It makes me Angry Pioneer doesn't include I Link anymore!

[Maestro]

Ok I know firewire is an old outdated technology but I believe there may be a few of us out there that still enjoy listening to SACD & DVD-A discs through the I Link connection. I know using the I Link connection sure sounds better than using the multichannel analog inputs. I'm able to direct stream DSD while listening to SACD's from my DV47Ai Universal Player directly to my old man heritage VSX-56-TXi receiver and I'm in hog heaven.

Hence my dilema...

I would love to upgrade to a modern receiver with 1.4 HDMI inputs and have DTS Master Audio & Dolby True HD capablities on board unlike my old man Elite heritage receiver. Well modern receivers Do Not include I Link audio connections and don't have as solid of an amplifier as my 56-Txi.

If I replace my 56 with a newer receiver (like the VSX-23-TXH) then I have to invest in a new universal player with HDMI output as well and like many here am not Rockefeller.

I'm not even sure how many receivers are able to stream multi channel DSD over HDMI anyway as well as an I Link connection.

The audio is my primary concern. I don't want to miss out on DTS Master Audio & Dolby True HD listening but I sure don't want to take a step back in audio quality without an I Link connection.

Why doesn't anyone make a receiver that includes I Link, new decoders and HDMI? Then again why can't I have a harem of supermodels at my beck and call along with my wifes loving approval? Maybe I'm asking for too much here. Any suggestions are appreciated...

 

[Adam]

Hi, Maestro. I have a VSX-23 and like it. My remote kind of sucks in that two rows of buttons barely work anymore, but other than that, I have zero complaints. One of the factors in my buying it was to play SACD and DVD-A over HDMI. I never owned a system with i-Link, so I can't compare the audio quality, but I think it's quite good.

I use an Oppo DV-980H to play SACDs and DVD-As over HDMI. You should be able to find one for a reasonable price. A member recently had one for sale here for about $100. There are three on eBay as of right now, with the best one probably being this one here. It's an auction, though, so no set price - but it's at $43 right now (sure to increase before the auction ends tomorrow night). The menu system is a little dated, IMO, but the performance is good.

 

[Maestro]

Hi, Maestro. I have a VSX-23 and like it. My remote kind of sucks in that two rows of buttons barely work anymore, but other than that, I have zero complaints. One of the factors in my buying it was to play SACD and DVD-A over HDMI. I never owned a system with i-Link, so I can't compare the audio quality, but I think it's quite good.

I use an Oppo DV-980H to play SACDs and DVD-As over HDMI. You should be able to find one for a reasonable price. A member recently had one for sale here for about $100. There are three on eBay as of right now, with the best one probably being this one here. It's an auction, though, so no set price - but it's at $43 right now (sure to increase before the auction ends tomorrow night). The menu system is a little dated, IMO, but the performance is good.

Thanks for the heads up on the Oppo Adam. I'm considering the VSX-23. As much as I love my 56 (built like a tank and great mosfet amp) it's unfortunately already a dinosaur. The 23 has all the latest audio codecs and I guess I can always add an external amplifier later if the headroom is lacking with the 23. Will there be a big difference between the sound of the mosfet amp in the 56 and the amplifier design of the 23? I hear the call of the march of the upgrades...

 

[Adam]

Will there be a big difference between the sound of the mosfet amp in the 56 and the amplifier design of the 23?

I really couldn't say, but others here might have an opinion. I've actually never used the internal amps on the 23, as I've had it hooked up to external amps since I bought it.

 

[Maestro]

I really couldn't say, but others here might have an opinion. I've actually never used the internal amps on the 23, as I've had it hooked up to external amps since I bought it.

Does the Standing Wave feature enable you to individually tweak subwoofer frequencies to correct boominess in a room? This looks like an interesting feature if it works like I'm hoping...

 

[Adam]

Does the Standing Wave feature enable you to individually tweak subwoofer frequencies to correct boominess in a room? This looks like an interesting feature if it works like I'm hoping...

Excellent question - I don't know. You have me inspired to find out, though. I looked through the owner's manual and found some information, and I'm going to be lazy and recommend that you flip through it. I just searched for "standing wave" in the PDF file and found the info.

 

[Maestro]

Excellent question - I don't know. You have me inspired to find out, though. I looked through the owner's manual and found some information, and I'm going to be lazy and recommend that you flip through it. I just searched for "standing wave" in the PDF file and found the info.

Well if I end up buying this receiver I certainly will. I know my old 56 doesn't have any standing wave calibration. This would be an excellent tweak if it works. Probably not in the same ballpark as an Anti Mode 8033 but 395 bucks for the anti mode is not pocket change for everyone...

 

[Maestro]

I checked out the manual on the Pio site and it looks like your able to make a manual individual frequency cut. Hard for me to glean much other than that without tweaking around with it.

 

[M Code]

Why doesn't anyone make a receiver that includes I Link, new decoders and HDMI?

For the same reason it has been dropped in computers..
Cost..
The silicon supporting firewire never reached the unit qty volume scale to drive its price down as has other protocols..

CE product categories including AVRs and optical players are simply too price competitive to include I/O capability for protocols that are not supported by the majority market users. They build for the 90% not the 10%..

Just my $0.02..

 

[Adam]

I checked out the manual on the Pio site and it looks like your able to make a manual individual frequency cut. Hard for me to glean much other than that without tweaking around with it.

Sorry that it probably wasn't clear - I had a link to that manual in my post above. I'm glad that you found it!

 

[Maestro]

Sorry that it probably wasn't clear - I had a link to that manual in my post above. I'm glad that you found it!

Yikes...

They say even a blind man can find an acorn every once in awhile. I even failed at that!