What's the oldest receiver I can get that will still have a remote?

[Dswankey]

It will control the receiver's volume level regardless of which source you select. If you connect a MacMini to your receiver and selected as source - sure. But it will not allow you to switch sources using a remote.
The way it works is it attenuates the signal that passes through it. So if you put it in a tape loop, it will work as long as the receiver is in "tape monitor" mode, but will control only volume, and generally only down from the level physically set on the receiver.

There are similar devices that have more than one input and additional source selector function. I have one, I described it here
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=636579
(and no, I'm not selling, no affiliation to the manufacturer either). A few similar VC boxes others found are also mentioned in the thread.

Thanks! I'll check out the thread

 

[rxonmymind]

Having a Belkin Bluetooth receiver plugged into the back of the Aux of any vintages I have allows me to control the volume via the phone. Works on my Denon 3803 also.
Just an idea.

 

[bryans12v]

4240 wifi mod, Google it.. very cool!

 

[Bratwurst7s]

Is there a receiver database someplace I can see what models were available what year and what feature they had?

HiFi Engine has basic info on a great many receivers as well as manuals.
https://www.hifiengine.com/

If you can read German HiFi Wiki is a great source. Actually even if you can't read German one can still glean a lot of info there.
http://www.hifi-wiki.de/index.php/Hauptseite
http://www.hifi-wiki.de/index.php/Kategorie:Receiver

A remote is called a "Fernbedienung" in German, so just look for "Fernbedienung: Ja" (yes) or Nein (no) and the Baujahr (build year).

Some entries are unfortunately not complete, such as the one for your RX-530, which we know does have support for a remote...
http://www.hifi-wiki.de/index.php/Yamaha_RX-530

Cheers,
James

 

[N8Nagel]

Some of the old Sansui's had remotes ... sort of. Circa 1976.

Marantz 4270 as well. No, I don't have the remote...

 

[savatage1973]

My guess is that you will need to go mid-80's or newer to find a lot of options with wireless remote--the only problem being finding one that still has the remote with it--that is the first thing to get lost or broken, and replacements can cost more than the actual receiver.

 

[N8Nagel]

My guess is that you will need to go mid-80's or newer to find a lot of options with wireless remote--the only problem being finding one that still has the remote with it--that is the first thing to get lost or broken, and replacements can cost more than the actual receiver.

If you're not an originality freak I've had good luck with used Harmony remotes. I forget the model that I've been using, but I've bought several all around $30 apiece.

 

[sKiZo]

Hard part's usually finding the proper codes to enter into a "universal" remote. They've got a "learning" mode, but that requires the original remote ... kind of a catch 22 thang.

Never much cared for them myself - I've got a couple here collecting dust. Got a Sony that doesn't totally suck, but it eats batteries big time. Truth be told, the best luck here has been with a Dish remote - Been lucky just plugging in codes for that brand from their list to get at least the big stuff like power and volume.

 

[Bill Ashton]

My Onkyo TX-8210 is '95/'96 and has quite a comprehensive remote; be kindof a beast for a bedroom, but has lots of FM presets.

Around 1970, Radio Schack had a couple units with remote. One was a Realistic, I think the other may have been a Fisher-for-Radio-Schack four channel
receiver with a remote...

 

[orsen]

If you're not an originality freak I've had good luck with used Harmony remotes. I forget the model that I've been using, but I've bought several all around $30 apiece.

i've done the same
buying remotes on the bay gets expensive
the harmony are nice as they dont learn... you download your codes off the net

you might also look into some of the ir blaster apps for using your phone as a remote

 

[The Shocker]

My guess is that you will need to go mid-80's or newer to find a lot of options with wireless remote--the only problem being finding one that still has the remote with it--that is the first thing to get lost or broken, and replacements can cost more than the actual receiver.

I have a Logitech Harmony 650 I can re-purpose for the receiver if I need to.

Mid 80s is fine. Just need to find out what models were made back then, so I know what models to look for on Craigslist.

 

[The Shocker]

Hard part's usually finding the proper codes to enter into a "universal" remote. They've got a "learning" mode, but that requires the original remote ... kind of a catch 22 thang.

Never much cared for them myself - I've got a couple here collecting dust. Got a Sony that doesn't totally suck, but it eats batteries big time. Truth be told, the best luck here has been with a Dish remote - Been lucky just plugging in codes for that brand from their list to get at least the big stuff like power and volume.

The Harmony remotes are disgustingly easy to program. No codes. Just plug it into a PC, loads the software and select the devices you own from their database. A couple of clicks later codes are pushed to your remote over USB and you're off and clicking.

 

[N8Nagel]

The Harmony remotes are disgustingly easy to program. No codes. Just plug it into a PC, loads the software and select the devices you own from their database. A couple of clicks later codes are pushed to your remote over USB and you're off and clicking.

This is true. I checked; they have the codes for old Luxman receivers in their database, for example, although my plan to put an R-117 in the bedroom was sidetracked by a diversion into quadrophonicness.