****Please note price now shows at £329 on website, however What Hi Fi Magazine February 2016, page 102 has it listed for the £299. Price should be matched in store. Prices valid until 13/02/16****
******Price has now jumped to £349 on website, What Hi Fi Magazine price still valid until 13/02/16******
******Guys, the What Hi FI Magazine March 2016 has the receiver listed for £329, this deal will expire on 13/02/16 so hurry if you want one*******
Stellar price for this Network AV receiver whether you are interested in Dolby Atmos or not.
Like last years VSX-924 at the heart of it lies a 24-bit ES9006S SABRE DAC usually reserved for higher end receivers in the likes of the Yamaha Aventage range of receivers, as well as Pioneer Elite receivers.
Whilst obviously not having the same high-end power transformer filters and caps of such, it is this DAC which sets it apart from the competing mid-range bracket of £500 AV Receivers, at £289 it is a steal of a price.
The rest of the blurb :-
Engineered for Dolby Atmos sound
Optimised for Dolby Atmos, you can be amongst the first to experience the wonder of Dolby Atmos in your own home. Producing a multi-dimensional and totally immersive sound, Dolby Atmos has been hailed as the greatest advance in surround sound for 20 years - so don't miss out!
4K video scaling
Making the VSX930 the perfect match for your 4K TV, it offers both 4K pass-through and Full HD 4K upscaling. This means that any HD video source you watch can be scaled up to the highest definition possible. With support for HDCP 2.2 it's also compatible with current and future 4K video.
HD sound
At the heart of the Pioneer VSX-930 is a Direct Energy amplifier. Direct Energy amps use short signal paths throughout for purer and more dynamic sound quality. The VSX930 also makes a superb choice for listening in High Definition. It 's compatible with multi-channel FLAC and WAV files at up to 96kHz/24-bit. In stereo mode, WAV, FLAC, AIFF and Apple Lossless files at 192 kHz/24-bit are all supported, as is DSD.
Totally networked with Bluetooth, AirPlay and Wi-Fi
Now with Wi-Fi built-in, it's even easier to connect up the VSX930 to your home network. Added to this is Apple's AirPlay; letting you wirelessly stream music from any compatible Apple device - without the need for a separate home hub. The Bluetooth receiver supports streaming from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC or other Bluetooth source. DLNA streaming gets you access to music stored on your PC, laptop or NAS and plays it through the receiver. There's also access to Internet radio and music services such as Spotify Connect, making the VSX-930 a fully comprehensive streamer.
All the connections, including twin HDMI outputs
Boasting seven HDMI sockets, including one at the front, it's easy to connect your whole system to the VSX930. The front HDMI socket is also compatible with MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) giving you the ability to transfer 1080p Full HD video from your smartphone or tablet. Added to this are twin HDMI outputs, making the VSX930 ideal for using with both a TV and a projector or AV in a second room. The Pioneer also features an active Zone 2 output that's perfect for speakers in another room.
Easy set-up
Despite packing a lot of tech in, the VSX930 is easy to set-up and use. Pioneer's unique MCACC Pro (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) system will tune the amplifier to the size of listening room and speaker placement, at the touch of a button. It also offers full support of the Dolby Atmos format.
Much more than just a hub for your home cinema system, the Pioneer VSX930 gives you access to the highest standards of both sound and vision.
Top comments
BuzzDuraband
7 Jan 1617#10
Just some lass I live with and the offspring. Other than that I guess I am completely free to run wild.
One day, one day :smile:
cicobuff to Uridium
7 Jan 163#3
I thought the sofa comment was reserved for Onkyo :smile:
It's not a sofa, and it's not an 8 Bit Atmos Computer either....
All comments (203)
cicobuff
7 Jan 161#1
[Link For advert and £10 Voucher] available to download for the next 30 days (from 14/01/16) on Filedropper. *Link possibly down*
Just to get them out of the way.....Nice Sofa, Unheard of brandname though should have bought a decent brand like Bush, Alba etc....
cicobuff to Uridium
7 Jan 163#3
I thought the sofa comment was reserved for Onkyo :smile:
It's not a sofa, and it's not an 8 Bit Atmos Computer either....
rev6
7 Jan 161#4
Good find man. Looks like it has 50w more power compared to the Denon X2200.
cicobuff
7 Jan 16#5
I got last years VSX-924 as a replacement for a borked Yamaha RX-V675, had Sony, Yamaha, Marantz, Denon all previously, never owned Pioneer...have to say I did have reservations, but love the sound. Pioneer does tend to get overlooked, the DAC against the competition is what impresses for the price, even prefer it to my other system which is Marantz.
roadie
7 Jan 161#6
Looks awesome!
cicobuff
7 Jan 161#7
It is and fully HDCP 2.2 compliant unlike the majority of last years AV Receivers. 2 HDMI outputs as well.
BuzzDuraband
7 Jan 161#8
Oh how I wish :disappointed: Heat added.
cicobuff
7 Jan 16#9
What's stopping you?
BuzzDuraband
7 Jan 1617#10
Just some lass I live with and the offspring. Other than that I guess I am completely free to run wild.
Fortunate in the respect we do not have kids (or unfortunate in another sense I guess!) to bash in speakers and my wife is tolerant of wires, although the majority are in cable trunking.
BuzzDuraband
7 Jan 161#13
Speaking of offspring. Why don't (or maybe they do) Yamaha make their receivers with the ability to disable the front panel buttons. Man that gets annoying.
cicobuff
7 Jan 16#14
Well a tenner more (as no voucher), but a great promotion, you usually do not see the £500 Receivers often falling to this price until around Spring time.
cicobuff
7 Jan 161#15
I don't think it is just Yamaha I don't recall any setting to lock the front panel buttons from operation on these Pioneers or even remember any receiver I have owned from the likes of Sony, Denon and Marantz and even as far back as Sherwood receivers having that function.
You could always opt for a door cabinet but cooling is always a problem. One thing I notice about last years model, and I have no reason to believe this would differ, is how cool these Pioneers run...my Yamaha really put out some heat.
BuzzDuraband
7 Jan 161#16
Yeah I can only agree with that. I have the RXV-671 and the heat that thing pushes out is quite worrying. Even more so for the Fire TV stick that is stuck in the back of it.
I really have to leave this thread now, man that Pioneer looks sleek :smile:. Take it easy man.
cicobuff
7 Jan 161#17
Time for an upgrade :smiley:
Just to make you feel that bit better, it does look very sleek, but that nicely brushed metal 'looking' front panel sadly just is that, it is plastic. Still looks nice though.
Valad
7 Jan 161#18
Why is the MHL HDMI port on the back instead of the front? Seems like a weird choice to have made.
cicobuff to Valad
7 Jan 16#20
It is an odd choice and strangely also on last years VSX-924, yet conveniently on the front of the VSX-923!
paulj48
7 Jan 161#19
and both the HDMI outputs are independently zonable unlike the Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo and Sony in the same 'Under 500' price bracket
ken-doh
8 Jan 16#21
basic, no DTS X which will become the new standard. Save your money and wait 12 months.
paulj48 to ken-doh
8 Jan 16#23
no DTS X but hey are there many DTS X disks available in the UK? I do believe there are plenty of Atmos disks available.
wansheet
8 Jan 16#22
Is it one of those Quadrophonic thingys they made i
n the 1970's
BraveSirRobin
8 Jan 16#24
Voted hot but can never take advantage of Richer Sounds in store deals (nearest store is 2 hours away!). Would have ordered this otherwise :disappointed:
Scorpion
8 Jan 161#25
Just wondering, how is that useful ? I have two HDMI outputs on my Yamaha Amp and have never used the second one. The only thing I considered was having a day and night picture settings and using the different HDMI inputs for those (as my TV allows different picture settings on different HDMI inputs).
RustySpoons
8 Jan 16#26
Such a shame it doesn't have front Pre-Out :disappointed:
nrps1
8 Jan 16#27
V tempted, but what 5.1.2 speaker setup to add to it I wonder? Don't want to spend hundreds/thousands really...
danilovesky
8 Jan 16#28
For example, to have a tv and a projector connected to the same set of sources.
Scorpion
8 Jan 16#29
There are some Atmos discs, but for home use, I think DTS X will be more of a winner than Atmos, ceiling speakers are a PITA to fit, DTS X doesn't require them but apparently gives surround sound like Atmos. I'm not sure how mind you!
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#30
Damn I was actually going to post who remembers the Oric Atmos? The 80s was a fascinating period in computing, there were literally hundreds of different computer systems, and hardly any were compatible with each other, then the 90s came along where you had just PCs and Apple really, and Apple had hardly any market share. Then the 2000s came with a lot more devices again and operating systems, but this time they're compatible with each other.
Anyway I'm off to research Dolby Atmos as I'd like a home cinema system :smiley:
Scorpion
8 Jan 16#31
@danilovesky
Ahh! Of course, I didn't think about that. Cheers.
paulj48
8 Jan 16#32
I have a TV on the kitchen wall with a 10M HDMI run to it from the AV amp in the lounge. Under the TV in the lounge is Sky HD, PS4, Now TV, Raspberry Pi, Xbox 360 and Wii U. I can independently watch or use any of that kit both in the lounge and/or kitchen and have 2 different sources at the same time one in each room.
pistol6000
8 Jan 16#33
for example, i have projector and tv , i could watch on either without having to move any wires. with these HDMI being independantly zoneable i could watch different sources on each (not possible on a lot of receivers )
i get that at the moment using a HDMI matrix as i couldnt find a budget receiver .
if i hadnt just treated myself to a DSLR i would becsnapping this up
qfel
8 Jan 16#34
I'm considering TV upgrade in near future, currently I'm using wall mounted soundbar with wireless sub behind sofa.
I was thinking about switching to amp+floor standing pair speakers. I don't listen to any CD's, only mp3/flac. What would be the best budget setup? DAC or AMP? Can you connect to my NAC music library from this DAC and just stream via wireless? What floor standing speakers would you recommend?
paulj48 to qfel
8 Jan 16#36
Too many vague questions to be answered there as there's too many variables.
What size of room? budget? Hifi only or AV as well? number of speakers?
You'd be better calling into a proper Hifi store for advise.
bma1445 to qfel
8 Jan 16#39
There is no way to answer that question without a budget in mind.
The benefit of this system is that you can upgrade as and when you wish. If you get your front floor standers and an amp like this (I'd highly recommend the 2050i speakers but again, it depends on budget) you can easily add surrounds and a centre for 5.0, a sub for 5.1 (or 2.1), and then rears for 7.1. Or add another sub for x.2! It's addictive :smiley:.
