Buying used receiver, please help!

[wolfram23]

Hi guys. I'm basically a noob when it comes to home theater. I know some basics and can hook anything up, but when it comes to different makes and models of receivers and such I'm at a loss.

I know I want DTS and Dolby Digital, but beyond that I can't really say why I should pick one over the other. So basically I'm searching Kijiji for a nice used receiver. I don't want to spend much since my speakers are pretty shitty quality - just got a pair of Polk Audio bookshelf speakers for L/R, while the C, SR, SL are some cheapo "Precision Acoustics". I think they say 80W 8ohm.

Anyway, I mainly use this for either gaming or streaming movies, rarely for music.

So if you can help me pick something that would be great. I'd like to spend $100 or less but if it's a great deal to go over that then I don't mind.

The contenders:

JVC RX-888VBX $95 (or an RX-888V for a tad more... assuming "BX" is better?)
Marantz SR6300 $125
Harmon/Kardon AVR 330 $150
Onkyo TX-SR600 $150
Onkyo TX-DS747 $200

Looking for any advice. Thanks.

 

[soundguruman]

Hi guys. I'm basically a noob when it comes to home theater. I know some basics and can hook anything up, but when it comes to different makes and models of receivers and such I'm at a loss.

I know I want DTS and Dolby Digital, but beyond that I can't really say why I should pick one over the other. So basically I'm searching Kijiji for a nice used receiver. I don't want to spend much since my speakers are pretty shitty quality - just got a pair of Polk Audio bookshelf speakers for L/R, while the C, SR, SL are some cheapo "Precision Acoustics". I think they say 80W 8ohm.

Anyway, I mainly use this for either gaming or streaming movies, rarely for music.

So if you can help me pick something that would be great. I'd like to spend $100 or less but if it's a great deal to go over that then I don't mind.

The contenders:

JVC RX-888VBX $95 (or an RX-888V for a tad more... assuming "BX" is better?)
Marantz SR6300 $125
Harmon/Kardon AVR 330 $150
Onkyo TX-SR600 $150

Onkyo TX-DS747 $200

Looking for any advice. Thanks.

I would skip JVC for sure.
Don't buy anything until you have hooked it up and tested it for a long period of time.
Check all the inputs/outputs
Check the operation of all controls and switches...
Don't take anybody's word that a used receiver is working, until you have tried it YOURSELF.

 

[wolfram23]

I ended up getting an Onkyo TX-SR705 for $300. Really liking it, glad I paid a little more.

 

[wolfram23]

Best answer selected by wolfram23.

 

[soundguruman]

Onkyo is pretty good, especially for $300.