The 29tx is great when the sound works, it is time for Pioneer to refund money to those customers who have had problems with their sound working. My dealing keeps trying to fix the unit and it keeps breaking. A tech from the dealing told me that it will continue break over and over. The dealer (Gramophone a small local Baltimore dealer keeps trying to upgrade me to a higher priced model. Both Pioneer and Gramophone need to be sued (or any other dealing that is or has sold this unit after discover the sound problems.

Just received my 29tx about 3 weeks ago and I too am experiencing the prevalent cross-talkingn that is characterized by this unit. Is this something that's seen on all 29tx units and is this something I should worry about? Music as well as movies sound great, and I'm really happy with this unit. However, the cross-talking does concern me. For those of you with this unit that has not tested it for cross-talk, please do so and let me know what you think.

System:
Elite 29tx
Sony 7700 DVD
Sony 36XBR250
Definitive Tech ProMonitor 200 (fronts)
Definitive Tech ProMonitor 100 (surrounds)
Definitive Tech ProCenter C2 (Center)
Definitive Tech 15TL Sub
SilverAudio SilverBullets4.0 interconnects
DhLabs T-14 Speaker Cables

beautiful sound and looks

bad dsp processor, not to reliable

I already put in a review not to long ago. I think all the good things I raved about might have jinxed me. But then again, others are having the same problems w/ their receiver....the bad dsp processor. After ignoring the reviews from the other unfortunate owners, I thought my receiver was immune to faultiness.......the price I paid was great 4 the 4 months I owned it, but now I am the new proud owner of a DENON 4800, the receiver I originally wanted. Don't get me wrong, if mine was immune I wouldn't be writing this new review and having that 4800 on my shelves. That bargain I got it for went toward credit 4 my 4800. For any new owners of this receiver, take heed to the warning signs. mine totally crapped out x-actly 4 months after date of purchase. Sorry to bring anyone down.

Similar Products Used:

DENON, jvc, sansui

Rosewood Side Panels and Copper Shielded Chassis

Pioneer LCD Remote (read on)

No offence to anyone that purchased the 29tx, but I bought the 27tx and the Phillips Pronto remote. In my opinion the 27tx performs as well and the Pronto kicks the s%&t out of the Pioneer remote for the same money. I got mine at www.unclestereo.com with the remote delivered for about $1300. Check it out before you buy. JDCIII

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite 27tx

sounds, remote, clearity,build quality

no way

Wow,this receiver sure kicks.The sound quality is excellent.So does the build quality. The remote is so nice that it can control tv,dvd,and more. No need for the other controllers. The THX Ultra makes the receiver even better. With this kind of price cant find another THX ultra.Got it for $1700 from Yawaaudio.The service there was great too.
Want to get the receiver with high end get the pioneer elite.

Similar Products Used:

denon 5700 dsp-a1

Sound quality (AC3, dts, 2-channel), ease of use.

Level adjustment interface, display not dimmable from remote, flimsy binding posts, cluttered rear panel.

I have some qualms about recommending this unit. It lacks component video switching, lacks selectable rear speaker outputs, lacks front effect speaker outputs, lacks "gee-whiz" music ambiance modes, lacks an RS232 port to download software upgrades, and does not command the respect and admiration of those in the audiophile community. This unit has suspect power ratings on paper, high THD, and hasn't been approved by either Stereophile or Home Theater magazine. All things considered, this is an incredible piece of equipment in the only area that concerns me, sound quality.
I do not care for Sony's Virtual B mode, Yamaha's 7.1 mode, nor Denon's 5-channel music mode. I enjoy a faithful reproduction of the artist's intent; stereo, 5.1, mono, whatever. The Elite's "enhancement" modes suck. Using the Avia set up disc, the rear channels distort heavily in all modes save "5-D Theater" (THX and Standard excluded). If you want to impress your friends with a "gee-whiz" proprietary ambiance mode, buy something else.
I have an extensive collection of dts laserdiscs, which I condsider much more enjoyable than their Dolby Digital counterparts. Yes, I recognize the 6db/3db/level matching issue, but this is an opinion. I also enjoy Chesky's 96/24 audio discs and my extensive cd collection. I have not been more pleased with music since I retired my Linn/Rotel/Adcom/Paradigm/MIT music only rig. I will try to articulate what I am hearing and contrast it to the other products in the Elite's price category as best I can.
The best one word adjective I can give the Elite is balance. Too often I find compnents are either to bright or too anemic. The Denon and Onkyo products I have owned have been anemic, very slow rhythmicaly and uninvolving. The Yamaha and ES products have been very lively and well paced, but become fatigueing after an hour or so. Additionaly, with the Sony, the sound would exhibit a harsh character at times (particularly with dialogue in 5.1 movies). I perfer a more "analog" type sound. The Elite doesn't lack detail and it does not obscure instruments or foley effects. The Elite does not make my "ears bleed" or make me want to take a breather from my listening setions. I could contribute these atributes to the 24bit/96kz Crystal D/A converters or the hybrid MOSFET amplifiers; but to be honest with you I'm not sure why it pleases me so. My audio experience has been more trial and error than anything else, and I am amazed that I own a Pioneer Elite product! I encourage you to listen to this reciever. My wife is a great measuring stick for my audiophile nervosa, and she remarked how much better the Elite sounded over the 9000ES/RB985THX setup. Who knows?
If you are concerned about the lack of component video switching, don't be. I think most would agree when one gets to the point of using component video, a straight run to the TV is the way to go. The remote has performed flawlessly so far, and the batteries haven't died!!! To be honest with you, I use the Marantz RC2000MKII. I have tried the Madrigal, owned the 9000ES, and now have the Elite touchscreen. I hate touchscreens. I perfer the tactile feel of pushing a button rather than worrying if my fingers are clean enough to touch the screen. The level adjustment for the L/C/R/LS/RS/S cannot be performed on the fly, a minor shortcoming, and the crossover adjustments are not nearly as extensive as the 9000ES's. If you still have Pro-Logic disc's (actually, alot of my favorite DVD's are Pro-Logic), the THX enhacement is welcomed. I would prefer if the display was dimmable from the remote, but I'll live.
Put your personal bias aside and listen to this unit. You may stop worrying about the sound and start enjoying your music/home theater for what it's intended!
System - Elite VSX-29TX, Sony DVPC650D, Pioneer CLD604, Sony KV36FV1, Paradigm Reference speakers/sub, MIT cable.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TXDS838, Yamaha RXV992, Denon AVD2000 AC3 decoder, Rotel dts decoder, Sony TAE9000ES/Rotel RB985THX.

