Recommendation for REALLY inexpensive receiver

Outlaw Audio receiver must be seriously considered new for 499...used for less than 400.

No debate on this one (for me) -- I'll give you the same answer I have previously given to friends asking the same question you have. Go with the Outlaw audio receiver, as already recommended.

Check out Outlaw's web site for more info:
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products.html

I owned the Denon 2801 and was not impressed with the sound in either HT or music. I felt that the ONKYO 434, that I had upgraded from, was superior for both HT and music. I would look at ONKYO's offering in the $500 range, which I believe is the SR600 or SONY's SL-7 at $300, which offers a digital amplifier (check out Audio Asylum for some threads on the SONY). I like ONKYO's, in general, because they are built like battle ships and their WRAT amplifiers sound pretty good. The SONY intrigues me, because it is a digital amp. I have no experience with the OUTLAW ... so I can not comment one way or the other. Regards, Rich