Price Paid:  $300.00 from Ovation

Summary:
Unit sounds great, but mine didn't hold up. While listening at 40% of volume for approx. 10 minutes, the power transformer gave out. I removed the transformer and disassembled it. I found a blown 2 amp fuse in the power supply. Of course i'll have to purchase a new one for approx. $125 online. I think it's sad that Denon can't build a better product than this. A 2 amp fuse; not a circuit breaker or something you can access. Sad.

Strengths:
Excellent 5 channel stereo.

Weaknesses:
Power supply.

Price Paid:  $117.00 from The Wiz

Summary:
This is a great receiver, but I just needed to post this comment, the center channel on this unit is pathetic, I am listening through an AR 4-way center, and it sounds like the people's vocals are being recorded underwater, they are so quiet and muffled. I am now selling this receiver to get one w/a better 5.1

Strengths:
Great for the price that I got it for, all sorts of incredible features

Weaknesses:
Center Channel, no DTS

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo 484

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Klapp Electronics Melbourne

Summary:
I read A lot of the reviews here before I went out and bought this little Item. It was on sale here and, having not heard much about it I tried it out. Sounded Good in the Shop (Connected to some KEF Q15.2's Great little speakers BTW). I have been listening to it for 6 months now. I have a large range of musical tastes, from opera/classical right through to limp Bizkit. The sound from this system in stereo mode is good and clean. And it wont make your ears bleed - even at high volumes. This is not saying the system doesnt go loud, just that it is a smooth sound. All of you who stated it isnt loud enough, Must be deaf. I have had this amp at 0 db (range is -60 which you can hear the KEF's at, through to +16) Its a logarithmic scale so 0Db is really loud. I like this cos it means I will never break my speakers.

One funny point though is its insistence that any movie track coded with Dolby Digital Must be sent through the centre channel. As I listen to some of these using two speakers, having all the dialog go into a non existent centre is hard to take, To get round this I just chose a stereo only input to take the video sound feed. I rekon this is just a setup issue, and if the manual was clearer, I would be able to fix it.

All in all its a system which I will probably be listening to (and eNJOYING) for many years to come.

Strengths:
Clean Mellow Sound, Size, Expansion Potential

Weaknesses:
Manual is hard to understand, not comprehensive. Remote can be fiddly, but only if you are a klutz.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha rv595a

Price Paid:  $200.00 from ubid.com

Summary:
I picked up a refurbished unit a little over a year ago from ubid.com for $200. It's hooked up to a Sony S530D DVD player and the Energy Take5 speaker package. This system has provided me with countless hours of movie magic, and as good as the DVD video is, I really believe it's the sound that's the core of my system. The receiver is more than capable of pumping enough wattage to shake my entire apartment. More importantly, the sound is clear and crisp.

It's an excellent unit if you want an inexpensive, quality no frills receiver to experience Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

Strengths:
Good product at a good price
5 channel stereo is useful

Weaknesses:
No DTS
Remote control is kind of cheezy, awkward layout.
Lack of video input/outputs

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Dolby Pro-Logic receiver

Price Paid:  $350.00

Summary:
I have been using the product for about six months, and am very satisfied. No problems whatsoever. 60 watts per channel is more than one needs. Just can´t turn the volume even close to top levels, because of the neighbours and also my ears. Deffinitely enough power.
Suits great for both; watching the movies and listening to music. Sound quality is great. For the price, I think this was the best buy at the time.
P.S. The new model has also DTS-decoding.

Strengths:
Low price, sound quality, brand.

Weaknesses:
No bass nor treble controls on the remote, no DTS (never needed it though).

Similar Products Used:
None.