Ignore any references to atmos, unless you have a perfectly square/rectangular room with the TV in the middle and the sofa in the middle of the room, and a couple of grand to spend on speakers, stick to a conventional setup).
cicobuff to qfel
8 Jan 16#44
This is a network receiver so yes, I use it with my NAS library all the time. Unlike some other receivers it also supports DSD (*.dsf files only in 2.8mhz not 5.6mhz) alongside the usual 16 Bit or 24 bit FLAC upto 192khz stereo, and even multichannel FLAC up to 96khz.
If you are only considering stereo listening with floorstanders, you may want to check out the Yamaha R-N301 or R-N500 stereo receivers that are also network compatible, mileage may vary on the supported file format front though, saying that multi channel FLAC and multichannel DSD is not an option anyway.
bma1445
8 Jan 161#35
Good timing, my VSX-922 started showing signs of failing yesterday evening (randomly powering off with the iPod light flashing). Checked for shorts in the speaker cables but can't see anything. If running new cables doesn't solve it, it's time for an upgrade!
cicobuff to bma1445
8 Jan 16#40
And what a nice upgrade, I cannot see myself being bothered with Atmos or for that matter 4K for at least 5 years yet so more than happy with last years VSX-924, but most certainly this years crop of receivers now all being HDCP 2.2 compliant really now is never a better time for 'future proofing' with both tech on board.
Only complaint I have with the Pioneers is the convoluted menu structure, really takes some tweaking to get the most out of the system, there again it should be a breeze for yourself moving on from an older Pioneer.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#37
The Oric-1/ Atmos whilst similar Z80 architecture was superior to the ZX Spectrum with its Basic and its sound capability, shame it did not sell well and software soon dried up for it....an underrated classic machine.....nothing tops Commodore though for home computing in my opinion from the halcyon days before PC/Mac domination.
TinXpH
8 Jan 16#38
How does this compare to the SONY STRDN860 which is now reduced by £50 to £299.95 at richersounds.com?
paulj48 to TinXpH
8 Jan 16#45
depends on what features you require, the Pioneer has a better feature set but they're only useful if you actually need them
cicobuff to TinXpH
8 Jan 16#64
This receiver is in the same bracket as the STRDN1060, it really should be compared to that.
boogieben
8 Jan 16#41
This is interesting, particularly the comments above about last years model running cool. I have my Sky HD and receiver sitting in a closed cupboard, and think it's getting too warm in there. The receiver needs replacing as the optical connections no longer work, so getting a system that runs cool would be a big bonus. Is there any way of knowing for sure that this years would be the same?
VikJ
8 Jan 161#42
You don't need ceiling mounted speakers for Atmos.......
Actually you make a good point for the previous poster asking about navigating his music collection. I don't use any of the "smart" features of the 922, but the networking/navigation on Pioneer receivers is absolutely terrible.
You're right, it took a lot of tweaking to get it sounding amazing, but if you're willing to put in a little effort these mid-range Pioneers really do punch above their weight audio wise. As for atmos, see my previous comment! For the price of the atmos crap you could buy an almost professional quality 7.2 set.
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#46
I was never in to Commodore, the price for too high for me at the time. So I used the ZX Spectrum and TRS80-III which I used for most of my hacking at the time. Then I moved to Atari ST then PC. Skipped Commodore altogether, never used one :disappointed:
Here's what I've found regarding Dolby Atmos so far >
Dolby Atmos reeks of nerd cinema to me, and forays in to the messing about world of the audiophile, it's not just plug and play. Anyway that's the impression I'm getting from the admittedly little I've read about it so far. I also question it being on such a cheap AV receiver, it strikes me that if you're in to what Dolby Atmos can do you'd be spending quite a bit on the speaker arrangement. Anyway this is what I've garnered in 10 minutes of looking so I could be substantially wrong :smiley:
Babbler
8 Jan 16#47
Voucher wont work with this as its a sale item ...
Is this good to go with just 4 bookshelf speakers? (2x B&W DM601 S3 and 2x B&W [can't remember model name).
bma1445 to jitmonlee1
8 Jan 16#51
What is the main use for them? If it's HiFi you'll be better with a Stereo receiver. If it's for TV/surround sound you should get at least an extra centre speaker.
cicobuff to jitmonlee1
8 Jan 16#57
Not if you want surround sound processing in movies, you would at least want a centre channel speaker, of of more benefit a subwoofer for Low Frequency Effects (LFE) although not essential with, with bookshelf speakers its nicer to have the extra clout, especially if small bookshelf cones..if you have larger 150-160 cones then depends on the size of your room really.
I don't have the space for a sub in the bedroom setup, and assign my Marantz Receiver sub output to the centre channel.
Babbler
8 Jan 16#49
And they do the silver one there too :smiley:
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#50
I cannot see me ever using Atmos. It is more for those that have the luxury of a dedicated home cinema room and preferably ceiling speaker installations etc etc.
As for questioning it being on a cheap receiver, its all just decoding, nothing really expensive about it, just basically another Dolby processing in support on the amps processing board and an extra set of binding posts. Nothing about this receiver is costlier than last years model, it offers a few advantages however to the consumer.
Inbuilt Wifi (last years had a programmable wired LAN dongle)
HDCP 2.2 compliance.
Dolby Atmos processing.
As far as I am aware, everything else is exactly the same as last years VSX-924.
hcc27
8 Jan 16#52
Hey what's your TV?
hcc27
8 Jan 161#53
That used to be a cogent argument, however these newer receivers in stereo mode with decent front left and rights do sound a lot better than they used to do. If you're a purist of course you can't go wrong with a high-end stereo amp.
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#54
In it's my budget range as in I don't want to spend more that this on the AV receiver, I'm also looking at surround sound systems that have a wireless rear pair or speakers. I'm also planning on a separate stereo amp system for audiophile sound, however I'm covered there as I have a couple of Audiophile friends who are extremely knowledgeable in the field, one of which actually goes to shows and demos his system. Anyway I digress, this receiver does all I need and I won't be getting in to Atmos presently, but it does no harm being available.
fishmaster
8 Jan 161#55
Absolutely I've heard some of the best consumer excellently matched audiophile systems and there's no comparison to what you get from an AV receiver. I currently just invested in a Chordette Qute EX DAC and auditioned it on my friend's £20K audiophile system, which is a modest amount for an audiophile system. Anyway you can get in to really stupid territory, not far from where I live is a company selling speaker wire for £23K a metre. You can definitely do audiophile within a sensible budget. It really depends on what you want from the system.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#56
I understand your concerns with Atmos starting to be thrown in on mid range receivers now, more for less whats the catch especially if you are not going to use the function...but if this is your price range then unless buying second hand Pioneer Elites or Yamaha Aventage etc with superior caps and filters and chassis then with the same level of DAC onboard with this I really would struggle to see you doing better. There again its all in the listening...if you can demo one against others in the same price bracket I would.
paulj48
8 Jan 16#58
wireless speakers still need plugging into a mains socket so not really wireless, unless they're going on stands you'll still have a large power cable running up your wall.
hcc27
8 Jan 16#59
High end audio is a slippery slope, not entirely different from coke addiction :smiley:.
In terms of speaker interconnects, are you referring to the Nordost Valhalla or Audioquest Everest?
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#60
I'm only going to pair it with Sony, Philips or Panasonic surround speakers so I'm not looking so much for excellent clarity/accuracy as more the experience of surround sound.
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#61
Nordost Odin 2 if I remember rightly.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#62
For a mid range receiver I think you would preferably only be using those short term to be honest.
Bogside
8 Jan 161#63
I don't really need to update my old Denon yet and was planning on getting another year's use out of it. But this is a great and very tempting price. Heat added and deal saved, but I'm trying hard to resist.
newsgroupmonkey
8 Jan 16#65
I hope the airplay and WiFi is better than the VSX-924.
I'm sure it's fine if you leave it on and connected all the time, but both my iPad and iPhone are a PITA to reconnect every time I turn them off. The app constantly says it can't find the amp.
The worst thing is, I've set fixed IP addresses to all my devices (done via the MAC address on the router end), so it's not even like the IP address might have changed!
cicobuff to newsgroupmonkey
8 Jan 16#67
Cannot comment personally, I don't use it, I use a homeplug and not had issues, also don't have anything Apple.
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#66
Could you suggest a more suitable pairing? Thanks. I'd still need a rear wireless pair of speakers.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#68
Not off the top of my head, I really know nothing when it comes to wireless speakers.
fishmaster
8 Jan 16#69
Probably this receiver is overkill for my requirements, I'll look at cheaper ones on Richer Sounds et al.
Undergrid
8 Jan 162#70
And for those who don't happen to live near a Richer Sounds or Sevenoaks, it's £299 (delivered) from Hills Sound & Vision
Phila4 to Undergrid
8 Jan 16#77
I believe RS will happily send items out to you, subject to a postage charge (although I also believe they will often waive this). I say this based on 2 local RS that both offered to send an item out by post - this is direct from them, not from their warehouse.
So I'd suggest giving one or two of the stores (not necessarily has to be nearest) a call and hopefully they'll do that for you.
DudleyGuy
8 Jan 16#71
Hot, a great price for one of the best quality brands out there, just slightly behind Sony.
cicobuff to DudleyGuy
8 Jan 16#74
Yep, that's because Onkyo now own Pioneer..thankfully as yet the internals have not changed :wink:
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#72
Maybe, depends which way you look at it, a mid range receiver now and buy better speakers later or if you are after some cheap and cheerful 5.1 system to pair with existing speakers for around £150 then go for it.
If you don't need 7.1 (or bi-amp), or network streaming or this much wattage then it may be better going for a cheaper option to try out surround sound....if you were more thinking of future upgrade path with speakers then go for this. Is wireless the only option for surround? Could you not consider cable trunking for rear speaker runs?
hcc27
8 Jan 161#73
Didn't realise they had introduced another one this year. As they say ''Odin 2 doesn’t just set the standard; it blows the standards away''. Now to win the Lottery and upgrade my ears.
adam0812
8 Jan 16#75
first time i've heard of dolby atmos, has anyone experienced it in the home? Do films, games have to be designed around it?
cicobuff to adam0812
8 Jan 16#76
No, and yes, Dolby Atmos codec is required to be processed, so you have to look for titles with the Dolby Atmos symbol.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#78
Probably only worth the faff if you want to go for Richer Sounds extended warranty cover on top which of course is very good indeed.
adam0812
8 Jan 161#79
ok thanks, seems battlefront is the only game currently with dolby atmos.
