use the Silverlines as front L & R, and I had the 2 built-in speakers that were already in the walls beside the TV nook, I decided to use that built-in "front" pair as height channels and the back pair as rear channels. They were already there so I figured I might as well use 'em. I didn't install built-in side speakers because they weren't already there and it didn't seem important to add 'em.

In my more elaborate HT, the 7.2 channel Integra is run in a straight Front L&R, Side L&R, Rear L&R, CC, dual sub 7.2 set-up. If the room is big enough, the extra 2 side channels are uselful. The height channels in a 9.2 can also be fun, but IMHO, neither is essential.

Marty
zar OP
185 posts
 
Marty, thanks for all that info. I realized I have two extra speakers ( Ireplaced them with Yamaha mini monitors for the left and right front speakers. My rear or surround speakers are small Energy. The spares are the same. What do you suggest? I was thinking of two sets of left and right fronts. Thanks again.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
The best place to start IMHO - if the room is big enough - front l&r plus side l&r plus rear l&r, along with center and sub(s). That's a straight 7.1 (or 7.2 if you have 2 subs) on the back of the Onkyo AVR.
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