Price Paid:  $550.00 from Now Stereos [Knoxvil

Summary:
When reviewing a component, I always try to compare the product with others in the same category. Obviuosly, this unit won't even come close to a Theta Casa, and MC-1, or one of the Krell products. But then, given the price...my guess is it's not supposed to. So....with keeping that in mind, I find the unit to be of good build quality, capable of doing what it's supposed to do. All functions seem to work extremely well and the sound is reasonably good....again...given the units cost and purpose. I put all my money into 2 channel stuff...with a number of high end components....waiting for the DVD technology to mature a little more before I took the plunge. I used the Pioneer for DVDs and HT only. I'm now getting ready to go high end with both 2 channel and HT...so I'll be unloading the Pioneer and my BAT VK-5i for a Meridian 861, Lexicon MC-12, Krell, or Theta HTS. But for the last couple of years, the Pioneer has served me well.

Strengths:
Good build quality. Very intuitive and user friendly. Excellent remote. Digital readout can be seen from across the room. Good product for the price concious or those just starting out.

Weaknesses:
Obviuosly a mass produced product....aimed at the low to mid fi crowd....not really sure this is a weakness...more of an observation.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha, Denon, ect......

Price Paid:  $450.00 from ubid

Summary:
This is actually my 2nd review for this reciver. First of all, I get to say something bad~~~~~ my reciver burn off by no reason~ beside that, I am still in love with this toy. I think the 7 stereo surround sound is kind of great; however, it require fine turn after the main system set up. I think it should be my speakers placement since I don' thave too much space to put my 7 speakers. So I recommand who love music as well as movie and willing to use 7 stereo have to check the sound level. otherwise, the sound stage will become very awful~ This is how I set up my system, F & R - 0db, C -2 db, all the surround - 4db. After all, CDs are actually 2 channel only and I don't think the DSP can really fit every single CD. So if I use the sound level as my surrounding set up, the sound satge will fly around, which means suck, because the surround chennal will be too lound. I think the sound of this reciver is really gerat. For DVD-A and SACD play back, the sound is cool, too. Although the frequnce is up to 20k only, which means it can't respond the higher frequnce from SACD and DVD-A. However, not a lot of speaker can respond over 20k, either. And I doubt how many people can hear the frequnce over 18k. So, it is not a big deal.
I actullay can't talk much about its DSP since I only use 7 stereo, DTS, and AC3 only. by the way, I still kind of dislike it's low S/N for analog.
by the way, it is a nice toy~~~

system setup

Front speakers - Pioneer Elite TZ-F700
Center Speaker - Pioneer S-DC1-K
Surround speakers - Pioneer Elite TZ-S700
Back S. speakers - Pioneer S-DS1-H
EQ - Yamaha EQ 70
DVD - Panasonic DVD-A7
MD - Sony MDS-JE440
CD - Technics SL-MC7
Phono - Technics SL-BD20D
Display - Mitsubishi WT 46805

Strengths:
5/7 stereo, nice sound quality, great setup fuction that let end user fine turn a lot of setting, DTS EX and THX surrounding, component video 2in/1out

Weaknesses:
no amp for surround back, DSP cycle is not very good (once u change, all the cycle need to start over, don't remember the last DSP model)

Similar Products Used:
technics SA-AX7

Price Paid:  $410.00 from ubid

Summary:
This is my first serious receiver and I am still fine tuning all the settings. A month ago I upgraded my speakers to PSB Image series and they really allow the Pioneer to shine. One great feature is the subwoofer crossover settings. Using the "plus" mode allows you to set your front and center to large and sends lower frequencies to both the mains and a sub. Listen to HT is amazing. Details and R/L distinction is fantastic and power is more amble for my room.

Music is a real treat and depending on the type 5 channel stereo is a great feature. Multi-room/multi-source is also a welcome feature as I like to listen to the outdoor speakers while the wife or kids watch TV. Over all I am very pleased with the 35 tx and would recomend it to anyone.

