Pioneer VSX-815-K Receiver Review

Audioholics · Jun 29, 2005

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 94px" alt=[PioneerVSX815Kreceiver] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/PioneerVSX815Kreceiver_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Despite all of the mid-fi and hi-fi product reviews written by the editors at Audioholics, we get a steady stream of reader requests for more entry level systems. In fact, it's almost imperative that we provide them because to assume that a manufacturer's flagship products necessarily reflect the quality and usability of its entry-level units ignores the lessons learned from our article on <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/amplifiers/receiverpower.php">Product Managing Receiver Platforms & Power Ratings</A>. So, it was with a desire to investigate Pioneer's new entry-level line of receivers that we requested the <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php">VSX-815 receiver</A> and <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/PioneerHTP-4600review1.php">HTP-4600</A> home theater system, two products that give us a nice slice of Pioneer's lower-priced offerings. The VSX-815 is a 100 watt x 7 product with auto setup and room EQ. Read on to find out our results.
[<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php">Read the Review</A>]

MacManNM · Jun 29, 2005

Clint,
I took a quick look at the review, looks like a pretty good deal. How do the pre-outs compare to some of the better units, like the denon 3805 or the yammie 1500?

msmith855 · Jun 29, 2005

This is a very good step in bridging the gap between the audio enthusiast (people like me that love home theater but can't always afford the exotic or elite hardware) and the true audiophile. Most sites and magazines ignore the budget minded audio enthusiast and focus on the top line stuff. While it's interesting to read it also is impractical in terms of providing any real world decision making information for me. Nicely done guys, keep up the great work. I can't tell you how much I've learned from your site and continue to learn.

Shadow_Ferret · Jun 29, 2005

I think I just made my decision on my entry-level receiver.

Spiffyfast · Jun 29, 2005

Looks like a nice receiver for the money, itll make a great beginner system

Audioholics · Jun 29, 2005

MacManNM said:
Clint,
How do the pre-outs compare to some of the better units, like the denon 3805 or the yammie 1500?

We had to draw the line somewhere on a $300 receiver review so we didn't bench this unit or test the pre-outs for signal to noise. My guess is that it won't be nearly as quiet, but if it functions along the lines of the rest of the unit, it should be more than acceptable to be used as a preamp if you have an amplifier lying around.

race4aliving · Jun 29, 2005

Thanks for reviewing entry level receivers, I, like most of us here with the HiFi jones get a lot of questions from friends and family about putting together lower price systems. I know that I don't spend much time researching the lower part of most manufactures lines, so by reading reviews by people I trust using the same methods we are familiar with gives me chance to help them and explain to them why receiver "A" is better for them then receiver "B".

howie85 · Jun 29, 2005

Thanks Clint,
What a great review. I find myself at a point where my system is a bit dated but Im still not satisified with my selections in the higher end ie hdmi in outs and upconverting inputs firewire version whatever vs the new kid on the block in digital signal transfer and what they are allowed to handle sacd etc. I have been considering a lower priced unit to use as a preamp to gain some things I do not have pl2x for one, but did not want to spend a bunch of money on what would be a transition piece to get me by until something approaching the 5805's list of features has had some time to trickle down into the lower cost units.
Have you considered some type of shootout of some units that would serve as a good preamp with plenty of features? Thanks again for all your work and effort to put such great information out to all of us.
Curt

zoran · Jul 2, 2005

Clint DeBoer said:
<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 94px" alt=[PioneerVSX815Kreceiver] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/PioneerVSX815Kreceiver_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Despite all of the mid-fi and hi-fi product reviews written by the editors at Audioholics, we get a steady stream of reader requests for more entry level systems. In fact, it's almost imperative that we provide them because to assume that a manufacturer's flagship products necessarily reflect the quality and usability of its entry-level units ignores the lessons learned from our article on <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/amplifiers/receiverpower.php">Product Managing Receiver Platforms & Power Ratings</A>. So, it was with a desire to investigate Pioneer's new entry-level line of receivers that we requested the <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php">VSX-815 receiver</A> and <A href="http://www.audioholics.com/www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/PioneerHTP-4600review1.php">HTP-4600</A> home theater system, two products that give us a nice slice of Pioneer's lower-priced offerings. The VSX-815 is a 100 watt x 7 product with auto setup and room EQ. Read on to find out our results.
[<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/PioneerVSX-815ReceiverReview1.php">Read the Review</A>]

I would rather see 1015 reviewed here! Any chance?

Audioholics · Jul 3, 2005

We probably won't review the 1015, but we will be doing some higher-end Pioneers in the future. On the next go-around I also likely won't go quite as entry level so that eventually we can get a feel for the whole line.

esytan777 · Jul 3, 2005

Wow! This entry level reciever is great! I am usually careful with my money as not to spend too much on recievers that will not last long, but this reciever is a steal. Just got one after reading the review, but still haven't decided which speakers to get for this reciever. Will the Klipsch RF-35 series be a good match for this one or Energies Connoisseur C-9 be a better match?

