Time to Upgrade my Home Theater System..

[RVR II]

I need some help finding a replacement for my 14 year old pioneer home theater receiver, and external sub-woofer amplifier..

Both have served me well till now; the right channel in my Pioneer receiver is making crackling noises something fierce, and the amplifier that powered my external subwoofer is blown.

With all the new technological advances since I bought them, I need something that will last me another 10-15 years or so. I've been looking at these from NewEgg..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001167%2040000488&Manufactory=1167&bop=And&SpeTabStoreType=0&Order=PRICE

I need something with HDMI for a future flat/big screen TV when my older 46" projection TV dies.
All my other componets are Pioneer and 1 remote operates them all (currently) so I want to keep everything matching, and it will be powering a Cerwin Vega speaker surround system.

If you find something, Post a link so I can go check out the details (Please )

[gbeenie]

My last two receivers were Pioneer. These days, I'd probably go for an Onkyo.

[jewishcarpenter]

What price range are you looking at? Does it have to be Pioneer? There's a lot of good brands out there.

[RVR II]

What price range are you looking at? Does it have to be Pioneer? There's a lot of good brands out there.

$200 range is about right..

I'd prefer Pioneer as my cd changer & dual cassette deck are both Pioneers and can be controled through the receiver on 1 remote control

[jewishcarpenter]

What price range are you looking at? Does it have to be Pioneer? There's a lot of good brands out there.

$200 range is about right..

I'd prefer Pioneer as my cd changer & dual cassette deck are both Pioneers and can be controled through the receiver on 1 remote control

What the hell is a cassette deck? Is that some sort of new thing?

[RVR II]

Oh Hell.. Uh.. Yeah! It's an Amazing piece of equipment that plays these.. these.. cassette tape thingys

I would really don't wanna have to break up the whole setup with another brand name, even if it is much better..

[RVR II]

Well, after completing my search, I decided on this Pioneer receiver w/ HDMI from Best Buy for my future 46" (or bigger) wide screen LCD TV..
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8713813&st=pioneer+receiver&type=product&id=1199496527991#tabbed-customerreviews

I found a decent external subwoofer amplifier on Ebay to replace my older KLH that can't seem to be fixed..
I'm just waiting for the auction to end tomorrow morning

And Then, my Home Theater system will be back up to Full Power!

[RVR II]

Well nearly 2 years has past and I need to resurrect this thread..

The receiver I bought to start this thread is still working fine and moved into my new addition bedroom and I've tried twice to get my old receiver repaired (the right channel has an intermittent static/popping sound) that cannot be resolved..
I also discovered that my 15+ year old 15" 400 watt Cerwin Vega speakers (the whole box weighs just under 100 pounds) are dry rotted around the rubber cone edge now (the picture was of my system in better days)..

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

My 12" sub-woofer hasn't worked in the last couple of years or more because the external amplifier went out and couldn't be repaired..
And I've been considering updating the 46" RCA projection TV to a Vizio 55" TRU-LED LCD HD TV w/1080i picture.

So as the 'grocery list' of issues continues to mount, I am forced to conclude that it's time to get rid of my aged/damaged home theater system and replace it with something newer, and more compact to save space.
I've really enjoyed my Cerwin Vega surround system but it's just time to retire it
Suggestions 
Personal Experiences would help sway my decision; not just specs and stats, though that is helpful as well

[stansimpson]

As well-versed as I am in home theater equipment, I am sadly deficient in sound systems.  BUT I more than make up for it with my knowledge of tvs, so if you do need help getting a new tv, I can totally help you there.

First off, pretty much any tv you're buying new is gonna be an upgrade.  I have my doubts about Vizio, yet my roomie's has been working fine for the past year or so.  It's not stellar, but perhaps I can find something for you that's better and at the same price.  Is this the model you're thinking of getting?  Cuz that's a mighty fine tomato. 

 Oh, did I mention I work at the home theater dept at Best Buy?    I actually have a worksheet from work that asks all the proper questions in order of importance (it's really good). I can reply back to this tomorrow and help you better that way if you're interested.

[RVR II]

That is the Very One I've been eying for quite some time!!

I do like Best Buy's selections so ask one of your coworkers about the sound system part..
I might want to talk to you (and you are still only an hour south of my locale, correct??)

[stansimpson]

That is the Very One I've been eying for quite some time!!

Yeah... that thing's got 240Hz at a ridiculously competitive price.  Not sure if you are gonna find something better.  But hey, it's all about the features that are important to you and not necessarily the ones that are just nice to have (if that makes any sense).

I do like Best Buy's selections so ask one of your coworkers about the sound system part..

Can do!

I might want to talk to you (and you are still only an hour south of my locale, correct??)

Absolutely.  Still in Columbia (the store's in Dentsville technically, but it's all Columbia).

[RVR II]

Awesome!! We'll be in touch!

[gbeenie]

I've some very decent-looking Blu-Ray/7.1 combo systems out there, most notably from Onkyo and Samsung.

[RVR II]

I've some very decent-looking Blu-Ray/7.1 combo systems out there, most notably from Onkyo and Samsung.

I don't own any BluRay DVDs
Right now, I'm needing a receiver and surround sound speakers..

[RVR II]

After doing a bit of research, I may just be able to eliminate/replace certain items on my system..

I can get a powered 12" Cerwin Vega subwoofer for around $200, and as for the giant 'monolith' 15" (dry-rotted) speakers and boxes, I may just be able to eliminate them altogether and just use 2 existing satellite speakers in their place (cause they are rated for high watts already and that seems to be what's being used now-a-days as space-savers)..

Also, I can just go back to that Pioneer receiver I bought 2 years ago cause I had no problems with it (other than I couldn't connect my CD changer and dual cassette deck to it but I really don't use them anymore)!

I may be able to get off light on this upgrade after all
And Then, I'll have more money to get that 55" Vizio