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stereo receiver recommendations

Hi folks,

A friend recently got me interested in this hobby, but I'm definitely still a newbie without much real world listening experience. A colleague at work knows I'm interested in audio and came to me for advice to replace a broken stereo receiver. Problematically, she was fairly coy about budget, so a few recommendations would be greatly appreciated... Lets go with <$500, $500-600, & <$1000 as the 3 price ranges.

She definitely wants to have a phono input for a connected turntable and to have a FM tuner built in so unfortunately we're stuck with stereo receivers rather than integrated amps, which drastically limits the options. She also definitely wants to buy new. She didn't know the model of speakers so I'm not talking about a serious audiophile but rather someone who just enjoys having music playing in her home and doesnt want to give up local radio or her vinyl collection. For that reason I'm thinking ease of use, functionality, and reliability are probably just as important as sound quality (I hope that doesnt make too many of you cringe), but I still want it to sound good. Searching through musicdirect & crutchfield, I've come up with the following:

<$500: Cambridge SR10 or Yamaha R-N303
$500-600: Cambridge SR20 or Yamaha R-N602 
<$1000: Outlaw RR2160 or Yamaha R-N803

Would love input from people with experience with any of these products or recommendations about something else that might be better. Any problems any of you have found with any of the above models? Anybody experienced both in a particular price range and found one to sound particularly better? 

Thanks!
ethos123
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,578 posts
 
Feedback from someone who has owned one of the options that the OP asked about:

I have owned the Outlaw RR2150 since 2005, the year it was introduced and it is still going strong.  I use it in a bedroom system with Wharfedale Denton speakers and a Rega CD player.

https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/wharfedale-denton-80th-anniversary-bookshelf-speakers-pr

The updated RR2160 was introduced a few months back and with it some  improvements, but also a few of the parts suppliers have changed over the years and that had to be accommodated.

The receiver is built like a tank.  Its tuner is exemplary and will pull in a good number of the stations, assuming you use a decent antenna.  I live in NYC and use rabbit ears and it pulls in stations strongly.  

I have not tried the phono section, but it has been reviewed favorably, especially for use with moving magnet cartridges.

The receiver has a lot of power.  It plays loud and clean.  All types of music are well served with the Outlaw.  I always thought that from an amp perspective, it was comparable with NAD and Cambridge Audio.

This review in Stereophile will give you a better idea of the receiver's capabilities.

https://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw/index.html


 Rich 
peter_s
1,088 posts
 
I was not at all impressed by the outlaw rr2150, I found it flat and dull. Nice design though. I would look for something else.  
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Marantz, Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, nad, Cambridge Audio

lots of choices
roberjerman
2,086 posts
 
Close your eyes and pick one! They ALL sound the same!
ethos123 OP
42 posts
 
Thanks to all who responded. I realize this is at the level more likely to be in a bedroom or office setup for most of you, but your feedback is greatly appreciated. Marantz, Denon, & NAD don't have any stereo receivers that also include a phono input. They do have multi-channel options, but it seems like a bad idea to pay for amp channels that will never be used when that money could go towards better components in the two channels needed. I also realize an integrated amp would sound better for the same reason and told her as such, but she's pretty set on keeping the tuner even despite the availability of streaming internet radio... presumably in case of a zombie apocalypse or something.

I did see that Onkyo offered some options but figured the mass market Yamaha & Onkyo would likely offer a similar sound quality though perhaps slightly different character...wasn't sure if the Cambridge & Outlaw products might offer superior sound quality since they are at least a bit less of a feature laden product and at least claim to cater more towards the sound quality first market. Wish I could hear them in person to compare, but figured some of you probably had. 

Sorry I don't have details on the speakers or old model being replaced...I realize that is vital info and hopefully she can get back to me with those details. Thanks again!
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