You have a great home theater system, but you also enjoy listening to music-only programming, such as the radio, CD, or Vinyl in other rooms of the house. You don't want to settle for a "cheap" minisystem or boombox in the bedroom, dining room, recreation room, or den. The solution: A good basic two-channel stereo receiver that can handle your needs with a minimum of cost and a maximum of value. Check out some of my favorites in the stereo receiver product category.
NOTE: Check out more Stereo Receiver Choices compiled by Gary Altunian, About.com Guide For Stereos: Stereo Receivers $300 - $600, and Under $300.
If surround sound is not your thing, or you are looking for a second room receiver, then check out the Yamaha RX797 stereo receiver. Features include; XM Satellite/AM/FM Tuner, 100WPC amplifier, CD direct input, Subwoofer output, Phono input, continuously variable loudness control, infrared input/output ports for custom installation requirements, second zone line outputs, and a remote control. With its extremely low THD rating of 0.019, it is perfect for music reproduction.
If you need a powerful, clean sounding two-channel stereo receiver, consider the Denon DRA-697CI. With 100WPC rating, this receiver is great for music. Other features include: Dual Zone pre-out and Audio/Video signal mixing for simulcasts. In addition, the DRA-697 is XM, HD Radio Ready, and iPOD compatible with optional accessories. The DRA-697CI is also dual zone compatible. If you need flexibility in a two-channel stereo receiver, the DRA-697CI could be the one for you.
Onkyo's TX-8555 stereo receiver features 100wpc high current discrete amplifiers, delivering enough power for the most demanding musical needs. Additional features include: A/B Speaker switching, dedicated phono input, and AV inputs for a DVD player and either a VCR or DVD recorder. The 8555 also has built-in XM and Sirius Satellite Radio connectivity, in addition to the standard FM/AM Tuner. In addition, this receiver also have provisions for iPod connection via an accessory dock, subwoofer output, and even a Zone 2 pre-amp output. A remote control is also included. Onkyo is also well-known for its heavy duty construction. This is no lightweight.
Delivering 80WPC at .07 THD, this stereo receiver is great for music reproduction. Also featured are a dedicated subwoofer pre-out, main channel pre-outs, A/B speaker switching, AM/FM tuner with 30 presets, phono input, five audio inputs and four video inputs (including one set of front panel AV inputs). If you are looking for an inexpensive stereo receiver that delivers great performance, check out the Harman Kardon HK3390. This unit is solidly constructed, offers good functionality, excellent sound quality, and is reasonbly priced.
At 50 WPC per channel, the C720BEE stereo receiver may seem underpowered, but with high current design, that can handle speaker impedances as low as 2 ohms, with up to 50 Amps of current. The C720BEE sounds better than receivers with twice the power output. Other features include: excellent FM tuner section, tone control defeat, full function remote control, headphone input, and multi-zone operation. One of the best two-channel receivers in its price class.
The RX1052 is just one example of how good a two-channel stereo receiver can sound. With 100WPC, A/B speaker switching 3 audio and 4 AV inputs, TV monitor out, 2 tape monitor loops, dedicated phono input, front panel headphone jack, and remote control, and an impressive .05 THD rating, the RX1052 can serve well in any music (or non-surround sound movie) listening environment. Also, with the addition of external amplifieres, the RX-1052 has extensive multi-room, multi-source capability.
Here is a Stereo Receiver with a twist. In addition to its high-power, low-distortion amplifier (100 WPC/.03% THD), the RR2150 has some unique features, such as a dedicated subwoofer output with adjustable bass management, USB input for playback of streaming audio from PCs, and a front panel speaker equalization control for optimum performance when using smaller speakers. If you enjoy traditional 2-channel stereo, but need more flexibility in a stereo receiver, then check out the RR2150.