New reciever

Out of the ones on the list, I'd probably go with this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...1&cat=3&scat=4

The runner up would be the Yamaha. The Pioneer, however, has another channel powered for DD EX, as well as Pioneers tend to have a bit more oomph to them than receivers at the same range (at the cost of THD, albeit). The problem I usually encounter with Yamaha is that they're way too bright for my tastes, but they certainly are a contender at that price point, imo. I would go to Best Buy and fidget around with them a little bit to see if there are any features you like in particular, but on pure sound, I feel that the Pioneer would beat out anything in that price class (from Best Buy).

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...1&cat=3&scat=4

The Pioneer 811 is a great reciever, and I have an 850 myself, but Yamaha is just king. You can't get better sound out of a Pioneer than you can out of a Yamaha, unless you're talking really high end. Sure, the Pioneer 811 has more wattage and a 6th channel, but DTS-EX isn't huge anyway, and 20 watts is only something like 7 percent of the sound, and Yamaha can do a lot more with 80 than anyone else can do with a 100. You won't be dissapointed either way, but Yamaha is a better value.

The good thing about Yamaha is that almost (if not all) of thier recievers are discrete transistor instead of ICs, which mean they can handle larger loads better and run hotter before they burn up and die. It's also suposedly better for sound too, but that's debatable. I like my Yamaha :)

I would go with a Denon as well... those things rock.

Quote:

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Originally posted by 88mph
It has to be available at Best Buy.

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Quote:

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Originally posted by 88mph
from this list: http://www.bestbuy.com/HomeAudioVide...1&cat=3&scat=4

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