Undergrid
8 Jan 16#80
I didn't know that, but I'll keep it in mind for the future (I've already ordered from Hills). I've missed out on a number of "In Store Only" deals because the nearest Richer Sounds is some distance away.
I'd take that review with a pinch of salt, they give it a green thumb up for 'Intuitive and user-friendly' as a user I'd disagree with that due to its many features, confusing cramped remote and large but confusing manual.
nrps1
8 Jan 16#83
I understood it can upscale legacy content however, looking at the Dolby Atmos comments on the official website?
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#84
Yes, I guess like Dolby pro logic processing with 2 channel stereo, pseudo multichannel.
rev6
8 Jan 16#85
It'll be exactly like that.
I heard it's not easy to optimize Atmos for a multi-listener environment, has anyone had issues with that?
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#86
No mate, I don't own this or any other Atmos receiver. I had in April last years VSX-924 as a replacement for my 8 month old Yammy RX-V675 that decided to go bang upon switching it on one day. They wanted to send it off for repair, I was not happy with that for such a short owned and not exactly well used or overdriven receiver and they decided to let me choose a replacement and I am glad I opted for it.
The only thing I don't like about Pioneer is as others have said, the menus...so convoluted and the GUI is not the best. The sound to me is where it shines though, and that is the most important thing for me favouring it primarily for music listening, don't think anything has changed in that regard in this years receiver.
Scorpion
8 Jan 161#87
Panasonic GT60 Plasma
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#88
Nice, bragging rights, one of the last great Plasmas :smiley: I wouldn't even be thinking of moving over to 4K with that set until the price of decent sized OLEDs come down.
Paperlantern
8 Jan 16#89
I picked one of these up the other day, my local store didnt have any in stock but arranged for one to be sent out to me direct from their warehouse at a cost of £4.95. It came in a couple of days via DPD.
GrumpyJo
8 Jan 16#90
This is a deal for me. Big time. Love my Pioneer but now this comes with hdcp 2.2 I'm all over it. It's good to see that you don't suffer the loss of the rear channels for atmos as some receivers force you to but then I'm not buying this for atmos. Just need to ensure it supports pass through before jumping in. Not making the same mistake when I bought the vsx-827k
cicobuff to GrumpyJo
8 Jan 161#91
Last years VSX-924 supports HDMI passthrough, I cannot see why this years would not. I did put the link to the manual in the first post if you need to double check.
Undergrid to GrumpyJo
8 Jan 162#99
Since I had downloaded the PDF of the VSX-930 manual I thought I'd have a look for you. Sadly the manual won't let me copy text, so I took a screenshot of the appropriate part and posted it here. Hope that answers your question.
DudleyGuy
8 Jan 16#93
Why have pioneer been bought by a low end Chinese company, thanks for the heads up I will now avoid.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#94
Well hopefully like D&M Holdings (Denon and Marantz) the two brands will remain separate. Article on it [here] (apologies its a What Hi Fi link). Time will tell...if you can start frying your eggs off a Pioneer receiver in two years time you will know its innards have gone over to Onkyo :wink:
By the way, both Onkyo and Pioneer are Japanese.
In fact Yamaha, Sony, Marantz (Originally American), Denon, Onkyo, Teak, Pioneer and the now resurrected Technics....all the box shifters in the audio field all Japanese. You would need to look at the likes of NAD, Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Linn etc to avoid it.
nolic
8 Jan 161#95
Had this a few days so some comments that may help.
Control over HDMI was a must for me along with standby passthrough. I have tried this with panasonic and sony tvs and it works with both - apparently compatibility is hit or miss. I was originally looking at the sony receivers but found comments regarding all 3 models that standby power was both 28 and 40 watts (german reviews) so they become very costly over the years. I think it may just be standby pass through that is causing this increase and not HDMI control alone but can't confirm as I didn't look at them because of this. The pioneer I measured at 4watts with control/passthrough enabled and around 45 watts with 5.1 for general tv viewing - very little heat coming off it at all. It is rated to 550watts so not sure how you get it to draw this much..
Bad points:
The remote is a bit busy. I want this for 5.1 in main room and a 2 speaker setup with tv in zone 2 and was keen on the independent sources however this is restricted to certain sources - not using it yet but I think both zones have to use 1 of 3 hdmis out of the 7 to allow them to be fully independent. Still I dont think anything in this price range does this at all. The denon 2200 certainly doesn't as I looked at this as well.
The remote is a bit busy but then the functionality is extensive.
MysteryM
8 Jan 16#96
I'd love to have one at this price, but I'm going to hold out for a new receiver when DTS:X becomes standard with them.
titchyyyyy to MysteryM
10 Jan 16#137
You mean in about 5 years time when DTS:X is on AV's that are this price? They're currently only on £2000+ AV's while Atmos is on £300 ones and does the same thing, it just requires more speakers.
martyn_3000
8 Jan 16#97
Can anyone tell me how much better this will be than my Sony STR-DN840?
Apart from support for Dolby Atmos and HDCP 2.2. Will the sound quality be noticeably better?
rev6 to martyn_3000
8 Jan 161#100
Better is usually quite subjective with AV's and what speakers you pair it with. The AV in the OP is quite a lot more powerful.
DudleyGuy to martyn_3000
8 Jan 16#109
The Sony will be better, they are famous for being the world's number 1 in audio for a reason!
nrps1
8 Jan 16#98
I've bought, picking up now :smile:
Only problem, the Onkyo SKH-410 which I want is OOS everywhere. Ordered from the only online place I could find 4-10 days delivery :disappointed:
NeO_Sk8eR
8 Jan 16#101
Yes I'm having a really tough time getting it working, I can have one sweet spot but then the other chair, even if its close, suffers
Granted i dont have the best equipment but i'm struggling to find a decent compromise between the 2 positions
paulj48
8 Jan 16#102
I bought this early December and was a bit worried as the instructions shows the power consumption at 550w so I presumed that was regardless of the speaker volume. Have you actually measured 45w at normal volume? if so that's a relief.
Undergrid
8 Jan 161#103
The Onyko I'm replacing was rated at 600 watts but never pulled anywhere near that amount (even with it's built-in room heater), and yes, I had a meter on the socket to find out. Basically the more work the amp has to do, the more power it will use, so a 7.1 or 5.2.2 system will draw more power than a 5.1 system (more speakers to drive) and higher volumes will use more power. The rated value is generally the maximum the unit can use, so using it at normal levels usually uses a lot less.
rev6
8 Jan 16#104
550w should be around the maximum power the AV can pull from the wall. The louder it is, the more power is consumes.
paulj48
8 Jan 16#105
I would normally think that but because the 'volume' level is displayed as attenuation (and I wasn't sure exactly how amps work) I though maybe the amp runs at full power and the volume is then 'attenuated' to the desired level.
rev6
8 Jan 16#106
The power consumption will be much less at lower volumes.
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#107
That's one way of describing Onkyo's warmth :smile:
Undergrid
8 Jan 161#108
Yeah, my gas bill for the central heating is going to go up now... sigh...
Actually, it honestly wasn't all that bad. I've had other components that put out more heat though I don't think I ever had the Onkyo about 50% power.
nolic
8 Jan 16#110
Yes I measured 45 watt at a normal tv viewing volume using 5.1 so 5 out of 9 amplifiers I guess.
The power that is drawn from the wall socket must be dissipated somewhere so in the case of an AV receiver this will be a combination of the speaker output and the heat the components give off generating it (the ratio here would be down to the efficiency). Not really pushed the volume at all to see the increase though. I think the manual states guidance of 40cm above and 20cm either side for ventilation not sure why this would ever be required. Be interested to see what it draws and how hot it gets with all channels on and the volume up. At 105watts per channel into 8ohm I dont think my speakers would take it!
martyn_3000
8 Jan 161#111
Not sure it's that cut and dry... Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo, Pioneer all make good audio kit. I bought the Sony because at the time it was the best at my particular budget, I know if I spent another £100, it was Yamaha that had the best AV receiver.
cicobuff
8 Jan 161#112
I would concur, and also add that sound is also subjective. Whilst reviewers can speculate on definition with sound processing as well as musical resonance its all down to the listener at the end of the day, alongside what speakers the amp is matched with etc.
Home Cinema Choice magazine gave last years VSX-924 Best AV Receiver, whilst What Hi Fi gave the award to the Sony STRDN-1050, now oddly in this years What Hi Fi magazine the review for the VSX-930 draws comparative reference with the STRDN-860 rather than the STRDN-1060 it should be compared with.
From personal experience over the years of owning in my AV Receiver beginnings a Sherwood then onwards through Sony, Denon, Marantz, Yamaha and Pioneer..all mid range receivers. To my ears I have found both the Sony and Pioneer to be the most detailed sounding with my speakers. Denon I found a bit thin, Marantz I get on well with but a little warmth that does not sound best with a variety of music, and Yamaha too warm.
Some people love the Yamaha warmth in sound, some may see the clarity of brightness in Pioneer and Sony as 'brittle' or harsh...who knows, nobody is right or wrong. There are certain areas of warmth I like such as the analogue output from the DACs in my NAD CD Players in comparison to letting the receivers I own process via their own integral DAC via Digital Coax.
Personally I think out of this crop of mid-range AV Receivers this offers very decent sound to my ears and the best bang for buck all round as a network av receiver with a high end DAC. The good thing with Richer Sounds is they will let you take it back if not happy with the sound.
cicobuff
8 Jan 161#113
More powerful, although What Hi Fi oddly in their review have compared it to the STR-DN860 it should be compared with the STR-DN1060. Pioneers menus are a convoluted minefield to the beginner. As suggested sound is subjective and best demoed if possible.
martyn_3000
8 Jan 161#114
Thanks for your replies. Very informative. I may call into RicherSounds to request a demo on the two Receivers, if they have both in. I am initially taken in more by the Pioneer due to the Atmos, and more connections, but like you say sounds qualify is subjective.
cicobuff
8 Jan 161#115
I don't know if you come from an AV Receiver owning background before, even I found the menus of the Pioneer somewhat confusing to navigate through setting it all up.
I have just found my findings on the previous receiver the VSX-924, take a look at post #54 and #56 in [this] thread.
