Pioneer Debuts Low Cost Receivers

[Attebery]

Pioneer Debuts Low Cost Receivers:

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-VSX-82...7463432&sr=1-1

[vinnie97]

Probably a good idea for them...the high(-end) road hasn't been particularly profitable for them (RIP Kuro), though I'd love an SC-25/27 (for user firmware updates alone).

[LordoftheRingsEE]

Well actually the Pioneer VSX-520-K will retail for only $229 (street will be less than $199! ).
And it is 3D ready, with HDMI v. 1.4. About that?

Already mentioned by Lee with this link:

@ http://www.twice.com/article/449417-..._Bluetooth.php

[vinnie97]

Interesting. There will inevitably be some engineering/quality corners cut. Since my last post, I have heard from a little bird about high-end models coming (SC-35/37) later this year. I fear the price is gonna' be a shocker. I would expect a minimum of $2000 MSRP.

[Lee Stewart]

How is the quality of Pioneer receivers (not Elite)? Say compared to Sony or Onkyo.

[vinnie97]

Can't tell you as of late...an ole' VSX model from the 90s that I had was working up until last year (it was forced into retirement because I wanted access to the newest codecs). Built like a tank, that one. Their tenuous financial position may be forcing them to cut corners now, though I have no solid proof of this.

[Biggiesized]

I think all low-end receivers made by manufacturers have shit build quality; this includes Pioneer, Onkyo, etc.

[chris gerhard]

How is the quality of Pioneer receivers (not Elite)? Say compared to Sony or Onkyo.

Hard to say with the budget models being introduced now but I have owned Pioneer, Sony, JVC and Yamaha receivers and I consider Pioneer better than all but Yamaha. My Pioneer VSX-668 still works great and it must be 12 years old or so. Historically, I think Pioneer is well regarded. Everything could change if these new receivers are junk, low price or not.

Chris

[greenman342]

This VSX Pioneer is missing 7.1, you can get the Sony STR-DH800 for around the same price with the same features (no video upscaling thou if that matters for some) and it has 7.1 speaker support.

Yeah I know 7.1 is debatable as necessary but it's nice to have there to try it out.

And go ahead, take your anti-Sony receiver pot shots.

[vinnie97]

This thread isn't about Sony sh*t.

[Lee Stewart]

This VSX Pioneer is missing 7.1, you can get the Sony STR-DH800 for around the same price with the same features (no video upscaling thou if that matters for some) and it has 7.1 speaker support.

Yeah I know 7.1 is debatable as necessary but it's nice to have there to try it out.

And go ahead, take your anti-Sony receiver pot shots.

Is that Sony receiver an HDMI 1.4 3D compliant receiver?

[jfcarbel]

The Elite's used to be made with high quality parts many from Japan. The Elites in the last 2 to 3 years were made in China.

I own a Pioneer Elite and love it. And was a budget Pioneer receiver before and loved it. So as long as they can somehow still get a quality build at that price level then thats pretty impressive. But only time will tell. However I assume most receivers if they fail do so in the first 2 years. I think once you get beyond that it should last as long as you can stand, but that estimate is going on stuff I had that was built years ago when quality and brand were forefront rather than pricing competition and big box visibility.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

How is the quality of Pioneer receivers (not Elite)? Say compared to Sony or Onkyo.

They compete well, some people prefer them (Pioneers), some others like me goes for the Onkyos. It all depends I guess of the sale price, and both brands are pretty good in that respect for value.
Sound and video qualilty wise, hard to tell, but all the Onkyos from the models 505, 605, 705, 506, 606, 706, 507, 607 & 707 always have great reviews and high recommendations from several professional reviewers of diverse audio mags. The Pioneer models 9xx and 10xx series fare not bad either. But the recent Pioneer models from these two series have lost some weight recently (models from 2004-05-06 and 2007 were much better build) in exchange for more features, not so much for the Onkyos (Onkyo truly push the envelope since 2007 on). Onkyo receivers are nicely build, rich on features and connectivity, great ergonomics, easy to set up, intuitive, quality parts, excellent value for your dollar and great performers overall.
Onkyo is the best value for me personally; since 2007 Onkyo is now a major force to be reckon with, and Onkyo doesn't quit but simply takes the lead on features, performance and value, and hold on tight to it by always still improving. Heck, Denon is now behind with their high prices that are not competitive anymore. And Marantz is missing a few features, even if they look and sound good. As for Yamahas, now you have to look at their 18xx series or higher, below that they all lost some major weight and quality built. Nah, Onkyo is top in my book for the last three years in a row, four including this year. Here, we're talking below the Pioneer Elite series, but even in the higher price brackets, Onkyo is still very strong.
I owned several receivers over the years; Kenwood, Pioneers, Yamahas, Marantzs, Denons, and now my last three receivers are from Onkyo (805, 876 and 906). I was interested by the 5007, but I'll wait for the next model with HDMI v.1.4 for 3D capability.

Sony? Nope, not in the running, sorry.

* P.S. What really surprise me from some of the members here at HDD with huge screens and great front projectors, is to see how little they invest in a top notch receiver (not all of them, like Josh with his Denon AVR-3808CI, but few for sure with their still very competent Onkyos, but missing at reference theatrical volume levels).

[Lee Stewart]

They compete well, some people prefer them (Pioneers), some others like me goes for the Onkyos. It all depends I guess of the sale price, and both brands are pretty good in that respect for value.
Sound and video qualilty wise, hard to tell, but all the Onkyos from the models 505, 605, 705, 506, 606, 706, 507, 607 & 707 always have great reviews and high recommendations from several professional reviewers of diverse audio mags. The Pioneer models 9xx and 10xx series fare not bad either. But the recent Pioneer models from these two series have lost some weight recently (models from 2004-05-06 and 2007 were much better build) in exchange for more features, not so much for the Onkyos (Onkyo truly push the envelope since 2007 on). Onkyo receivers are nicely build, rich on features and connectivity, great ergonomics, easy to set up, intuitive, quality parts, excellent value for your dollar and great performers overall.
Onkyo is the best value for me personally; since 2007 Onkyo is now a major force to be reckon with, and Onkyo doesn't quit but simply takes the lead on features, performance and value, and hold on tight to it by always still improving. Heck, Denon is now behind with their high prices that are not competitive anymore. And Marantz is missing a few features, even if they look and sound good. As for Yamahas, now you have to look at their 18xx series or higher, below that they all lost some major weight and quality built. Nah, Onkyo is top in my book for the last three years in a row, four including this year. Here, we're talking below the Pioneer Elite series, but even in the higher price brackets, Onkyo is still very strong.
I owned several receivers over the years; Kenwood, Pioneers, Yamahas, Marantzs, Denons, and now my last three receivers are from Onkyo (805, 876 and 906). I was interested by the 5007, but I'll wait for the next model with HDMI v.1.4 for 3D capability.

Sony? Nope, not in the running, sorry.

* P.S. What really surprise me from some of the members here at HDD with huge screens and great front projectors, is to see how little they invest in a top notch receiver (not all of them, like Josh with his Denon AVR-3808CI, but few for sure with their still very competent Onkyos, but missing at reference theatrical volume levels).

The Pioneer has caught my eye because it offers me what I am looking for:

1. 5.1 config.

2. HD Audio decoding

3. 1.4/3D compliant

4. Low price

It has been my experience with receivers that they have so many bells, lights and whistles that I never use, yet I know I paid extra for them.

[greenman342]

Is that Sony receiver an HDMI 1.4 3D compliant receiver?

Nope. Since I do not have any 3D equipment I missed that part in the VSX features.