Just bought a Pioneer VSX01 THX

Whoooo hooooo!!!!!!! It's been a long time coming. Finally!! Congrats.

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I just hope I like it

I will maybe get a pioneer sc37 when I get a 3d Pj later next year

I am now going to shop around for a cheap 3 or 5 channel amp this week

Why? what speakers are you trying to drive that the 21 can't? The 21 is my work horse and it drives everything I throw at it. I have spec'd it on many different kinds of jobs and it's amps are able to fill all but the largest rooms , and even does a fine job there.

It's a great entry level receiver , my personal favorite at it's price class.

mantis wrote: »

Yes you are getting the 01. Ok it's not as refined as the 21 but still a nice receiver...
As far as receivers go for the 8 ohm load world , I really enjoy the Pioneer ELite receivers . They work the best with so many different brands of speakers. They seem to bring out the best in them where you wouldn't expect a Japanese receiver to do so.

Sifu Dan, speaking of Pioneer receiver, what is your opinon on the new Pioneer VSX-1120. I realize that it's not an Elite model. How is it compare to the Elite 01 and 21?

Thanks for your honest and insightful recommendation. It's greatly appreciated. I'll have to save up for an Elite.

mantis wrote: »

Yes you are getting the 01. Ok it's not as refined as the 21 but still a nice receiver. I wouldn't have gone that route if I knew you had Martin Logan speakers. I would be looking at Cambridge Audio , Rotel , NAD , or even the SC series from Elite.
But I assume money played a role and I thin k you will be surprised in the difference in sound quality as a pre vs the Onkyo. Onkyo in my opinion isn't the best sounding AVR's out there. They are nice solid and featured in the right places but there sound quality lacks. Your 01 will sound better for both music and movies. You will see.

Funny I haven't seen a 01 in quite awhile and really it hasn't been that long ago. But it feels that way now that receivers come out new so fast. As soon as you get to know your line , POW a new line is already out.

As far as receivers go for the 8 ohm load world , I really enjoy the Pioneer ELite receivers . They work the best with so many different brands of speakers. They seem to bring out the best in them where you wouldn't expect a Japanese receiver to do so.

For the most part I'm with Dan. But I run a higher series Onkyo and as far as surround sound goes it runs with the Pioneer Elites no problem. The surround sound is all there, dynamic, clean, fast, articulate. Until the NEW Elites of the past couple of years, I preferred the higher level Onkyos even for music. I thought, until Pioneer started to 'improve' their amp sections and add things like PQLS, ICE amp sections, and Wolfson DACs that Onkyos pretty much had the nod.

Now I think it's really a matter of LISTENING to both and deciding what you like...because though the reviews for the ICE amps are mostly 'favorable' and I like them myself, NOT everyone does. Some find them too neutral too clinical for music. There's a reason why HK and Marantz, for example, are defined as 'warm' gear.

So, to sum up. Onkyo 1007/8 and above...pretty good stuff. High POWER, Burr Browns, dynamic and as many features as you could ever want. Pioneer go with the VSX lower models instead of an Onkyo 70x or even 80x. But Onkyos from 100x-500x are not easily beaten and can hold their own.

Again. You must decide. Listen to them.

I know from reading numerous posts by Dan that we have different tastes. He likes overly detailed and room filling Highs. I like a more laid back warm sounding highs like the Vifa tweeter (not to say that the Onkyo is warm--it's not but as Doro says--Home Theater is EASY--it's hard to sound 'bad'--two channel is the problem).

Happy listening!

cnh