I will say it here for anyone buying this though, it is imperative after MCACC calibration that you have the tone option enabled in EQ (even if set at zero) and not bypassed else it will sound flat.
martyn_3000
8 Jan 161#116
Thanks for taking the time to write this.
I've had three AV receivers over the years, all Sony. Not because I've got any particular loyalty to the brand, just that they were the best value at the time.
The setup does sound a rather complicated affair. My Sony's have all been rather simple, run auto calibration with the mic, then adjust the crossovers slightly. All up and running in a few mins.
Have Pioneer not listened to criticism from when they were selling the VSX-924, and improved things for this one?
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#117
Don't think so, it has a higher end MCACC calibration for compatibility with Atmos that was reserved for the Pioneer Elite receivers of previous years, but I still think the menus are convoluted. It has not put me off once set up obviously you don't really need to use the settings once you have it working as it is and liking the sound I would certainly look towards Pioneer in the future.
I know last years STRDN-1050 suffered some problematic HDMI issues, whether those have been fixed in the STRDN-1060 I do not know.
There is a thread on MCACC on AVS Forums. Personally if compared to the STRDN-1060 being cheaper by £50 currently and having a higher end DAC as well as Atmos support (whether used or not) it offers far better bang for buck.
Personally I would look at the STRDN-1060 in comparison if you can and weigh them both up, if your budget allows and make sure in this years model the handshaking issues have been fixed.
My own bias would be towards the Pioneer, but that is my own bias, your own speakers, ears, budget alongside the styling of the unit and the units operation can sway you totally differently...if you do decide to go and take a look, keep me informed would be interested to know how you get on whichever route you take.
alexjameshaines
8 Jan 16#118
Clever idea!
rev6
8 Jan 16#119
I guess also for a projector.
hcc27
8 Jan 16#120
Well Sony may probably be No.1 for mainstream, 'high street' consumer audio, but if you have the dosh you'll probably be reaching out to stuff like this:
Thanks cicobuff, I was making reference to when I first stepped into the world of AVR's. I now own a Pioneer VSX-827 and I'm very happy with. Maybe 99% for what I needed it for. The only thing it did not have was HDMI pass through.
I was looking at 3 from Pioneer. A VSX- 5XX, 827 & 9XX (XX= can't remember specific models now) both the VSX-5XX & 9XX Both supported HDMI pass through so naturally I assumed the 827 would also support this, alas it did not but I love it anyway.
I was swayed by a great offer.
Now older and wiser, proper and extensive research is the way forward. Make an informed decision.
I also really appreciate your informative response in this thread and completely agree with you. In this world its too difficult to simply state 'This set of speakers work with that receiver or that type of music. Far too many variables.
The best advice for anyone is to figure out what you require to use audio/visual equipment for. Purely music or movie watching etc ? For me, its both. Then figure out what your budget is and work off of that. Go out and demo equipment and speakers if you can, with your own type of music/ movie. That's the only way to guage if you would be happy with it and even then its subjective, as it will probably sound different in the store when compared to its resting place within your own home.
Most people advise pairing your receiver with speakers that cost at least 3 times as much as the receiver but the beauty of this is that you can start off budget and affordable, still get great sound, then save up for higher end equipment whilst enjoying that great sound for a good number of years. After all, once you catch the bug, you can't go back.
I own a Pioneer VSX-827K and paired it with a Tannoy TFX 5.1 system. Then bought Tannoy Mercury V4 Floor standing speakers and a matching VC centre speaker to form a 7.1 setup. This VSX-930 is getting bought, and I'm currently saving for some higher end speakers but for what I've got, watching movies or listening to music sounds fantastic !!!
GrumpyJo
8 Jan 16#123
Thanks buddy, I've been pretty busy this evening with kids dance lessons and generally running round ragged here, there and everywhere !!
Now that's sorted... Where's me wallet....
cicobuff
8 Jan 16#124
Thanks for your appreciation and I agree with your own advice for anyone.
I will add for me it is around a 70:30 music:film/gaming split and most certainly if anyone favours music it would be beneficial if you have the space for either decent sized bookshelf/standmount speakers or if space allows most certainly floorstanders over satellites.
Whilst not quite up to the standard of my NAD CD Player I do like the convenience of NAS streaming FLAC files and the integral DAC in this receiver does a good job with networking streaming for anyone intending using it for such, the only downside being the GUI which I prefer on the likes of Yamaha.
I am pretty confident particularly already knowing Pioneer, its menus and MCACC calibration you will be delighted with your choice here.
Cheesypuff12
8 Jan 16#125
As you seem pretty well informed on the recent Pioneer receivers do you have any opinion on what sort of upgrade this would be on a VSX-LX51 or would it even be an upgrade in terms of DAC and general level of sound detail? I know the real answer is to go and listen to one but just interested in an opinion. I'm not so fussed about atmos yet or networking features so these aren't a value add for me personally.
roadie
9 Jan 16#126
I had a listen to Dolby Atmos. At the moment I think Atmos is a gimmick..but this is just my opinion. The sound is not as aggressive or different as it should or has said it Will be. Then again, each to their own.
Richer sounds do have a good setup. Most of their staff are quite good but u will get the occasional numpty who would appear to be just like staff at currys!
This Pioneer does look a beast..if this had DTS X it would have been awesome!
coalfield
9 Jan 16#127
Anyone know if this has multiple zoned outputs?
rev6 to coalfield
9 Jan 16#128
It does.
cicobuff
9 Jan 161#129
Difficult one to judge, I think as you are not bothered about networking features obviously the only importance of the DAC is if you let the receiver do the codec processing for any of the DOLBY or DTS effects rather than PCM feeding them from your equipment.
Certainly your VSX-LX51 was quite a considerable cost back in 2009, and is limited by the amount of HDMI sockets and its compatibility with newer tech within HDMI whether it be 3D or 4K, obviously if you need neither or more HDMI inputs or networking features or are interested in Atmos, other than being mindful of the age of your old receiver I do not really see any real value in changing. They both offer the same amount of power across the 7 channels.
The LX were a more premium line of receivers, you will most certainly lack the chassis quality in changing, and most likely also a more refined power transformer/filters/caps.
If it is still running fine and suits your needs, wait I would say. If this is your budget and you want a newer receiver, bang for buck it cannot be beat having a high end DAC found in the Pioneer Elite range of receivers at this price point...just be mindful that it will not have the same level of chassis and power supply and capacitor refinement that comes at a price of premium receivers.
eoa106
9 Jan 16#130
Assume I've got my home theatre PC hooked up to this AVR through HDMI. Does this AVR have pre-outs that would allow me to connect my existing stereo amp for music playback? Then when watching a movie I'd still want to use my stereo speakers through my existing stereo amp as front speakers in addition to other speakers connected directly to the AVR. Is this possible with this AVR?
rev6
9 Jan 16#131
It has no pre-outs for that.
cynikill
9 Jan 161#132
Have you moved, or is it your brother in Loughborugh?
crashuk1
9 Jan 16#133
you know Onkyo owns pioneer since last year.
cicobuff
9 Jan 16#134
Yep, refer back to comment #74 on here.
titchyyyyy
10 Jan 16#135
I bought the Yamaha RX-V375 last year when they were being sold for £150 to sell off remaining stock and I couldn't be more happier with it but funnily enough, I've been looking for a Dolby Atmos receiver, surely I can't turn down one at £289. Would this receiver be a big upgrade over my V375?
How do you get the £10 off? Do I save the voucher to my phone and show them in store? Last time I went in last year, I tried to get VIP off and they still charged me £10 extra and said the price already reflected the VIP price.
Going to give them a call tomorrow and hopefully get one.
cicobuff to titchyyyyy
10 Jan 16#136
A vast upgrade from an entry level Yamaha to this mid-range Pioneer, not just because it is a leap from a 5.1 to a 7.2 channel receiver that is also Atmos compatible, it has more wattage power, and offers networking and bluetooth features which you did not have before.
Yes, just show the link in my first post on your phone.
titchyyyyy
10 Jan 16#138
Thanks a lot :smiley: hopefully they will have stock in!
rev6
10 Jan 16#139
The Denon X2200 has Atmos and DTS:X support which I think is less than £400.
cicobuff
10 Jan 16#140
£379 at Peter Tyson with 3 years warranty as standard.
titchyyyyy
11 Jan 16#141
True, but I don't think they're enabled until they roll out new firmware updates? Unless they've done it already.
I went to the shop yesterday and they offered me the Onkyo TX-NR646 for £300 instead of the Pioneer, the guy said he wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he didn't try and get me a better receiver for the price I was paying for the Pioneer, he said it had the same features as the Pioneer but with DTS:X enabled. Should I have taken his offer?
cicobuff
11 Jan 161#142
Difficult to comment really. Another way of looking at it is he would be doing his job correctly if he let you audition both receivers or the very least actually asked you what you want out of an AV Receiver. Did he ask of your requirements? Did he ask any details about your current speaker setup?
Looking at reviews (and no matter what receiver they are somewhat subjective) Onkyo's have a tradition for favouring movies over music when it comes to performance. The GUI of the unit is not the greatest in appearance (but Pioneer whilst being marginally better the menus are convoluted). From experience Pioneer are very shortcoming with firmware rollouts, and you will not be getting DTS:X on it.
You could question why he did not try to sell you the Denon X2200 instead. 'Best' is subjective to what features and sound you require. If you require DTS:X then you should be weighing the pros and cons of both these machines, both of which are firmware upgradeable to DTS:X (not sure if the rollout for the Onkyo has happened as yet)
If DTS:X is of paramount importance to you and your maximum budget is £300 and they offer you the TX-NR646 at £300 then perhaps you should have taken it.
I however remain cynical of the guy doing his job correctly. Other than the Onkyo being DTS:X compatible via a firmware update is there anything else that makes it better? Is knocking £50 off a current selling price doing his job correctly? With profit margins on AV Receivers within the budget to mid-range sector being minimal especially when they start selling the £500 receivers between £250-350 you have to question if they are going to be dropping the price of the Onkyo to £299 shortly anyway or its a stock shifting exercise?
paulj48
11 Jan 161#143
The Onkyo doesn't have multizone out on the HDMI only a mirror out so no it doesn't have the same features as the Pioneer.
edit. the Onkyo only has HDCP2.2 on one of the HDMI outputs, the Pioneer has it on both, this could be a major issue in the future.
titchyyyyy
11 Jan 16#144
The guy probably figured I knew what I wanted because I had previously purchased from there before, he didn't offer advice on speakers or if I wanted to test any of the receivers out. Saying that, I really hate going into places like Richer Sounds because I find it hard to deal with Salesmen so I just wanted to buy the receiver and get out there ASAP.
