Just my opinion
rpf65
Posts: 2,127
First off I would never consider myself an audiophile, can barely spell the word. I am looking to upgrad my little Yamaha RX-V571, and have started looking. Was pretty much going to stay with Yamaha, but the new Pioneers started looking really interesting. Yesterday I got to listen to SC-65 and an RX-2020 at the local Best Buy Magnolia area. Using their source, and "Flirtin With Disaster", by Molly Hatchet, I started the comparrison. First half on the Yammie, and the second half on the Pioneer.
To be totally honost, I liked both of them. The speakers were B&W CM8's, and both of these AVR's sounded really good. SO I played a few more songs, and just scratched my head. I've already decided against the SC-65 in favor of the 67 or 68, but really couldn't tell that much of a difference between the 65 and 2020.
Then decided to use my I-Phone and see if there was a difference. I sometimes listen to the I-phone while working, so I have a few songs downloaded from I-Tunes. Please don't go crazy here. Many people like country music, and it is nothing short of the most annoying sound that I have ever heard, so enter the I-phone 4, plain no "S". Anyway, plugged the I-phone into both, and listened to the same song on both of them.
Now even to my no-nothing, worthless to audiophiles the world over ears, there was a big difference. Simply put, the Pioneer blew the Yamaha away. There was no contest here. It was like going from ear-buds to an actual stereo difference. Now I'm wondering what else the Pioneers have going on in them. Yamaha lost a lot of ground yesterday.
To be totally honost, I liked both of them. The speakers were B&W CM8's, and both of these AVR's sounded really good. SO I played a few more songs, and just scratched my head. I've already decided against the SC-65 in favor of the 67 or 68, but really couldn't tell that much of a difference between the 65 and 2020.
Then decided to use my I-Phone and see if there was a difference. I sometimes listen to the I-phone while working, so I have a few songs downloaded from I-Tunes. Please don't go crazy here. Many people like country music, and it is nothing short of the most annoying sound that I have ever heard, so enter the I-phone 4, plain no "S". Anyway, plugged the I-phone into both, and listened to the same song on both of them.
Now even to my no-nothing, worthless to audiophiles the world over ears, there was a big difference. Simply put, the Pioneer blew the Yamaha away. There was no contest here. It was like going from ear-buds to an actual stereo difference. Now I'm wondering what else the Pioneers have going on in them. Yamaha lost a lot of ground yesterday.
Post edited by rpf65 on
Comments
-
You sure there wasn't a difference in the settings?
I would not compare them using anything from I-Tunes or from an I-Phone.
Get a CD and make sure that you are using the same CD player.POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1 -
You sure there wasn't a difference in the settings?
I would not compare them using anything from I-Tunes or from an I-Phone.
Get a CD and make sure that you are using the same CD player.
If he uses iTunes/iPhone to listen to music then why not use that as a deciding factor. You test a AVR out based on the way you will be using it. -
That's the first time I've hear Molly Hatchet described as country music.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
You sure there wasn't a difference in the settings?
I would not compare them using anything from I-Tunes or from an I-Phone.
Get a CD and make sure that you are using the same CD player.
Don't carry CD's in the company's work truck, no CD player.
As far a settings go, I really didn't have time to check. Had to go and show somebody how their thermostat worked. -
If he uses iTunes/iPhone to listen to music then why not use that as a deciding factor. You test a AVR out based on the way you will be using it.
I tunes was just a conveinant medium at the time. Only time I really listen to it is when I have a fairly long job in front of me, 1.5+ hours or more. -
That's the first time I've hear Molly Hatchet described as country music.
Never would insult Molly Hatchet that way. I can be rude, but try not to be impolite.
-
Well then it may be the way the compression/file type is handled being the Pioneer does a better job.If he uses iTunes/iPhone to listen to music then why not use that as a deciding factor. You test a AVR out based on the way you will be using it.POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1 -
I suspect the Panasonic has a better DAC.Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs -
Pioneer blows Yamaha away in all my experience with both. I will never buy another Yamaha piece of gear. I know some love it, its just not my cup of tea..
-
I don't know what made the Pioneer so much better sounding, but it is worth more listening too.
I still have a lot of research to do before making a decission. I have a fairly decent sounding low end system now, so I can take my time. Besides, this is half the fun.
