Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K vs 919AH-K

[Tungsten06GT]

I'm wondering what the major differences are between the 1019 and 919. Looking at the specs, it seems like the 1019 has a couple more inputs and 1080-p video upscaling (both are 7 channel). Well, I'm going to be using an HDMI input for my cable box and an HDMI input for my PS3 to watch movies on, so shouldn't the PS3 already handle the 1080-p upscaling? I'm just wondering if there's anything else I'm missing, because for the $100 extra pricetag of the 1019, I'm not sure it'll have anything extra that would benefit me. Both come with the iPod cable too, so that seems like about it.

Thanks!

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Forgot to mention, my main concern is sound quality. The sound quality of the 919 shouldn't be any less than that of the 1019 right? I just want to make sure the 919 is exactly the same, except having a few less features. I just don't get why it's $100 cheaper...

 

[bandphan]

Forgot to mention, my main concern is sound quality. The sound quality of the 919 shouldn't be any less than that of the 1019 right? I just want to make sure the 919 is exactly the same, except having a few less features. I just don't get why it's $100 cheaper...

The zone 2 support features and scaling is the price difference. Speakers will be your sound quality Which will be?? (speakers)

 

[Tungsten06GT]

The zone 2 support features and scaling is the price difference. Speakers will be your sound quality Which will be?? (speakers)

Was thinking of going with the whole EMP Impression series. E5Ti for fronts, E5Ci for center, and E5Bi for rear surrounds. Scaling isn't an issue for me though since I'm using my PS3 for DVD/Bluray, right? Would it be useful for anything with my cable box? Other than those 2 inputs, I probably won't have anything else.

 

[bandphan]

Was thinking of going with the whole EMP Impression series. E5Ti for fronts, E5Ci for center, and E5Bi for rear surrounds. Scaling isn't an issue for me though since I'm using my PS3 for DVD/Bluray, right? Would it be useful for anything with my cable box? Other than those 2 inputs, I probably won't have anything else.

IMO, with the speakers at a nominal 6ohms, you might be better served getting an AVR with preouts, at least for the mains, if more power is needed. Id look at the VSX-21TXH instead, agian if it were me, @ 499-549

 

[njedpx3]

IMO, with the speakers at a nominal 6ohms, you might be better served getting an AVR with preouts, at least for the mains, if more power is needed. Id look at the VSX-21TXH instead, agian if it were me, @ 499-549

I agree with Bandphan. If you get a AVR with pre-outs you future proof your purchase, because if needed, the pre-outs allow you to add an external amplifier to drive your future bigger and better speakers.

Later and Good luck!

Forest Man

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Oh wow, I didn't even know that was an option... I'm a newbie around here, so I'm learning as I go along.

In the specs for the 21TXH, does the spec stating "Audio Pre-Output: 7.1" mean that it has audio pre-outs for each of the 7 channels plus the sub? Whereas with the 1019, it only has "Preamp output: Sub."

 

[Adam]

If you get a AVR with pre-outs you future proof your purchase...

Well...not really. I agree that pre-amp outputs are a nice feature, but they don't future-proof a receiver.

I bought a Yamaha back in 1997 with pre-amp outputs. It was the dawn of the digital surround days, and while it had Dolby Digital decoding, it didn't have DTS decoding (or multi-channel inputs). It also didn't have any equilizer settings (which are part of the auto set-up routines on a lot of receivers these days). Lack of processing became a big limitation to me.

So, I bought a Pioneer 1015 back in 2005 with pre-amp outputs. Eventually, though, I wanted to update the connectivity - the 1015 has no HDMI connections, which came out the next year.

My point - having pre-amp outputs helps with questions about speakers, but it doesn't address the general issue of technology advancing and new connections/codecs/whatever being introduced.

 

[Adam]

In the specs for the 21TXH, does the spec stating "Audio Pre-Output: 7.1" mean that it has audio pre-outs for each of the 7 channels plus the sub? Whereas with the 1019, it only has "Preamp output: Sub."