I wanted it for a mixture of both movies and music but don't really need most features, although I did want Atmos for future usage. For any body reading this, I've got a set a Tannoy SFX 5.1 (Possibly the cheapest 5.1 you can buy at Richer Sounds) and the sound quality while paired with this is phenomenal. This receiver makes my old Yamaha RX-V375 sound flat and quite terrible. Big upgrade from entry level to mid range I guess.
cicobuff
11 Jan 16#145
Did you read what I said earlier in the thread #115 about the EQ Option and the link from there? If not and you have not done MCACC calibration, do so...you should find it does not sound flat at all. *EDIT* My mistake I read that you thought this sounded flat compared to your existing RX-V375. Check anyway, Pioneer setup is convoluted.
titchyyyyy
11 Jan 161#146
Sorry, my grammar perhaps, this receiver doesn't sound flat at all, it sounds amazing compared to my old Yamaha 375.
Thanks for all the advice! Very happy with this.
cicobuff
11 Jan 161#147
You're welcome, not your grammar I read it fast and assumed you said 'this receiver compared with my Yamaha RX-V375 sounds flat and terrible'
Aka Lobes
11 Jan 16#148
Hi. Hopefully someone technically minded can advise...
If I upgraded to this Pioneer Receiver, would I still be able to use the existing speakers and sub? My concerns is that the old Sub is Passive...and I am not sure if this is compatible?
Thanks
rev6
11 Jan 161#149
Speakers are fine. You'd need an active sub.
avalon50
11 Jan 16#150
I am very tempted to buy this. Could it be used with a new Samsung 4k TV, as I think it can.
cicobuff to avalon50
11 Jan 16#151
Of course it is 4K HDCP 2.2 compliant.
martyn_3000
13 Jan 16#152
So I've been down to Richer Sounds and picked the Pioneer up. I would of liked a demo, but they needed 24 hours notice, and I wasn't prepared to drive back again next day.
Going to try and knock off work early to get this set up later. Be prepared for many questions, as I struggle to get it all working.
avalon50
13 Jan 16#153
I bought one yesterday, but haven't got it setup yet, only in situ.
rev6
13 Jan 16#154
They're straight forward enough. Make sure to run the speaker calibration.
martyn_3000
13 Jan 16#155
What was it you said to do after the auto set up? I ran the "full auto setup" I think it's called.
cicobuff
13 Jan 16#156
Follow your manual for setting up your inputs after MCACC setup with the microphone...and most importantly ensure that (I found the difference night and day) page 85 of the [manual] you enable the tone option within the audio parameters menu. Even if you leave bass and treble set at zero I found without the tone option enabled stereo playback of music sounded terribly flat. In fact experiment when you do come to listening to music either from an external source CD Player etc or over the network...I am sure you will find a vast difference if you bypass the tone control. Using the VSX-924 mainly for audio it was the single most important thing I noticed, I am sure it will be equally as apparent on this updated model.
dannyaus38
14 Jan 16#157
Hi. I'm new to av receivers as I have an all-in-one cinema surround at the moment. I know this has atmos and have read up on what it is but don't think I'd ever use it. That said, do you think it would be worth buying this or the SONY STR DN850?. I only ask as richer sounds are selling the Sony of in the clearance section for £199 atm and I'd get 10% VIP discount off that too.
Thanks for your advice.
cicobuff to dannyaus38
14 Jan 161#158
Although oddly compared to the STR DN860 this receiver is a mid range receiver that was originally £499 like the STRDN1060 it should be compared with.
If you are looking at dipping your toe in the water so to speak, and do not need the extra wattage this line of receiver gives then I would say go for last years STRDN850 at that price...however, one word of warning.......
Take heed of Richer Sounds clearance...although customer services have done right on me after complaining on three occasions the quality of their clearance items can be hit or miss...including in my instance an 'open box' item that had the back of a Denon receiver buckled in, missing remote, missing audyssey mic, missing manual.
Bargains can be had and if it literally is just an open box/customer return that has been looked after go for it. Just proceed with caution.
Just to clarify last years Sony's STRDN850 (£399) the STRDN1050 and Pioneer VSX-924 (£499) RRP
This year Sony's STRDN860 (£399) the STRDN1060 and Pioneer VSX-924 (£499) RRP
Pioneer do not have a receiver to directly match the STRDN850/60 in their line....the lower tiered (2014-15) VSX-824/VSX-830 (2015-16) whilst having comparable wattage are 5.2 channel receiver instead of 7.2 that the (2014-15) STRDN850/STRDN860 (2015-16) offer.
dannyaus38
14 Jan 16#159
thanks very much for the info cicobuff. I think I'll still shop around but may give richer sounds a call and see what info I can get on the clearance Sony.
cicobuff to dannyaus38
14 Jan 16#160
In case you do go for the VSX-930 then check my amended post #1 with the link for the advert as they have put the price up to £329 in store.
But yes, ring and check if it literally is 'open box' or if it has been kicked around the stock room and missing all accessories like they invariably are.
johntin
14 Jan 16#161
Cicobuff.
Just rang my local Richersounds and asked to purchase one of these, they don't have any in stock but will have one for me on Tuesday. I quoted what hi-fi in order to get it at £299, which they will honour as long as I take in the magazine!!! which obviously I don't have. Do you think they will accept a printed copy of your advert which I have downloaded?
They won't honour the additional £10 off though as it clearly states on your advert " not valid in conjunction with any other offer/promotion".
cicobuff to johntin
14 Jan 16#162
I don't see why they wouldn't accept a digital version of the magazine pages...obviously for legal reasons I am not going to upload the full magazine pdf for this month on here so have uploaded the two advert pages in question. However if you do have store pettiness, then contact customer services who should put them and you right.
Also Seven Oaks are selling it for £299, so if one of those locally too, they would have to price beat by a fiver.
They would be foolish to order you one in, then you go in store and refuse you custom being petty over an advert copy.
johntin
14 Jan 16#163
What's your thoughts on the additional £10? It is not a deal breaker so not too worried, just thought it best to mention it for other interested parties.
I will print your pages off and take it from there.
cicobuff to johntin
14 Jan 16#164
Well it is in their terms and conditions, but you could argue that they have put the price up from £299 and its still £299 in the advert and its only honouring the price that it was at anyway so not really in conjunction with another offer, its selling at the advertised price!
johntin
14 Jan 16#165
Thanks will let you know how I get on when I pick it up on Tuesday.
McMike
14 Jan 16#166
Does anyone know if this supports SR+, like earlier Pioneer amps, or have pioneer dropped this? "Upgraded" from a VSX-8xx amp a year back only to find no SR+ capability on the newer amp.
paulj48 to McMike
15 Jan 161#167
Not sure what SR+ is but it has an IR Control 'in' and 'out' to connect IR receivers into on the back of the unit. Instructions says it can be used with optional IR receivers e.g Niles and Xantech
McMike
15 Jan 16#168
That sounds like SR. SR+ did some additional nifty stuff like showing the amp setup menu on the plasma, showing the vol up and down onscreen etc.
That really is not necessary for any device that connects through one of its HDMI ports OSD is displayed.
McMike
16 Jan 16#170
It looks like my amp VSX-820 is the opposite, no OSD unless the telly is connected via analogue input. Manual states no OSD with HDMI :smiley:
cicobuff to McMike
16 Jan 16#171
Weird, I cannot vouch for OSD component inputs outputted via HDMI with the VSX-930 or my own VSX-924 as I have not tried...when I think of analogue I shudder and remember the days of ten years ago of analogue SACD inputs, optical, coaxial inputs and component from Xbox, PS2 and Wii.
avalon50
17 Jan 16#172
I printed the manual off, yes all 142 pages double sided tho'. I'm just reading bits at a time as and when I need to!
rowena4434
26 Jan 16#173
Hi cicobuff,when stating that it is priced at £299 in What HiFi mag,is it with richer sounds or another seller? Thankyou
cicobuff to rowena4434
26 Jan 16#174
The link is in post #1 of this very thread. The advert is Richer Sounds, for Richer Sounds to honour their own price they advertise in What Hi Fi February issue.
rowena4434
26 Jan 16#175
Thankyou,just checking as rang richer sounds today (obviously without buying issue of what HiFi but stating was in there at £299)And was told was an out of date offer :disappointed: but would price match anybody else :/
cicobuff
26 Jan 16#176
Download the link I gave you (you do not need to buy the magazine I have given everyone here exactly what they need the two page advert), offer price is valid until 13/02/16 as I have already said. They cannot argue with their own print in a magazine, and if they do phone customer services....it is plain and clear in the magazine print that the advertised prices are valid until 13/02/16 and they have the VSX-930 listed for £299.
johntin
26 Jan 16#177
Yes this worked for me, printed off the pages cicobuff has put a link to on page one. Took them into Richer Sound and came away with it for £299, ( well actually nearly £330 again as I took the 6 year warranty.)
cicobuff
26 Jan 16#178
How are you getting along with the receiver? Enjoying it?
avalon50
26 Jan 161#179
I have this amplifier and I love it in as much the sound it puts out is much much better than my old system, and also because it has networking , it can connect to my nas box and play the music on it.
Yes, it has more than I need for now, but who knows what I might add to it later.
cicobuff to avalon50
26 Jan 16#180
I had my VSX-924 (the previous years model) as a replacement for a borked Yamaha RX-V675 and prefer its sound to both that and surprisingly my Marantz Receiver which has been relegated as the bedroom system.
I use mine for FLAC streaming over NAS.
rowena4434
27 Jan 16#181
Thanks ever so much,if I'd of looked closer would of noticed date on offers (not just voucher doh :wink: will push further with customer services and note names,I will get this bargain :smiley:
johntin
27 Jan 16#182
Been really busy with work. Purchased last week only installed it yesterday. I am going to go and buy some new speakers today (need them anyway as mine are pretty basic), the set up tells me there is a fault on 2 satellite speakers, it says the wires are the wrong way round although they are not. When I look at the iPhone app, iControlAV5, Status viewer, it doesn't include them in my setup. Also had a problem with keeping iControlAV5 on my network when I was using wired. Read somewhere on one of the forums that this is a common problem, switched to wireless and it hasn't lost the connection again so far.
