Power, Sound Modes

ITs a POS, I have had it for 7 months and it has spent about 3 months in the shop(so far) for repair, curently there for the 3rd time(last 3 weeks)

1 month and 1 week after i got it is when the problems started. The sound started to cut out and the unit needed to warm up before audio was heard. After a few days of this i took it in for service. 4 weeks and after 3 phone calls to the service center they finaly said they havent got a clue and they gave me a new one off the shelf.

It lasted almost 3 months, same problems. Took it back, they worked on it, and worked on it, then after 3-4 weeks decided to send it to pioneer, they repired it and I had it back about a week later.

Its back in now due to there being no center channel output and having a hum.

Other then that from the little I have heard its not to bad

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Curently also have a Kenwood VR-1070

Good looks, sounds great

Unreliable

I can now be counted among the many who suddenly lost sound from this unit. I went on vacation and didn't use the unit for ten days. When I got back and turned the unit on, there was no sound. After the unit was on for about an hour, some the sound reappeared. The next day, the same problem occured. Then the unit stopped emitting sound no matter how long it was on. It is now at the service center. I also have a Pioneer Pro-710HD projection TV and had tons of problems. Pioneer replaced the projection TV unit after many calls and letters. I am very disappointed with these "Elite" products.

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None

I like the surround sound capabilities. Quiet on dialogue, powerful. I like DTS and THX Ultra features. Like the midnight mode.

Bulky, don't like the plastic finish on the front.

Purchased receiver in February. Love the sound, receiver has been great. Dissappointed when one day we put on a movie and had no sound. Took it in for repair to the place we bought it from, they sent it into the manufacturer and after about 3 weeks got it back and figured it was fixed because we had sound again. The repair order said they "repaired connections in audio circuit." Approx. 2 months later same thing happened, went to play a DVD and SURPRISE-no sound.

In reading other reviews that it may be a soldering problem, I wonder why the manufacturer didn't fix it properly the first time. Now I have to take it down to be repaired a second time and try to explain again to the guy exactly what the problem is. Now I'm left to wonder if this is the beginning of what could be a long road of "taking it in to be repaired."

What happens when the warranty expires? Will I be left with a $1,200 paperweight or will it be resolved for good this time. Anyone have any suggestions? How have you dealt with the recurrences and how have you been treated by Pioneer on getting this resolved?

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Pioneer DVD player

Well ladies and gentlemen, I have that update I promised. After setting up some time at the audio shop to test the problems I had encountered. I have good news.. It appears that the intial setup for the reiciever did in fact work as it was supposed to. It turns out that the Pioneer DV-414, was not set correctly (didnt quite get the full scoop on that) but to make it simple.. a digital selection was not set correctly to allow bit streaming all the DTS/5.1 info. So the reciever was not getting the stream from the DV-414. Well, so much for that :) Now I have full Functioning Wild and crazy DTS/5.1 going.. I can now tell you what I have auditioned now.. and let me tell you.. IT IS ASTOUNDING!
After the intial setting up and placement of the speakers and setting the levels and delay settings. I can say the revceiver does live up the the standards of ULTRA-THX. I was impressed by the vsx-07tx.. but after listening to this receiver and DTS and 5.1 processing. I can say that I have now heard many new and Impressive sound dynamics. I would not go back to my other reciever. EVER.
I do recomend this unit to any who are price concious and would like the most bang for the buck they can get in this arena. It is a bit pricey.. but well worth it if you like your movies and music clearly and cleanly reproduced.
(and for those who are intrested in what all I hook up to this)
-- Electronics ---
Sony- 27" TV
Sony- ST-B3 (satelite receiver)
Receiver- Pioneer VSX-26TX
CD player- Techniques 5-disk carosel
Tape deck- Techniques Dual Deck/pro
VCR- Sony slv-620hf

-- Speakers --
Front (l/r)- Phase Technology PC3
Center- Phase Technolgy PC3
Rear surround- Phase Technology Theatro 3.5
Sub- 12" Octave Power 12

None at the moment.

