AC-3 RF decoder built in. Nice bass management features. Automatic Pro-logic decoding from any DD 2.0 source (unlike Kenwood)

Excessive hiss in the center an surround channels, DSP modes are useless

Hey, where else are you going to find a receiver with 2 Dolby Digital inputs, bass management, a very cool remote, a BUILT-IN RF DEMODULATOR for laserdisc all for under $250 new? This receiver is a bargain hunters dream.

This receiver was never part of Pioneer's "official line" of products, it was made to be paired with the CLD-D406 as part of a Karaoke package (an idea that was scrapped when the bottom fell out of the laserdisc market). Still, a ton of these receivers were made and shipped to discount clubs across the country.

This receiver has its problems. There is hiss in the center and surround channels when in surround mode, the DSP modes sound lame, and this thing is NOT putting out 100Wx5! (barely 60 watts per channel, and none of them very clean)

Still, if you're looking for a bargain receiver to pair with a laserdisc player, you could do far worse than the 555 (like the Kenwood 990, which I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy).

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Kenwood 990

I likt this product, great sound for the price. But a question...what kind of coaxil cables do I need to get the dolby digital?? normal rca cables? special ones?

For less than 250.00 this little receiver is a marvel. Nice clean sound (better than my $$$$ Sony, but worse than my $$$$ Rotel). Howevwer with DD decoding, and a quite nifty remote control, this is not to be missed for a low-end theater setup. At Costco it was priced at $219.99.

Has Dolby AC-3 RF Decoding for LaserDiscs!
Nice Dolby Digital sound and easy set up.

Cheap speaker connectors, no S-Video switching, no optical digital in, no digital out

I bought this receiver primarily because it has AC-3 RF decoding for Dolby Digital laserdiscs. This feature is almost impossible to find on receivers (save Pioneer's VSX29TX Elite receiver, which reviews here say has all sorts of DSP problems), and stand-alone converters are scarce and frequently overpriced on Ebay.

This is my first Dolby Digital receiver, and the difference from Dolby Surround is amazing. Watching laserdiscs, like Die Hard III, I cannot teld the difference from DVD unless I put my face right up to the screen. (I happen to think LD and DVD are on a par with regard to video quality, each having it's own strengths--DVD has better theoretical resolution--and weaknesses--but DVD suffers from digital compression artifacts)

That said, I don't think the amplifier is up to the quality of my H/K. From a purely physical standpoint, the Pioneer is rated for more than double the power output of my H/K, but it weighs less. Obviously the power output transformers are not in the same league. With acoustic music it lacks presence, and sounds compressed by comparison. With compressed rock music like electronica, hard rock and metal this is less pronounced, but still detectable. Yet, with DD movie soundtracks it comes much more alive, and even sounds more dynamic. My speaker set up is NHT super zeros all around with a Pardigm subwoofer.

I haven't been able to really sit down and put the thing through its paces, but I can tell you that while it's not an audiophile grade receiver, for $150 I couldn't be more happy. I will move my H/K receiver into another room for more critical music listening.

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Harman/Kardon AVR25II, Technics SA-AX540, Early 90s vintage Technics Stereo Receiver

Great Value! Easy to use. Good looking Receiver! Great Remote Control.

No on screen display, no sound level volume display, no optical input, no S-VHS

I bought this to replace my Dolby Pro Logic Kenwood Receiver.

Its probably the best value on the market for a Dolby Digital Receiver. I got it brand New on Ebay for $160. Great value!

Using the same speakers, my home theater now sounds much better than before, whether its watching DVD or just listening to music. This Pioneer sounded much better than my old Kenwood.

I also bought a HK AVR65 to see if I would get a better sound for a couple hundred dollars more. But it turned out this pioneer has the same level of sound quality as the HK AVR 65 and it is louder than the AVR 65 as it has 100 watts / ch compared to the 65 watts / ch of the AVR 65.
Therefore I ended up returning the HK AVR65 and kept this Pioneer. Its probably the best $160 that I have spen in my life! Dvd now sound incrediblly real and much better than before.

I will definitely recommend this receiver to anyone, especially its such a great value at $160 on Ebay!

Its a great value and a great receiver because it is able to match the value and features of a more expensive receiver in the $800 price range. The only exception it lacks is optical input and DTS. But for such a great price difference and savings I am willing to sacrifice them!

I think Overall Pioneer makes the best values of a full line of receiver on the market, from the VSX-V555 to VSX-607S to VSX-608 and to the Elite receivers, they are all great values in its own class with sound qualities and features found in other receivers costing hundreds more.

I plan to upgrade to an Pioneer Elite receiver in the near future.

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HK AVR65, Kenwood 107VR

100 watts per channelx5. Dolby Digital Decoding
Pioneer name.

None as of yet

Bought at a barging from UBID.. I really like Pioneer equiptment thats why i bid on this reciever when i saw it. I think it goes great with my Pioneer DV-C302D Dolby Digital 3disc DVD player, Pioneer PDF407 25disc CD player, Sherwood tape deck, pioneer center channel and rear speakers, audiosource SW15, and last but not least it has tons of power to put into my Cerwin Vega E712's..
Its a great Reciever, and has a good price, check it out on UBID, its there all the time..Only thing this doesnt have is DTS but how many DVD's actually use that right now???

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Vector Research 2ch. Reciever