Long overdue receiver upgrade

drummer86
drummer86 Posts: 441
edited December 2011 in Electronics
Cars are officially paid off. Just got the OK from the wife for a modest receiver upgrade. I've been eyeballing a Pioneer VSX-1120/Elite vsx-32 but I'm really concerned with the HomeTheaterMag.com review that benchmarks it at 45ish wpc for 5 channels. Considering that an external amp purchase would be fairly far in the the future, how disappointed would I be with the AVR by itself? Other suggestions are welcome.

Top features that lead me to the pioneer are the ipod connection cable (no need for a $100 dock, thus more money for an amp down the road) and the pre-outs. Refurbed models are currently ~$400.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!


Current Setup:
TV: LG 47LK520
Receiver: 7 year-old SONY POS:sad:
Front: Monitor 60
Center: CS2
Rears: Rc-60i
Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | CD/SACD: Oppo 980 |
Amps: Rotel RB-990bx | Marantz MA-500 | Speakers: Totem Mite : Totem Mite-C : RC60i | Sub: HSU VTF-2 MKIV

HK AVR635 | Polk R30 | Sony DVD/SACD Player
Post edited by drummer86 on
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Comments

  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited November 2011
    I have the vsx-33. Nice receiver but in hindsite if i did it over again i would have spent a little more and got an elite sc-35. but they were selling for more money then. 140 a channel. Plus from what i hear there goin relativley cheap now that the sc-55's are out. I just purchaced a parasound hca1500 to give it that extra uhmph it needed. Happy hunting
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  • drummer86
    drummer86 Posts: 441
    edited November 2011
    I'd love an SC receiver, but it's probably a pipe dream. Best prices I'm finding are $700+ on refurbed SC-35s.

    I guess the real question is, am I better off with a $400 pioneer receiver and a $150-200 amp down the road, or with a $600 receiver? Is there a receiver in that range that more than marginally beats a pioneer+parasound/adcom?
    Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | CD/SACD: Oppo 980 |
    Amps: Rotel RB-990bx | Marantz MA-500 | Speakers: Totem Mite : Totem Mite-C : RC60i | Sub: HSU VTF-2 MKIV

    HK AVR635 | Polk R30 | Sony DVD/SACD Player
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited November 2011
    Well I can't comment on the pioneer, but I will say that a modest external amp made a noticeable improvement over my top of the line HK from a few years back. So i purchase a modest receiver and save my money for the amp.
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited November 2011
    Here's my take, mostly different from the other polk members. I'm not gonna tell you about the pre outs and all that jazz cause you already know about that stuff. If I were gonna make a purchase that I would have to live with for a while, that was my situation a few months ago, I would go for the higher power which probably means higher quality build. That Pioneer 1120 or what ever it is would just be too cheap for me, especially with any Polk tower speakers.
    Yes, it has good power in stereo, but by it's lower quality design and lower quality guts, it has a big drop in 5.1.
    An elite would win hands down every time against the other. I ended buying an Onkyo but that was my mistake :eek:
    I like the Onkyo for movies but not so much for music, I mean it works but not like I like sound for music. On the flip side of that, even tho it's 100 WPC in 2 channel, it still puts out 82 WPC in 5.1. I opted for power even tho I have bookies.

    In the Long run I would go for the better power supply.
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited November 2011
    Not that i'm aware of. Maybe look at intagrated amp. Or search used market.
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited November 2011
    Save up some money and get a higher end elite. My dad has the 1120-k..it's a sweet receiver, but it does lack in power. He's powering RT55s, CS350, and RT25's x 4 with it. At lower volumes it's okay, but the amp tech on it leaves something to be desired. His VSX-39TX elite from 10 years ago blows it away in quality.

    If that's not an option - make sure you have preouts and pick up a decent Parasound or something down the road.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited November 2011
    Buy her something shiny. then get your sc-35. Problem solved.
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  • chadam44
    chadam44 Posts: 68
    edited December 2011
    Ditto on the pervious comment
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