LOOK OUT! New Pioneer receivers seem to be lacking.

[Seth=L]

The Bottom line receiver only does 5.1 were as the VSX-516 was capable of 7.1.
Pioneer VSX-517

The removed the 7 channel preamp outputs from this one, and it seems it has all the same features it used to have.
Pioneer VSX-817

The VSX-917 has HDMI switching (pass-thru only), and still lacks preamp outputs for all channels.
Pioneer VSX-917

I have to say I am disappointed with Pioneer's entry-level line-up. The 517 and the 817 are a complete step backwards, and the 917 doesn't offer anything outside HDMI pass-thru it seems. Very sad.

 

[j_garcia]

LOL, I always thought they were lacking, but that is just me...

 

[Seth=L]

LOL, I always thought they were lacking, but that is just me...

Yes, but walking backwards is just wrong. Why would they do that? Even Sony has moved forward in many respects (features wise). Pioneer is just shot themselves in the foot I think.

 

[GlocksRock]

Truly sad, I like Pioneer products, but what are they thinking? They are taking a step backwards, while Yamaha is doing the complete opposite, they are offering a lot more, for less money. I went from an entry leverl Pioneer receiver to a RX-V1600 Yamaha, and am not the least bit sorry with my purchase.

 

[Seth=L]

I went from an entry level Pioneer receiver to a RX-V1600 Yamaha, and am not the least bit sorry with my purchase.

I wouldn't be either. I have an older Pioneer stereo receiver for the bedroom, which is plenty for a bedroom, it works great. I don't think the new Pioneers would be bad receivers, just aren't up to snuff. It would be like if Intel said they were going back to Pentium III or Microsoft going back to 2000ME, it doesn't make sense.

 

[no. 5]

The VSX-917 has HDMI switching (pass-thru only), and still lacks preamp outputs for all channels.
Pioneer VSX-917

HDMI pass-through only?? The only other receiver I can think of that does that is from early last year.

And no pre-amps?? What, like no one would ever want to up-grade? I’ve never been a big Pioneer fan, and when they do things like that, it doesn’t help.

 

[bananafeller]

hey thanks for the heads up i was super close to buying the 917. Do you have any suggestions for alterantives at the same price point? you mentioned yamaha, which models? (must be availble at best buy or future shop because i get them at cost)

 

[Seth=L]

hey thanks for the heads up i was super close to buying the 917. Do you have any suggestions for alterantives at the same price point? you mentioned yamaha, which models? (must be availble at best buy or future shop because i get them at cost)

The Yamaha RX-V659 has dropped in price, you might try that.(No HDMI though)

Onkyo TX-SR604 does HDMI audio and video, not just pass-thru.

The Yamaha RX-V661 is the successor of the RX-V659 and features HDMI switching with audio and video. It also is Simplay certified, which helps ensure that it will be compatible with HDMI devices. Yamaha apparently was having problems with this before.

Note: The Yamaha HTR series offers the same receivers with slight appearance changes in Big Box stores such as Best Buy. The RX-V659 equivalent is the HTR-5960 and the RX-V661 equivalent is the HTR-6060.

 

[j_garcia]

Onkyo also has the TX-SR605 comgin out with HDMI 1., supposedly next month. It is on preorder for $399 right now at J&R.

 

[no. 5]

Not to be barfing information, but if you want HDMI and only one cable to your TV, bananafller, the TX-SR674, or HTR-5990 would be the ones to go with, as they will transcoed all video to the HDMI monitor out.
If you don’t care about that, forget I said anything.

 

[bananafeller]

thanks but i think i`m going to go wityh the old pîoneer 816, i don`t really need hdmi and it just causing me head ach trying to stay with in my budget. the 816 seems to be a really nice pick for the price and i get it cheaper.

As for speakers i tihjk i`m going to go with the athena ls-500 or 300

 

[Seth=L]

thanks but i think i`m going to go wityh the old pîoneer 816, i don`t really need hdmi and it just causing me head ach trying to stay with in my budget. the 816 seems to be a really nice pick for the price and i get it cheaper.

