At home stereo reciever

[DarkWing6]

I am looking to buy a reciever for my at home sytem and was wondering if any of you had suggestions on what I should buy. I don't need top of the line, I would just like to get quality for what I pay. It needs to be able to output to 4 speakers and I would like to be able to run a laptop through it to play music. Any help would be great. I don't know too much about this kind of thing so any help and suggestions would be great.

Thanks
Derek

[KenC]

Anything Denon or Onkyo is great quality.

[LikeCDoos]

I'm acually in the same boat and am looking to spend around 200-300 for an audio/video reciever for my dorm next year. I've already got a crappy computer thats just going to sit next to it and play MP3's all day. Any suggestions or links possibly?

[DarkWing6]

What kind of hookup would it need to connect a laptop to it?

[KenC]

What kind of hookup would it need to connect a laptop to it?

You can get connectors that convert an RCA interconnect signal into a head-phone type jack so you can plug it into your lap top.

[DarkWing6]

I can get a refurbished Onkyo TX-8511 for $129 + shipping.

Does that sound like a winner to you guys?

[KenC]

I can get a refurbished Onkyo TX-8511 for $129 + shipping.

Does that sound like a winner to you guys?

Specs?

[DarkWing6]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-JHmHBUIQ7UL/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=4&g=10410&I=580TX8511&o=p&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=

I would buy from a different place, but Crutchfield gives good specs.

[KenC]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-JHmHBUI...&avf=N&search=

I would buy from a different place, but Crutchfield gives good specs.

You realize that's a stereo amplifier, not one capable of surround-sound, correct?

[DarkWing6]

Ya, it's just for my apartment. It will be used mostly for music and video games. I don't have the $$ to buy the whole surround sound.

[KenC]

For music it'd be great. Onkyo makes really nice stuff. We have the first Dolby Digital receiver made by Onkyo (the model, not the individual receiver).

[LikeCDoos]

anyone got a decent audio/video reciever i can use. I will be connecting the computer to the reciever through S-Video and also the headphone jack like explained above.

[bwanac]

I have an Onkyo and it totally kicks ass. Buy something from them, or Denon.

Harmond Kardon and Marantz are two nice brands, but overpriced. And all others are lower-quality, well the usual brands (Sony, Panasonic, etc.)

What you found looks good! :up:

[MattE30]

How are Harman Kardon compared to Onkyos?

[KenC]

How are Harman Kardon compared to Onkyos?

HK makes some really nice stuff. If you're comparing entry-level models, I'd say there won't be a drastic difference between the two.