Customer Ratings & Reviews

I am very happy with this receiver. I have always had pioneer receivers and this upgrade to a 4K compatible model was worth it. It is easy to set up, sound is easy to calibrate, and switching inputs is a breeze. I have no complaints.

WOW, great receiver and excellent when you hear Atmos, easy setup and really great sounds

I am very pleased with this receiver. It has a powerful amplifier for the price, and it produces tremendously clean sound. The headphone amplifier and and internal DAC are excellent, producing crystal quality sound, especially using a good source. The surround decoding and various presets are competent, precise, and accurate - I am especially pleased with how the system processes the front height channels in a 5.1.2 Atmos setup (I am working on securing rear height channels at this time). This is not my first pioneer, and the MCACC system is superb - It is easily customizable with 9 presets (I think). The different surround modes are clearly distinguishable and each offer a unique listening environment. The Zone 2 and Zone 3 functionality is excellent - Zone 2/3 can operate independently of the main Zone, allowing for the connection of up to 11 speakers. That means Zone 2 is truly multi-room instead of being tied to the speakers in the main zone. The amplification is plenty to run a decent 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 setup, and allows for the addition of another subwoofer to make it a .2 setup. The design of the unit is clean, refined, and bold. The manual controls on the amplifier are hidden by a drop down panel. It is cluttered to me. I have yet to explore the Pioneer Remote application. I’m hoping it is as nice as the Marantz Remote application. I am thoroughly pleased with this product. This is the top of the line VSX Elite offering (the SC Elite models are the next step up). It has good functionality, crisp and clear sound, excellent audio decoding, and it demands attention with its imposing form. Compared to Audyssey (Marantz proprietary audio calibration system, and I like Marantz, they make excellent products), the MCACC software seems to have the edge. It feels more precise, more accurate, better rounded, and the height channels seem project a more rounded field as opposed to a more focused and narrow field. The MCACC setup takes substantially longer than the Audyssey setup. Audyssey calibrates a main listening position based on six location tests and allows for up to three listening positions to be preset. The Pioneer performs more extensive testing per listening position and allows for the calibration of up to nine different listening positions. All in all, I think the MCACC system is superb in determining the optimal (per the system) speaker configuration and setup. It is easy to use, extensive, and comprehensive. One thing I noticed is the MCACC system calculates its numbers and settings not just directly from each speaker, but also relative to each speaker location. It’s technical, but the mathematics behind it appear more robust, though I don’t know the specific algorithms - it just “feels” more comprehensive than other calibration systems I’ve used. I am very pleased with this product. I purchased and Open-Box, Excellent condition (Geek Squad Certified) receiver, so the value I received was significantly greater than if I purchased brand new. It saved me about $150 and my experience with Best Buy open box has been good (though I would be wary of anything less than excellent). My rating is determined as though I paid full price.

I've been trying different speakers with the pioneer unit and found that for home theater use and some music the Polk signature series in a 5.1 surround sound setting is fantastic. It also works great with Sony's 4k blueray player and xbox one. This receiver has all the features and then some to keep you happy for years to come. I have not bothered figuring this out but on 2 occasions the unit has turned off by itself while watching a movie and once while playing a game, it may be because it over heated due to my tv console only having .5 inches of clearance above the receiver where the vents are located, still unsure but not a common issue from what I've researched

Honestly, I love it. I have it in a 7.1.2 setup with Klipsch front tower speakers with Atmost (625fa), Polk center, Polk surrounds, Polk 12" subwoofer, and Klipsch rear back speakers. Sounds amazing. Plenty of HDMI inputs for Roku, AppleTV, Playstation, FireTV cube, DVD/BD, etc. Also, outdoor speakers are connected to zone 2. More importantly, it's 2020, so let's talk networking, apps, and connectivity. This Receiver has become the center of all music systems in my house. I have four wireless Pioneer Elite VAFW-40 F4 Play-Fi smart speakers (they sound great) in various rooms. This Receiver is also a Play-Fi target and lives in the Play-Fi ecosystem. I can use this Receiver in a multi-room music fashion with the wireless F4 speakers using the powerful Pioneer Play-Fi app. Play-Fi is also built-in to this Receiver and is comparable to a Sonos system in functionality (bringing multiple internet based music sources together in one app, multi-room music even in Hi-Fi). In summary, I can play all of the wired speakers + the four F4 wireless speakers using separate content for each, or together with the same content, or in various groups using the Play-Fi app (or Pioneer Play-Fi app, which is 99% the same app). Similarly, I have a Sonos Port connected to this Receiver, which was built to work with Sonos. I also have a Sones One wireless speaker. So, if I'm in the Sonos app and play some music, I can choose this Receiver as a target and it will automatically turn on (if it's asleep/stand-by) and start playing music. It can be the only Sonos speaker target, or in a multi-room music set up with the Sonos One. It works flawlessly in the Sonos ecosystem (with a Sonos Connect/Port attached to it). So, with a Sonos Port/Connect, you just made all of your wired speakers a huge Sonos speaker target. In addition, this Receiver is an Apple Airplay2 target, a smart device in Apple Homekit, etc. It's easy to Airplay2 content to it, as a stand-alone target, or in an Apple Airplay2 multi-room music scenario with HomePods, AppleTVs, and any other Airplay2 device. The Receiver works perfectly in Apple's ecosystem. Finally, after recent firmware updates this Receiver is Alexa enabled. It can be discovered as a smart device in the Alexa app. It has Amazon Music built-in. More importantly, if you speak to an Alexa device on the same network (Echo, Echo dot, FireTv, etc.), you can send content to this Receiver. For example, you can be in another room and say to an Echo dot, "Play Jay-z on Pandora on the Stereo" and it will turn on this Receiver, start Pandora, and start playing music, so it behaves like a smart speaker. Perfect. So, this Receiver also plays well in Amazon's ecosystem. In June 2020, it was on sale at Best Buy for $900. You should buy it. I'm happy with this purchase. Cons: The Pioneer app (or Receiver) doesn't return to the last equalizer settings after being powered off. You can save your EQ settings in the app, but you have to go into the app everyday and press "load" to get the EQ settings to return to where you left them yesterday. A bit annoying, since the entire point of a Receiver is great sounding audio. EQ settings are important they should return to the last setting until manually overridden. Sometimes it gets a little confused switching inputs. Like I try to switch to FireTV, but it returns to regular Tv. I turned off eARC and played with some FireTV cube equipment management settings, but it still happens. I can get around it by ensuring that the FireTV cube is actually playing something (for example, saying "Alexa play a show on netflix") from the FireTV which will guarantee that it will switch to the FireTv's HDMI input and stay there.

