Replaced Pioneer VSX-74 w/ Outlaw 990
camtah
Posts: 128
Well I finally did it this time.....
I replaced my Pioneer VSX-74 with an Outlaw 990 Processor. I was using the Pioneer as a pre-pro, running an Outlaw 770 amp. A Pio DV-59Avi and DirecTv are inputs going to a Panasonic AE900U projector.
My speakers are:
Lsi15
Csi5
FXi5
Fxi3
PSW505
Impressions:
I didn't think the Pioneer was bad as a pre-pro and I still don't. However, the Outlaw was more refined and quieter. The sound was like transparent. The Outlaw added nor took away anything. I sensed(heard) that the noise floor was a tad higher in the VSX-74. I have heard that the sound of the 990 was laid back. I guess that is a good description as any. The combo as a whole is far better than the VSX though slightly more expensive. My Polks love the power and I think I will need a new sub.
The real strength of the VSX was in the features, some of which I shall miss. HDMI, iLink , MACC and the ability to see the OSD thru HDMI are the head of this list. The Outlaw speaker setup is rudimentary compared to the Pioneer's MACC. But it does work fairly well if you are lazy ( like I was) and don't want to fine tune your setup right away. The Outlaw mike seemed to be of better quality than the Pioneer, but maybe it was just the base that felt better. Size of the Outlaw may be an issue for some, but it wasn't for me in my custom wall setup. The unit lacks HDMI, so I am using DVI to HDMI converters. So far so good. One minor complaint on the Outlaw is that there seems to be a time lag between pushing a button on the remote (Outlaws or Universal) and the desired response. Volume is most noticable..At least it seems consistant lag no matter what function is put into play.
All in all, I am pleased. I was really worried about giving up the features on the Pioneer, especially doing setup when I had to use my projector to switch back from HDMI to composite to see the OSD. My next project will be to add a small TFT LCD to my rack for OSD adjustments. Stay Tuned...
BTW, my Pio is now up for sale, so send me a PM if you might be interested
I replaced my Pioneer VSX-74 with an Outlaw 990 Processor. I was using the Pioneer as a pre-pro, running an Outlaw 770 amp. A Pio DV-59Avi and DirecTv are inputs going to a Panasonic AE900U projector.
My speakers are:
Lsi15
Csi5
FXi5
Fxi3
PSW505
Impressions:
I didn't think the Pioneer was bad as a pre-pro and I still don't. However, the Outlaw was more refined and quieter. The sound was like transparent. The Outlaw added nor took away anything. I sensed(heard) that the noise floor was a tad higher in the VSX-74. I have heard that the sound of the 990 was laid back. I guess that is a good description as any. The combo as a whole is far better than the VSX though slightly more expensive. My Polks love the power and I think I will need a new sub.
The real strength of the VSX was in the features, some of which I shall miss. HDMI, iLink , MACC and the ability to see the OSD thru HDMI are the head of this list. The Outlaw speaker setup is rudimentary compared to the Pioneer's MACC. But it does work fairly well if you are lazy ( like I was) and don't want to fine tune your setup right away. The Outlaw mike seemed to be of better quality than the Pioneer, but maybe it was just the base that felt better. Size of the Outlaw may be an issue for some, but it wasn't for me in my custom wall setup. The unit lacks HDMI, so I am using DVI to HDMI converters. So far so good. One minor complaint on the Outlaw is that there seems to be a time lag between pushing a button on the remote (Outlaws or Universal) and the desired response. Volume is most noticable..At least it seems consistant lag no matter what function is put into play.
All in all, I am pleased. I was really worried about giving up the features on the Pioneer, especially doing setup when I had to use my projector to switch back from HDMI to composite to see the OSD. My next project will be to add a small TFT LCD to my rack for OSD adjustments. Stay Tuned...
BTW, my Pio is now up for sale, so send me a PM if you might be interested