Thought about putting this in movies and music, but it isn't actually ABOUT movies or music, so here it is.

So anyway, I was thinking about getting a pioneer receiver or a yamaha one.

Both are the same price, same output. Any preferences or features that would make me go with one over the other? If the links don't work tell me and I'll edit them out.

Having worked for Best Buy for three years, you get to know the products, and I would say go for the Yamaha. It will give you a cleaner sound (more noticable depending on speakers), as well as they are hard to kill. I have had my Yamaha reciever for 6 years without any form of problem.

personally i wouldn't get a budget reciever... but that's just me. i'm pretty oldschool. i want all my components seperated... an amp/reciever, a cd player, a dvd player, shit even a VCR and cassette deck. stack em up in a rack and two massive speakers. 5.1 surround never really impressed me as much as two speakers taller than myself

It isn't for home theater. Well, it sort of is. I'll be hooking it to my computer. At home I have a couple 4 foot speakers I'd like to use. Unfortunately, it'd take some $$$ to make them usable. They have 4 10" speakers that the surround around the cone has completely rotted away. I don't have the cash for 4 10" speakers either. They also have a 6" or so and a tweeter. Those in the front, with my current 8 year old aiwa speakers in the rear with something for center would be nice. 4.1 or 5.1 is really nice for games moreso than movies. With movies I don't notice the difference, but playing vietcong or other games I do.

If you can find me a good amp for that price for my home system, I'd go for that too, but that'll probably be more expensive and complicated than what I'll be doing.

Get Yamaha. The one in your living room works well and it is a Yamaha that cost half as much as that one.

If at all possible I would spend a little more $250-300 and get something a little better with more room for upgrading your system. Both recievers only have 3 digital inputs, you hook up your DVD player, XBOX/PS2, and computer and you are shit out of digital inputs for a sattelite reciever or whatever else may come along. The Pioneer has a 6-channel input for DVD-Audio or SACD (high-rez audio -192kHz 24 bit vs. a CD at 44.1kHz 16 bit). The Yammie doesn't have that. Look at maybe the Onkyo TSXR601 for $239 http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/shop/detail.asp?dpno=157381 or a refurb Denon AVR-684 for $208.99 http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/sho ... pno=382454

I've got the Denon AVR-3803 (a few steps up) that I wouldn't mind auditioning for you. I've had a Yamaha receiver in the past and really liked it. I have not been impressed by Pioneer products except for the Elite lineup. Stay away from Sony DE stuff and lower end Kenwood.

The reason I was going with bestbuy (which I know is NOT a good source of budget priced stuff) is because I have a $150 BB gift card. I am either going to trade it and some $$$ for a 9800 pro, or if I get a great deal on a 9800, I'll use the gift card for the receiver.

While I agree that 3 digital inputs isn't great....I don't have an xbox, vcr, dvd player, or anything else. For dvd's I'd just stick a dvd drive in the desktop since I plan on getting a burner eventually anyway. By the time I am ready to upgrade, I won't even be using it on the computer anyway, and I'll have enough cash then that I can afford to buy the more expensive receiver. I don't need 6.1 audio since my computer will only do 5.1, and for movies I wouldn't notice the difference anyway. I had been thinking about that yamaha anyway, but I don't really know why. At least now I have a reason :D