Don't worry about what the other dealers are selling. Just pick one of the brands that has a good rep or distributer. Denon, Yamaha, Integra, Marantz all have good 500 buck receivers. We use Denon now, but I've used a lot of Yamaha and some Marantz, and they all work pretty well. The only problem I've had is the Yamaha has had some power supply failing problems. The install is more important than the product at this price point.

By the way, whats the word on Newcastle? It seems like folks were saying good things at one time.

I will look for your post on monday detailing how easy it was to accomplish this. I would expect that you will be spinned 180 degrees and pointed to Onkyo.

I sell allot of Onkyo.. Again, the price point is within my market...

Sherwood Newcastle is a great piece but not at the price point you're looking at. FYI, I thought think that the component swithcing on almost all >$1000 receivers could be better. The Sherwood Newcastle is certainly a line you won't see everywhere. It's not around on line and not in every shop on the street. They have new models about to hit that are probably more what you're looking for.

did not realise the passion exsisited in the more value priced receivers...you guys really love this stuff. this is great...cant beleive that this thread could spark this kind of response...thanx to all.....

i hope that come monday i dont get the run around from the integra people....cuz that would suck if i do. component switching and xm radio could not ask for more in a low price point good quality peice.

as for ipod on sound systems.......not for me. cant stand the loss of sound quality but for a entry level customer this is a nice bling bling feature.

newcastle would be an option if my rep had a peice for me to listen to or borrow.

if integra gives me the run around maybe someone will be nice and let me buy on to try at cost.......

does anyone use rbh speakers with the integra line? let me know,


one of the reasons for this thread on my part is that i need a good stand alone unit to sell to the condo dwellers downtown who only need a single point system...

this is what i had in mind for these customers which we dont have many of but would like to change.

plasma (dwin if my choice) or something out of distibution
inwall or onwall speakers
receiver (integra) or others
dvd player
hdtv cable or sat box
nevo sl remote

nice and simple in and out.

Onkyo TX-SR602 has component switching, but no up conversion. Around $4-500 price. 2nd zone capable. If our customers dont need 2nd zone, the TX-SR503 is what we sell for $299. like the Denon line, these receivers have Basic surround modes, unlike Yahama. Yahama makes great pieces, but I can't even keep up with all thier surround modes. Best to keep it simple for our clients.

Yammys got upconversion to component on the RX-V657

Depends on what you call a run around. We just became dealers for integra. Still doing Denon Also.

Anyways. Had to have referenes out the wazu, pics of the store, $3500 opening order, and it took over a month to get approved to be a dealer.

Have you also had a look at the Harman/Kardon range.
Seems to offer alot for the money, and new models have upconversion as well as component switching..
I have found it offers good value for money and quality.

Goodluck.

Denon is the way to go. Has great 2nd zone out as well. But need to sell an aftermarket remote cuz the denon remote is way to confuzin.

I have had issues with the DVD players component video output having vertical lines, as well ,i have had them just go into complete failure, have had them stop reading discs, very poor build in them. I bought one 3 years ago myself and now it sits inside my rack unplugged and unused. Onkyo is the better deal if you go with that line, the Integra is a nicer receiver but clients look at the specs and the features and feel the upgrade is not cost effective. Yamaha sounds bad, Denon is boring to listen to but has amazing capabilities with multi-room, they also have awesome discrete codes for them via IR and RS-232. Plus, they make one of the best DVD players out there.

My choice for receiever line would be Denon. Any model above the AVR-3806.

I tried to get Integra more then a year ago, and was basically told to piss up a rope by the Integra rep for my area. He got me so angry I swore I wouldn't buy a single product of theirs as long as I had anything to say about it. I know that's biting off my nose to spite my face, but that guy just got my hackles up.

I personally don't have an issue with being 'one of many' AVAD guys. In my market, there are very few competent installers, and I rarely lose a bid to them. I am probably the most expensive retro guy in town, but I sell my customers on my experience and service. The equipment is almost secondary to most of them. It's not like the stuff is junk either, it's just widely available. When I was a sales manager for CC, I use to tell my sales staff this story:

Most people have 3 major supermarket chains where they live (here, it's Winn Dixie, Albertsons, and Publix). When you go to the store to buy a box of Kellogs Corn Flakes, you tend to buy them at the store you like. Most people will shop for their food at a clean, well-lit, staffed store over the low-price store, simply because they feel more comfortable shopping there. They may even think they're paying a little more for their food there. But if you think about it, the box of Corn Flakes is the same, it came from the same plant in Battle Creek, MI, and shipped on the same trucks down here. When it gets to the customer's home, its the same box...untouched by the store where it was purchased. So why do the customers pick the cleaner store over the lower priced one? Image.

Sorry, went off topic a bit, but it came to mind, so I thought I'd share.

Regards,

Fred Forlano
Higher Definition

This message was edited by Fred Forlano on 10/31/05 16:00 ET.

ohh my goddddd!!!!! did not get the run around from integra. but what i did is..... get the we need to give you a rep sample before we submit the dealer application to integra. no reason to fill out paper work if you dont like the line.

they say you have to have show room to sell integra....thats funny i see about 6 dealers in chicago that give trunk slammers a bad name...these guys have zero clue and did not speak the truth about having a showroom.

next problem is they wont have a rep sample from the 4.6 model till end of the month. that sucks...

i need to get my stuff up and running so i can sell, sell, sell for the christmas season.

good thing is i've know our rep for like 10 years...so she will work her magic i'm sure.

You can also buy Integra as a Limited Stocking Supplier (I think thats what its called). This means no opening order, $10k/year (or 15k, I can't remember) minimum, 5 points lower then direct, no showroom, no listing on the Integra website. Its basically a limited distribution model. Same rep as the direct rep does this. You're still a dealer in Integras eyes and your contract is with them. Only you buy from rep and not Integra. Our rep is very particular/careful about who they put on this way (as well as direct obviously). I had to wait more than a year to become a LSS dealer.

Ask your rep about it.