I have a pioneer VSX-515 that I bought last year on black friday (day after thanksgiving) for $119.
It is really a very nice piece of equipment. I really can't see spending any more money on a HT receiver. It makes movies come alive and has every feature I would ever need except the ability to drive low impedance loads. Stick with 8 ohm speakers and you are golden.
Look at what you get for more money and ask yourself if you would ever use it. Video switching? Why would I want to do that? Why do I need multiple digital inputs when all I have with a digital out is a DVD player? Pre outs? C'mon, it is home theater, it is really just a toy. A well set up budget system sounds just as good, you just can't sound like an audio snob when you mention the brand names.
I use these with a set of bookshelves I designed and built. I bought two pairs of little $50/ pr Sony SS-MB150H speakers to use as surrounds and the matching center (they sounded relatively flat to me in the store and measurements show they have a reasonable tonal balance) and eventually I will mod them with a crossover that works better than the 1.5 uF on the tweeter and the free-run woofers....
Total cost - about $400. People spend more on those crappy home theater in a box units.
Friends find the main difference between mine and their systems is the lack of bass, and to me theirs sound like their subs are +6 to 10dB from where they should be. I find I don't need a sub, but one could be added easily.... I have an old set of speakers (F3~30Hz) I am actually using just as stands and an extra amp and could hook them to the sub out - but I live in an apartment and don't want the neighbors complaining 
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AV Receiver Suggestions