As for speakers i tihjk i`m going to go with the athena ls-500 or 300

The 816 is fine, better than the 817 for sure (at least on paper and print). Since I haven't heard too many problems with the 816 I would say you are probably OK. The Athenas are not hard to drive, so you will be fine in that respect, and if you find you need more power you have preouts for all channels.

 

[Seth=L]

Onkyo also has the TX-SR605 comgin out with HDMI 1., supposedly next month. It is on preorder for $399 right now at J&R.

The 605 is supposed to be out in May, True HD, DTS HD on board. The TX-SR505 and 575 are already available and switch HDMI 1.3a (no processing features on those models), but none the less they are 1.3 and available. The higher models appear to be coming out every month or so after the 605.

 

[1tribeca]

How about the Elite line-up? Anything new? Are they a good choice? I've always liked Yamaha (I own one in fact)...but I just started "working" for a HT shop that carries Elite...I'm starting to warm up to them. Is this a bad idea now?

 

[nav]

Absolutely offtopic meandering on my part:

I wouldn't be either. I have an older Pioneer stereo receiver for the bedroom, which is plenty for a bedroom, it works great. I don't think the new Pioneers would be bad receivers, just aren't up to snuff. It would be like if Intel said they were going back to Pentium III or Microsoft going back to 2000ME, it doesn't make sense.

Intel did go back to the Pentium III in a sense, they just neglected to call it that on its second appearance on the market for obvious reasons. Netburst (Pentium 4) was a power hog, hence the creation of the Pentium M (part of the more widely advertised Centrino platform) which was based on the Pentium III. With Netburst being an architectural dead-end, Intel's Core platform was instead derived from the Pentium M. Going "back to Pentium III" was one of Intel's better decisions in recent memory.

 

[Seth=L]

They haven't released any new Elite models yet. I don't think they will untill they incorporate HDMI 1.3a, DTS-HD, and True HD. They have no good reason to release another line without 1.3, and I would imagine they are already producing them. The VSX-1017 will likely also have HDMI 1.3a with audio processing, that is assuming they keep the 101 series running.

Pioneer Elite is a formidable competitor for Yamaha, Denon, and other similarly priced make and models.

I predict that Onkyo will do well in the next few months with their 1.3 receivers as they have alread assigned models and released two 1.3 compliant units already.

 

[Seth=L]

Intel did go back to the Pentium III in a sense, they just neglected to call it that on its second appearance on the market for obvious reasons. Netburst (Pentium 4) was a power hog, hence the creation of the Pentium M (part of the more widely advertised Centrino platform) which was based on the Pentium III. With Netburst being an architectural dead-end, Intel's Core platform was instead derived from the Pentium M. Going "back to Pentium III" was one of Intel's better decisions in recent memory.

I just got shot down. That is interesting though, I definitely did not know that about Intel.

 

[MDS]

I predict that Onkyo will do well in the next few months with their 1.3 receivers as they have alread assigned models and released two 1.3 compliant units already.

I check the Onkyo site periodically and the only announcement I have seen is the TX-SR505, which by the description looks like it inherited most of the features from the 604. I wonder what the new 6 series will have in store or if there will ever be another 7 series.

How did you come across the information that the new models will have HDMI 1.3?

Edit: The 505 says it has HDMI pass through which is exactly like the Pioneers. The 604/674 function as repeaters which is what you really want.

 

[Seth=L]

I check the Onkyo site periodically and the only announcement I have seen is the TX-SR505, which by the description looks like it inherited most of the features from the 604. I wonder what the new 6 series will have in store or if there will ever be another 7 series.

How did you come across the information that the new models will have HDMI 1.3?

Edit: The 505 says it has HDMI pass through which is exactly like the Pioneers. The 604/674 function as repeaters which is what you really want.

LOL

The 505 and 575 do pass-thru only, but it is 1.3a certified (36bit deep color)

The 605 comes out next month according to this and a few other forums-
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3media&message.id=38792

And it has preorders available at JR. $399

It is not set in stone the 605 has 1.3 though, as I have yet to find a real press release.

 

[MDS]

I googled for 'Onkyo new receiver' and found similar links, one referring to a post on AVSForum. It's all just hearsay as to what exact features will be included in each model but it looks promising.

I see they are reviving the 7xx series, with a new 705. Let's hope that's true because that is what I want.