Pioneer VSX-919AH-K

[denfred]

After much consideration I have finally decided to purchase the Pioneer VSX-919AH-K as it has good specs for the price. I'm not an audiophile but just an average hifi lover who like to listen to music and watch movies.
I have read that the output of this receiver is 120Wper channel. Due to financial constraints at the moment, could I use my present Sony satellite speaker system which have a max input of 100W. I got this system when I bought the Home theater in a box 11 years ago with Sony STR-DE425 receiver.

 

[sholling]

After much consideration I have finally decided to purchase the Pioneer VSX-919AH-K as it has good specs for the price. I'm not an audiophile but just an average hifi lover who like to listen to music and watch movies.
I have read that the output of this receiver is 120Wper channel. Due to financial constraints at the moment, could I use my present Sony satellite speaker system which have a max input of 100W. I got this system when I bought the Home theater in a box 11 years ago with Sony STR-DE425 receiver.

If you haven't yet purchased the Pioneer then you should be aware that their quoted power specs are usually "optimistic" to say the least. Take a look at this Onkyo refurb.

I don't know what speakers you're using but unless they are totally oddball the Pioneer should power them fine.

 

[denfred]

Thanks Sholling for your reply. Onkyo receivers are not very popular here in Malaysia and the choices are few. Most of the models that I liked are not brought into the country. Please tell me where could I get more info of power specs of receivers. I would like to know how to understand them.
So in your opinion what would the Pioneer receiver power specs actually be?
I hope you could help me with all this confusing tech details before I really decide. Thanks Sholling..

 

[sholling]

I'm sorry I am not families with what is available in your fine country.

Perhaps this will help explain why I said what I said. When a company is trying to make their receivers sound powerful in their marketing materials they will often use a rating method like "X" watts per channel at 1khz with 2 channels driven. This is a super easy load on the powersupply and even a small powersupply should be able to keep up. I own both a Pioneer VSX-912 and a VSX-1014 and if I recall correctly they were rated in this fashion. Let's take that 120w VSX-919AH-K - it weighs 8.6kgs.

A more useful way of rating power is "X" watts per channel 20-20,000hz with 2 channels driven. This is a lot more challenging load and requires a larger powersupply to drive. For example Onkyo rates their TX-SR607 at 90w and it weighs 11kgs.

The most accurate way of rating receiver power is "X" watts per channel 20-20,000hz with all channels driven. This requires an even larger powersupply to drive. An expensive example is Pioneer's Elite VSX-21TXH which is rated at 120w and weighs 16kgs.

Really the bottom line is that if you like the VSX-919AH-K and that's what you can get a good deal on then that's all that matters. I only brought up the Onkyo because here we can get them really cheap. Obviously that's not the case in every country. Good luck in your search.

 

[denfred]

Thanks for your reply, Sholling. This morning while looking around I came across an AV shop selling the latest Onkyo TX-SR608. The features are amazing. 6x1.4a HDMI, Certified THX Select 2 Plus, 1080p upscalling, Audyssey DSX, Dolby PL IIz, WRAT, Faroudja DCDi Cinema. However looking at the leaflet, the output quoted was 175W/Ch (6ohms, 1KHz, 1 channel driven JEITA). The weight quoted is 11.5Kg.
In your opinion is this set better than the Pioneer 919? What about the sound quality between the two? Audyssey vs MCACC Room calibration?
Thanks, Sholling.

 

[AVRat]

These type units are spec'd a little differently in your part of the world due to the difference in the electric utilities. The 608 is a step above the 919 and may aso be preferred over the new Pioneer 1020.

 

[Seth=L]

The TX-SR608 is certainly a better equipped receiver, and Audyssey is probably much better for auto calibration. With that in mind the TX-SR608 would probably sound better after auto calibration, although it is a general consensus here that a majority of receivers sound much alike assuming they are setup correctly. Believe it or not the TX-SR608 is likely to have an advantage in power output.

That being said, it may be much more expensive in your country to get the TX-SR608 and I'm sure the Pioneer would work fine for your purposes.

 

[TjMV3]

Just stay away from the Onkyo ONKYO TX RS 806. That friggin' piece of junk has been known to literally pop (minor blow up) and catch fire.

It's happened to several people.

 

[denfred]

TjMV3, are you reffering to the 806 or the 608 which has just been released. The TX-RS608 is a 2010 release.

 

[denfred]

Surprisingly Seth=L the Onkyo 608 is just RM400 more than the older Pioneer 919 which retails at RM2400. The 608 retails at RM2800. So in you opinion the 608 is a better buy with all the features. The salesman at the AV shop told me that Onkyo is more on the heavy side as far as the sound is concern, and the Denon is better for sound distribution. Is this true?

 

[TjMV3]

TjMV3, are you reffering to the 806 or the 608 which has just been released. The TX-RS608 is a 2010 release.

ONKYO TX RS 806


Just wanted to mention that, in case during your shopping you came across that dangerous hunk of junk.

