Hi,

Welcome to the forums.

It sounds like you've done your research with regard to what's the best options, so some random thoughts.

While I don't have any early 500 series, from a price perspective the 565 will get you going (particularly if it's a Z3 version) but you're going to have to upgrade eventually, so I might be tempted to bite the G series bullet. That would get you upscaling and the apodising filter, although you'd probably need to upgrade your centre speaker to a 96/24 version to get those benefits.

If you're looking at the G61SL on eBay, that's going at a good price whereas the G68ADV looks overpriced in comparison. G68ADV will have more legacy video inputs if that's important to you. I'm sure you'll have read about issues with the G series switch mode power supplies but if you're OK with replacing them, they aren't expensive to do.

Not sure I'd go for an early 861.

A 568.2mm is the best of the 500 series and it can accept a HD621, keeping it more up to date for Blu_ray playback (You could place a wanted add in the restaurant to see if anyone has a 568.2mm, or anything else available)

I went from a 568.2 to a 568.2mm, to a G68ADV to a G65, all from eBay or forum members, so I appreciate the cost constraints as well. Having said that, I only ever sold on the 568.2.

Also, don't forget that you might have to fund a remote control.


brian

Last edited by bxd; 2021-11-23 14:40. Reason: addition
Main: G65, MD600 Sooloos, MC200 Roon Core, MS600, 210, 218, UHD722, DSP5200SE, DSP5200HCSE, M6 & DSW.2
System 2: AC200 MS200, WiiM Pro+, M6.
Other: DSP5000 (96/24v1), DSP3300.