lafayette 9090 or Sansui 4000

Why not go new? For $350 you can get something like the Yamaha R-S500 . 40 year old anythings are trouble unless you are handy or have a good techie in your neighborhood.

That's in my wheel house money wise. I like Yamaha products too. Didn't know this receiver existed. Thanks for the heads up!

How does the Yamaha compare to the HK 3490?

The sansui is warm and quite dynamic. I owned one for a year while experimenting with different sounds. It may need work down the road if it's original, so it depends on the price.

At the $350 - $400 new range, there is only such much difference between products. Since your concern is primarily on a warmer than neutral overall system sound, then just make sure that you buy from a place where you can return something if you don't like it.

I owned a HK 3370 about 10 years ago and liked the receiver a lot. It was pleasing sounding. It was not hifi as described by the stereo magazines, but I used it everyday and enjoyed it. It was built only so so and shorted out when the two speakers wires touched when I was shifting the unit on a shelf.

If you do not need the tuner portion of a receiver, you can also try Emotiva amplifiers . They offer two amplifiers in the $200 range, which may be of interest to you.

Rich