Good DTS/DD Great with DVD's THX Ultra certified

CD Stereo sound seems to be missing something

Bought this at UBID.com and I am very happy. DVD's finally sound correct. Previously used a Pro-Logic system. Have used this for about four months now. I am using small speakers (6.5 inch mb quarts) with a paradigm 10 inch sub.

I am not as happy with cd's in stereo as I was with my other receiver also an elite. maybe its not set up properly yet,there are several onscreen menus for dynamic range and bass etc. It's best said that the cd's now seemed reserved as opposed to wow!. It gets loud, don't get me wrong, but it just doesn't have the same punch. I've tried using both optical in and rca for cd, but did not notice a difference. Currently use the direct/stereo setting. seems to be the best. I have played it loud and it did not clip. Went all the way to 16, at that point walls began to shake in my small room.

Tuner is good, though preferred the jog wheel on previous receiver for tuning in station

Remote is fine/average

Have not had any problems with burnout/shutoff of sound as others have noted.

I'll give it a 5 star review as it a great entry level system for around $440 plus shipping

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Pioneer Elite VSX-04

Easy setup - great remote. Lots of sound modes. THX Ultra.

Size is way too big. Very deep.

Bought the 26 mainly for HT. Sounds great. No hiss or distortion at all. Got it at AVI Electronics in Jersey ($700). Gave me a great deal on other gear also. Good service.

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Denon 3300; Onyko DS-7777

Excellent sound, clear display, easy setup

none found

I have to admit I was disappointed with my prior Pioneer reciever that I had bought about a year and a half ago. Movies sounded alright in DD but music sounded flat, and lacked the punch I had come to expect from my Onkyo Integra reciever. After some coaxing from a friend I decided to check out the Pioneer Elite series, they seemed out of my price range but I thought it never hurts to look (and listen). Am I glad I did this reciever is awesome it is fantastic for all my movies even pro-logic, but the DD is incredible the soundstage is equally balanced even with my unmatched front speakers (which I hope to replace soon). Blade sounded fantastic and Saving Private Ryan sounded a little too real.

For music the Pioneer also performed very well, making my heart skip again as I heard CD's the way they were intended. I still use the analog inputs on the reciever for my CD player (I felt my Onkyo Integra CD player just sounded better than the Pioneer digital inputs, but it was nice to audition the different inputs).

The Pioneer also didn't strain my wallet, not having unlimited resources for sound equipment this reciever is for the audio enthusiast on a budget. I look forward to hearing this reciever with the Phase Tech speakers I'm planning on buying, but for now my home theater is thouroughly enjoyable.

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Older Pioneer Dolby Digital Reciever, Onkyo Integra

Features and ease of use
Great DAC for all audio
Nice remote
Incredible amount of power for reciever in this class.

Depth is longer than other recievers of it's type
Is not able to switch composite to s-video internally.

For the money you will not find a more versatile reciever.
You can use it as a reciever or even a home theater pre-amp.
Sound is superb in this price range although I found the DAC for cd audio slightly bias towards light listening(jazz,vocal,country etc.).

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JVC,B&K,SONY,Phillips

Sound

Maypop-read here; Operator's Guide

Doesn't play as loud as my 9600, but is more open and cleaner. Lots more air. Bass also-much tighter and cleaner [Stevie Ray Vaughn's Texas Flood is demonstrating that for me right now].
The remote is a vast impovement over the 9600's. Much easier to read and to use.
I'll probably never know what a $20,000+ system sounds like, but with this reciever and my Paradigms, I don't care.
Paid $920 locally. I agonized between local and cyber purchase, but spent the extra $120 because:
1-I'm a small business owner, so I understand about keeping money local
2-It's not fair to local stores to bleed them for info and demos, and then buy elsewhere
3-For this much money, I wanted to be able to "look 'em in the eye" if there were any problems.
For Maypop, I was also puzzled by the tape monitor thing. I do not understand Pioneer's reasoning there. The only solution I could come up with was to program the tape monitor function into my new Pioneer remote off of my old Pioneer remote. I hope you can get access to one.
My only real [but still minor] complaint is the owner's guide. It's a little vague on the tape monitor issue [the remote gives you 1 button to control 2 audio player/recorders]. And the hook up diagrams are tough to read, being 2 shades of grey on white paper [and small to boot].
The reciever is very clean and classy looking. It plays beautifully. Wish I could have afforded the extra 20 watts.