 

[Seth=L]

ONKYO TX RS 806


Just wanted to mention that, in case during your shopping you came across that dangerous hunk of junk.

It's TX-SR806 not SR.

Surprisingly Seth=L the Onkyo 608 is just RM400 more than the older Pioneer 919 which retails at RM2400. The 608 retails at RM2800. So in you opinion the 608 is a better buy with all the features.

I do think it is a better buy for only a marginal increase in price.

The salesman at the AV shop told me that Onkyo is more on the heavy side as far as the sound is concern, and the Denon is better for sound distribution. Is this true?

Weight is no solid factor in determining how I receiver or amplifier will sound. It's usually an indication of more robust parts that will either last longer or may have capability for output. This assumes that we are comparing like products with like amplifier topologies. A class D amplifier can weigh a fraction of a standard class A/B amplifier and output as much or more power. Most receivers seen in the market place today utilize some form of Class A/B amplification giving way for the weight comparison method that some audiophile types use as a marker to help determine build quality, reliability, and performance. Of course we can never know who has the most power without measuring it on the bench. I try to follow the trends of measured performance of products as well as other factors such as power consumption, heat dissipation, weight, and internal workings. It's just not an exact science unless you can see 3rd party measured results. Manufacturers specifications are somewhat of a joke since none of them seem to adhere to the same standard. In this industry it's apparently something you can get away with. Suffice it to say it's not like automobile engines and horsepower. Manufacturers published horsepower is far more reliable than receiver manufacturer published wattage output figures.

I have no idea how Denon is better for sound distribution. Too my knowledge they offer zone 2 capability on all their receivers (even their bottom of the line) however the bottom of the line receiver only has preouts for the zone 2 making the purchase of a separate power amplifier necessary to utilize the feature. If you don't think you'll be needing second room audio (difference source, different volume) while you are running your home theater then I'd not worry about which receiver is better for sound distribution. If the dealer is referring to spatial sound from surround sound, he might want to have his ears checked. Most of these receivers have good auto calibration and don't sound significantly different from one another.

 

[TjMV3]

It's TX-SR806 not SR.

Yes, yes....correct. Sorry about that, my mistake. I reversed the S and R. Mental mishap.

Thanks for the correction.

.....and you meant, SR not RS

 

[denfred]

Thanks for both your immediate replies much appreciated. Just can't wait to get my new AVR. Seth=L, was reading the thread about the 608 vs 1020, there was a mention about the 1.4a hdmi connection being different from the 1.3, smaller that is.. My LCD tv uses the 1.3, will this work with the 1.4a output on the receiver? I know that 3D tv's are at present in its infant stage and it might take a long time to be popular. All along when 3D movies was introduced, it never really caught on, after a while just died off. I would not want to watch the TV using those glasses.

 

[ryanshaw3ball]

i have that pioneer receiver and i can tell you it is a great receiver for that price range. decent power and lots of useful features, the ipod connectivity is a huge plus not found on hardly any receivers standard. i have it driving 7 channels right now with all 100w/rms + speakers and it drives them all enough for me.

 

[TriMe]

For the price point and the features the Pioneer 819VSX is a great option! I think that 110w is a little optimistic, but again over-all in that price range it is an excellent deal.

One thing I will give you a heads up about with Pioneer receivers...if you have your front speakers set up as "small" - (the system will automatically set them this way when you use the automated mic set-up) if the front speakers are set on small - you powered subwoofer will not fire consistently - only on stronger signals. You must set your front speakers on "Large" to keep the subwoofer active.

 

[Seth=L]

.....and you meant, SR not RS

It's only a human brain inside my head.

Thanks for both your immediate replies much appreciated. Just can't wait to get my new AVR. Seth=L, was reading the thread about the 608 vs 1020, there was a mention about the 1.4a hdmi connection being different from the 1.3, smaller that is.. My LCD tv uses the 1.3, will this work with the 1.4a output on the receiver? I know that 3D tv's are at present in its infant stage and it might take a long time to be popular. All along when 3D movies was introduced, it never really caught on, after a while just died off. I would not want to watch the TV using those glasses.

Yes, the TV will work with the HDMI on the receiver. The socket size is not different, the HDMI 1.4 adds features previously not available that can be utilized if all components are HDMI 1.4. You will get all the benefits of HDMI 1.3 between the TV and the receiver.

 

[sholling]

For the price point and the features the Pioneer 819VSX is a great option! I think that 110w is a little optimistic, but again over-all in that price range it is an excellent deal.

One thing I will give you a heads up about with Pioneer receivers...if you have your front speakers set up as "small" - (the system will automatically set them this way when you use the automated mic set-up) if the front speakers are set on small - you powered subwoofer will not fire consistently - only on stronger signals. You must set your front speakers on "Large" to keep the subwoofer active.

That makes no sense at all. "Large" is telling the receiver that the speakers don't need the help of a subwoofer.