Low(ish) budget receivers with pre-outs?

Sorry I wasn’t being clear. The receiver would be used to input my Apple TV and DVD player via hdmi and output the video to my projector and output the audio to my speakers

The way to do that is run HDMI direct from source to projector, and run your stereo audio direct to your stereo amp. That is what I do. Looks and sounds a hell of a lot better that way. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 My laptop is my movie source so it is not in the pictures. I move the RCA interconnect and HDMI between the Oppo player and my laptop. Sound quality through a $20 adapter is better than through a receiver.

Hi,

for modern sound options involving Video, understanding HT Bypass is recommended. I had it wrong, but it was made clear by others in this thread:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/2-wonderful-stereo-lp-s-rescued-by-mono-mode-and-balance

You may not want to go this far now, you mentioned budget, but at least know about it when deciding

1st the AVR needs line level FRONT OUT.

HT Bypass is an INPUT on a 'front' stereo music system’s Preamp, to pass the front L and front R signals at line level, from the AVR, to the ’better’ amp, and let the AVR control the volume along with the center and surround speakers the AVR amplifies.

Thus, music, or video with surround, the better 2 channel equipment drives the front L and front R.

Good call! I’ll look into hdmi switchers 

The audio out port on my benq 2050a projector is just a standard 3.5mm aux jack. Running my systen directly through that port would destroy sound quality right? I guess that’s why I was looking into receivers in the first place