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'91 Pioneer VSX9600S

great sound. easy setup even for a dislecsic like myself instruction book is excellent reasonably good remote thx movie mode is the best i've heard grat on screen meneu

the bass managment takes a little tweeking no stay on remote lite ( my wife hates this feature look quick or its gone) hard to read face plate info and small buttons and small lghted info area on reciever that you have to be right up to to read

this is a great unit. excellent sound .paid $749 delivered from sound city an authorised dealer. as i stated even the non tech person can set this up if they read the easy to understand manual. I also use the plus setting then set the sub way down -3 I have easones 1000 as my mains and had some problems getting the bass to blend ( i know I should have gone with definities but who knew eosone would go out of business good thing i got a 10 year extended warrenty and i liked the sound of eosones better)the surround modes dont turn me on too much Ive had them on my 1010vtn for 10 years and am tired of them the plain stero mode with dnr sounds best with 2 channel and the thx theater mode sounds best with dolby digital and pro logic .I do miss having a graphic eq (7 band) that i had on my old 1010 and the do it yourself presets on the eq there were 5 of them but this is a more basic reciever that just is simple and has grat sound .I highly recomend it for anyone .and as i said before dont even think about buying the jvc1028vbk .I still dont understand how to complely work it after 3 months the manual sucks and the sound is just so so it does have more features but you will tier of them and then sorry charly its a vert average product.Other than the remote light problem base management and the hard to read info on the face of the reciever and rather small hard to read lit up l.e.d area this product is perfect ( BUY IT!!!!!!!!!) (sorry for my bad spelling)

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jvc 1028vbk hated it took it to work ok for casual use do not by that unit even if the price seemes to good to be true also I have owned the jvc 1010vtn digifine that was years ahead of its time i would have kept it but no dolby digital

Great Sound

$402.71 paper weight included

Well After buying My reciever off ubid at a price that I thought was a steal for a THX unit the only downside i saw was only a 90 day waranty but I figured I would risk it. well here I am 2 weeks after the waranty ran out and My remote no longer changes the system settings. So I called Pioneer think I could buy a new remote and be merrly on my way to make a long story short they told me that the remote would cost me $402.71 hardly a price I'm willing to pay if I have to replaceit every three months. Now after reading the rest of these reviews my only conclusion is that great sound is no excuse for low quaility products. This will defintly be the last pioneer product that I buy.

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Sony, Onyko, JVC

Great Sound

$402.71 paper weight included

Well After buying My reciever off ubid at a price that I thought was a steal for a THX unit the only downside i saw was only a 90 day waranty but I figured I would risk it. well here I am 2 weeks after the waranty ran out and My remote no longer changes the system settings. So I called Pioneer think I could buy a new remote and be merrly on my way to make a long story short they told me that the remote would cost me $402.71 hardly a price I'm willing to pay if I have to replaceit every three months. Now after reading the rest of these reviews my only conclusion is that great sound is no excuse for low quaility products. This will defintly be the last pioneer product that I buy.

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Sony, Onyko, JVC

System off System on. Very clever remote.

Tape moniter 2 access. loudness function access.

So far this reciever is great. Requires tweaking, or toying with to obtain proper settings for the system. I am learning new features on a regular basis. My piece of advice for first time buyers, such as myself, is to thoroughly read the manual. After sever readings I came to an understanding of the many useful features of this unit. If anybody can tell me how to access the tape-moniter 2 , and loudness feature from the remote I would appreciate it.

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Pieced together ac-3 surround using stereo amps

Sound (when working, DSP modes, THX

Unreliability

I purchased this unit approximately 3 months ago. I had read the reviews about the unit's unreliability and specifically raised that issue with the saleperson which I was dealing with. He assured me that the problem had been corrected, and on that advice I purchased the unit. Almost 3 months to the day of bringing the unit home, the sound cut out as described by so many others. I immediately contacted the retailer where I purchased the unit, and I was told that he would replace the unit with another identical receiver. I opted instead to pay the extra and purchased a 36TX instead. Not only is the reliability issue now not a concern, I have found that the 36TX offers better sound, and other features which the 26TX did not have. I would not suggest that anyone purchase this receiver until Pioneer has fully corrected the problem.