Price Paid:  $300.00 from sam's club with Bose

Summary:
1. Bose AM600 (old version of AM 6 with acoustimass and 5 cubes) 2. Yamaha YST 105 Sub (100 Watt) 3. Hooke Yamaha sub to sub out and adjusted the speakers to Large for Front, center and surround. The set subwoofer setting on Rceveiver menu to "SUBWFPLUS" this allowed sending All frequnecies to AM600 and lows to the Sub. set chanels at +5 db each and effect to 90%. Most important thing: Hook up the coax audio output(or the optical out) from DVD to the receiver. Donot use the composite A/V audio if you want clear sound and 5.1 channel effects. Now I even like to watch news this way!!! (just hook up the VCR A/V out to this receiver). Volume setting neede is -35db when using "prologic" settings . But gives the same soud level at -45 db when not using prologic settings.

Strengths:
Clean sound.

Weaknesses:
Why is overall power consumption mentioned at around 250VA when the receviver is 500 Watts!!! (is Pioneer craeting more energy than being fed into the receiver???). Using universal remote for TV, VCR and Rx at the same time needs some presence of mind. Would have preferred a lighted indiglo type LCD display.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Super Linear amplifier from 1992.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from 470$

Summary:
Hi there, Was shopping for a sony more expensive receiver but the salesman recommended me the pioneer because they make better amps. Bought it and hooked it on my Wharfedale valdus 500, pianissimo rear and Infinity center. Added a Mordaunt Short sub. Watching a movie (at -45 dB) lets us fly of our chairs, incredible power and Quality sound, never heard it better at any one else his house.

Strengths:
High power,good sound performance

Weaknesses:
Low ambiedient temperatures makes at start up one ore more channels less hearable

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Sams Club

Summary:
For my first receiver, I think it was the bast value for my money at the time($550.00 included a Bose Accoustimass 6 speaker package). This receiver allows for a lot of listening options. Once I upgrade my cables to fiber-optic, I look forward to even more house trembling, spine tingling effects with Dolby Digital and DTS modes.

Strengths:
Lots of Inputs and Pre-outs. Plenty of power. Great value for money.

Weaknesses:
Can be confusing to set up if you rush through the processes.

Price Paid:  $400.00 from NZ

Summary:
My first purchase of an AV receiver. Budget was my overriding factor in deciding on this model. I did not read any reviews or backround information before purchasing. I was going to get the 610 model but the learning remote and front av's was attractive for an extra 100NZD (50USD) so I went for the 710s. The learning remote is excellent. I did find it difficult to work out the procedure for learning from other remotes, but now that i have it under control its easy as and i have the pioneer remote controlling everything. The sound was a worry to begin with, from -100 to -50 db i got barely a whisper from the unit (running it through missions M73's). I find the optimal volume about -24 which is 75% max volume. This seemed really strange. I rang the shop, they said, as long as its no popping or cracking and the sound is crisp and clear (which it is) then its ok. The 5.1 surround seems louder for music dvds than cds.

Strengths:
learning remote, price (was the second cheapest available in my market)

Weaknesses:
seems to lack the grunt. I run mine at 75% of max volume to get the desired output! Is this a problem? Anyone?

Similar Products Used:
none yet.

Price Paid:  $420.00

Summary:
I have it running with a 12" Paradigm Sub, a Paradigm CC170 center speaker and two V3.0 Paradigm Titans. No rear speakers. It's possible to coax balanced sound from this receiver but be prepared do do quite a lot of fiddling. The presets really need to be balanced one speaker at a time for a few days, listening to different sources to get it right. The frequency cutoff for the front channels is a bit coarse. I would have liked to give my fronts just a bit more bass but the choices are few. To avoid sub-woofer overlapping you'd better be prepared to fiddle with the controls on your sub to get it right. The learnign remote is a vicious hell beast of a contraption. What an awful design. I can't imagine how they could have gotten it worse. I'd prefer a non-learning remote with a logical layout. Do yourself a favour and buy a decent learing remote and program a few of the Pioneer remote's basic functions into it. After you've set up the system, throw the remote into a volcano. Nice sound, lousy interface. Take a sick day and set it up properly.

Strengths:
Great sound

Weaknesses:
Lousy interface