Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K

The audio and video performance is solid and it has more than enough power for my 7.1 system. The best feature is the totally automatic speaker system calibration. Set the included mic at your center… listening positon, press start, and walk away for 5 mins. The receiver runs through a battery of tests on each speaker and sets everything up. You can then go in and review the setup an tweak it if you would like. I increased the sub woofer by 2db (I like to "feel" sonic booms and explosions) and that was it. The manual is a bit overwelhming but I have learned in the past that it is best to get the basic system up and running then in a day or two, go through the manual again and add or tweak the more sophisticated features. I almost called Pioneer when I got picture but no sound. Went through all of the setting twice and then found that Pioneer's startup setting for volume is low/low. Somewhat embarrassed, I turned the volume up and that solved the problem. The only complaint I have is that the remote can not learn from another remote and would not accept any of the Directv codes. My Pro-151FD TV remote did not accept the Directv codes either but it has a learning function. I didn't plan on using the AVR remote but it is an issue if you do. Its a great unit at a reasonable price.

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I wanted to save someone some time if they were like me... looking for a great receiver at a decent price. After 2 months of research and three returned products that didn't live up to the hype (other… brands) I found what I was looking for. *Sound quality is unsurpassed even with higher dollar receivers. *Features are more abundant, great for an audiophile but still simple (If you go with defaults and auto setup). *Set up was fairly simple for someone with even basic knowledge. *Remote control is BIG. While I understand simplifying this many features on one remote is tough... there is a lot going on with this remote. Yes, it does the job nicely but it still is "busy". * HEAT ISSUE: I've heard a lot of people mentioning heat with this unit; let me be clear. Airflow is important in almost all electronic components. There is heat with all decent receivers with any power to them. You SHOULD NEVER fully enclose a receiver or amp that is pushing this kind of power. Heat and buildup should always be a concern. With proper ventillation, this unit disipates fine. Seperation and range and were exactly what I was looking for and I got it with this product. This easiliy fills a large room and has a 2nd zone which comes in handy for music on outside speakers. Compared to many at this price level, this unit seems like quality from every aspect. Looks, materials and performance. I rarely take time to write reviews but this purchase took me more time than I wanted it to and I thought I would write to try to save you some time if you are in the same position I was. My humble opinion... If this is your price range, Buy the unit. I'm glad I did.

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This replaced my Pioneer D509S. My D509 was old and controlled audio but had little video or compressed audio ability. Otherwise it was a great, quality product. I had been looking for a replacement from… Pioneer for several years (older 101x models). I looked at other brands, but was so impressed with my Pioneer that I wanted to stay with the brand and wait for the right product. Although this model has many of the features I was looking for, it doesn't live-up to the quality and substance I was expecting. The biggest wins for me are the video switching capabilities, including both audio & video HDMI switching along with up-conversion. The sound is also great, but my ears are old and somewhat short of audiophile quality. Aside from the video switching, one of the biggest features is the Sound Retriever capability that significantly improves the sound of compressed audio files (MP3, IPod, WMA, etc.). I have almost 15,000 MP3s (almost all legally acquired) on a computer that is hooked up to my Receiver and the Sound Retriever difference is substantial (even with my old ears). It definitely gets it back to almost full CD quality. I hadn't noticed how drab they sounded until I had the benefit of this feature. This feature has made the whole receiver worth the investment. My biggest disappointments are the corners Pioneer has cut on this unit. The first clue is the 5x8 Operations Manual made with cheap, almost tissue thin, off-white paper printed with a very small, thin font. My old manual was 8.5x11, quality white paper with a much larger and far more legible font. My old, dog-eared manual had much wear & tear over the years. It took a licking and kept on ticking for a long time. This one is, at best, of marginal utility because it is so frail and difficult to use (but most of the information is good). My primary issue, however, is how hot it runs. Prior year models weighted about 10lbs more than this one. I believe a lot of that weight included heat-sinks and other heat dissapating features. My unit really runs hot. Fortunately, I am able to direct a small mini-fan over the top which does a great job dissapating the heat. Maybe this unit is up to the heat, but I belive significant heat will reduce the life of the receiver. This issue alone is what dropped my overall rating so much. Finally, the remote, though very functional, seems to be cheaply made. Certainly in comparison to the one for my old D509. That one was built like a tank. This one is more like a cheap toy. Overall, I think this is a quality receiver. I just can't believe Pioneer puts out a $500 receiver and cheapens it with such low quality accessories... and the heat could be a killer!

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After using an LG brand HTib for many years it was time for an upgrade. I purchased the VSX-1019 along with Bose Acoustimass 6 Series III. I use the Pioneer 90% music, 10% movies / games. I listen to… all of my music on vinyl on the Numark TTX1 connected to the receiver via Digital Coaxial. My main concern before buying is was whether or not it can force a Stereo source (turntable / or non Dolby 5.1 television shows) through all 5 speakers - which it can. Blu-ray, DVD, and PS3 games sound great. Crisp bass and low frequencies and the vocals are loud and clear. I rarely use the ipod feature but the Ipod connectivity is certainly a plus. An ipod cord comes with the unit so there's no need to buy an additional dock or connection cord. The on-screen display including album artwork is a nice touch, however, scrolling through thousands of songs or playlists on screen can be sluggish. It's best to use the Ipod control feature. Highly compressed mp3's sound excellent. Higher bitrate mp3s sound even better. Set up is a simple. The auto mic speaker set-up is accurate and easy to use. It's simple to manually adjust the settings afterwards although I felt no need to do so. If you are currently using an all in one home theater in a box, or are looking for an upgrade to your current receiver with more connectivity and features, I highly recommend this product.

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