Price Paid:  $0.00 from local dealer

Summary:
I have owned this receiver for over two years. It superceeded my previous Pioneer 409 receiver and at that time I was very happy with both sound quality and features. However, after couple of months of listening the sound (especially stereo) has revealed its "flatness" and compression. However, in HT it performed quite good, especially when I combined it with a good subwoofer (Mirage fx-12). The remote is one of best I have used, although is missing learning features. After 2 years the volume knob started to deceive on any movement while remote volume control was ok. The reason was it somehow lost contact, but after cleaning everything was up & running as before. I like the design, although front panel is plastic. Now I am about to go for NAD as I do not care so much for DSP effects but the sound quality really matters for me.

Strengths:
Design, features, remote, DSP

Weaknesses:
lack of musical sound, no Dolby Prologic II

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer VSX 409

Price Paid:  $1100.00

Summary:
very good

Price Paid:  $360.00 from Radio Correct, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Summary:
Bought this receiver impulsively, while 'hometheater knowledge' was next to zero.....

During my use of the product, my 'hometheater- as well as my general audioknowledge' grew. For me as basic enthusiast I liked it from the beginning for only tuner and cd-sound.

Next month I am buying the Pioneer DVD-player 444 and then will be able to give it a real test...

The only minus, even I as a beginner noticed, were the speakerconnections-holes that were too small for a thick cable !!

For now I overall rate it good/very good !!

Strengths:
The price, DTS-decoder

Weaknesses:
Remote, bass/trebble not changable from remote, speaker connection

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $466.00

Summary:
When I bought this system, I didn't know much about home theathers, only something I had read from hifi-magazines.
Now I'm glad that the salesman recommended this for me.
I have tried a few different speakers with it. Now I'm using Audio Pro A3.20LIVE, and it sounds great, both in Stereo and 5-channel way.
There are plenty of connectors for even little more passionate home user.
The output power for 5 channels is only 60W per channel. (according to the manufacter). That has been enough for me, and also enough to irritate the neighbours. It's hard for me to think of person who would need more, but there propably is one. For stereo-mode manufacter promises 2*100W, which is good.

Another negative thing is that bass-frequence cannot be changed from the remote control, which I think is a little weird for this kind of equipment.

In conclusion machine is very easy to use and has a good quality. And with DTS-support the age of 808RDS is many many years.

Ville

Strengths:
Nice remote control. Price. Good for home theater beginner.
connectors.

Weaknesses:
Bass cannot be changed from the remote control. And the function selector on the remote control is too slow.

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Local store

Summary:
I ended up buying this receiver in a haste when a bought a DVD player and wanted to use the DD and DTS sound.

For the price it sounded quite well when i listened to it using DD and DTS.
But i got really disappointed when i played my cd's on it in regular stereo mode, It lacked midrange and bass, and i know it havent anything to do with my Polk Audio S8 as i have used for a couple of years.

Maybe it has something to do with that i used to own a H/K AVR 21 and i'm a bit spoiled with the sound that the AVR 21 and the Polk speakers produces.

So i'm thinking of buying a Denon AVR-2801 instead.
I have read all the reviews on the Denon on this site, and i think i will be completely satisfied with that one, sure it costs more but i'm willing to spend the extra cash on it to get a receiver that also sounds good in stereo mode.

I can't recommend this receiver unless you just want to use it with DD and DTS, and don't want to spend that much money in doing it.

My advice is: check the reviews on this site and listen to many different receivers, and don't buy the cheapest one.

Strengths:
This is a receiver made for home theater, and it does that job relatively well for the price. Both DD and DTS. Good remote.

Weaknesses:
This receiver doesn't sound that well when using normal Sound in stereo mode. Cheap speaker terminals for the surround and center speaker. As usual overrated power.

Similar Products Used:
H/K AVR (only Pro-logic)