This is my first HT reciever so I guessed I wanted to save money for it, but thought that I might as well get better speakers as I plan to use the same speakers when I upgrade the reciever in a few years.

Takeereasy · Jul 5, 2005

I just received my copy of Sound & Vision and they had a receiver shootout between the Pioneer 815, the Marantz 4500, and the Sony 698. The review totally backs you up Clint. I know you likely don't care but just figured you might like the affirmation. The Marantz was the most powerful but the most expensive by about $40. The Sony just chomped. The pioneer was the favourite due to its extensive list of features. The power difference between the Pioneer and the Marantz seemed negligible but I really don't like the way they measured the units. S&V even went so far as to suggest the Pioneer 815 in a "budget" $4300 US system.

kay · Jul 5, 2005

Nice! I think it would serve Audioholics well to do more reviews of the lower-end of the product spectrum.

Audioholics · Jul 5, 2005

Takeereasy said:
I just received my copy of Sound & Vision and they had a receiver shootout between the Pioneer 815, the Marantz 4500, and the Sony 698. The review totally backs you up Clint.

That's always nice, though I think we often place emphasis on different things than the magazines. The power differences are even less of an issue than many think since many of them hold the line voltage constant - which is not a real-world scenario and skews power ratings.

We added the Pioneer to our updated recommended $1000 System Guide.

LA_Joe · Jul 6, 2005

Hey now!

I have this reciever, and am wondering about connectivity.

I currently have my TV optical out to the reciever TV/SAT digital input as well as the tv's RCAs to the reciever TV/SAT analog input with the signal select to auto.

Sometimes, and I repeat, sometimes, there is a lip sync issue.

My DVD player upconverts and is HDMI conected to the TV and the optical out goes directly to the reciever.

Is this how to do it? I thought I could connect the HDMI to the tv and that then the audio would go through the tv to the reciever via optical out but the optical out ony is engaged when a DTV signal is detected.

The TV is a Sony Grand Wega KDF42WE655
the reciever is a Pioneer VSX-815-K
The DVD player is an Oppo video post June 2005 (can't remember model)

Thanks for any help!!

Joe

Buckeyefan 1 · Jul 6, 2005

Is this how to do it? I thought I could connect the HDMI to the tv and that then the audio would go through the tv to the reciever via optical out but the optical out ony is engaged when a DTV signal is detected.

Ideally, you want all your components going to the VSX-815, then out to your tv via HDMI. HDMI is used to cut down on all the wires necessary to run A/V. If your receiver lacks the HDMI ins/outs, then I would run a digital coax from the dvd player to the receiver, and the same from your digital cable/SAT to the receiver - as well as a red and white rca for the analog signals, and component jacks to the tv set. I'm not a huge fan of optical, but they seem to work fine. It's too bad the Pioneer doesn't have HDMI jacks, but I'm sure it also upconverts to at least component. It sounds like you have one heck of a dvd player and tv.

LA_Joe · Jul 7, 2005

Why not optical??

Well thanks for the advice....

I guess I'm going to stay put for a while... Possibly upgrade the reciever when I can afford it. The pioneer 815 is sounding good to me...

Why not a fan of optical??

Joe

Audioholics · Jul 7, 2005

Buckeyefan 1 said:
It's too bad the Pioneer doesn't have HDMI jacks, but I'm sure it also upconverts to at least component. It sounds like you have one heck of a dvd player and tv.

It's a $300 receiver. Nothing that I know of at this price (including the Pioneer) has HDMI or upconverts to component video. It doesn't even have an on-screen display.

Buckeyefan 1 · Jul 7, 2005

Clint DeBoer said:
It's a $300 receiver. Nothing that I know of at this price (including the Pioneer) has HDMI or upconverts to component video. It doesn't even have an on-screen display.

You're right. $300 is a tough price point for big features. It's still a heck of a deal. If one can move up $70 or so (two tanks of gas!), I'd recommend the 1015TX ($369-$399). It has video upconversion and a slew of other features. I'm betting next years model (1016TX) has HDMI (I'm sure the price will skyrocket). IMO it's the best deal out there for someone looking for an entry level sub $400 unit.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_209686388,00.html

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:<hi>Pioneer</hi> VSX-1015TX Receiver:1991710568;_ylt=AvBoYKsTLDTHugFpMxZQDl0bFt0A;_ylu=X3oDMTBic2hxMGNhBGx0AzQEc2VjA3Ny

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 7, 2005

Buckeyefan 1 said:
If one can move up $70 or so (two tanks of gas!), I'd recommend the 1015TX ($369-$399).

Holy Cow! What the heck are you driving? A bus? You spend $45 a tankful?

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