The way it LOOKS and SOUNDS

None

This Receiver has the best DTS and Dolby Digital effects I have ever heard. The THX sound is GREAT and I love the Remote.....It is one Fine piece of audio gear. It has tons of head room, and the jacks on back are done right. lot's of S-video inputs and Digital hookups......I love this Receiver, and it LOOKS GREAT.......

Similar Products Used:

Technics...Marantz....Bose....McIntosh....ETC..ETC...ETC

loved it until now

dsp board

I had posted a 5 and 5 and now i too have lost sound and have the flaky dsp board. I'm mortified to think i have to take down my system and send this away for god knows how long.
i would like anyone who has had a similar problem to please email me. I plan on taking some action against Pioneer.

loved it until now

dsp board

I had posted a 5 and 5 and now i too have lost sound and have the flaky dsp board. I'm mortified to think i have to take down my system and send this away for god knows how long.
i would like anyone who has had a similar problem to please email me. I plan on taking some action against Pioneer.

Looks great, sounds great, built great. Great remote!

Cannot find any at all.

I was looking for a replacement for my Yamaha 1105, that I only had for three months becuase I was not happy with the bright, tinny sound coming from it. I read up on the web and in this forum for reviews of current recievers. It came down to teh Denon 3300 and the Pioneer Eliete 27TX. After much thought and seeing them in action at my local home theater store, I decided on the Pioneer 27TX.
I called supremevideo.com becuase they had a price of $1179. I ordered it COD with 3 day shipping. Well it turns out I got the VX29 from Supreme Video! Some kind of mix up but I only paid $1450 shipped next day for it, and it came COD as I ordered it. I actually ordered the 27 but they called me to tell me they were out of stock and offered me the 29 at $1500 plus shipping. When it came it came the next day and the COD was $1450! I unhooked my old Yamaha 1105, and hooked up the Pioneer 29. First I played a CD, ZZTops Greatest Hits, song "Sharp Dressed Man". WOW!! A HUGE improvement over the Yamaha. I mean HUGE! It had the Nice, full sound I was looking for. Whoever says the Pioneer Elites have a bad sound for stereo CD music better have their ears cleaned! This thing produced sound for my CD's that was incredible. A relative of mine has the Denon 5700 and I prefer the sound from the ELite 29 over the Denon for CD's. The Yammy was bright and almost tinny sounding. This thing was rocking! One thing I noticed right away was that on my Yamaha, if I turned the volume knob up about an inch it was blasting! On the Pioneer, I can turn it half way up and its loud but not blazingly loud. Once I turn it higher it of course gets REALLY loud. Kind of strange I thought that the Yamaha at 85WPC semed to have a lot more power, BUT the sound quality is a BIG improvement over the Yamaha! I then put in Saving Private Ryan. The Elite gave me more bass, but did not sound as detailed as the Yamaha. This is not a bad thing, the sound coming from the Pioneer was natural, solid and very clean. The Yamaha was overly powerful and bright and did not sound nearly as smooth or natural as the Pioneer. I can not believe the HUGE difference between these two machines! Its like night and day. The surround effects are not as loud on the Pioneer but they are less localized, they sound more like they are in the room and not blaring out of the speakers as the Yamahas did. The remote for the 29 kicks major behind! It took me 5 minutes to set it up for my TV, DVD player and VCR. Works like a charm!

Anyway, I have demoed the Denon, and to me, the Denon sounds more like the Yamaha. The Denon sounded really good but it was a tad bright as well. All I can say about the Pioneer 29TX is it is absoultely an AWESOME reciever and at $1450 i got a steal. My local dealer wanted $1999 plus tax! The pioneer 29 made my Polk RT2000's sound AMAZING. Plus, on the Yamaha, when I turned off the tone controls, the sound was VERY flat and sounded terrible. I never understood why so many people say to listen to the music without the tone controls. The Pioneer with the tone controls turned off and bypassed sounds so rich and detailed, and still full with bass. This is how I am listening to all my music from now on. This is one investement I am glad I made and I don't even feel guilty about it!

Get the Pioneer, its a GREAT piece of equipment. 5 Stars!

Steve

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RV-1105, Pioneer 606, Sony