Price Paid:  $300.00 from eBay seller

Summary:
I baught this receiver from a seller on eBay for $300. I think that it was a great buy. It delivers clean crisp sound. I love this thing, it is my first home theatre receiver. It blows anything at future shop away. Has enough inputs for all your equiptment. 3 Coaxial ports, and 1 optical, VCR, CD, Phono Etc... I don't yet have a manual so I don't know the exact wattage. The unit has a 280watts power supply. High-end receivers now days have 320w-550w. So 280w 5 years ago, is more than respectable in todays term. The remote is very unique. I don't know how to describe it. It looks good, and lights up some of the important buttons. The look of the receiver is... Very shiny. Any finger prints on it and you have to clean it immedietly or it will annoy you to hell! If you can get this around or under $400 as someone said before, take it before someone else does. I know quality, I've heard quality, this is a quality product. I've heard Denon, NAD, and new models of the Elite series. I think that this has pretty damn near close the same bandwidth, and THD. It may not have as many ports as newer models. But for 5 years old, this is a very good receiver. This is perfect for a person who is just starting a home theatre system.

Strengths:
Very shiny face. Clean sound, Preouts for additional amps. Accepts banana plugs. Remote is unique, and controls most of the receivers functions. Does Dolby Digital decoding.

Weaknesses:
Too shiny face. Finger prints are annoying. No 5.1 discrete inputs, no S-Video. Does not do DTS (personnaly, I don't hear a difference)

Similar Products Used:
None. First Home Theatre receiver.

Summary:
This machine is fantastic. Super stable at high volumes. Relaxed sound--if you have speakers with roll-off issues, maybe it's not for you. Practically sets itself up.
I do miss some GUI features from the previous Elite units, ie, transport control icons.

The "direct" feature is quite nice too, as I have an HDCD changer and if the Pioneer's digital tone controls aren't defeated the full resolution of HDCD would be compromised.

The remote is also very intuitive. Frankly, this is the easiest-to-use (AV) receiver I've ever used.

The lack of 5.1 inputs will cause problems for DVD-Audio and 5-channel SACD fans. But there's always SACD two-channel for the rest of us.

Good machine overall. Wouldn't trade it for anything save the VSX-07TX in its same product line and year.

Strengths:
Nice glossy fascia. Warm, clean sound. Hyper-intelligent auto setup features. Power, power, power.

Weaknesses:
No DTS, S-Video or 5.1 inputs

Similar Products Used:
Other Pioneer Elite, Harman Kardon, NAD, Dyna

Summary:
I am very happy running this reciever in both Stereo and in 5.1 with my B&W 305's etc.. The sound that it generates is easy to listen to for extended periods of time and thats all you can ask for.. The remote is superb!

On the other hand as far as sound quality goes my Onkyo Integra peice (Stereo Only A+B) absolutely destroys it in every aspect... Bass, Mids and Highs! + 1500 on the price tag of VSX 05 though..

Overall this unit has satisfied my guests and most importantly myself. I love its looks, sound is well ok for the money (Larger power supply would help I think). None the less Pioneer did an excellent job for this units price point!

Strengths:
Fairly Clear Sounding

Weaknesses:
No S-Video

Similar Products Used:
Sony ES / Technics

Summary:
I have owned this reciever since its debout, and have nothing but love for it. I brought it home unpacked it and before I even hooked anything up, I just looked at it. When Pioneer designed their "ELITE" series, they didnt hold back internally or asthetically. As with all ELITE products, this unit has a deep-black-lacquer finish. Carefull, it will reflect everything just short of a mirror! I found this to be extremely eye-appealing. It also has a panel that covers about 35% of the units front to give you a very expensive and classy look. And unlike others, it doesnt just flop down. It opens with grace as if it were motorized. It also keeps out little kids who like to turn knobs & push buttons from ruining your experiance when you turn on the unit. Thank-You Pioneer! All the buttons that you might need to get to on a often basis are in their obvious places.

Ok Ok, So next I hooked it up. Man was it a snap! Took Less than 10-min & I hooked up everything (see above for equipment list). Most of this credit is due to the standard banna-plug connectors witch allow you to just "plug-in" a dual banna connector from your speaker wire, and most of its due to the fact that this units on-screen display is nothing short of a miracle. I was very impressed when I was given the option to Choose a separate crossover freq. for each speaker...did I loose you? Lets say you have smaller front speakers (ie: Bose cube), and you know you will be cranking this machine to get the "feel" of the movies, you dont want to burdin those little gems with low notes, so by telling the receiver your front speakers are small, it will then take all the low freq (Bass) and re-direct them to your sub, and it works great! It has this feature for Center, Surrounds & Sub (For the Sub It Will filter out the high-notes). Lots of extra goodies like that are in the set-up. Speaker Placement, distance from listener, etc. Its all in there, and its a prime example of form following function. While I feel they should have made the on-screen menu more eye-appealing, it certianly gets the job done, and does it well & thats all I can ask for. Besides you are only in the on-screen setup for a couple of times, then you never have to bring it up.

The sound from the ELITE series amplifier is great, showing plenty of detail but not to bright either. Its rated at 110 Watts x 5, and it shows. I have never cranked this unit above the half-way mark (at that point a big smile arose on my face because I realized just how powerfull this thing was). The set-up lets you manually or automatically control the imput of switching from Digital to Analog. I like this set on automatic - it has never made the wrong decision between D.D. or Prologic, 2-Ch or 4-ch, Optical connection or Analog connection, and thats the way anything "automatic" should be. Althogh I cant comment on the CD sound because I dont ever use my CD player, I bought it for watching movies & thats all it does. If it plays CD's 1/2 as well as it reproduces movies, youll be in heaven or at the concert depending on what you are listening too. :)

The remote is so perfectly designed I hate to face the fact it wont be around forever & will be replaced by the touch-panel remotes, but my father has one, & I know its a matter of time before the moving screens, customized labled buttons, and coolness factor of touch-screen remotes take over, Heck I even want one! But as for this remote, every commonly used function is in reach of your thumb, the back side even has very comfortable forms for your fingers. Remote is back-lit and very battery efficent. I even have the same batteries in the remote that came with the unit! Over 2-years old! (Try that with a touch-screen!!) :) It is also a learnable remote, wich can be quite tricky if you cant see what you are doing via the on-screen set-up. But after you learn the button combination, its easy to do it with the TV off if need be.

To sum up my review, I have no complaints about this receiver, It is beginning to show its age by not having DTS decoding built-in, but that still isnt in alot of good equipment. I think you would be getting a great deal to pick up a Pioneer VSX-05 for $400 or less. Ive gotten 2-years use out of it and nothing has broke, nothing has buzzed & nothing has dissapointed me. I think it was a great buy and Pioneer did a super job, as for the idiot who wrote in before me and gave this unit a score of 1 because he has never heard of it, please at least "Review" a piece of equipment before you rate it - after all, isnt that what this site is for?

Please email with any questions.

Strengths:
Great Power Output, Pioneer ELITE Quality, Great Learnable Remote, Nice On-Screen Set-Up, Auto Just About Everything (Or Manual If You Are A Control Freek).

Weaknesses:
Price (At $1,000 Sug. Retail...Ouch!), No S-Video Switching. Thats All no other major complaints.

Similar Products Used:
Previous Pineer Receiver, Pioneer DVD/LD Combo, Pineer CD changer, Pioneer Tape Deck, 2-RCA Home Theater VCR's.