Early days yet, finish work tomorrow for a few days so I hope to get it all sorted. Off to Richer Sounds now for some speakers.
cschmeer
5 Feb 16#183
Really stuck deciding between this Pioneer for £299 and the Denon AVR-X2200W for £429. What do you guys think? Mostly the lack of DTS:X is worrying me. The Denon seems more future proof and has had some great reviews.
rev6 to cschmeer
5 Feb 161#184
Will you be using DTS:X?
cicobuff to cschmeer
5 Feb 16#185
As rev6 says, will you be using DTS:X either now or likely to in the future?
This is the common misconception of future proofing, particularly with AV equipment .
Personally I would have more interest in DTS:X than Dolby Atmos as I would not want to add more speakers into the mix, than I already have....so Dolby Atmos is of no use to me. DTS:X will work with any speaker configuration.
However, with the lack of DTS:X titles and most certainly going forward not wanting to re-purchase blu rays or know if any streaming options will include it or Dolby Atmos (doubtful as none as current even support lossless Master Audio or True HD) it is hard to buy into a technology that has not established itself.
Personally having a VSX-924 without Atmos and not even wanting to 'upgrade' from Plasma to 4K until the price of OLED or nano crystal/quantum dot TVs come down as current LED backlit 4K tvs are just plain crap I think I am happy with what I have for the next 5 years at least..which is exactly the warranty I have on it.
Think of the now and the possibility of your own tech future and what you are content with, or what you are prepared to spend in a gamble of the as yet unknown.
cschmeer
5 Feb 16#186
I agree that Dolby Atmos is pretty much useless for me as well, as I will not be adding more speakers (let alone ceiling speakers). The reason the omission of the DTS:X standard worries me is that films released on Bluray (/ 4K Bluray or whatever comes next) in the future might only have DTS:X mixes, and drop support for older DTS or Dolby standards?
Also, given the Denon AVR-X2200W has had pretty good reviews regarding sound quality, I wonder how they compare.
cicobuff to cschmeer
5 Feb 16#187
DTS:X is backward compatible with the DTS-HD decoder so there is not that problem. The Denon AVR-X2200W has been on sale for around £350 and pushed back up to £420.
Personally speaking after owning Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, Sony and now Pioneer in my arsenal of AV Receivers over the years I am extremely impressed with the sound quality. However sound quality is subjective on the listener and their equipment, the only way you can compare is demoing.
What I can say in favour for the Denon is ease of setup in comparison with Pioneer's convoluted menu system and audyssey is easier to work with than MCACC, although there are many [guided tips] out there for getting the best out of MCACC mic setup.
My own personal bias, with the current price differential save the £129 and go with the Pioneer (and consider an extended warranty)....but that is I reiterate, my own personal bias.
rev6 to cschmeer
5 Feb 16#188
I doubt future Blu-ray's will just contain just Stereo and DTS:X.
cicobuff
5 Feb 16#189
I did already state that DTS:X is backwardly compatible with DTS:HD decoding anyway in bitstreaming.
rev6
5 Feb 16#190
Good to know.
cicobuff
5 Feb 16#191
Dolby Atmos is also backwards compatible as well. :smiley:
cschmeer
5 Feb 16#192
Backwards compatible to previous DTS standards if you have DTS:X maybe, but why would a non DTS:X device be able to read a DTS:X signal?
I'm planning on going to Richer Sounds after work, so I need to make a decision. At the moment I am still leaning towards the Denon as the setup and interface seems clearer and simpler and the addition of DTS:X can't hurt I guess, even if I'd likely not use it for now. In that case, the decision factors are 1) sound quality difference and 2) power output –I have never had an AV amplifier before, so I am not sure how much this matters, but the Pioneer is listed as "105 x 7" and the Denon as "95 x 7". My speakers are Q Acoustics 2000i Cinema pack, which has 75w speakers.
cicobuff to cschmeer
5 Feb 161#193
A none DTS:X device would not be able to read a DTS:X signal, hence the backward compatibility in the codec!!!!!
In simple terms, it reads the data from the audio feed on the disc and processes it as DTS:Master HD audio, the audio feed on the disc in a DTS:X enabled receiver would process it as DTS:X
You will not be able to get a demo in your Richer Sounds this evening at this short notice. You would need to arrange in advance, so you would only have their word on sound quality.
Backward Compatibility - DTS:X builds upon existing DTS-HD Master Audio to provide backward compatibility with existing DTS bitstreams and speaker layouts. In short, all features of DTS-HD Master Audio are supported and enable an immersive audio experience for older content.
The DTS:X content is backward compatible with the DTS-HD decoder
The DTS:X decoder supports DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and streaming media file formats
DTS:X can spatially reformat stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 content to take full advantage of all speakers in a surround system
Objects are never lost; if the object is embedded, it can be extracted and used in the rendered experience
slide_lewy
6 Feb 16#194
Had this for 3 weeks and have an amp error, turned off and now won't turn back on. Have to send it back for repair, pretty disappointed for only having it for 2-3 weeks. Anyone else had a problem with this?
cicobuff to slide_lewy
6 Feb 16#195
If you only had it for three weeks I am surprised you didn't just get a replacement...I was not happy when RS wanted to send my Yamaha RX-V675 (decided to go and bang...guess faulty power supply) off for repair after owning it for 7 months with light use under its 5 year warranty and managed to convince them with my unhappiness I wanted a replacement and not Yamaha...I got the predecessor to this the VSX-924 last April, so 10 months in and delighted with it...much prefer the sound to the Yamaha.
slide_lewy
7 Feb 16#196
Well to be honest it only happened last night and haven't really been able to get in contact with anyone as it's the weekend. I bought it through Hills Sound & Vision who say on their website with warranty claims you need to contact Pioneer directly it seems, and they say on their website I need to send it to a repair centre. But yes you're right, I will make a case for a replacement unit to be sent and hopefully Hills can help me with that as 3 weeks is a joke for it to suddenly fail.
cicobuff
7 Feb 16#197
According to their terms and conditions.....
I would just push for a refund if not a replacement, and buy from Richer Sounds instead.
cicobuff
10 Feb 16#198
What Hi Fi March 2016 has this receiver at Richer Sounds listed at £329, this offer therefore will end on 13/02/16 therefore anyone thinking about getting one better make a decision fast.
ezak2211
12 Feb 161#199
Thanks cico. Just collected mine from Manchester Deansgate after a few weeks of resistance. They honoured the £299 price but not the £10 off voucher, which was fair enough for me. It's my 3rd avr, so needed a good reasoning with the other half
rubberyduck
12 Feb 161#200
Thanks OP, picked mine up from Cheltenham. Honoured the £299 and the voucher (without the voucher), so £289. Bargain!
cicobuff
12 Feb 16#201
Glad you guys got last minute deals before the inevitable price hike.
In store now £349 and What Hi Fi listing it for £329.
Simon Wallace
13 Feb 16#202
Picked one up today for £299 (+ 6yr guarantee), thanks to the OP for posting.
cicobuff to Simon Wallace
13 Feb 161#203
You're welcome, I am sure you will be pleased with the unit...just managed to get in on the deal!
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
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Opening post
******Price has now jumped to £349 on website, What Hi Fi Magazine price still valid until 13/02/16******
******Guys, the What Hi FI Magazine March 2016 has the receiver listed for £329, this deal will expire on 13/02/16 so hurry if you want one*******
Stellar price for this Network AV receiver whether you are interested in Dolby Atmos or not.
Like last years VSX-924 at the heart of it lies a 24-bit ES9006S SABRE DAC usually reserved for higher end receivers in the likes of the Yamaha Aventage range of receivers, as well as Pioneer Elite receivers.
Whilst obviously not having the same high-end power transformer filters and caps of such, it is this DAC which sets it apart from the competing mid-range bracket of £500 AV Receivers, at £289 it is a steal of a price.
The rest of the blurb :-
Engineered for Dolby Atmos sound
Optimised for Dolby Atmos, you can be amongst the first to experience the wonder of Dolby Atmos in your own home. Producing a multi-dimensional and totally immersive sound, Dolby Atmos has been hailed as the greatest advance in surround sound for 20 years - so don't miss out!
4K video scaling
Making the VSX930 the perfect match for your 4K TV, it offers both 4K pass-through and Full HD 4K upscaling. This means that any HD video source you watch can be scaled up to the highest definition possible. With support for HDCP 2.2 it's also compatible with current and future 4K video.
HD sound
At the heart of the Pioneer VSX-930 is a Direct Energy amplifier. Direct Energy amps use short signal paths throughout for purer and more dynamic sound quality. The VSX930 also makes a superb choice for listening in High Definition. It 's compatible with multi-channel FLAC and WAV files at up to 96kHz/24-bit. In stereo mode, WAV, FLAC, AIFF and Apple Lossless files at 192 kHz/24-bit are all supported, as is DSD.
Totally networked with Bluetooth, AirPlay and Wi-Fi
Now with Wi-Fi built-in, it's even easier to connect up the VSX930 to your home network. Added to this is Apple's AirPlay; letting you wirelessly stream music from any compatible Apple device - without the need for a separate home hub. The Bluetooth receiver supports streaming from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC or other Bluetooth source. DLNA streaming gets you access to music stored on your PC, laptop or NAS and plays it through the receiver. There's also access to Internet radio and music services such as Spotify Connect, making the VSX-930 a fully comprehensive streamer.
All the connections, including twin HDMI outputs
Boasting seven HDMI sockets, including one at the front, it's easy to connect your whole system to the VSX930. The front HDMI socket is also compatible with MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) giving you the ability to transfer 1080p Full HD video from your smartphone or tablet. Added to this are twin HDMI outputs, making the VSX930 ideal for using with both a TV and a projector or AV in a second room. The Pioneer also features an active Zone 2 output that's perfect for speakers in another room.
Easy set-up
Despite packing a lot of tech in, the VSX930 is easy to set-up and use. Pioneer's unique MCACC Pro (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) system will tune the amplifier to the size of listening room and speaker placement, at the touch of a button. It also offers full support of the Dolby Atmos format.
Much more than just a hub for your home cinema system, the Pioneer VSX930 gives you access to the highest standards of both sound and vision.
Top comments
One day, one day :smile:
It's not a sofa, and it's not an 8 Bit Atmos Computer either....
All comments (203)
Alternative Link [megafile upload]
Please note price now shows at £329 on website, however What Hi Fi Magazine February 2016, page 102 has it listed for the £299. Price should be matched in store. Prices valid until 13/02/16
[Manual]
It's not a sofa, and it's not an 8 Bit Atmos Computer either....
