Pioneer VSX vs. Elite VSX

drummer86

So from the sound of things around here I gather that the Pio Elite SC's are well-respected and well-loved receivers. I see lots of "What receiver should I get?" threads getting suggestions for the Elites. My questions are these:

The SC's are obviously great avr's and seem to put out very close to their rated 140wpc. What about the Elite VSX's? Obviously not the same amps as the larger SC's right? What about a comparison between, say, a VSX 1120 and a seemingly similar Elite VSX32 power-wise? Both are rated 110wpc but I've seen members here claiming that a vsx10xx or 11xx only rate 30-50wpc when driving all 7. (Here's the actual question) Are the Elite vsx's subject to the same "inflated" power ratings or do they hang closer to their SC big brothers? Thanks guys!

tonyb

They hang close to their siblings driving all 7 channels, with the exception of the SC series of coarse. If your going to use an amp though, it's really a mute point as your just buying for processing and maybe to power rear speakers.

VR3

There are no Pioneer receivers with preouts and the lowest line Elite does not have pre outs.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Nowadays the regular VSX and the Elite VSX are fairly close, both in terms of power and price. In the same price range, the regular and Elite VSX will be very close to each other in terms of sound.

The SC series is another animal altogether, and is a completely different design top to bottom.

All that being said, I find the Pioneer models to be my favorite option in just about any given price range.

drummer86

the 11xx series of pioneers actually do have preouts. The first two elites don't, but the 32/33 (last year's models) do have them. Just trying to understand a price hike of a couple hundies between seemingly comparable models (e.g. vsx1120 and elite vsx33). I know the gold ELITE emblem looks really sweet but that can't be the only reason they're $200+ more than the 1120. Obviously the money is somewhere other than the amp section, right?

B Run

Basically i'd go with the 1120 if you're not going SC. I had one, it definitely has preouts and most of the features of the VSX 32 with the exception of a 12v trigger, orange display and the extended warranty the Elite line gets. Save yourself the $ unless those are important to you.

drummer86

Thanks B Run. I had a feeling that was the case. I noticed in a another post of yours about that AVR that it tested out at ~38wpc running all 7. Might I inquire where you got this info? Did you test it yourself? I'd only be running 5 channels (until I inevitably acquire an amp). Did you report show your how much juice it was sending to 5 channels rather than 7? Thanks as always, polkies.

tonyb

Google search it, usually Home Theatre mag publishes bench tests on any receiver they review.

Obsession18

None of the Pioneer avr's (including the SC models) will simultaneously provide their full rated power to all 7 channels. The total simultaneous power available to all channels is approximately twice whatever the single channel rated power is. This is proven by the fact that rated power consumption of the VSX32 is 400 watts, well below 7 x 110 watts.

B Run

All the info you need on the 1120 and real world specs: http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-vsx-1120-av-receiver

Pioneer VSX-1120 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 47.0 watts
1% distortion at 52.3 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 38.9 watts
1% distortion at 47.1 watts

drummer86

B Run wrote: »

All the info you need on the 1120 and real world specs: http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-vsx-1120-av-receiver

I was actually reading that review on the website while you were posting it here:biggrin:

I was actually going to post the link myself in case someone was looking for it at a later date. Beat me to the punch.

...Still blows my mind that I can find the 1120's Home Theater review faster through Google than I can through Home Theater's website... Crazy invention, that internet.

tonyb

The plus side of the 1120 is it has preouts to add an amp which then mutes the point of a 7 channel power spec. You'd be surprised at the power specs for some other receivers too running 7 channels. I've seen them as low as 22 watts. Something to consider when adding speakers to a 5 channel system. If you don't have preouts, you limit yourself to speaker choices.

MADGSF

I think that if you have preouts to add an amp, and are going to add an amp, you are going to want a 12v trigger. In my case that keeps me from getting up to turn my amp on and off, I know I am lazy. I used the 2nd 12v trigger with my PSAudio Quintet to turn on cooling fans for my cabinet. A very handy feature IMO.

B Run

I just leave my amp on all the time, or you can also get a power conditioner that can trigger it.