This is absolutely the best receiver you can buy at this price point. Great power, great features, and very intuitive. the only downside is there is no owner's manual. you would have to download 103 pages of the owner's manual to print or pay $60 for a hard copy of the owner's manual from pioneer.

Ok, I replaced the top of the line Onkyo that best buys sold the previous year, Barely lasted a yr "Very Disappointed in ONKYO". After discussing the situation with a with a Best Buy employee he informed me that Onkyo amps run real hot and tend to burn up if there isn't plenty of Air space around them .."wish I was told that at purchase". Lets get to the PIONEER, this thing is a champ. The movies, xbox one X, PS4, Directv, the sound are unbelievable. I'm hearing sounds that I never heard before. Oh, and the picture quality is Excellent. I'm running all Klispch speakers, and they sound beautiful.. I give this Receiver 5 stars without a doubt

This is replacing my AVR- X3500H, so far this has been a great unit sounds amazing and is easy to setup and run Audyssey. I have DIYSG 1099’s for my LCR and this has more than enough power. Future plans include full atmos. I love that the channels are assignable. Very happy with this purchase.

A quality surround sound receiver. There are 11 speaker inputs, and two sub woofer inputs. I love the many different sound zone options as well. The power is amazing. I just wish it had more than 1 optical input.

Front HDMI and USB is good. Fantastic sound and was easy to set up speakers to the room. In all the install time was about an hour and then I had music. Not a very good Best buy incentive . Could have been less money elsewhere.

The Pioneer Elite 9.2 with Atmos is a nice piece of equipment. The only downfall to this receiver is that it is not 9 channels driven without another power amp. I originally bought the Denon AVR-X4500H witch i really loved but had issues with the auto switching But the sound was amazing when it worked but i would get so frustrated with it not working a good portion of the time that i packed it back up and returned it. But to be fair it may have been my fault. I put it in a pretty tight space with probably not enough room for it to properly cool the unit, but anyways onto the Pioneer. I put onto a top shelf next to the TV to make sure it would not overheat (very Important) they have to be able to breath. Is it as powerful as the Denon? Not even close but powerful enough for my 18 x 20 living room, Yes it is and for about $600 bucks less than the Denon. It was hard to make up my mind if i wanted to send it back and get Denon again or keep the Pioneer. So I finally decided to keep the Pioneer figuring I can always bye a set of powered speakers for a couple hundred bucks and get all the amazing sound i was getting from the Denon. I've had no issues whatsoever from the Pioneer, Auto switching works like a dream,the sound is good and I am satisfied with the purchase. Good budget receiver.

I have been the proud owner of Pioneer Elite receivers for the last 15 years. My last one lost its sound after 8 years. I purchased this one and could not be happier. The sound and picture are amazing. I have higher end speakers and rumble seats. The power of this receiver runs everything and then some. It has all the new features and runs flawlessly.

I needed a great AVR to accommodate my 4K viewing and to maximize my theater/bar room speakers. This receiver delivered big time! I feel like I'm actually in a movie and it is very entertaining.

It took a little while to learn how it worked, but this receiver works great! The blue lights are bright when we turn off the lights to watch a movie, but that is the worst thing I can say about this device.

Easy set up with on screen menus. Remote is simplified from older models. Sound and picture is much improved over the 2011 Pioneer Elite model it is replacing.

Great sound! Great features! Great look! This is my second Pioneer receiver, and have loved them both.

Versus other Pioneer / Onkyo models, bought this for the extra powered digital Zone 2 capabilities, Zone 2 Pre-out for BlueTooth headphones, and analog input flexibilities. Remote is simple to use, smartphone app is great. Sounds awesome. My wish is that I could have both powered Zone 2 from digital sources AND either a BlueTooth output for headphones, or a Pre-out for a BlueTooth transmitter to be used for headphones. It can do each of these things separately, but not simultaneously. I can keep the wiring in place for these, but have to manually switch settings (several button pushes) to go between a Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Pre-out to power the BT transmitter. That's my wish. Otherwise, really love this receiver.

I bought this receiver as an upgrade from a previous pioneer model. It has met or exceeded my expectations in every way. It is user friendly, for the most part. I generally bypass sound “enhancing” technology and that is no different here. I’ve played with some of the enhancement options and find that leaving them all off produces the cleanest, purest sonic result. I am very satisfied again with This Pioneer receiver.

This receiver was everything I expected from Pioneer. It’s a step up from a previous Pioneer receiver that’s still working after 10+ years. Great sound ,easy setup. Highly recommend.

Great Features and ease of use. Other receivers are much higher in price but less features. If you can find one open box price is even better!