One day, one day :smile:
You could always opt for a door cabinet but cooling is always a problem. One thing I notice about last years model, and I have no reason to believe this would differ, is how cool these Pioneers run...my Yamaha really put out some heat.
I really have to leave this thread now, man that Pioneer looks sleek :smile:. Take it easy man.
Just to make you feel that bit better, it does look very sleek, but that nicely brushed metal 'looking' front panel sadly just is that, it is plastic. Still looks nice though.
n the 1970's
Anyway I'm off to research Dolby Atmos as I'd like a home cinema system :smiley:
Ahh! Of course, I didn't think about that. Cheers.
i get that at the moment using a HDMI matrix as i couldnt find a budget receiver .
if i hadnt just treated myself to a DSLR i would becsnapping this up
I was thinking about switching to amp+floor standing pair speakers. I don't listen to any CD's, only mp3/flac. What would be the best budget setup? DAC or AMP? Can you connect to my NAC music library from this DAC and just stream via wireless? What floor standing speakers would you recommend?
What size of room? budget? Hifi only or AV as well? number of speakers?
You'd be better calling into a proper Hifi store for advise.
The benefit of this system is that you can upgrade as and when you wish. If you get your front floor standers and an amp like this (I'd highly recommend the 2050i speakers but again, it depends on budget) you can easily add surrounds and a centre for 5.0, a sub for 5.1 (or 2.1), and then rears for 7.1. Or add another sub for x.2! It's addictive :smiley:.
Ignore any references to atmos, unless you have a perfectly square/rectangular room with the TV in the middle and the sofa in the middle of the room, and a couple of grand to spend on speakers, stick to a conventional setup).
If you are only considering stereo listening with floorstanders, you may want to check out the Yamaha R-N301 or R-N500 stereo receivers that are also network compatible, mileage may vary on the supported file format front though, saying that multi channel FLAC and multichannel DSD is not an option anyway.
Only complaint I have with the Pioneers is the convoluted menu structure, really takes some tweaking to get the most out of the system, there again it should be a breeze for yourself moving on from an older Pioneer.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-speakers/onkyo/skh410/onky-skh410
You're right, it took a lot of tweaking to get it sounding amazing, but if you're willing to put in a little effort these mid-range Pioneers really do punch above their weight audio wise. As for atmos, see my previous comment! For the price of the atmos crap you could buy an almost professional quality 7.2 set.
Here's what I've found regarding Dolby Atmos so far >
http://www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/5-reasons-dolby-atmos-is-doa
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/16/is_living_with_dolby_atmos_worth_the_faff/
http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/is-dolby-atmos-the-future-of-cinema-sound-1088428
Dolby Atmos reeks of nerd cinema to me, and forays in to the messing about world of the audiophile, it's not just plug and play. Anyway that's the impression I'm getting from the admittedly little I've read about it so far. I also question it being on such a cheap AV receiver, it strikes me that if you're in to what Dolby Atmos can do you'd be spending quite a bit on the speaker arrangement. Anyway this is what I've garnered in 10 minutes of looking so I could be substantially wrong :smiley:
I don't have the space for a sub in the bedroom setup, and assign my Marantz Receiver sub output to the centre channel.
As for questioning it being on a cheap receiver, its all just decoding, nothing really expensive about it, just basically another Dolby processing in support on the amps processing board and an extra set of binding posts. Nothing about this receiver is costlier than last years model, it offers a few advantages however to the consumer.
Inbuilt Wifi (last years had a programmable wired LAN dongle)
HDCP 2.2 compliance.
Dolby Atmos processing.
As far as I am aware, everything else is exactly the same as last years VSX-924.
In terms of speaker interconnects, are you referring to the Nordost Valhalla or Audioquest Everest?
I'm sure it's fine if you leave it on and connected all the time, but both my iPad and iPhone are a PITA to reconnect every time I turn them off. The app constantly says it can't find the amp.
The worst thing is, I've set fixed IP addresses to all my devices (done via the MAC address on the router end), so it's not even like the IP address might have changed!
So I'd suggest giving one or two of the stores (not necessarily has to be nearest) a call and hopefully they'll do that for you.
If you don't need 7.1 (or bi-amp), or network streaming or this much wattage then it may be better going for a cheaper option to try out surround sound....if you were more thinking of future upgrade path with speakers then go for this. Is wireless the only option for surround? Could you not consider cable trunking for rear speaker runs?
http://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/vsx-930/review
I heard it's not easy to optimize Atmos for a multi-listener environment, has anyone had issues with that?
The only thing I don't like about Pioneer is as others have said, the menus...so convoluted and the GUI is not the best. The sound to me is where it shines though, and that is the most important thing for me favouring it primarily for music listening, don't think anything has changed in that regard in this years receiver.
By the way, both Onkyo and Pioneer are Japanese.
In fact Yamaha, Sony, Marantz (Originally American), Denon, Onkyo, Teak, Pioneer and the now resurrected Technics....all the box shifters in the audio field all Japanese. You would need to look at the likes of NAD, Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Linn etc to avoid it.
Control over HDMI was a must for me along with standby passthrough. I have tried this with panasonic and sony tvs and it works with both - apparently compatibility is hit or miss. I was originally looking at the sony receivers but found comments regarding all 3 models that standby power was both 28 and 40 watts (german reviews) so they become very costly over the years. I think it may just be standby pass through that is causing this increase and not HDMI control alone but can't confirm as I didn't look at them because of this. The pioneer I measured at 4watts with control/passthrough enabled and around 45 watts with 5.1 for general tv viewing - very little heat coming off it at all. It is rated to 550watts so not sure how you get it to draw this much..
Bad points:
The remote is a bit busy. I want this for 5.1 in main room and a 2 speaker setup with tv in zone 2 and was keen on the independent sources however this is restricted to certain sources - not using it yet but I think both zones have to use 1 of 3 hdmis out of the 7 to allow them to be fully independent. Still I dont think anything in this price range does this at all. The denon 2200 certainly doesn't as I looked at this as well.
The remote is a bit busy but then the functionality is extensive.
Apart from support for Dolby Atmos and HDCP 2.2. Will the sound quality be noticeably better?
Only problem, the Onkyo SKH-410 which I want is OOS everywhere. Ordered from the only online place I could find 4-10 days delivery :disappointed:
Granted i dont have the best equipment but i'm struggling to find a decent compromise between the 2 positions
Actually, it honestly wasn't all that bad. I've had other components that put out more heat though I don't think I ever had the Onkyo about 50% power.
The power that is drawn from the wall socket must be dissipated somewhere so in the case of an AV receiver this will be a combination of the speaker output and the heat the components give off generating it (the ratio here would be down to the efficiency). Not really pushed the volume at all to see the increase though. I think the manual states guidance of 40cm above and 20cm either side for ventilation not sure why this would ever be required. Be interested to see what it draws and how hot it gets with all channels on and the volume up. At 105watts per channel into 8ohm I dont think my speakers would take it!
Home Cinema Choice magazine gave last years VSX-924 Best AV Receiver, whilst What Hi Fi gave the award to the Sony STRDN-1050, now oddly in this years What Hi Fi magazine the review for the VSX-930 draws comparative reference with the STRDN-860 rather than the STRDN-1060 it should be compared with.
From personal experience over the years of owning in my AV Receiver beginnings a Sherwood then onwards through Sony, Denon, Marantz, Yamaha and Pioneer..all mid range receivers. To my ears I have found both the Sony and Pioneer to be the most detailed sounding with my speakers. Denon I found a bit thin, Marantz I get on well with but a little warmth that does not sound best with a variety of music, and Yamaha too warm.
Some people love the Yamaha warmth in sound, some may see the clarity of brightness in Pioneer and Sony as 'brittle' or harsh...who knows, nobody is right or wrong. There are certain areas of warmth I like such as the analogue output from the DACs in my NAD CD Players in comparison to letting the receivers I own process via their own integral DAC via Digital Coax.
Personally I think out of this crop of mid-range AV Receivers this offers very decent sound to my ears and the best bang for buck all round as a network av receiver with a high end DAC. The good thing with Richer Sounds is they will let you take it back if not happy with the sound.
I have just found my findings on the previous receiver the VSX-924, take a look at post #54 and #56 in [this] thread.
I will say it here for anyone buying this though, it is imperative after MCACC calibration that you have the tone option enabled in EQ (even if set at zero) and not bypassed else it will sound flat.
I've had three AV receivers over the years, all Sony. Not because I've got any particular loyalty to the brand, just that they were the best value at the time.
The setup does sound a rather complicated affair. My Sony's have all been rather simple, run auto calibration with the mic, then adjust the crossovers slightly. All up and running in a few mins.
Have Pioneer not listened to criticism from when they were selling the VSX-924, and improved things for this one?
I know last years STRDN-1050 suffered some problematic HDMI issues, whether those have been fixed in the STRDN-1060 I do not know.
There is a thread on MCACC on AVS Forums. Personally if compared to the STRDN-1060 being cheaper by £50 currently and having a higher end DAC as well as Atmos support (whether used or not) it offers far better bang for buck.
Personally I would look at the STRDN-1060 in comparison if you can and weigh them both up, if your budget allows and make sure in this years model the handshaking issues have been fixed.
My own bias would be towards the Pioneer, but that is my own bias, your own speakers, ears, budget alongside the styling of the unit and the units operation can sway you totally differently...if you do decide to go and take a look, keep me informed would be interested to know how you get on whichever route you take.
Amp: http://www.whathifi.com/mark-levinson/no326s532h/review
CD Player: http://www.whathifi.com/burmester/089/review
Turntable: http://www.whathifi.com/kronos/turntable/review
Speakers: http://www.whathifi.com/news/magico-m-project-special-edition-ps130000-speakers
Not to forget the cables: http://www.highendcable.co.uk/Nordost%20ODIN%20Speaker%20Cable.htm
And you can go higher, much much higher.
I was looking at 3 from Pioneer. A VSX- 5XX, 827 & 9XX (XX= can't remember specific models now) both the VSX-5XX & 9XX Both supported HDMI pass through so naturally I assumed the 827 would also support this, alas it did not but I love it anyway.
I was swayed by a great offer.
Now older and wiser, proper and extensive research is the way forward. Make an informed decision.
I also really appreciate your informative response in this thread and completely agree with you. In this world its too difficult to simply state 'This set of speakers work with that receiver or that type of music. Far too many variables.
