*Official* Pioneer Elite VSX-21/23THX Owners Thread - Page 2

Guess I'll have to save up for that, then!
The other reason I want to wait on speakers is that I have no idea which ones to get, really, and no idea where to start. So, I've got lots of reading to do on that subject....

johnny, what are you using now?

fwiw, there's many different ways to skin the ipod cat...

I have a huge collection of 700mb movies along with HD rips. I plan to buy a projector. Obviously i need a decent scaler. I believe VSX 23 has ABT 2010 video processor which is equivalent to HQV Renon of Onkyo 876 or higher models. I am not sure about the video processor in SC models. I don't care much about the no of hdmi inputs/outputs. I dont worry too much about PQLS as ps3 is going to be my BD player.
Based on my needs, i am thinking about vsx-23. Is my choice right?
Also, can anyone recommend good online dealers of pioneer. I find it bit hard to find the online deals

Edit: Looks like elite has ABT 1015 video processor (3rd Gen) which is derived from the ABT2010 VRS technologies (2nd Gen)

Hello...Matbhuvi...I am also looking at buying the 23-THX or VSX-21. From what I understand Pioneer does not allow any of their dealers to sell Elite products on-line, just the regular Pioneer line. However, I think I have found one Pioneer Factory Authorized on-line dealer that shows Elite models on their site. I am just not sure if they will mail them, or if they are for in-store pick-up only. Not sure if they discount either. I do know when you click add to cart, a block pops up and asks what you would like to pay for the receiver.

There is one other place Soundpros.com that also carries the Elite's and discounts them right on their site. When I called to find out if they were factory authorized they only would say that they honor the Pioneer warranty which I gathered to mean, they will duplicate the Pioneer warranty, but service it with their own or outside sources. They went on to say, which is also on their site, that if need be, they would send it to Pioneer for repairs if they could not take care of it.

I haven't heard or read anything bad about this company, so maybe it's Ok to buy from them. I am also waiting to hear from anyone else who might have more knowledge about both companies, even though the electronics warehouse has a track record for being very good. Hope this helps.

http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/ or

www.soundpros.com

If you haven't heard of it, check out videogon.com for great deals on Pioneer Elite 7.1 receivers and many other Home Theater products. I bought an Elite VSX21 from Will2. When I last looked at the site they also have the VSX23 & SC27 for some amazing $ discounts. You'll have to look for yourself as there are to be no price talks on this forum.
They do not sell any products online. To order, you will need to talk with him on the telephone. When you email him, he will give you the details including his telephone number. Apparently, also includes Pioneer factory Warranty. I am a happy customer. Straight forward deal with great price and service. Hope it can help you, too!

I have M-Audio LX4 5.1 speakers. Here's the Amazon link to the 2.1 system.

And, I've looked at the ipod solutions of several manufacturers, although not all yet. It's also not the highest priority feature I need out of an amp. Problem for me is that I have an iPhone, so a lot of the iPod solutions out there don't work well with the iPhone. I want to make sure that I can easily do video out, not to watch movies that much, but because I have a TV-out application that can let me use any iPhone app fullscreen on my TV. This would allow me to do things like use Pandora with the iPhone and AVR and still be able to see the album art on my TV while listening to it, or use Google Latitude on my TV with the iPhone's touch-screen interface. Being able to watch videos of my kids, etc, that I shot on my iPhone would be awesome as well. If there are any other brands of AVR's that can output iPhone video, I'd be more than happy to consider them.

Thanks for the replies. Really appreciate your comments.

I would also like to know what i would be missing if i buy vsx-23 and not sc-05,07,25 or 27 only in terms of audio quality and video upconversion. The "extra features" dont bother me.

Thanks for all the informative comments from owners. You all maybe biased but I'm down to the wire and I'd like to ask you (especially those with experience in both) which of the two below would be the best bet.

Elite VSX-21THX vs. Marantz SR5003

I was also looking at Onkyo TX-SR805 but there are many comments about bugginess.

I can't comment on the Marantz SR5003 or the Onkyo 805 but as a VSX-21 owner here is a link to my initial review in a different Pioneer AVS forum. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post16968243
I am still enjoying the VSX-21 and its sound with my Klipsch RF62 speakers is very much to my liking. Perhaps you may find other user opinions on the linked forum useful even though that thread has not been very active recently.

