Audio Receiver recommendations and hookup questions

OK, so basically, I'm looking to set up a home theater system with a nice 5.1 surround sound speaker systems. Unfortunately, I'm not so well versed when it comes to receivers.

I have the speakers already, but what I'm looking for is a receiver to go with them. I know the basics of what I'll need from it: at least 2 optical audio in ports, DD5.1/Pro Logic II, 6 channel RCA surround sound in, coaxial in, and I'd prefer DTS as well (although more questions on that later). Aside from those things, I don't really need much else. The problem is I have no idea what would be good and what would fit those requirements.

I've looked at a few receivers, and all have either been missing a single feature that I needed or were priced way too high (definitely trying to get one for $150 or less, used would be fine). My local pawn shop had about 20 receivers, but the only one that had what I needed was $200. So, what decently priced receivers would fit these requirements and where could I get it from (online or otherwise)?




My second question has to do with the PC connection. I definitely want to get 5.1 sound from my home theater system from the computer (partly for games, but mainly for watching downloaded movies and videos), however I'm unsure of the best way to go about this (I have an Audigy 2 card btw). The first thing I was considering was using RCA cables from the speaker jacks on the sound card and plugging them directly into the 6-channel RCA in on the receiver, and I thought this would be the most compatible since then my PC could do all the decoding. However, it would be a slight annoyance having to switch the audio connections on the back every time I wanted to use my PC in a different place (right now my PC desk and speakers are off to the side from my entertainment center speakers).

The second option, which I'm quite new to, is running a coaxial cable from my sound card, but I don't actually know what I'd need for the Audigy 2 to enable this (would a simple speaker/headphone jack to RCA connector work fine?). Also, would this simply pass through whatever audio format I'm playing on the PC at the time? I have videos that are in pretty much every audio format: DTS, AC3, MP3, etc., so would the receiver NEED to have all those formats in order to get any sound at all through coaxial? And how would games work through coaxial (assuming they can at all, which I'm starting to doubt)?

Anyway, that's about all. Thanks for any help you can give.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

If you really wanted a high-quality receiver with a good DAC and built durably, I'd go something like Yamaha, Denon, Rotel, etc. Of course, any choice from those companies that fills your requirements will set you back $250+. With that in mind, I reccomend this:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SA-X...7927454&sr=8-2

With your budget, you're hardly going to be hooking very demanding speakers up to it, and I've had some great results with one of those driving a pair of budget Polk speakers. Good interface, tons of optical ins, and decent SQ.

There's nowhere I can't reach.