Price Paid:  $0.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Got this rig a few days ago second hand and I'm really enjoying it for the price. A few people have noticed that they are unable to put the volume up too high without the limiter kicking in - this maybe because the amps are designed for 8 - 16 Ohm speakers, if you are using 4 or 2 Ohm ones you might have problems. On the plus side, the system features built in overload protection and a cooling system. Once again this is a great entry level system if you only need composite video switching (standard def tv).

Strengths:
Great home theatre package for SDTV
(sort of) universal remote

Weaknesses:
complicated setup

Similar Products Used:
older pioneer gear

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
Firstly, the guy who thought it was crap, crap, crap. Well it isn't okay, i bought this receiver as my first ever home cinema system, the price was really good, especially at the time becaus they were very pricey then. My dad had bought a kenwood receiver with a 500w shared output and it was good and so he put some towards this one. When we got it home i plugged it to his existing system and it was amazing, he couldn't believe the power that was coming out of it. I took it to my games room and now i have connnected it to some 'acoustic solutions' floor standing speakers, and a sony centre and surround set with a small but powerful enough subwoofer. It is easily good enough, try the receiver watching pearl harbour at the fights as this is in 'THX' it has got an amazing sound. I like it best on dts 'Standard' setting for the movies and dsp 'Dance' for music and it really is amazing. Never have the sound setting on 'loudness' though as it flattens out the sound, but have it on 'Midnight' setting as it makes the sound louder and also produces greater frequences on the basses and tweeter sounds!!!
Check It out.
Also i have now got in my sleeping bedroom a pioneer vsx 808 rds receiver which is great as i have got 4 B&W 601's, the B&W cc6 centre, and a yamaha yst sw 90 sub a great match!!! check it out, good with an X-Box.

Strengths:
Very powerful for such a reciever, works with any speaker layout, and any speaker.
'Has' a nice remote!!! (simple)

Weaknesses:
Have to turn it quite high in films and games when impressing mates!!!

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer vsx 808 rds receiver, some kenwood amp.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I picked up this unit with 5 sat's and a pioneer 100 watt sub for $86.00 on Ebay. Got it home and it all work perfectly. I brought this unit for my 12 yearolds birthday and he could hook it up to his PS2. No problem setting it up, same remote for my VSX D309 in the bedroom. hope the 17 yearold don't get jealous

Strengths:
Good power DD, DTS and enough inputs for a starter system or game system amp

Weaknesses:
none yet

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Elite VSX 26TX, Pioneer VSX D309 Pioneer VSX 505, Kenwood VR305

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Visions

Summary:
I was very impessed when I first looked at this unit, the price futher impressed me. It lacks digital inputs but good quality RCA wires sound better than toslink anyway for cd players. The remote kinda sucks but you get used to it. Its a great unit and not just because of the price.

Strengths:
Strong amp, good sound, price, looks, Strudy constuction

Weaknesses:
lack of digital inputs, no pre-out of external amp.

Similar Products Used:
kenwoods

Price Paid:  $200.00 from store

Summary:
low price in great performance

Strengths:
more powerful in 120 w. x 5 channel

Weaknesses:
no.

Similar Products Used:
yamaha and denon