This review is from: Pioneer VSX-40 7.1 AV RECEIVER PERP (Electronics)
Very clean sound. Amazing price. I could never justify spending thousands on a reciever for a difference only a dog can hear. Easy to set up as long as you have no issues with any of your other components. Compatability issues are usually due to defective or outdated cable box. Just make sure your cable box has fairly new technology. Paid $300 at costco online and worth every penney.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Pioneer VSX-40 7.1 AV RECEIVER PERP (Electronics)
Neither bad nor extraordinary. I've had Pioneer Elites in the past, and they've generally been pretty good, and this one works well. Just nothing out of the ordinary. I plugged this one into my computer to use for a 5.1 computer speakers system. The audio is excellent but I wouldn't say the settings are particularly easy to adjust.
The next/following models are interesting, though - there is now a mobile app to control the receiver. Recommend checking it out.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Pioneer VSX-40 7.1 AV RECEIVER PERP (Electronics)
I replaced my existing receiver to give us a better experience with the our new Elite 60" tv. We were able to use the existing 5 Panisonic speakers we had, And we could not be happier with the improved sound. The only thing we need to get is powered subwoofer. the one we had was a passive type witch did not work at all. Poineers customer service could learn a few lessons form the Elite TV folks. I would give them a average in that respect. Superior 5 star in sound quality. Average customer service 3 star.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
The Pioneer VSX-821 features a Bluetooth wireless audio option with 550 watts of high powered 5.1 home theater audio playback. Other features include 4 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, hi-resolution Dolby and dts multi-channel audio playback from Blu-Ray discs, iPad / iPhone AV playback with battery charger.
Amazon.com Product Description
Popular Receiver Options
Pioneer VSX-821
Yamaha RX-V471
Check out the Yamaha RX-V471
Denon AVR-1612
Check out the Denon AVR-1612
Onkyo TX-NR509
Check out the Onkyo TX-NR509
Sony STR-DH720
Check out the Sony STR-DH720
Watts/Channel
110 x 5
105 x 5
75 x 5
80 x 5
105 x 7
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year
2 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
3D Pass-through Ready?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Remote Included
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Pre-Out
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Radio Antenna (FM/AM) Input
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
GUI/Onscreen Display
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Auto Calibration Microphone
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Video Upconversion
No
No
No
No
No
Smartphone App Control
No
No
No
iPod/iPhone
No
Network Connected
No
No
No
Yes
No
Zone Control
No
No
No
No
No
Advanced Audio Formats:
Dolby: Digital, Digital Plus, Digital EX, Pro Logic II
DTS: ES, Neo:6
Dolby: TrueHD, Digital, Digital Plus, Pro Logic II
DTS: HD Master Audio, HD High Resolution, Express, Neo:6, ES Discrete, ES Matrix
Yamaha CINEMA DSP
Dolby: TrueHD, Digital, Digital Plus, Pro Logic II, EX
DTS: HD Master Audio, HD High Resolution, Express, ES, Neo:6
Dolby: TrueHD, Digital, Digital Plus, Pro Logic II
DTS: HD Master Audio, ES Discrete, ES Marrix, Neo:6
Onkyo Original DSP
Dolby: Digital, Digital Plus, Pro Logic II, EX
DTS: HD Master Audio, ES Discrete, ES Marrix, Neo:6
HDMI Inputs
4
4
4
4
4
Composite AV Inputs
5
5
3
5
3
Analog Audio Inputs
3
4
4
6
2
Digital Optical Audio Inputs
2
2
1
2
2
Digital Coaxial Audio Inputs
1
2
1
2
1
Stereo Mini Jack Input
0
1
0
0
0
USB Inputs
1
1
1
1
1
Headphone Jack Output
1
1
1
1
1
Bluetooth Ready
110 Watts x 5 Direct Energy Amplification
Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Decoders
HDMI 1.4a 3-D Ready with Audio Return Channel
Made for iPad / iPhone Certified with supplied cable
Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Reviews
Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Reviews
This review is from: Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black (Electronics)
I bought the VSX821 as a budget way to get HDMI switching for my system(AppleTV.Bluray,cable box).Performs this function well.However, when you first activate the receiver you must perform some setup functions.Unfortunately you cannot do the setup thru a HDMI connection. It can only do the setup over a composite connection to see the onscreen menus.So I had to dig out a old cable to do this .Moderately irritating.The picture quality is outstanding over HDMI to my Panasonic plasma.Easy to plug a Ipod Nano into the front of the receiver with the supplied cable.Sound was very goog thru my Monitor Audio speakers.Overall, I'm satisfied with the unit.Just don't expect too much as this is a low/mid level product.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black (Electronics)
The sound is excellent, slightly better than my old Yamaha receiver. Let's call it "more realistic" but the menu interface is miserable. Pioneer flat out distorts information on their advertisements. For instance, they claim the VSX-821 is compatible with iPod's Audio AND Video. This is not entirely true. For starters you need to be a geek to figure out the connections and which iPod is compatible with what. It is not a plug and play thing they are selling you here. I finally got it to play video but if I had to explain it here, I wouldn't know where to start. Furthermore, the iPod video and images are presented as analogue video through the RCA connector on the front, both, photos and video look mediocre at such low resolution. Black bars all around. I blame "Apple" for most of these quality issues, but it is Pioneer's fault too for hidding these facts in their ads and manuals. The most offending advertised "feature" is the so called "on-screen" menu which it is just a... Read more
