Best AV Receiver around $500

For about 599 you could get the Pioneer Elite VSX-23Txh

FYI, Pioneer does not authorize any dealers to sell their Elite products online. If you buy from an online retailer you are not protected by the manufacturers warranty. I suspect there are ways around this.

I was not comfortable doing this, besides BestBuy have the VSX-21 for $599 last time I was there, it sounded identical to the VSX-23. A lot AVR for the money. I was not sold on the sound though. Just my opinion. Love the look of the Pioneers.

I ended up with the Denon 1910. Only downside for me is it's lack of pre-outs if I ever wanted to add an amp. It sounds really good though.

The Onkyo 607 is a good AVR also, (I auditioned most brands in this price range), check out some threads on how hot it gets. My cabinet is enclosed so that put me off a bit.

Figure out if you need pre-outs first and what other features are important to you, then audition the ones you like.

Good Luck

For $499 a refurbished SR707 is a great bargain. It has preamp outs - and Audyssey MultEQ.

Want a networking capable AVR? The Onkyo RC180 has preamp outs - Audyssey MultEQ and networking - not bad at that price.

if youre willing to buy used, i picked up my Onkyo SR805 from on these forums for $480 shipped. there are deals out there.

A little more than your budget but a good deal anyway. Also need to check back here on Saturdays. For some reason they seem to run very good sales only on Saturdays. Free shipping also helps. Also authorized dealer.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882120135

Think about a used higher end receiver. I have owned many pieces of used equipment over the years and have had never had a problem with an amp. The bonus is that you can buy something that you could not afford to buy new.

For that budget, you will really be surprised to what you can get. I had a very good experience with value electronics and was able to get a brand spanking new Elite VSX 21 txh for less than the special price of newegg for a 1019 ahk.

LOL!!! The attempt to simplify can be so complicated.

Like phantom said, its the fun (and the pain) in this hobby. LOL

Well, to simplify things, there are very few brands out there.
Denon, Pioneer, Yamaha, Marantz, Onkyo, Harman Kardon, Sony (added the last one as an afterthought)

To over simplify, each brand has just a few models.

To select a receiver, just check your budget, and get the best features and sound quality that YOU desire. People on forums have their own choices. Mine is Pioneer. But, its YOU who needs to be satisfied.

In your budget, Denon 1910 and Onkyo SR607 are quite good. Also add the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K to that list.

Why would anyone buy the 1019AH, which is a good AVr and at this time almost impossible to find, when for the same money or even less in some cases you can get the Elite 21 from where DirtyDeeds said? The Elites are a better build and come with a longer warranty for starters, other perks from the Elites are also pluses. Better looking and much better resale down the road if you should decide to upgrade and sell in the future.

I would get the VSX 21 TXH.

for $500 you could also look at the Yamaha 665 which has all the HD audio decoding and offers Preouts to ad an external amp at some point.. it is the only $500 amp to even offer this..

I think the point the OP is missing is that the company listed above that sells the receiver for a great price is an authorized dealer by Pioneer. So you would have the full warranty - just making sure that is out there

Don't forget to check out Harman Kardon. HK is not as well known as some other AVR manufacturers but it is fairly common to hear comments about the sound quality being better than the Denons, Pioneers, et al. And make sure you consider that the HK power ratings are conservative. I believe they rate based on all channels driven.

Are you serious?

Dirty Deeds told you where to get it from online just a few post up!

Call these guys.
Value Electronics dot com

I tried to buy the 23 this morning from this place, they wouldn't sell to me because I was in Oklahoma.

Probably too much for shipping

lol @ roman.

Their website says they will only sell to people within a 250 mile radius.
I can't believe there's no workaround for that.

I'm in Houston... I want a vsx21, or a vsx 9040 (same guts as the 21, but no
elite badging... meant for canadians)

Anywhere around here I should go to get a deal on this thing?

under $500, in stock, authorized dealer and free shipping for the 9040txh!

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-VSX-90.../dp/B002USVKFY

dont wait too long!

You could also contact Roman O. He sells the 21thx for about $30 more so you'd get the 2 year warranty.
http://shopbesttv.com/Audio/Pioneer.aspx

I live in Dallas-Fort Worth area and have no problem talking to the guy from value electronics and having it shipped to TX. The guy to talk to is Robert, and I just share my very good experience with his online store, it may or may not work for you but do give them a call, use your wise judgement of course.

What about the lack of Audyssey in the Pioneer lines? I haven't experienced Audyssey before but it's one of the factors that push me toward the Onkyo line in this price range.

Pioneer uses MCACC and it has its own following also. Some prefer one over the other. Pioneer users that have had receivers with Audyssey prefer it over the other receivers. Look in the Pioneer threads.

I ordered my '23 from them last Friday and got it on Tuesday. I'm not as far away as TX, but NC is def. over 250 miles! I also talked to Robert who seemed very knowledgeable and pleasant as was the woman I talked to earlier in the day.

I don't know if it matters, but Robert asked me how I heard of them. I mentioned this forum and he said I was a 'preferred customer' whatever that means! I do know that I received an email invoice shortly after ordering it, a tracking number later in the day, and a paper receipt in the box.

I had mentioned this forum too, I was told that I would have to buy locally to get what I wanted. The guy I spoke with was very nice and informative but told me that he couldn't make a sale to me. So, I called Will at video g. and it was shipped out today. Oh well, it worked out anyway.

How come I wasn't considered a preferred customer when here I am giving him good reviews!!!!?? Just kidding.

Well Pioneer ticks me off with this warranty rule. The Uniform Commercial Code does state that a product has a implied warranty which for a receiver would be 1-2 years. I have asked the Federal Trade Commision (today in a complaint submittal) if limiting this by only authorized resellers and within 250 miles is allowed.

I am guessing that it is, but I want clarity in the case