Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is an excellent value in a cheap HT reciever. The sound quality is great despite the modest price. The HT pre-outs are a nice feature letting you use external amps. The onboard DAC sounds great even with audio CD.
However the tuner section is absymal, with terrible reception. When I could recieve stations this reciever sounded like a clock radio. Also, at 80 watts per channel this thing is not exactly going to rock the party. Serious enthusists may want to look for something more powerfulAll in all, though, it's probably about the best in its class.

Strengths:
Very musical DAC, pre-outs for all five channels, no background hum, no problems in 2 years of heavy use

Weaknesses:
tuner section was worthless, I've gotten better reception with just about anything else, a little underpowered for a 5 channel unit

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer, Classe

Price Paid:  $225.00 from used; internet purch

Summary:
This is my first home theater receiver. I found it used on rec.audio.marketplace. It does everything I need: basic music and movies in an apartment, which means that I don't ever run it full bore. I once cranked it up when the upstaris neighbor wasn't around (I think) and it shut down, but that was at an extremely high volume during a section of a movie with lots of sound effects. When I say it "shut down," it just went into "overload" (or some such thing) and came back on in a few minutes. No problem, really.

Strengths:
Lots of inputs, good remote. The remote will operate your other components like your dvd player and your vcr, which means a lot less remote switching. It won't carry out every single remote function, so you still have to keep your other remotes around, but for main operations, the Pioneer remote is just great. For example, you can switch over to listen to FM and use the remote to change the channel on the tv to look for a better show.

Weaknesses:
Set up takes a while, but that's just what these complex units require. The remote takes a while to get used to, but nothing unreasonable. Few weaknesses, relly.

Similar Products Used:
None. This is my first home theater receiver.

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I picked up this unit to replace my B&K AVP4000 and B&K Stereo Amplifier EX4230(?). I loved my B&K's but the AVP was only ProL and to upgrade and get the 3 channel amp I would have had to drop $3000 cdn! So, I went looking for a little receiver that could get me into HT at an affordable price. The VSX21 has not disappointed. I am driving Mirage OM-10 speakers with the matching centre and rears and a BPS150i sub. The sound is astounding value. Cannot touch the B&K's...but at a 10th of the price...I am not complaining. A very very good value.

Strengths:
Good sound.
Enough inputs for my needs.
S-video switching
Coax and Optical digital inputs, assignable
Good value.

Weaknesses:
Pops on audio source switching.
Remote is poor.
No component inputs or switching.
Only 1 s-video output

Similar Products Used:
Sony and Yamaha ProL receivers.

Price Paid:  $244.00 from 6th Ave Electronics

Summary:
Based on my good luck with a 25-year-old Pioneer 9500-series tuner, pre-amp/amp, cassette deck, and graphic equalizer, I decided to take a chance on the VSX-21. A local retailer had it on sale for $244! At this price (considering the $650 list), how could I go wrong? Well, I couldn't! The unit was fresh stock (mfd 9/2000) and 6th Ave Electronics had a pile of factory-sealed boxes to choose from. When I got it home, I was pleased to find how easily it went together with my Apex DVD, Symphonic VCR1, Panasonic VCR2, and Zenith System 3 Digital (with the Bose internal speakers). I used the digital DD connection for the DVD, but otherwise everything is composite video and analog audio, for now. The composite video output and analog audio pre-amp outputs drive the Zenith monitor inputs. Someday, I'll get a new big screen, but for now the 15-year-old 27" Zenith will have to do. I have yet to try the VSX-21 power amplifiers, but will hook up some speakers (ADS 810s for the front, Dynaco A-25s for the back, the Zenith/Bose for the center) soon. The bottom-line is that this receiver has good performance and great flexibility...unless you're driving stadium speakers, why would you need anything more?

Strengths:
Flexible I/O
Flexible I/O including fiber optic and S-Video, good feature set including DD/DTS, capable remote, low cost

Weaknesses:
none significant

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer 9500-series separates (still working after 25 years!)

Price Paid:  $500.00 from ultimate electronics

Summary:
i returned the Yamaha rx-v596 for this unit. i did like the Yamaha but it was to bright for my taste. the pioneer is a great unit with plenty of options. i have only been listening to it for a week but so far i love the sound. this receiver really sings in two channel stereo.

Strengths:
plenty of options

Weaknesses:
a slight pop when switching modes

Similar Products Used:
yamaha