Yep, you got it exactly right.

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Yeah I see what ur sayin Adam.

So, when the receiver specs state:
110W X 7 (20Hz-20kHz, .09% THD @ 8 Ohms, All Channels Driven), for the 21TXH, that power is at 8 Ohms. The EMP speakers I'm looking at have 6 Ohm coils, so does that actually mean they will be drawing slightly more power since the AVR is rated at 8 Ohms?

 

[Adam]

So, when the receiver specs state:
110W X 7 (20Hz-20kHz, .09% THD @ 8 Ohms, All Channels Driven), for the 21TXH, that power is at 8 Ohms. The EMP speakers I'm looking at have 6 Ohm coils, so does that actually mean they will be drawing slightly more power since the AVR is rated at 8 Ohms?

Everything else being equal, a lower impedance in a speaker will lead to a higher current draw from the receiver. I don't know it that equates to a higher power draw, though. The higher current draw is why low-impedance speakers (like, 2 or 4 Ohms nominal) are a challenge for many receivers. 6 Ohms won't be an issue at all for that Pioneer, btw.

Those EMP speakers aren't extremely efficient, so they'll need more power to play at equivalent sound levels compared to more efficient speakers. The efficiency (or sensitivity) on those is 87dB. Now, that does not mean that the VSX-21 can't play those loud - not at all. It might mean that the VSX-21 won't be able to play them at really loud levels while still maintaining all the dynamics of the music. I noticed that will my Pioneer VSX-1015 and NHT speakers. At normal to loud listening levels, everything sounded great. At once-or-twice-a-year levels (LOUD), it sounded a bit muffled (best word that I can think of). Sounded okay, but not quite right. When I added an external amp for the front speakers to lighten the load on the receiver, it sounded fantastic even at those louder-than-normal levels.

In summary - that Pioneer likely has plenty of power for you unless you really like to crank it.

 

[bandphan]

Yeah I see what ur sayin Adam.

So, when the receiver specs state:
110W X 7 (20Hz-20kHz, .09% THD @ 8 Ohms, All Channels Driven), for the 21TXH, that power is at 8 Ohms. The EMP speakers I'm looking at have 6 Ohm coils, so does that actually mean they will be drawing slightly more power since the AVR is rated at 8 Ohms?

Ohm is not a constant, it varys thru the entire frequency range. The lower the ohm rating the higher the draw from the amp. You want an amp section that is 4ohm stable with those speakers and depending on your room size an external amp.

 

[Tungsten06GT]

I see. I guess if I pull the trigger on this system, I'll just see how it sounds at first and go from there to decide if I need an external amp. Excellent information though thanks!

 

[njedpx3]

Everything else being equal, a lower impedance in a speaker will lead to a higher current draw from the receiver. I don't know it that equates to a higher power draw, though. The higher current draw is why low-impedance speakers (like, 2 or 4 Ohms nominal) are a challenge for many receivers. 6 Ohms won't be an issue at all for that Pioneer, btw.

Those EMP speakers aren't extremely efficient, so they'll need more power to play at equivalent sound levels compared to more efficient speakers. The efficiency (or sensitivity) on those is 87dB. Now, that does not mean that the VSX-21 can't play those loud - not at all. It might mean that the VSX-21 won't be able to play them at really loud levels while still maintaining all the dynamics of the music. I noticed that will my Pioneer VSX-1015 and NHT speakers. At normal to loud listening levels, everything sounded great. At once-or-twice-a-year levels (LOUD), it sounded a bit muffled (best word that I can think of). Sounded okay, but not quite right. When I added an external amp for the front speakers to lighten the load on the receiver, it sounded fantastic even at those louder-than-normal levels.

In summary - that Pioneer likely has plenty of power for you unless you really like to crank it.

OP,

Adam has given you excellent answers and I will acede I and agree with ) to his much more thorough explanations and yes, pre-outs won't completely future proof it unless you like to crank it as Adam's last line says

Forest Man