Price Paid:  $179.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Purchased this reciever as a quick replacement for my Panasonic HE-70 which is now being used to power my son's small HT/Game set-up. Best Buy had it on sale for $189 but they price matched a Circuit City price of $179 and I was able to use some Reward certificates and coupons to get the reciever for about $145.

I also currently own a Pioneer VSX-815 and have been happy with it for over a year. It would have been easy to spend the extra $100 bucks to go with the 816 but I may upgrade again in another month when I decide on some higher end speakers so the 516 seemed like a nice temp reciever.

The over all sound and connections were pleasant surprises and it has more power than the Panasonic. It fills the 18x15 room nicely. Display is bright though it is generally still too small to read anything but the most basic info. The remote is small is not a univeral and has a slightly cheaper feel than the remote of the 815. Overall like the 815 it is a great value for the SQ.

For a more detailed review please see the review on Audioholics

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/pioneer-VSX-516p1.php

Strengths:
Price-Sound quality for a budget reciever

Weaknesses:
Small some what confusing remote

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer VSX-815
Panasonic HE-70
Aiwa D-58