Pioneer Elite VSX 30 or?...any suggestions?

[xmandu2000]

Hi Im looking in to buying the Pioneer VSX 30 and was wondering if was worth the $450 ish I believe I can get it for. Or if there is something comparable to it worth checking out? I am looking for the following options:

USB port front facing for mp3 playing from flash drive or iphone
ARC
Video upconverting
Internet radio
on tv screen display for iPhone, etc
of course all the dsp options for Dolby, etc
3D passthrough
would prefer sat radio tuner built in but not required
also preamp inputs would be nice if I decide to upgrade to more powerful external amp - not required though

Oh and my speakers are Bose Accousticmass cubes (2) and subwoofer + plus Bose center channel and rear speakers.

I'd like to be around the $400-450 range. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[m_vanmeter]

there is quite a bit of discussion on the net about the Pioneer VSX line-up and the Elite VSX line.

Basically, the VSX 1020 = VSX 31 and the VSX 1120 = VSX 32

The enclosure, amps, electronics are the same, the weight is the same. The Elite series changes the display color to amber, adds a 12v trigger circuit and adds an RS232 control circuit....plus an extra year on the warranty.

But, for the Elite warranty to be honored, Pioneer requires the purchase from a bricks & mortar store - they do not authorize Elite sales on-line.

The consumer VSX-1020 and 1120 are available on-line, and Amazon has a super sale on the 1120 currently (Amazon.com, not a second party reselling through Amazon, is an authorized on line dealer)

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/FindStore/Pioneer+Home+Audio+Video+Authorized+Internet+Dealers they specifically mention the non-online sales for Elite series receivers.

Of the available authorized on-line Pioneer receivers, I recommend the 1120

 

[xmandu2000]

thanks

LOL Too funny. After I posted this I started to look more closely and came across the VSX 1120. From what I read its a very suitable receiver for my needs. I'd like to listen to one but I can't find any place in Denver that has one connected. However, I did find the 1020. Do you think that is comparable as far as sound goes? I know it doesn't have all the features. If it works out, I would probably have to order the 1120 online.

When I was at BB the other day I found someone who knew what they were talking about so I was able to get a lot of info from him. But he didn't know everything and was pushing last years Elie VSX23TXH on me. It has everything I need however, after I did more research I found that it was HDMI 1.4 compliant. Bummer cuz it was onsale for $450.

I'm not sure what you mean by 12volt trigger curcuit. I don't know that much about receivers other than the features I want. I believe the RS232 allows a PC connection but is that so I can program Internet radio stations or install firmware updates?

Other receivers I am looking at are:
Yamaha RX 667
Denon AVR 1611/1911

I stopped looking at Onkyo because of all the bad reviews I had been reading. And everything else in my price range (HK AVR 2600, Marantz, etc) don't have the features I want. That USB port on the front is prime if it does what I think it does. I am assuming I can plug a flash drive or external hard drive to it and basically play all my music from there.

One other question if you don't mind (or for anybody for that matter that would like to answer). I was reading on the 1120 and Im sure this is the same on other receivers that they SACD playback capabilities. I thought that was no longer around? And does it mean I would have to buy an SACD player as well as CDs of course. Or is digital sound through my flash drive going to give me the best music experience?

By the way, m_vanmeter, you would be related to the Van Meters in Denver/Aurora Colorado, would you...
thx

 

[m_vanmeter]

if you checked the Amazon sale, the 1120 is still $485 with free shipping. This years model !

12v trigger is used to signal compatible devices like powered subwoofers and external amplifiers to turn themselves on and off

RS232 is used for remote, programmable, controllers. You can program the internet radio portion of the 1120 by going directly to its IP address over your home network, enter the IP address into a browser on another computer hooked to the network.

You still can get a SACD player and SACD's and the player must be able to output the digital SACD audio over HDMI for the 1120 to handle it. SACD is pretty much a niche player today - lossless high bitrate digital files have taken over from the highly proprietary Sony SACD market. Digital files on a flash drive can be excellent if they were ripped with a high bitrate lossless format.

You can go to the Pioneer website and download the 1120 manual and it should answer a bunch of your specific questions - or go to the 1120 thread on the AVS forums to discuss specific issues with owners. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Support/HomeEntertainment/AV-Receivers/PioneerReceivers/ci.VSX-1120-K.Support

as to the Van Meter genealogy, all Van Meter's, Van Metern's, Van Matre's, etc are related to a single immigrant family who sailed to Dutch New York in 1662. The family started to spread out west of the Allegheny mountains after the Revolutionary War. So, yes I'm related.....but it is way back up the family tree