To Upgrade or Not To Upgrade - Pioneer 74TXVi vs. VSX-56TXi

[Team_Canada]

My question is not about the quality of video between HDMI and Component video as the HDMI is obviously better, the question is will I notice that much of a difference. Obviously the convenience factor is there with having less wires.

I purchased the 56TXi. I have never used my new receiver that I bought new in June of this year as I am finishing my HT room. It was removed from the box to have a look, that's all. This is my first Pioneer product so I am very excited. With the new releases such as the 74TXVi that has both HDMI and i-Link, I am tempted to sell the 56TXi and upgrade to the 74TXVi.

I guess the million dollar question is, is it worth it to sell just for the upgrade to HDMI. The 74TXVi has many new features that sound fantastic but there are still some mixed opinions with respect to the amp section between the 56TXi and the 74TXVi. I find this very important. I use my system for 80% HT so I want the best sound quality possible.

I will be purchasing a projector this fall which I will make sure it has HDMI or DVI/HDMI conversion for the future. I would assume the better the DVD player the better the quality picture. Lets use the Pioneer DV59-AVi or Yamaha DVD-S2500 or any other high end player as an example. Will the quality through HDMI be that much better than component video that it is worth the upgrade?? Again, I will eventually be running this through a projector, 100" screen.

Sorry for being so long winded but I had to explain my situation.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[brian32672]

Clearly for the amp and power section this would be a downgrade. The 56 is almost 10 pounds heavier, at just about the same dimensions.
I am interested in the 74, but for you, I think I would stay with the 56.
Unless HDMI switching is really needed. And even if it is, then I would recommend a dedicated switcher over the downgrade.

The VSX-56TXi
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4155_123728213_tab=B,00.html?compName=PNA_ProductDetailComponent

The VSX-74TXVi
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4155_272584179_tab=B,00.html?compName=PNA_ProductDetailComponent

 

[Team_Canada]

Thanks brian326t2. I am not new to the HT world but new to HDMI. How much does a dedicated HDMI switcher go for? How does it work? Where can one be purchased?

I hear great things about the 56TXi with respect to power and sound so if the dedicated switcher is the solution, that would be perfect.

I do like the idea of HDMI for the video quality (especially for a projector) as well as less wires.

Thanks

 

[brian32672]

Are you going to be running 2 source HDMI components?
If, not then you don't need a switcher. You say you plan on getting a new dvd player, also a projector. Just make sure they both have HDMI/DVI.
However if one has DVI and the other HDMI, that is ok.
I feel the connection needs no switching, just one cable straight from the DVD to the projector.
With a single dvd player (DVI) and a projector (HDMI) you would have to run a digital coax or optical cable anyway. So that would defeat the HDMI going through the receiver.

Now, if you plan on having the projector connected to the dvd player and also connected to a Plasma/LCD/DLP tv. Then its a different story.
Here is links for a switching box.
http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/msg_search.php?text=HDMI switcher
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/htswitchers.jsp
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/hdmi-2x1-switch.htm
http://www.kvmgalore.com/shopping/default.php?category_id=145&group_id=38&category_name=HDTV/HDMI+Switchers

I still think the 56 to the 74 would be a downgrade. But if you feel you need the switching, then I would gladly take your 56 of your hands. Of course not for full unopened box price.

 

[Team_Canada]

It will be two sources, the DVD player and at one point, and HDTV box. Both will have HDMI.

I understand running one HDMI cable of the DVD player to the projector as both video and audio will be transferred. And once I have the HDTV box the switcher will allow for both.

How does the switcher connect to the receiver or does it. I would need another connection for sound if that's the case...

Thanks for the offer. If it comes down to that I will let you know. From the sounds of it, I have a good thing that I should hold on to and try to work around the HDMI issue.

Will the picture quality be that noticeable between HDMI and component video??

 

[Thunder18]

I hear great things about the 56TXi with respect to power and sound so if the dedicated switcher is the solution, that would be perfect.

I do like the idea of HDMI for the video quality (especially for a projector) as well as less wires.

Thanks

Remember, if you have a projector, unless your projector has a full complement of surround sound speakers in it, then you are still going to have to run either optical digital or digital coax from your sources(dvd, satellite, cable) to your receiver for sound.
Also, component cables have enough bandwidth to run 1080i resolution. Unless you have a poor quality video components, I think you'll be hard pressed to see any difference between a signal over component video vs. a signal over HDMI.

 

[ht_addict]

My question is not about the quality of video between HDMI and Component video as the HDMI is obviously better, the question is will I notice that much of a difference. Obviously the convenience factor is there with having less wires.

I purchased the 56TXi. I have never used my new receiver that I bought new in June of this year as I am finishing my HT room. It was removed from the box to have a look, that's all. This is my first Pioneer product so I am very excited. With the new releases such as the 74TXVi that has both HDMI and i-Link, I am tempted to sell the 56TXi and upgrade to the 74TXVi.

I guess the million dollar question is, is it worth it to sell just for the upgrade to HDMI. The 74TXVi has many new features that sound fantastic but there are still some mixed opinions with respect to the amp section between the 56TXi and the 74TXVi. I find this very important. I use my system for 80% HT so I want the best sound quality possible.