Strengths:
Clean and clear power, subwoofer crossover settings, thx certifed, component video switching, and many more.

Weaknesses:
Switching from dts to dsp modes requires you to cycle through all of the setting to get back to where you were.

Similar Products Used:
Compared denon 3800, Sony 777ES, Marantz 8000

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Overall I am throroughly satisfied with this receiver. The cons are very minor and are heavily outweighed by the pros. It's the perfect priced amp for the power and features available and simply blew away the Yamaha AV receiver the salesman was trying to push on me. I like clean clear sound with boomy bass ONLY when boomy bass is warranted. The Yamaha "Natural Sound" AV receiver was boomy no matter what. This is my second "serious" receiver for my home theater and it has transformed it into nothing short of miraculous sounding. I'll easily be able to use this for 10 years or more.

Get one.

Strengths:
Plenty of clean power with lots of overhead. Crystal clear sound with very easy to use controls. HDTV ready with component outs. Very clean and attractive appearance.

Weaknesses:
Can't manually select recording source. Even though it does it automatically I'd rather be in control to be sure. Remote control is intuitive but old fashion in layout and appearance. Needs balance and level for rear speakers on remote without having to go through the on screen setup like my old Elite did. Would prefer to have smaller door over the front audio/video inputs. Large door could be easily damaged if a wire gets tripped over or accidentally pulled.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer VSX 95 ProLogic AV receiver
Optimus Surround Sound receiver (many moons ago)

Price Paid:  $730.00 from Audio King

Summary:
I listened to all of these receivers and found the Pioneer to have the smoothest, clearest sound. The macro remote is a treat to use after the extensive programming, but I'm not going to complain about that cause I was able to program ever button right where I wanted it to be for my Satillite & TV controls. The speaker setup was very easy and fun especially the bass cut off point so I won't ruin the subs. I was shacking the heck out of the house. I really wanted the Elite 37TX, but got this one on an excellent deal after reading about it on pioneers web site. This receiver is intended for use in a room of 2000 cu sq ft or less and mine is a tad over that. This would explain the need for me to turn the volume up to between -15db & -10db. I see that others on here have said the same thing about the volume in the same range. Just seems really high. Even at that high of a setting there wasn't even a hair of distortion, I've taken it to 0db before with no distortion, but that is loud and I feel as though that would be working the amp too hard.

The surround sound was and is still out of this world. I love the different sound stages. They can really inhance a movie and drop you right into it. Needless to say I will be waiting for the movies to come to me on DVD rather then go to the theater. I get sucked right into them and feel like I'm part of the movie. Saving Private Ryan and Gladiator, U-571 are 3 excellent movies to take for a run. You'll be jumping at each war scene or depth charge!! UNBELEIVEABLE!!! Guarrenteed.

Overall I would have to say that this is an awesome receiver. I would get it again in a heart beat at the price I paid or less. It's a steal!! The high gloss finish is classy and the clean look of the front were both great positives. In other words it sounds as good as it looks.

My Setup:
Receiver: Elite VSX-35TX
CD: Elite PDF-17
DVD: Pioneer 434
TV: Sony 27" flat screen(soon to be Elite 53")
Center: Paradigm CC-370 v.2
Fronts: Paradigm Legend v.2
Rears: Paradigm ADP- 170 v.2
Subs: Legends built-in amped subs
After having this receiver I'm really thinking about going to 7 channel cause if 5 channel is this good 7 got to be, well, AWESOME!!!!

Strengths:
Looks, Smooth & clear sound, macro remote, easy setup, variable sub crossover.

Weaknesses:
90 watts per channel surround and 100 in stereo. Might be only my room size is to large cause I feel I have to turn in up to much to get into the movie at times. Also the blue or black background when programming instead of an overlay.

Similar Products Used:
onkyo 787, marantz 7000, yamaha 5840, denon 3801