Customer Ratings & Reviews

I had to replace a Sunfire Ultimate Receiver that finally gave up the ghost (or fried its cheap capacitors). While the sound isn't quite on that par, it is close. The build quality is excellent, although a bit lighter than I was expecting. The speaker terminals are located such that they don't block other inputs or each other during attachment. It has enough HDMI and digital inputs (2 coax, 2 fiberoptic) for most needs. The only detraction I'd have is that the interface is a bit awkward. Navigating through the menus can be a chose during set up. Even worse is the fact that there are options such as "skip input" in which Yes means no input and No means the input is shown. While it is technically correct, it is often disorienting when you are flying through the inputs trying to decide if you have all of the correct inputs showing as available. Also, trying to get up Pandora, etc. isn't exactly intuitive. Overall I'd rate it 5/5. After all, hopefully you only need to set it up once. Oh, and I purchased it in store Monday at 2 PM, but it wasn't in stock. BB arranged shipping to my home for free. It arrived the following day (Tuesday) at 5 PM. They certainly didn't cheap out on the shipping!

A recent purchase of a 3D projector forced me to upgrade my home theater receiver. Although my current receiver (Pioneer Elite VSX92-TXH) was still going strong, it only had 3 HDMI 1.3 inputs and 1 output. It could not pass 3D signals through it, lacked enough HDMI inputs to handle all my other sources, and any workarounds meant it would not decode uncompressed audio while playing 3D disks (Playstation did not have two HDMI outs.) No HDMI switchers or splitters would work due to the way HDMI 1.4 handshakes. I needed a new receiver to handle my new system needs. I checked out Denon, Onkyo, and Marantz, but came back to Elite because of its reputation, familiarity, video switching capability and new SC build architecture. It has plenty of HDMI 1.4 inputs (8 total), two outputs (one for my Projector and one for my Plasma) and dual subwoofer outs... which meant I could finally get rid of the RCA splitters that feed my sub and my buttkickers in the seats. The SC-71 has plenty of power and a newer version of the audio setup routine (MACC), which I have grown to appreciate due to the way my room is set up. I was able to price match this unit at our local Best Buy store, walking out with the box in hand. I was actually far lighter in weight than the unit it replaced. But once I set up it up the room, connected my components, ran it through the set up process, etc... I can honestly tell you that I was pleasantly surprised with the way it made all my sources look and sound better than before. It runs much cooler than my previous receiver. And I notice a lot of nice improvements... like how much more nuance there is to audio detail in movies, even though I have been a fanatic about running uncompressed audio for many years now. And the iPad app for control or installation/assessment... I'm sure competing receivers in this price range have similar features/apps, etc. After living with this unit for a month or so now, I am convinced that this receiver will serve me well, both now and into the future. It was was great choice for me. Just for a little background, this is my third Elite receiver. All three of them are still working, although one is pre HD and has only limited component HD capability. My second now lives with a neighbor who has no 3D needs/desires and only one or two HDMI components. It should give him many years of service. Now I have a current model that I trust will perform as well as it's predecessors. Again, I have never had to replace an Elite receiver due to a quality or dependability issue. I have replaced them because I have moved into areas that did not exist when my prior receivers were built, meaning I needed to up upgrade to gain access to those features/functions that did not exist five or six years prior. I would say that I am loyal to the Pioneer Elite brand because it has given me so many years of reliability, offers excellent features and functionality, and is a real value (not the cheapest, for sure, but justified)... all of which make it a solid investment.

this amp is great. The power pushes a pair of klipsch towers and surrounds with no prob. It has a great video card and the on screen menu is a big step up. The remote is still not great but the iOS app is great. Especially on the iPad. just wish it was Dolby atoms ready.

When I started searching for a new AVR Pioneer was the last unit I was considering. I looked at Marantz, Denon, Onkyo, and Yamaha. The Pioneer is just a great sounding unit in it price range. The other AVR's are AB class amplifiers, and get really hot during operation, but the Pioneer runs fairly cool with fantastic sound for the price range. The Marantz also sounded phenomenal, but it was more expensive and I just did not want to keep upping the budget. Awesome stereo for this midrange AVR. Plus there are a lot of features you just don't find until you get to higher end AVR's. Unit was also fairly easy to setup. Takes a little time for the configuration settings and the automated leveling, but worth it in the end.

