Price Paid:  $688.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Correction to previous review: There is bass management and channel level capabilities for multi channel SACD. It is very awkward to get to it but it does work, no room correction/EQ though.

This ups my rating to a 5

Strengths:
see previous

Weaknesses:
see previous

Similar Products Used:
see previous

Price Paid:  $688.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Great deal on trailing edge for SACD/DVD-Audio and the rest of the current formats. A friend and I both bought floor models. No digital video switching (I can live with a couple extra button pushes for the difference in price between this and the current receiver)

Good support for analog video switching, conversion between composite, S-Video and component inputs.

SACD and DVD-Audio sound great given the limitations of the DSP engine.

Excellent pass through of analog audio

7.1 support, two i.link inputs for current state of the art sound. Very nice sound.

Strong, dynamic and clean amplifiers for a moderate size room.

No cooling fan!

bi-amp the front speakers if you only have 5.1 (as I do)

preamp outs for all channels (no preamp inputs though)

Strengths:
Good sonics, intelligent design, excellent room and speaker correction for the existing DVD formats (excluding multi channel SACD and hi res. DVD-Audio.

My DV-47ai has adequate bass management for multi channel SACD (rather high crossover though, it is around 100 hertz, Sunfire True Subwoofer handles it fine though) Most music I listen to without the subwoofer, my Veritas 2.3s do a very good job with bass in normal music (pipe organs don't shake the room but besides that you get just about everything).

Runs very cool, no fan!

All current Dolby and DTS are handled perfectly for up to 7.1. No provisions for the new competing HD disc formats from Toshiba and Sony though.

Weaknesses:
No bass management or room correction/equalization for over 2 channels of SACD or over two channels of DVD-Audio over 96/24

Watch out for the depth of the unit in a rack, it is over 18 inches deep before cables go on it.

Similar Products Used:
Outlaw separates, HK 630, NAD

Better build quality than all of these, similar sound, quieter than the NAD integrated amp and separate amp they replace (317 and 214). Similar power (yes Pioneer exaggerates the power on this one, but not as badly as they do on its replacement the 74)

Somewhere around 100 per channel 20/20k continuous output into 8 ohms 5 channels driven. In other words, plenty of real world power for a moderate size room

pre outs for all channels

Price Paid:  $1700.00 from Big Picture Audio/Vi

Summary:
Having been in the audio industry as both an enthusiast and past salesman, I constantly keep an eye out for "best bang for the buck" products - let's face it, we're all looking for the best value our money can buy.
When I recently purchased H/K's AVR-630, I instantly fell in love with it - this was a receiver that had amazing power and agility, and I thought the bar had been raised. Sadly, it was ruined in a flood only days later, and my resulting search to replace the unit left me wanting once more.
During this renewed search, I stumbled across Pioneer's VSX-1014, and I was amazed at the sheer technology and design that Pioneer had invested - from this piece I looked to their ELITE lineup and found great interest in the VSX-56TXi. After researching it (as much as possible), I chose to invest in this piece. Here's what I've found so far:
Featuring great options such as triple-chassis construction, THX-Select certification, 7.1 processing, Pro-LOGIC IIx, i-Link audio connection, massive internal construction, excellent microphone-driven auto-calibration, solid remote, on-screen menus, component upconversion and much, much more, I have yet to find a flaw in this machine.
Sound is absolutely excellent (I would hazard to say as good as the H/K), and the interface is the best I have encountered so far. The auto-calibration surpasses Yamaha's fabulous YPAO system, being more accurate, more flexible and more feature-laden.
When paired with Pioneer ELITE's DV-59AVi DVD player, this unit is unstoppable for performance, value and features. I feel the bar has undoubtedly been raised.
I cannot fully emphasize the incredibly-solid build and feel of this unit - after 15 years of working with this gear, this was a first.

Strengths:
Advanced MCACC, THX, i-Link, suberb binding posts, lots of gold & copper construction (triple-layer chassis), permanent-selectable 7.1 upconversion, transparent & warm audio.

Weaknesses:
i-Link initially a little difficult to figure out (had to read); Volume increase/decrease could be faster from remote.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha RX-V2400, H/K AVR-630, Nakamichi AVR-10, Kenwood Sovereign & more.

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
After many years of listening to movies in pro logic, I finally decided to graduate to dolby digital. I started out purchasing a Denon 3805, but I was not impressed. To me it sounded gutless. I returned it the same day. The next step was a Pioneer vsx 56txi. This was a lot of money for me to spend, but I decided to go for it anyway. This baby puts out 110 watts per channel RMS x 7. The auto calibration system works like a charm. Be sure you have a strong shelf to put this on cause this thing is heavy. The sound is powerful and full. I have never been a real Pioneer fan, but I've always wanted to try smoething from their Elite line. I have no regrets with this purchase. My music and movies have never sounded better. This receiver is a good match for my Klipsch RF-5 speakers.I am also using an Energy center speaker, Polk Audio rears and a SVS sub. I have never enjoyed watching movies more than I do now.

Strengths:
Plenty of power, build quality, auto calibration, and lots of sound options.

Weaknesses:
Price (you can however find this on the internet for $1000 or less) Other than that not really anything else.

Similar Products Used:
Denon 3805, Harman Kardon AVR20MKII.