After trying a Denon, and two Yamaha's, I finally hit gold with the Pioneer VSX-820.
This is a superb receiver in all regards. It produces clear crisp sound in all modes.
There are no lip synch issues at all when linked to my HDTV. I had terrible lip synch problems with the Denon. It has all the features I need and more and has an excellent remote that is both intuitive and comprehensive. I use my receiver for CD's, FM radio and my Samsung HDTV. I use DishNetwork for my TV programming.
The VSX series is Pioneer's newest and includes several models all the way up to the 1120.
However, when you read the specs, all these receivers have the same tuner and power plant. The higher the model number, the more numerous the features. But no increase in output.
That makes for an easier buying decision. You don't compromise power for features if you chose a mid range model like the 820 or 920. I noticed that the Denon and Yamaha receivers I tried were made in China. The Pioneers are made in Japan. I'll go with Japan for high quality electronics every time. Pioneer has hit a homerun with this new series of receivers.
Update January 20,2011
My accolades now need to be tempered back. As with all 'features', they are only good
as long as they last. The IPOD interface on my VSX 820 died today in mid-song. I reviewed the manual and took the steps recommended, including resetting my IPOD with
no results. The IPOD works just fine. So I will no longer be able to hear my songs
thru my system but will instead have to be satisfied with just using the headphones.
Very disappointed with the lack of durability of this Pioneer receiver. Pioneer VSX-820-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver
I have just completed an exhaustive search to replace my Panasonic SA-XR57 that was in my bedroom. I tried out two Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receivers (both took way too long displaying anything on my TV via HDMI and could not do anything with the digital optical audio coming out of my satellite box) and a Sony STR-DN1000 7.1-Channel Audio Video Receiver (which was better with the HDMI connection to the TV although not altogether satisfactorily so and worked well with the optical connection but had a problem with the left surround output). After going through that many receivers within a two week period, I was nearly convinced to just give up. Fortunately, I went ahead and got the VSX-820. Although it's not perfect, it definitely has many good points
Pros:
- iPhone functionality is pretty good - you get basic functionality including the ability to stop and start and the on-screen display is functional (although by no means pretty - it's just text-based)
- audio set-up was amazingly easy and very quick
- at first the audio assignments to devices were a little confusing, but after reading the manual I kind of like how you set them up (by selecting the device you want to assign and then assigning it rather than going through a convoluted menu)
- the HDMI connection worked beautifully and quickly
- the optical digital audio worked flawlessly as well
Cons:
- does not upconvert anything, meaning that if it came in as composite it needs to go to the TV via a composite cable
- on-screen display menu requires a component connection instead of just going through HDMI
- iPhone connection in the front - this is more a personal preference, but I'd rather the connection be in the back and just have the cable available to plug in whenever. With it sticking out in front I'm concerned that someone will walk by it, hit it and break it off
- the cover over the front inputs seems cheap - almost better to have not put it there at all
All said, though, this receiver did exactly what I wanted it to when others did not and did it with ease.
I picked this up at a local retailer. Looks good and the sound is pretty good. Didn't seem much better or worse than my 10 year old Denon receiver it replaced (but that's not a bad thing). Video over HDMI looks good.
Setup is pretty usual for receivers, you will not understand many features and setup options unless you bother reading the instructions.
Few shortcomings with one that is very annoying:
1. The cover of the front USB and video/audio ports is not connected to the receiver - it's a piece of plastic that you have to take out completely if you want to hook up a USB device or any source to the front connectors. I wish it had a permanent connection because I can completely see it getting lost.
2. The receiver comes with a limited on screen menu to use the auto tuning of speakers and to set up the inputs and speakers. The problem is: you have to connect the receiver to the TV using an analog RCA cable to use it!!!! So if you have only digital sources and hoped to use HDMI as your only connection, be prepared to add another cable to the mix when you set up the speakers. Granted you don't need to use the on screen menu a lot but if you have difficult access to the back of TV and receiver like I have, it can become annoying. I don't understand what Pioneer were thinking.
3. Seems to have to crank up the volume much higher than I used to with my Denon receiver, but I guess this is something I will have to get use to.
Overall it is a great value, but I'm actually considering returning it and spending the extra $100 for the vsx-920-k so I won't have to use analog RCA cables ever again. - Pioneer - Home Theater - Receiver - Home Theater Receivers'
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