The best advice for anyone is to figure out what you require to use audio/visual equipment for. Purely music or movie watching etc ? For me, its both. Then figure out what your budget is and work off of that. Go out and demo equipment and speakers if you can, with your own type of music/ movie. That's the only way to guage if you would be happy with it and even then its subjective, as it will probably sound different in the store when compared to its resting place within your own home.
Most people advise pairing your receiver with speakers that cost at least 3 times as much as the receiver but the beauty of this is that you can start off budget and affordable, still get great sound, then save up for higher end equipment whilst enjoying that great sound for a good number of years. After all, once you catch the bug, you can't go back.
I own a Pioneer VSX-827K and paired it with a Tannoy TFX 5.1 system. Then bought Tannoy Mercury V4 Floor standing speakers and a matching VC centre speaker to form a 7.1 setup. This VSX-930 is getting bought, and I'm currently saving for some higher end speakers but for what I've got, watching movies or listening to music sounds fantastic !!!
Now that's sorted... Where's me wallet....
I will add for me it is around a 70:30 music:film/gaming split and most certainly if anyone favours music it would be beneficial if you have the space for either decent sized bookshelf/standmount speakers or if space allows most certainly floorstanders over satellites.
Whilst not quite up to the standard of my NAD CD Player I do like the convenience of NAS streaming FLAC files and the integral DAC in this receiver does a good job with networking streaming for anyone intending using it for such, the only downside being the GUI which I prefer on the likes of Yamaha.
I am pretty confident particularly already knowing Pioneer, its menus and MCACC calibration you will be delighted with your choice here.
Richer sounds do have a good setup. Most of their staff are quite good but u will get the occasional numpty who would appear to be just like staff at currys!
This Pioneer does look a beast..if this had DTS X it would have been awesome!
Certainly your VSX-LX51 was quite a considerable cost back in 2009, and is limited by the amount of HDMI sockets and its compatibility with newer tech within HDMI whether it be 3D or 4K, obviously if you need neither or more HDMI inputs or networking features or are interested in Atmos, other than being mindful of the age of your old receiver I do not really see any real value in changing. They both offer the same amount of power across the 7 channels.
The LX were a more premium line of receivers, you will most certainly lack the chassis quality in changing, and most likely also a more refined power transformer/filters/caps.
If it is still running fine and suits your needs, wait I would say. If this is your budget and you want a newer receiver, bang for buck it cannot be beat having a high end DAC found in the Pioneer Elite range of receivers at this price point...just be mindful that it will not have the same level of chassis and power supply and capacitor refinement that comes at a price of premium receivers.
How do you get the £10 off? Do I save the voucher to my phone and show them in store? Last time I went in last year, I tried to get VIP off and they still charged me £10 extra and said the price already reflected the VIP price.
Going to give them a call tomorrow and hopefully get one.
Yes, just show the link in my first post on your phone.
I went to the shop yesterday and they offered me the Onkyo TX-NR646 for £300 instead of the Pioneer, the guy said he wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he didn't try and get me a better receiver for the price I was paying for the Pioneer, he said it had the same features as the Pioneer but with DTS:X enabled. Should I have taken his offer?
Looking at reviews (and no matter what receiver they are somewhat subjective) Onkyo's have a tradition for favouring movies over music when it comes to performance. The GUI of the unit is not the greatest in appearance (but Pioneer whilst being marginally better the menus are convoluted). From experience Pioneer are very shortcoming with firmware rollouts, and you will not be getting DTS:X on it.
You could question why he did not try to sell you the Denon X2200 instead. 'Best' is subjective to what features and sound you require. If you require DTS:X then you should be weighing the pros and cons of both these machines, both of which are firmware upgradeable to DTS:X (not sure if the rollout for the Onkyo has happened as yet)
If DTS:X is of paramount importance to you and your maximum budget is £300 and they offer you the TX-NR646 at £300 then perhaps you should have taken it.
I however remain cynical of the guy doing his job correctly. Other than the Onkyo being DTS:X compatible via a firmware update is there anything else that makes it better? Is knocking £50 off a current selling price doing his job correctly? With profit margins on AV Receivers within the budget to mid-range sector being minimal especially when they start selling the £500 receivers between £250-350 you have to question if they are going to be dropping the price of the Onkyo to £299 shortly anyway or its a stock shifting exercise?
edit. the Onkyo only has HDCP2.2 on one of the HDMI outputs, the Pioneer has it on both, this could be a major issue in the future.
I wanted it for a mixture of both movies and music but don't really need most features, although I did want Atmos for future usage. For any body reading this, I've got a set a Tannoy SFX 5.1 (Possibly the cheapest 5.1 you can buy at Richer Sounds) and the sound quality while paired with this is phenomenal. This receiver makes my old Yamaha RX-V375 sound flat and quite terrible. Big upgrade from entry level to mid range I guess.
Thanks for all the advice! Very happy with this.
I currently have a Onkyo HT-S3305 which is about 6 years old and I am looking to upgrade the Receiver. The HT-S3305 was basically an 'all in one package' which included speakers, sub and Receiver: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/audio-systems/onkyo-ht-s3305-901034/review
If I upgraded to this Pioneer Receiver, would I still be able to use the existing speakers and sub? My concerns is that the old Sub is Passive...and I am not sure if this is compatible?
Thanks
Going to try and knock off work early to get this set up later. Be prepared for many questions, as I struggle to get it all working.
Thanks for your advice.
If you are looking at dipping your toe in the water so to speak, and do not need the extra wattage this line of receiver gives then I would say go for last years STRDN850 at that price...however, one word of warning.......
Take heed of Richer Sounds clearance...although customer services have done right on me after complaining on three occasions the quality of their clearance items can be hit or miss...including in my instance an 'open box' item that had the back of a Denon receiver buckled in, missing remote, missing audyssey mic, missing manual.
Bargains can be had and if it literally is just an open box/customer return that has been looked after go for it. Just proceed with caution.
Just to clarify last years Sony's STRDN850 (£399) the STRDN1050 and Pioneer VSX-924 (£499) RRP
This year Sony's STRDN860 (£399) the STRDN1060 and Pioneer VSX-924 (£499) RRP
Pioneer do not have a receiver to directly match the STRDN850/60 in their line....the lower tiered (2014-15) VSX-824/VSX-830 (2015-16) whilst having comparable wattage are 5.2 channel receiver instead of 7.2 that the (2014-15) STRDN850/STRDN860 (2015-16) offer.
But yes, ring and check if it literally is 'open box' or if it has been kicked around the stock room and missing all accessories like they invariably are.
Just rang my local Richersounds and asked to purchase one of these, they don't have any in stock but will have one for me on Tuesday. I quoted what hi-fi in order to get it at £299, which they will honour as long as I take in the magazine!!! which obviously I don't have. Do you think they will accept a printed copy of your advert which I have downloaded?
They won't honour the additional £10 off though as it clearly states on your advert " not valid in conjunction with any other offer/promotion".
Also Seven Oaks are selling it for £299, so if one of those locally too, they would have to price beat by a fiver.
They would be foolish to order you one in, then you go in store and refuse you custom being petty over an advert copy.
I will print your pages off and take it from there.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-receivers-amps-processors/991750-pioneer-sr-sr-connections.html#/forumsite/3207/topics/991750?page=1
Yes, it has more than I need for now, but who knows what I might add to it later.
I use mine for FLAC streaming over NAS.
Early days yet, finish work tomorrow for a few days so I hope to get it all sorted. Off to Richer Sounds now for some speakers.
This is the common misconception of future proofing, particularly with AV equipment .
Personally I would have more interest in DTS:X than Dolby Atmos as I would not want to add more speakers into the mix, than I already have....so Dolby Atmos is of no use to me. DTS:X will work with any speaker configuration.
However, with the lack of DTS:X titles and most certainly going forward not wanting to re-purchase blu rays or know if any streaming options will include it or Dolby Atmos (doubtful as none as current even support lossless Master Audio or True HD) it is hard to buy into a technology that has not established itself.
Personally having a VSX-924 without Atmos and not even wanting to 'upgrade' from Plasma to 4K until the price of OLED or nano crystal/quantum dot TVs come down as current LED backlit 4K tvs are just plain crap I think I am happy with what I have for the next 5 years at least..which is exactly the warranty I have on it.
Think of the now and the possibility of your own tech future and what you are content with, or what you are prepared to spend in a gamble of the as yet unknown.
Also, given the Denon AVR-X2200W has had pretty good reviews regarding sound quality, I wonder how they compare.
Personally speaking after owning Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, Sony and now Pioneer in my arsenal of AV Receivers over the years I am extremely impressed with the sound quality. However sound quality is subjective on the listener and their equipment, the only way you can compare is demoing.
What I can say in favour for the Denon is ease of setup in comparison with Pioneer's convoluted menu system and audyssey is easier to work with than MCACC, although there are many [guided tips] out there for getting the best out of MCACC mic setup.
My own personal bias, with the current price differential save the £129 and go with the Pioneer (and consider an extended warranty)....but that is I reiterate, my own personal bias.
I'm planning on going to Richer Sounds after work, so I need to make a decision. At the moment I am still leaning towards the Denon as the setup and interface seems clearer and simpler and the addition of DTS:X can't hurt I guess, even if I'd likely not use it for now. In that case, the decision factors are 1) sound quality difference and 2) power output –I have never had an AV amplifier before, so I am not sure how much this matters, but the Pioneer is listed as "105 x 7" and the Denon as "95 x 7". My speakers are Q Acoustics 2000i Cinema pack, which has 75w speakers.
In simple terms, it reads the data from the audio feed on the disc and processes it as DTS:Master HD audio, the audio feed on the disc in a DTS:X enabled receiver would process it as DTS:X
You will not be able to get a demo in your Richer Sounds this evening at this short notice. You would need to arrange in advance, so you would only have their word on sound quality.
[Source]
Backward Compatibility - DTS:X builds upon existing DTS-HD Master Audio to provide backward compatibility with existing DTS bitstreams and speaker layouts. In short, all features of DTS-HD Master Audio are supported and enable an immersive audio experience for older content.
The DTS:X content is backward compatible with the DTS-HD decoder
The DTS:X decoder supports DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and streaming media file formats
DTS:X can spatially reformat stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 content to take full advantage of all speakers in a surround system
Objects are never lost; if the object is embedded, it can be extracted and used in the rendered experience
I would just push for a refund if not a replacement, and buy from Richer Sounds instead.
In store now £349 and What Hi Fi listing it for £329.