[jyl]

Guys, I need help picking an A/V receiver. I'm only modestly knowledgeable about this stuff, and worse yet I am just not very interested in it - so I'm hoping someone who is more of an enthusiast, or is in the business, can point me to the right brand/model and I'll just go out and get it without confusing myself with a bunch of research. Hey, I'm being honest.

Here's the problem. We have several things we need to connect to the receiver, but most of them have the old-fashioned composite video jacks (yellow video, red/white audio). And I just can't seem to find an inexpensive receiver with enough composite inputs. Seems like every receiver I look at is stuffed full of HDMI and S-video inputs that I cannot use. And the rest of the problem is, I'd like to spend not much more than $200.

What we need to connect:

Outputs to:
- LCD TV - accepts composite video, component video, or HDMI
- speakers - I'm using a two-channel system now, down the road I suppose I'd like the option for 5 channel. Don't need a lot of power, 30 watts/ch is ample for our room.

Existing inputs from:
- TIVO series 2 - composite video, but eventually I might get a series 3 which takes component video and HDMI (I think)
- WII - composite video or component video, I'd prefer to use composite since the Wii component video cables are said to be flakey
- DVD recorder - composite video or component video
- VCR - composite video

Future inputs from (i.e., things we might add later)
- DVD player - composite video (this would be to play European DVD's, i.e. a region-free machine)
- Bluray or Sony PS3 - HDMI I assume

So, by my count, I need a A/V receiver that accepts at least 5 composite video inputs, plus at least 2 or 3 HDMI inputs, and is 5.1 audio with say 30 watts/ch. And has a street price around $200, or not much higher anyway.

I don't care about the brand, look, fancy digital sound processing, or anything like that. I don't actually care about having an AM/FM tuner or CD/tape inputs, but I guess they pretty much come with.

Can anyone suggest a model I should go out and buy?

I'm really be thankful for help. When our old A/V receiver died, the wifely unit wanted it replaced ASAP so I rushed to Best Buy and came back with a Sony - but after a while realized the damn thing didn't have enough component inputs, the back panel was utterly confusing so it took a while to realize this. Weird stuff like the DVD is supposed to be hooked up using component or composite video but the sound is supposed to be via coaxial cable - what the heck is that about? So it doesn't work for us at all and I will sell it on Craigslist for $40. Grrr.