Used recievers ? ? ?

arufener

I am getting my home theatre together, I'm not looking for a ultra-nice set up, just a really good setup, if that makes sense. I've got some really good deals, and already have R20 surrounds, and a Csi20 center. I will get new fronts sometime, but I need a new reciever.
I've been looking at Onkyo and Denon mostly. I've gone towards the Onkyo TX-SR600 because it has so many features, and has had great reviews.
I want to spend around 270 to 350 for my reciever, so buying this reciever new is to much, but I've been looking on Ebay and other places for used or factory refurbished recievers, and their are some really good deals. I trust ebay a lot, my brother bought his
HK AVR 230 for 370 on ebay, brand new.
So anyways I guess my question is, is it a good idea to buy used/factory refurbished/open box recievers? Has anyone had really good experences, or really bad ones?


Thanks a lot
arufener

shack

Before I bought a HK product off E-bay I would check out www.harmanaudio.com first. These are factory refurbs direct from Harman. Having said that...Harman Audio also sells on e-bay and you might be able to pick it up cheaper that way. I have had a couple of refurbs (Denon and HK) and never had any problems. Look at it this way...the poblems have occured and been fixed...so the possibility of reoccurance has been minimized.

bokdaddy

Whenever somebody asks this question I like to mention the Denon AVR-1803 I got refurbished form eCost.com. I paid $219 and it was in great shape when I got it. And I love the sound. I think at this point you could probably get the AVR-1804 from them for around the same price. But then again, if Onkyo is your thing they have those too.

wlrandall

I agree on the factory refurbs-got my DVD player from H/K that way. Unit was received in perfect condition, including cosmetically and hasn't given me one single problem.

Also, look for closeouts on "last year's model" at your local retailers. They don't advertise this stuff, I've never seen it at their websites either. Just gotta beat the street and see what's out there.

RuSsMaN

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&brand=HK

5.1 (and up) Receivers, factory refurb, from $167.

Cheers,
Russ

hellotheworld

onkyo 501 REFURBISHED 150$

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3955363

it is not perfect and is not as good as higher model but great

RuSsMaN

That Onkyo has preouts for all channels also, that's a hell of a deal.

Cheers,
Russ

hellotheworld

I think the description is not accurate.
Onkyo 501 does not have pre-outs and S-Video switching...
I wish it had the pre-outs...

I have a question. Do you think it is enouth to drive RTi70?
Thanks!

TheReaper

The Onkyo 501 only has 60 watts per channel, but they are solid clean watts. Now I follow the 2/3 volume rule, the range of the volumn is 0 -> 78, so I don't turn my volume above 50 (how far you can go before distortion, I don't know). For an old **** like me, living in an apartment (13' x 15' room), this is more than enough volume. For someone who likes things really loud, it probably isn't enough.

As for powering an RTi70, they play fine at lower volumes, start comming alive around 30, and are at full song around 45, which doesn't leave much room on to 50.

One thing the 501 does have is A and B speaker switches and connections (B is only spring clips) for A/B/A+B. So if you have 2 sets of main speakers that work together (I have R50 and RTi70), you can approach double the volume in stereo mode (the B switch turns off the surrounds to power the B speakers).

The Onkyo 501 has no problem powering my speakers in 6.1 surround, which are a fairly heavy load (4 speakers have two 6.5" drivers, 2 speakers have a single 6.5").

Am I rambling too much?
=======================
Toshiba 42" RPHDTV (42H83)
Toshiba DVD (SD-3900)
Onkyo 360w 6.1 (TX-SR501B)
Polk R50 L/R Mains
Polk R30 L/R Surrounds
Polk CSi40 (tweeted) Center
Polk R50 Rear Center
Polk RTi70 L/R B-Mains
Sony 10" Sub-Woofer (from previous setup)

hellotheworld

Thank you Reaper, I'm almost in the same boat with you:D
I used to have R30 surrounds but when I got a pair RTi70 (they are still not shipped tho) I sold my R30 for a good price. So now I have R50 fronts and CSi30 center. When RTi70's arrive I will move R50 to the back...

Maybe I will sell R50's to get perfect match surrounds...

Mike Sedai

Just wanted to chime in on the negative for www.harmanaudio.com

I am having a few problems with not only the product they shipped me, but now I am having trouble getting any sort of customer service.

I tried calling the number on the website, and found that all voice mail boxes are full (not a way to run a company), and any and all emails I have sent have gone unanswered.

It hasn't been long since I sent the mail (a couple of hours), but I have been trying to call all day, at first just to ask them a question about the product, and now that I am sure it is a bad box, to ask about getting it returned.

The return form on the website asks for information that wasn;t supplied to me in shipping, so that form is kicking back when I try to use it. They claim I need to know the following things, and that I need to get them off the shipping label:

Serial Number : Was on the label, no problem here
Packed By: Not on the label, or any label on the box or device
QC'd by: Not on the label, or on any label on the box or device

First of all, I think they should keep track of who packs and QCs their gear, not me. Second, if I do have to keep track of that stuff, they could actually include it on the label or packing slip so I can use the web form to do a return.

ALSO: If I want to return the unit, I am expected to pay the shipping charges unless I do an exchange. Since I ordered a special off their site, I don't see what I would exchange it for, so I assume I am going to have to fork out 50$ to ship a broken receiver across the country to their warehouse in Phoenix Arizona (I live on the east coast).

HarmanAudio - 1 Mike Sedai - 0

My case seens to be the exception to the norm, as many people on these forums have had good service/product from the dealer, but I shall probably not use them again...

And I STILL don't have a HT system after all this time...

*Researches gardening online*