Home stereos

[RatLabGuy]

OK after the TV thread, maybe this is the next step.

Just got a Blu-Ray player, have a nice 54" Panny TV... but still rockin' the 2x2 channel Technics stereo I got 20 years ago (holy crap), before 5.1 was even commonly available.

So maybe time for an upgrade.

What to look for that really matters?

Obviously HDMI input, maybe old school RCAs just b/c... USB input? Multiple Digital audio in etc?
Is it really worthwhile to run them as a pass-through media center? Honestly 90% of the time I'm OK just using the TV speakers for everyday TV, really don't feel like messing w/ another remote etc unless its warranted.
Do they pass-through the HDMI when not even on?

Any reason why a few-years-old model from a pawn shop/Craigslist etc wouldn't be just fine?

 

[catfishblues]

HDMI switching is why you don't want to use an older model. If you don't mind that, though, and you can wait a little while, my old Onkyo might be up for sale. I want HDMI upconversion and switching, so I'm going to be upgrading sometime relatively soon. The only reason is I want all my input switching handled by the receiver rather than the TV so I can just have one HDMI cable running to the TV. As I'm set up now, my TV handles the switching and sends the audio out via fiber to the receiver. It works fine, but there's too many cables and I'm trying to move my audio across the room. My receiver even has a phono input!

 

[Blkvoodoo]

HDMI switching is why I bought my Onkyo, not high end at all, $400ish 2 years ago from Crutchfield. they become obsolete almost as fast as computers do.

BluRay, old DVD player ( non HDMI), and my Mac Mini ( mini DVI to HDMI converter, audio via fiber) to a 42" LCD (makes a nice second monitor) and I don't have to play cord swap to make crap work.

if ya need LONG cables, www.monoprice.com ( or any cables for that matter )

I got a 25' 22ga HDMI cable and a 25' Toslink/mini jack optical ( fiber), and a Mini DVI to HDMI converter for less than $50. ( 2years ago, even cheaper now )