Easy to use receiver for < $250

rs159

My grandparents are moving out of their house and into a modular in a retirement home where they will have room for a real HT system. I had to explain to my grandmother *7 times* how to use the *scroll bar* on the computer, so I'm looking for a surround receiver under 250 thats dead simple to use. I'm not familiar with receivers in this price range that's why I'm asking. I'm also asking because I think a lot of us have a skewed sense of what is really "simple", so what I call "simple" might take a week or two of me showing them what -every- -single- -button- does and why this mode is better than that and etc...

The room will be huge, with the living room in the lower level of the one end of the house and the kitchen and dining room in the upper part. They say they don't like to listen loud, but the "system" (a boombox, if you will) that they have sounds like an aural assault on the ears when you turn it up loud, and I'm afraid that once they discover that loud doesn't mean painful they might not be afraid to crank it.

BTW, 250 is approximate, up to 300 is OK and maybe 350, but thats a stretch.

Mantis, I know you've probably had situations like this.

RuSsMaN

Is surround a must? What about a nice 2ch int or rec?

Take a look at harmanaudio.com 's factory refurbs for high-current surround on the cheap.

Just another thought, if DD/DTS isn't mandatory, a good used PL receiver is about as simple as you can get. No bass mgmt, probably only a couple 'dsp' soundfields. Once you set the levels for all channels, all they need to do is select the proper source and vol up/down.

Cheers,
Rooster

Steve@3dai

I'm with Russ on this one.

Nice two channel would be perfect in this situation, turn on the amp, the cd player, and boom, done.

No DSP, no setting up anything.

rs159

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Is surround a must? What about a nice 2ch int or rec?...

Cheers,
Rooster

I'm never going to get them to find the sweet spot and sit there whenever they sit down to watch the nightly news "But it sounds the same over here, why do I have to sit right there? Thats stupid" I'm not kidding, that's what they would say, so a center channel is a must or else I'll get "How come I only hear one speaker?"

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
...Just another thought, if DD/DTS isn't mandatory, a good used PL receiver is about as simple as you can get. No bass mgmt, probably only a couple 'dsp' soundfields. Once you set the levels for all channels, all they need to do is select the proper source and vol up/down.

Cheers,
Rooster

Youre probably right, I never thought of that honestly. If it's "surround sound" they won't care if its PL or DTS ES, it's still "surround sound" - WHOOPIE! But if I find them using the DSP all the time, :mad:

All they have now is a VCR, but they do have digital cable, so technically they could get 5.1, but that don't worry me none. Add a decent DVD changer to the mix and they should be ready to go.

God knows if they'll want a tape deck or a turntable, I'll worry about that when they want one, but I'll make sure the receiver has enough inputs just in case.

polkatese

rs159,
I have a perfect unit for your gramps, my Denon AVC-3030 (DPL, 5 channels amplifications), check out the flea market for details, still available and I will give you a nice deal.....lemme know if you are interested.