I purchased this receiver to go with a set of Bose speakers. I've had other receivers, but this will be my last receiver! The quality is amazing and the power it puts out thru the speakers allows me to put the speakers in my bedroom windows to listen to my playlist while out in my very large backyard. Not only is the sound quality perfect, but I can hear every word perfectly from a long distance away. This receiver replaced a mediocre one that I paid a decent amount of money for several years back. I should have purchased the Pioneer then instead of wasting my money on junk! The power and sound quality it pushes out thru my speakers is worth every penny and I will never purchase any other brand ever!!!

Really a great buy with its 7 hdmi inputs and strong power output. Sleek style with easy to install setup. One thing I didn't realize till later was that half of the functions are only accessed on the remote.

This unit was an upgrade from an older model Pioneer receiver (21). The sound quality and operator interface is second to none compared to the competition. Easy to use and fantastic intuitive interactive PC menu and manuals. Would recommend Pioneer to anyone

This pioneer unit is the most expensive unit I have purchased with no buyers remorse.

I did quite an extensive research on different name brands and came back to pioneer every time for the most part on quality of sound and usage of the different features and in the end went with Pioneer also because I had purchased a plasma TV years and years ago and really have been very happy with that purchase/item! While getting used to a new remote usage is difficult the owners manual was pretty straightforward on locations of buttons and usage of them but will obviously take some time to fully be comfortable with all the different functions that one remote can do and perform in the end I'd say this is one step above everyone else if not more because of the lead having the capability of the same power if not more but only using A third of the electricity as the others turn off 70% of the electricity they require as wasted electricity and pioneer uses all that instead of it being wasted. so in the end playing near can be looked at in the elite series anyway as a possibility of green technology. Other items that I really cared for or the dimming capability on the front panel all the way down to fully blacked out so that it is not and I catching item when trying to watch a movie to see all these other features and items bright colors on the screen of the unit so I would suggest fully and deeply thinking about any lead SC model from Pioneer over many of the others as a very good purchase.

We were so excited to get a good price on this receiver. I am not qualified to give a professional opinion but another member of the household is and he is very impressed with it. (Sound quality, ect)

I have always liked Pioneer products and this one does not disappoint. Does exactly what I need it to do, which is provide excellent audio in 2 independent zones.

I love the sound. It interfaces well with my components. I like the Multi-zone capability. I'm having a little difficulty getting the other zone to work. Updating the software with a USB was good. They don't tell you you can't keep the update file in a folder on the flash drive. The system looks good and eventually I'll have to run a cat 5 to run network to the A/V receiver in the near future. I'm not running a sub-woofer at this time and it still sounds great. I plan on purchasing high end Martin Logan Subwoofer to rock the house. I'm using SpeakerCraft AIM-7 speakers built into the ceiling. All in all I'm please with what I have.

This was a great upgrade from my 8 year old Elite receiver. I love the wireless capability and the sound quality is great. It was difficult to understand the zone 2 and HDZONE audio, as I was incorrectly informed that those zones could handle digital audio. They can not, so i was forced to hook up secondary analog audio inputs, from each of my sources. I'm very pleased with this receiver!

Many HD settings. Plenty of HDMI and clean power. I'm loving it so far. Great upgrade from my previous receiver. I recommend it.

Pioneer elite is the best especially for a hundred dollars off! Great sound, great power, low heat... More than enough for my small room... plenty for a much larger one. Winner all around!

I replaced my old Pioneer Elite Receiver which was good, but should never have died in just over 5 years.

This is the first nice home theater system we have had. It's easy to set up and use. Wish it would have come with a manual instead of a cd then you print it, but it's easy to follow. Definitely would recommend this system to someone wanting a wonderful home sound

After talking with the sales rep, we came to a conclusion that this system was what was best for me. I didn't need the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi that other systems had, but I would have thought it would have made this unit cheaper without them. It does have absolute amazing sound quality and clarity. I heart it paired with several different speakers and it handled everything. You can bi-amp it if you want, and it has more than enough inputs. The menu system is a little tricky to get a hang of, and there are some features I still haven't figured out, but really, it's about the pure sound that matters, and this unit delivers.

This is by far the best receiver I have ever owned

Directions on a disc had to keep referring to the computer, or I had to print it out. Took 2 guys a long time to get thru the set up once it was all hooked to the speakers. It changes the type of sound from where you have it set to stereo not it's 9.1. Then you need the remote it came with to try and find the sound. My husband had an Onkyo forever and sounded great I'm thinking I should have stuck with that. So very difficult that it sorta takes away from the enjoyment of it. My husband was not as happy once he un-boxed it. I'm not able to rec it bc of the difficulty level, but when its on 9.1 its awesome. So I had to give a "good".