Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Honestly, how can anyone speak of the "quality" of the sound and include only the receiver's ability? The reciever puts out plenty of power, much more than I'll use. 100 watts per channel is more than enough to rock my BOSE 201 series IV speakers. the remaining channels definitely put some thump into my mtx thunder 7500 12"s. If you want good bass response.. use subwoofers.. that's my conclusion anyway. the superbass is usually always on as it brings the entire range of sound to a warmer tone in general. theres plenty of ways to hook your components up. I've experienced a few problems with electrical noise from large power supplies, but if you isolate the unit a few feet from computers and such, the sound is amazingly clear. no hum or buzzing as long as it's far enough away or your components are shielded. the remote is a remote, that's it. you can control your other components with it and adjust the volume and superbass. nothing more. Obviously there are much better units out there and obviously there are worse, that will be the case with basically anything on the planet you wish to purchase. For me, for free, with BOSE speakers, this unit completely rocks.

Strengths:
Gets very loud and very clear. Many inputs. Simple and understandable. Able to push 4 drivers.

Weaknesses:
basic features and basic functions, nothing extremely exciting. Electrical noise polution can create a buzz or hum so keep it isolated.

Similar Products Used:
many many recievers.. many many speakers..

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
My uncle owns this black screech box. Sure, its amber display looks pleasing, but it sure sounds the opposite as any sensible person can attest. Pay no attention to the guy who knocked 1970s stereo. I own a 1978 vintage SX-780 with a THD of 0.05%, less than half what this piece supposedly rates at. The facts REALLY are that humans cannot perceive sonic distortion below .3%, and companies exaggerate power numbers these days. Back when 2-channel was king, and surround sound a ridiculous dream, Pioneer used high quality potentiometers, capacitors, power supplies, transistors, etc. Now that the average consumer couldn't give two shi+s, BestBuy can sell 100 watts (for 1 microsecond with .9% THD) per channel that "sound great." Yeah, right, all out of a 15-lb. chassis. Let's be serious people. They just don't make them like they used to (a shame).

Strengths:
I don't know, it is cheap?

Weaknesses:
Poor quality sound

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Denon

Price Paid:  $17500.00 from SEARS

Summary:
I have owned this product for 5 years & I think it works great. It has plenty of power. I am able to push my fifteen's with no problem. I am not sure what the prior gentlemen was talking about on the weak bass. I get my walls shaking just fine. There is a misconception about most 70's receivers and them having more power. Most of them had less power than todays and what you call bass is actually distortion. The fact is that THD did not drop drastically until the early eighties.

Strengths:
In my opinion, it's simplicity, and power. Great for a quadraphonic hook-up.

Weaknesses:
It needs a little in the pulling-in of stations department.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer SX-1900 (Now that product sucked)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
100 watts per channel, but no bass whatsoever.

Strengths:
Looks nice. Decent FM tuning. It won't bother your neighbors.

Weaknesses:
No bass at all. I bought this after my old Pioneer SX-1010 from the 70's died. I saw the Pioneer name, saw 100 watts per channel, and the price was good (or so I thought at the time), so I bought. I picked it up ... "hey look! I can lift it with one hand!" ... and thought "Wow, amazing how far they've come ... the old one weighed a ton". Got it home, hooked it up, and soon realized that besides being light and cheap, it sounded awful. First test was Beethoven's 9th. About 9 minutes into the 4th movement there's a pause followed by a section that starts with deep bass drums. I cranked it up. I heard nothing. Literally nothing - it completely filtered out the deep bass that used to vibrate the whole room. Oh well. Finally got an old Pioneer SX-1250 off eBay, and now I can hear my music again. Now I swear by vintage Pioneer. Found a place that will repair my SX-1010 too - even dead, I held onto it.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I like this amp. Cheap, good power, nice style.