Thanks for your help. I actually went as slightly different direction and opted for a Marantz SR6001 for $100+ less.... cheers!

Is the sc-25 twice the a/v receiver as the vsx-21? I can get a 21 for 550 ish or I can get a 25 for 1099 ish just wanted to here your thoughts.

anyone have some thoughts for this thanks...

answered in other thread you posted in... check that one...

What was and where is the other post so I can read it too. I have been torn on what receiver to get too. Plus, some have suggested besides the Pioneer Elite, I should get the Onkyo 876 since it is down from $1799 new to $799, even though it is a year old and lacks a few new sound technologies.

Any thoughts on the Elite 21, 23, 25, or Onkyo 876, or even any other receiver that might be good with the least amount of issues.

here you go dave...

clicky

Thanks a lot for the help. I guess I never thought about how we might favor our own choices and sometimes trick our minds into thinking what we purchase must be the best.

From what I read, almost any of those Pioneer Elites will work just fine. I was really concerned about how reliable Elites were compared to other brands because I've never heard too much about Pioneer Elite. And since I am pretty stupid when it comes to understanding all of the connections to a receiver and what they do, I want to at least try and find a receiver that is the least complicated to hook up, program and operate, IF there is such a thing.

Would really love to just hook up the speakers, plug in the TV and turn the power on and the volume up....Nothing More. lol

yup... the human mind works that way... good thing too... otherwise we'd NEVER be happy... the problem with that is, it's very easy to fall into the "trap" of thinking we are always right...

i freely admit i'm a pio 'ho... but reliability doesn't seem to be an issue with the pioneer elite line (to be honest, it's not really an issue with most of the major cem's)... "we" have a very long thread dedicated to the sc05/07, and while there have been a few lemons, for the most part, they seem to be pretty solid... furthermore, in addition to the sc-05, i also have a sc-09, as well as a couple of pioneer disk spinners and a couple of kuros (hey, i told you i was a pio ho' )... i've also owned a few other pio pieces in the past with success... not to jinx myself, but i've never had one croak on me...

that being said, i've owned equipment from other manufacturer's as well, and had success with them... ime, "reliability" tends not to be a major issue with most modern electronics... sure, everyone turns out a turd every now and then...

we'll help you set it up... it's not really that hard... it just looks difficult at first...

what you need to do is decide what you want for features... unless you have some particularly difficult speakers to drive and/or a giant room, pretty much any of the avr's you are looking at in that price range should make you happy...

Thank you sir

where did you find the 21 for that price??

Hello ccotenj...Thanks again for your help and insight. One final question. Are you familiar with the Onkyo 876? It is from last year but as the Reon chip I think for video upscaling and 140 watts a channel and few other features. I think the amp is bigger and better inside. However, it is lacking a few new updates such as that PLii stuff.

The price for this monster is the same as the Elite 23 and it lists for $1000 more than the Elite 23.

For that price, and for some of it's positives, do you think that is a great price to take advantage of, or do you think it is better to get the newer Elite for the same price because of its few newer updates, but less power, smaller amp and no Reon chip. OR, is it again, just a personal taste situation and the mind will play tricks to make me pick the one I think will be the best value?

Thanks Again

Dave

6ave had it for 550 but they are out of stock now.

Curious if anyone is finding the ALC feature useful or effective.

It doesn't seem to do anything to make the friggin commercials feel less obnoxiously loud/intrusive than when the ALC is not activated. I would concede full audio reproduction for those times i'm watching sports or network tv that doesn't come in particulalry high fidelity anyway.

So far, this is my only disappointment with my 21.

Have you managed to resolve this? I just got my 21 today and have the same issue.

video-only DVI/HDMI from PC + dig coax. Sound only works in system menu and not when out of it.

I may have to stick with the DVI/HDMI going direct to the TV.

i Again Everyone...Still waiting for ABT Electronics to get back in stock the LH 47LH90. I purchased it this past Monday for a very low price of way under $1500, plus no tax and free shipping. I am assuming that since they are waiting for a new shipment, the set I will receive will have at least a middle of August to early September built date. ABT is going to call me first and let me know the built date before they ship the set.