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black (Electronics)
I was looking for a midrange receiver with features and functions that are useful but not so many that I don't know what to do with them all. At the price this unit has enough HDMI ports for me to connect my PS3, Xbox, and cable box. The onscreen setup is easy enough and the instruction booklet is actually very helpful. It is nice to be able to connect my iPod and use an onscreen interface to select songs and playlists; however, it is not very nice to look at and I expected a bit more from the interface - it looks like an old MSDOS screen. I also wish the little cover for the iPod connects in the front didnt pop-off, I wish it slid so I don't have to worry about losing it. The banana connectors in the back seem quite sturdy and were easy to connect with the speaker wire. Over all I am very happy with the purchase and it is up to date enough that I will be using it for many years to come.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
With its advanced processing and fabulous array of connections, the TX-NR809 is ready to lift the roof off. Eight HDMI inputs handle all your high-def content, from master-quality audio to up scaled 4K video. Home network capability lets you bring streaming internet radio and PC audio to your living room. And the drop-down front panel conceals a plethora of one-touch audio controls and A/V inputs. Video -whether standard or high definition- gets the royal treatment from a high-quality HQV Vida processor and independent ISF calibration for each source. Advanced audio options include bi-amping, 7.2 multichannel pre-outs, and distributed multi-zone audio. As you'd expect from a receiver near the top of Onkyo's mid-range line-up, construction is first-rate. A massive transformer, symmetrical L/R channels, separate power and pre-amp blocks, and a highly rigid chassis provide the bedrock for a superlative audio performance. Built with the serious home theater fan in mind, the TX-NR809 offers a class-leading mix of power, features, and performance.D/A Converter: Audio D/A Conversion: 192K/24 Bit.2-Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty
Ownership - Day 10 I upgraded from an Onkyo TX-SR606 which I owned for about 3 years. I loved my 606 so I figured why not stick with what I know/like (Onkyo). I know about all of the problems people had with the 808 and Onkyo has stood by their product and honoring repairs even though a product may be out of warranty.
I have now had an opportunity to check out all of the bells and whistles of this receiver.
Setup - 5/5, very easy if you have had any experience in the past with any receiver (highly suggest banana plugs and 14 or 12 gauge speaker wire). The included calibration microphone really makes things easy - plug in the mic and the receiver will automatically switch to the onscreen GUI for speaker setup and calibration... Read more
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Onkyo TX-NR809 THX Certified 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver (Black) (Electronics)
I've had the previous generation 808 for several months, but had the need for a second receiver and wanted one I was already familiar with. Quite simply, I'm amazed at the sound quality of the 809. All music and movies sound much, much better - and the 808 is no slouch. The sound is richer, fuller and more balanced for all audio files - hi def files on my server, but also streaming music at low bit rates. Surround sound decoding and balance for movies is much improved and really adds to the "you are there" experience. The 809 helped me greatly with one of my major problems - subwoofers that don't have a lot of bark when Bruce Willis blows away the bad guys. Subs now sound much deeper and finally shake the floor and the only difference in my system is the 809. Onkyo has obviously put a lot of work into improving the audio processing technologies. GUIs are better - especially for the net function/button. I literally couldn't pull myself away from the 809 for hours after I set it up - I... Read more
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Onkyo TX-NR809 THX Certified 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver (Black) (Electronics)
Head this warring, it may look like a good deal, just be prepared for multiple tries to get a unit that works.
I bought this product during the "Cyber Monday" sales for a good price. Unfortunately the product I received was defective. This was confirmed through a brief phone call with a very nice support person, and this is where my experience went from bad to terrible. I had tried everything to get the center channel on the receiver to work, but to no avail, at the request of the phone tech support I tried resetting the receiver. It did not enable sound from the Center channel; it did however cause the loss of sound to the left surround port directly below the center channel ports. I also attempted to contact Onkyo through their email support, over 48hrs later I received a reply with the same information as the phone technical support.
The phone technician recommended I return the product as a defective unit. This was in lieu of performing a warranty... Read more
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Can't do better for the money !, 
What I would expect, 