I will be purchasing a projector this fall which I will make sure it has HDMI or DVI/HDMI conversion for the future. I would assume the better the DVD player the better the quality picture. Lets use the Pioneer DV59-AVi or Yamaha DVD-S2500 or any other high end player as an example. Will the quality through HDMI be that much better than component video that it is worth the upgrade?? Again, I will eventually be running this through a projector, 100" screen.

Sorry for being so long winded but I had to explain my situation.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Honestly TC, no matter what the specs say on a receiver, all video should be sent straight too the display. Just too much electronics on the inside that could introduce interference. If you have more than one connection of the same type and only one one the receiving end then a dedicated switching box should be used. A receiver is for audio, not video. Just think if manufacturers took out the video features of receivers, they'd have a ton off space to improve on the amp stage. On that note stick with the 56TXi, its an excellent unit. I had one in my setup at one point paired with a NAD S250. Sound was amazing. Even tried it by itself and its had no problem keeping up with the NAD S250 amp. Couple of months ago I swapped out the combo for a NAD T773. Now the T773 is in a different league from the 56TXi, but too be honest I miss my Pioneer.

 

[Team_Canada]

Hey, thanks guys. I just read the responses this morning. If I think of any other questions I will let you know. Again, thanks!

 

[buckyg4]

As far as the amp section goes the 74TXVI has more power and a higher quality DAC than the 56TXi. I do not know much about the new amp design in the new 74TXVI.

 

[krabapple]

it's rated at 140W X 7 but performed nowhere near that in aSound & Visions bench test, Did just fine in stereo, though.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=874

multichannel
Output at clipping (1 kHz into 8/4 ohms)
1 channel driven: 172/296 W (22.4/24.7 dBW)*
5 channels driven (8 ohms): 61 W (17.9 dBW)*
6 channels driven (8 ohms): 52 W (17.1 dBW)*

stereo
Output at clipping (1 kHz, 8/4 ohms, both channels driven): 154/237 W (21.9/23.7 dBW)*

I don't think S&V ever bench tested the 56txi, so I have no numbers to offer in comparison. it's big brother the 59txi was tested by Ultimate A/V:

http://ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/405pioneer/index4.html

Driving all seven channels into 8Ω, the VSX-59TXi delivered 133Wpc at 20Hz and 140Wpc at 1kHz (to the nearest watt) before clipping (1% THD+noise). Into 4Ω, all seven channels operating, it delivered 181Wpc at 20Hz and 183Wpc at 1kHz. The 4Ω test blew the internal mains fuse; Digital Safety was turned off for all tests.

With only two channels operating, at 1kHz, the Pioneer clipped at 151Wpc into 8Ω and 276Wpc into 4Ω.—TJN

I'd like to see some measuremnets for other Elite AVRs.

reportedly (on avsfroum threads) Pioneer reduced the size of the transformer and capacitors for the 74txi compared to the 56txi, but that rquires more research to verify...

The main 'upgrade' it seems to me its in its room correction. the 74vtxi has more bands of EQ (9) and features a 'bass mode' corrector', which I presume acts on the subwoofer channel. The 56 txi's lowest EQ band (it has 5, IIRC) was 63, and that was only active if you selected LARGE as the speakers setting. It never applied EQ to the subwoofer channel in any case. I could see the 74vtxi sounding better simply because of better bass EQ, even if its power output was much weaker (my sub's amp handles the bass in my system anyway).

That said , I love my 56txi and will wait and see how the 74 shakes out in the discussion communities before considering an upgrade to it.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Keep the 56. It's a better unit.

 

[krabby5]

a pioneer tech on another forum tried explaining those benchmarks..said the limiters made the test inaccurate..take it for what it is..

there is this review for the 72txv also...

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/1105pioneer/index2.html

 

[hrr0b29]

VSX-56TXi & HDMI

I somewhat of a novice when it comes to true home theater.

I have a 56txi that I love and do not plan on replacing it. In a few months, I will be purchasing my first HD television. As most of you know, the 56 does not have HDMI ability.

My equipment will consist of the receiver, a HD dvd player, an HD set top box from the cable company and a CD player.

Can anyone tell me how to connect this all so that I optimize both video and audio? Right now, I use component to connect everything for video and use a digital coax for audio. To my ears, I love the sound but maybe there is a better way to do it.

I've read some posts where people mention a switcher. However, until I read them, I had never heard of a switcher. What does it do?


Thanks

 

[Thunder18]

I somewhat of a novice when it comes to true home theater.

I have a 56txi that I love and do not plan on replacing it. In a few months, I will be purchasing my first HD television. As most of you know, the 56 does not have HDMI ability.

My equipment will consist of the receiver, a HD dvd player, an HD set top box from the cable company and a CD player.

Can anyone tell me how to connect this all so that I optimize both video and audio? Right now, I use component to connect everything for video and use a digital coax for audio. To my ears, I love the sound but maybe there is a better way to do it.

I've read some posts where people mention a switcher. However, until I read them, I had never heard of a switcher. What does it do?


Thanks

Chances are a newer model HDTV will have at least 2 HDMI inputs so simply connect the HD-dvd player and HD set-top box to the tv via HDMI. For the set-top box you can keep the digital coax connects to the receiver for your audio. For HD-dvd it's a bit more complex. You can continue using digital coax, however that is not optimizing your audio. HD-dvd's are capable of much higher bitrate lossless audio, but it can only be carried over either HDMI or the multi channel outputs on the back of the player which requires a separate RCA cable for each channel. Either of those two choices would maximize your audio experience.