I also have the new slim PS3 and plan to order the Pioneer Elite THX 23 Receiver.

NOW...MY QUESTION....I feel pretty darn stupid, but can any of you tell me how to connect the TV to the Receiver, the cable box to the receiver or TV and the PS3 to the receiver, along with my Definitive Technology 5.1 Pro Cinema 800 series speakers. How many cables do I need to get and what type of cables?

I have a Time Warner Cable box from Scientific Atlanta...model # 4250. I see one HDMI slot on the back of the box where a cable can be connected, and I also see 3 round holes, like RCA holes, above the words HDTV on another location on the back of the box. Next to those 3 holes, it says "Y", "PB" and "PR". There is also a USB slot on the back, (2) 1394 slots, A digital audio out, and also a plain audio out left and right. And of course a cable in and cable out hole.

Do I just get one HDMI Cable for the TV to Receiver and another from the TV or receiver to the cable box, then another from the PS3 to Receiver? Then the separate speaker cable to the receiver? What are component cables that people talk about and do I need any of those?

Thanks for your understanding with my stupidity. Any help would be welcome.

Dave

Hey all,

Hooked up a new 23 this morning. No matter what I try, I can't get the sub to fire when listening to cds. I checked the channel levels, played around with the THX audio choices, etc. Am I missing an obvious setting? The sub is fine with with TV and movies. I'm sure I'll feel like an idiot when someone points out what I am doing wrong.

Thanks!

It's set to 'yes'. I will try switching it to 'plus' when I get home. If the 'plus' setting increases the LFE output for cds and solves this issue, will I then end up with an issue where the sub is too loud over the other inputs that now sound ok?

If I can get the 21 for 600 or the 23 for 749, is it worth it over the 1019 or denon 1910...both prices are with taxes included. I was sold on the 1019 but for 100$ more I can get the vsx21..

Someone posted this on the 1019 thread, figured you guys should know too. Makes no sense to me.

Sept. 28 -- Anchor Bay, a leading supplier of video-processing semiconductors (ASICs) and systems, announced today that Pioneer Electronics has selected an Anchor Bay video processing chip as the scaling engine for five new Audio/Video Receivers (AVRs). The ABT1015 chip, featuring the latest proprietary Video Reference Series™ (VRS™) technologies, including Precision Video Scaling™, is used in each of the five AVRs. These Pioneer products, the first ever to use Anchor Bay processing, are available now – three in the U.S. and two in Japan.

The versatile ABT1015 chip powers the video processing in the $899 VSX-23TXH, the $699 VSX-21TXH, and the $499 VSX-1019AH-K receivers, all of which are currently on sale in the U.S. market. The chip is also found in the VSA-LX52 (150,000 Yen) and VSA-1019AH (105,000 Yen) receivers, on sale in Japan.

"Pioneer is recognized as one of the world's preeminent home theater equipment manufacturers, with an especially strong and consistent history of video excellence. We're proud to announce that Pioneer has chosen our VRS technologies to provide the video processing functions in these receivers," said C.H. Chee, V.P. of Technology Marketing at Anchor Bay. "We are pleased that Pioneer has recognized Anchor Bay's industry leadership as a producer of state of the art video processing semiconductors, and reassured by their confirmation of our ability to meet Pioneer's stringent quality and performance requirements."

Hi all,

I just got my vsx-21 hooked up this weekend. i've got energy rc-70's in the front with an energy lcr for the center. The surrounds are rc-10s and my subwoofer is an outlaw lfm1-ex.

I have got my satellite hooked into the BD input on the receiver (hdmi) and my DVD player hooked into dvd (component). I have also tried the iphone hookup and am pleased with the controls.

The question that I have comes with the huge disparity in volume levels between the different sources. Switching between sources the volume setting for one is not comprable to the other. I guess I am wanting to know how high people are having to turn up the receiver to get to a normal tv watching levels?

The other issues is after switching sources there are times when I have picture but no sound coming from the satellite after switching back to it. Tunring the receiver off and on has fixed this everytime but I am getting an unhappy look from the wife after spending the money that means this should all work better than it is.

Help.