[Drew Wallner]

Currently constructing a new HT in my house, and since my receiver died recently have been pondering this question. I don't have a lot of money to spend, but I want to make sure I spend it as wisely as possible.

In my previous dwelling, I needed a well-featured receiver to switch lots of sources and do various things for me like tune FM and simulate surround from stereo and mono signals. In my new pad, the HT will be dedicated and have only one source (there's another room for videogames).

The only two options I see on a tight budget really are another "all in one" receiver like my old one or some used seperates. I am currently looking at just picking up a Pioneer VSXD514K for $200 because my old receiver was a Pioneer and worked great (up until the moment it met with some water, not my fault but irreversible nonetheless).

I have no need of 6.1 or 7.1 because I only own 5 speakers and I like them just fine. My requirements are basically to play one source, and output 5.1 nicely to my Klipsch's (which are a pair of KM-6, a pair of KT-DS, and a KM-C center) with both AC3 and DTS capability.

Can anyone reccomend either a better receiver or a better solution for this price range? Or is the VSXD514K probably a good purchase? What would separates really get me anyway? Lower THD?