Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I got this unit brand new I've had it for years repaired twice but with that said I just love it compared in 2009. you cannot find this can of power in a a/v rec. today for the kind of money this was purchase. I have a 5.1 speaker config : BIC DV62si bookshelf speakers for front;BIC DV52 series rear;DV62CLR-S center and the V1520 sub. the sound is just freakin great :) I have the sound I want !

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Radio Shack

Summary:
I own the Radio Shack version of the Pioneer VSX-505 (Optimus STAV-3590) There are a few more minor differences from the pioneer than the optimus, which aren't much. It has a clean 150w*2 at 8ohms from 20hz-20khz @.09%THD stereo mode or135w*4 in Dolby Pro. I push 4 15" 3way speakers for my a@b front mains, and the LX5's with the 360 degree Linaeum tweeters for surround and the matching center channel. I have owned this reciever for almost 3 years and am very satisfied with it's performance. I do have one complaint. That it should have a little better tone control. The Bass knob boosts at 150hz which sucks. It doesn't have Dsp, but I feel that it is cleaner than the ones that do. I know it isn't an Adcom but for the doller you cannot beat it. A pritty good design.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I have used this AV amp for three years now and I am still very please with it's performance. I don't crank my music any more, but I do enjoy the clean sounds from this receiver. I may be upgrading soon, just to get the newer sound technolgy, but my DVD's and VHS tapes sound great now and it will be hard to find a AV receiver with the power that this one brings (most only have 100w per ch). I will keep my eyes open for another deal like I got on this one $150.

Strengths:
Power

Weaknesses:
remote volume control, newer technology DSP,DD,DTS.....

Similar Products Used:
Rotel

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Overall, I have been less than thrilled with this receiver since buying it and a 101-disc Pioneer changer in 1996. The sound is fine at high listening volumes thanks to the power, but clarity and balance of the sound is hard to achieve, even after I added the matching equalizer for a time. I'd suggest that my speakers were to blame, but a friend with a similar setup and better set of Jamo speakers has the same complaints after three years of listening. I guess you get what you pay for, so I can't really complain, but in the same price range today, you can pick up a much better sounding Yamaha receiver.

The volume control is especially difficult. I remember learning how, in the 80's, Japanese car manufacturers would set up the throttle pedal of smaller-engined cars to respond more aggressively at the low end of the gas pedal to give the illusion of more power. It seems like this is the same sort of game going on here where the volume knob is really sensitive at the low end, while the last 50% of the rotation is basically going from blasting loud to "you're going to get a visit from the cops soon". This problem is even worse with the remote and with time as the know wears slightly. Also, it seems like the volume knob affects the highs and lows with minor adjustments, like there are separate controls for each attached to the knob.
Maybe I'm nuts.

If you have a large area to listen in and want a loud receiver at a low price, this isn't a bad receiver- I happen to live in places where this isn't possible though, as do a lot of people who shop in this price range, and have found it hard to appreciate this receiver.

Strengths:
Power, remote is pretty cool-looking

Weaknesses:
Muddy sound, boominess and tinniness all at one. Volume via the remote is overly sensitive in the low range.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Lechmere

Summary:
This receiver served me well for the past 3 years and is still in tip-top shape. It runs fairly cool, although its fan does emit a slight whine.

I paid $299 for it new back in Sept. 1996 and now just paid $299 for my new Pioneer VSX-D509S (purchased because I needed Dolby Digital).

This would be a good model to pick up used if you're low on funds. You should be able to find it for less than $100 based on today's prices of new Pro Logic recievers.

Strengths:
I liked the remote!

Weaknesses:
Volume control is a bit touchy
No S-Video