It still doesn't work

I took my unit in for repair on December 30th. The authorized repair shop - Electrasound - had the unit for 5 weeks and then finally called me and said it was fixed and I could pick it up. When I got it home, it still didn't work. I called Pioneer and they informed me that I would have to take it to another shop and that they were sorry that the first shop screwed me. I took it to the second shop, and at least this guy was honest. He called me after having the unit for 4 weeks and said that he couldn't figure it out. He said he had turned down 4 repairs of the same unit since I brought my unit to him. I called Pioneer before picking the unit up and they assigned a case number and said they would call me in 3 to 5 days with a resolution. They have not called, but the repair tech at the shop called and said that Pioneer called him and wants him to try again. They are sending more parts, as they feel that the first set of parts they sent him might have been defective. The repair tech gave me the impression that he is skeptical about being able to fix the unit. It is now March 16th - about 75 days since I initally took this unit in, and I have no receiver and no end in sight to this problem. I would strongly recommend against buying Pioneer products.

Followup - I have dropped it off for repair at a local AUTHORIZED electronics place. Lets see if they have 1/2 a clue. I even printed them articles from this web site. I am nervous as ****... I miss my received already!!! ARGH!!!!! AND MY NETFLIX DVD'S HAVE ARRIVED!!!!

What to do what to do...

superb soundfields, effects, lots of digital and s-video outputs

haven't found any

this receiver is the BEST bang for the buck for any audio enthusiasists or any listener that have been searching for an excellent equipment. good news for you guys. this is the equipment that you have been looking for.
I praise pioneer for its excellence on creating such piece of product line.
To answer a reviewer (i couldn't get your name or email add.) question about setting the nominal volume setting, -20 to -30db in stereo mode will actually make your neighbors very unpleased. try configuring 1) channel effect (on remote) 2) adjust speaker input impedence level (most speakers use 8 ohms)on the receiver 3) use stereo mode when listening to audio source (except if you have a DVD-Audio source).
I normally set the volume to -30db when listening to music and very pleased with the sonic balance between front speakers. My equipment consists: Mirage Frx Nine (fronts), Mirage OM C-2 (Center), a 10-inch Mirage sub, Mirage Frx rears.
To other future buyers that have been thinking or been doing product reaserch to purchase a receiver, this is the one for you.

Simply Unbelievable!! I got this beautiful receiver today and I must say that Impressed just doesnt explain what i feel!! The 100 watts a channel is conservative.,..it kills my previous receiver. The bass controls are a dream come true, everything kicks ass, even the remote!! This receiver is a work of art! Pioneer has once again stole my heart. Why i expected less than perfection is beyond me , get this item NOW!! You wont regret it!! I also got the Elite DV-09 today..another WOW!!!....PIONEER RULES!!!

The Pioneer 26TX is one of the best systems I have ever owned. When I pair it with my B&W 603 S2 speakers it really rocks. However, I do not think I have the settings correctly. Everyone in this review raves about the power output of this receiver, unfortunately I have to raise the volume to -10 for movies and -20db for music. These settings are very near the maximum of 12db. Would someone please advise me to the correct settings of this receiver (w/O a subwoofer). The clarity of this system however at any volume is superb!

Big unit. Can't control one piece of the system from the remote while watching/listening to another.

I feel really bad for the people having problems with this unit. I couldn't be happier with its performance or reliability.
The two performance issues I have are petty: 1) CD audio is a little brighter than I would like for it to be. It sounds too digital unless you're listening to digital music (referring to the instruments rather than the media). 2) I listen to a wide variety of music and like, at times, to be in control of its sound. I can do this with the DSPs easily. But, in these days, it would be nice to have something switch DSPs automatically for you so while I'm working in the office in the back of the house, rocking to a little LL, I don't get bassed out when the CD changer switches to Emerson, Lake & Palmer. They just don't sound good with a lot of bass (it doesn't help that it's hooked up to 2 12s, 2 15s, an 8 and a 10).
Anyway, I'm rambling. In my experience, this is an excellent product.

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Pioneer, Denon, Harmon Kardon