Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
i love this product! It has great sound nice design and is thx certified!the remote control is straight forward and easy to use.Also i really enjoy the fact that they have led indicators for speakerson the front display(especially the subwoofer). I feel this is a great feature because then you truly can tell when the reciever is getting a sub signal

Strengths:
nice looking amp sound is very clean each speaker has its own led indicators

Weaknesses:
no sub out when playing music in stereo

Similar Products Used:
pioneer dvl 700 pioneer 10 band digital eq with remote control

Summary:
It's been over 3 years since I purchased the VSX-09tx. Wanting DTS and 5.1 inputs, I purchased a Denon 3802 last Summer. For music the Denon was subjectively inferior to my Pioneer. Base was mushy and distorted when pushed. Sound quality was "cold" compared with the Pioneer. These observations were by all who had listened to both receivers in my house. For movies the Denon had a slight edge, having more dynamic power--not enough to prevent me from returning the Denon.

I was demoing some Tannoy speakers at an english-is-the-best-equipment hi-fi shop. They happened to have a used VSX-09TX. I asked them to play the speakers with this receiver. Even these name-dropping snobs were impressed by the sound from this "Japanese Christmas Tree".

I was disappointed by bass management when I first purchased this receiver. Come to find out that most brands of receivers still don't allow LFE in stereo with large speakers selected. I got around this problem by purchasing Definitive Technology BP2002tl (and comparable center) speakers. These have 12" 150 watt powered subwoofers. Granted this was an expensive workaround, but it sounds wonderful. I'm going to keep the VSX-09TX for as long as I can, even though it doesn't have DTS or 5.1 inputs. If I do get another receiver, the first on my list will be Pioneer Elite.

Strengths:
It's just got THE sound.

Weaknesses:
No 5.1 inputs.
No LFE in stereo/large.

Similar Products Used:
Denon

Summary:
I have owned pioneer receivers for a long time now and I have to say the vsx-09tx is the best one I have herd in a long time! Mainly use it for Surround Sound mode but use it for stereo every now and then. This is my first THX receiver so I dont really have any comparison to set it next to. And since it was a gift I didnt compare in the store. But movies sound very real and sound is blended from speaker to speaker very well. My HK (avr 40) was weak in the surround mode. But I still use it to drive other speakers in the house from the MULTI ROOM out. I would highly recomend this product to anyone or any other elite pioneer produts.

Strengths:
Clean Video switching,input overload indicator,cooling fan,and IT LOOKS DAMN GOOD

Weaknesses:
No sub out in STEREO mode, can only use MULIT ROOM feature with the MR-100

Similar Products Used:
This is my 5th Pioneer Receiver...have one dating back the the 70's...still cranks today! also own two harman kardons..AVR10 and AVR40

Summary:
This is a nicely built receiver with a hefty copper shielded chassis, attractive rosewood side panels and the ever present Elite "Urushi" finish. All controls operate cleanly with a nice precise feel. All input connectors are gold plated. THX processing is an all or nothing proposition, you can't pick and choose which features you want to apply. The central display uses 8 segment LED's which provide a rather blocky, cheap look to it. By contrast the much less expensive Onkyo had a dot-matrix display which was quite customizable.

As far as the performance of the receiver goes, it has plenty of power for driving even inefficient speakers (initially I had DCM TF500's which are around 85 db/w/m). The amp sounds quite nice, open with quite good stereo imaging. DSP modes are limited and the parameters of those modes are not adjustable. Since I like subtle DSP processing on stereo music if I use it at all, I found the jazz setting to be nice. The others were too overbearing.

Overall, this unit exudes quality and performs admirably sonically. Ergonomically it is less successful, but still fairly easy to use. The unit does have the feel of a first generation product and clearly needs some refinement. These improvements seem to have been made in the second generation products...

The value rating is tough, because this is a top of the line unit. Overall is pretty easy, points off for poor ergonomics.

Strengths:
Clean smooth sound, lots of power, built in AC-3 Decoder

Weaknesses:
Not enough digital inputs, tape loop switching, limited bass management capabilities

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo 878

Summary:
I was recently comparing my new cd player run through the preamp section of the Pioneer VSX 09tx vs run straight out on the variable output of the DAC (an Audio Alchemy DDE 3.0). I was shocked at what I heard. Run straight out of the DAC, the sound was open full and dynamic with nicely extended bass. When I switched to the Pioneer (via an A/B switch so that the comparison was immediate) the sound was sucked out and the low end all but disappeared. It sounded as if the speakers were out of phase so I tried it after reversing polarity, which only made it worse. I have a 5000.00 Accuphase CD player and a pair of 5000.00 Apogee speakers and wanted a versatile control unit of high quality. That is what I thought the Elite series was all about. All being, I'm selling the receiver and will never buy another Pioneer product.