great product...can't beat it for the price

Aesthetics. Good sound for CD's and movies in its price range. Quick setup functions (if you are already familiar with receivers) Connections on front and back of receiver. Preouts. Important to consider if you ever plan on upgrading to separates (step by step) Power

No backlit remote control Nothing more due to price I paid and short time frame that I will be using it.

I purchased this unit refurbished from the store that I had purchased my speakers and other misc. equipment from in the past. Basically, I started out with a Yamaha HTR-5460 that did an okay job with my Paradigm Monitor speakers. The Yamaha was the first receiver I bought as a casual listener but since have decided to step up my equipment. I like several things about the VSX41. The aesthetics of the VSX41 is very nice with a high black gloss and a blue light at the volume knob. It also has a decent fold down panel on the front that conceals all of the front inputs which I like since I hate to see a bunch of clutter on the front. I also liked the ability to dim the display directly by pushing just one button. My prior model required you to go through a menu to change this setting. The receiver has component switching, 2 optical digital, 2 coaxial digital, and numerous other inputs/outputs, more than adequate for my needs. The most important hookups that it had that my prior unit did not is pre-outs to hook up a amplifier. That is why I purchased this item because I am purchasing a Rotel amplifier and ultimately will be switching out this unit for a preamp/pro. I like all of the processing options, DD, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, Neo:6. The stereo did a good job at playing my CD's in stereo and definitely sounded better than my Yamaha model. Movie soundtracks were done well and I noticed certain nuances of sound that I couldn't hear with my old unit. The processing was definitely superior to my Yamaha and the price for a new one would be worth it. However, I do not use a subwoofer in my system and the basic movie setting does not pump out enough bass to my floor standing Monitor 9's. I find that I have to use the "loudness" feature to up the bass to an adequate level. Without, the movie is flat and without good dynamics. May not be the same for others with a sub. The DRC (dynamic range control) is weak and I would not recommend it for use since it compresses sound and did not sound good to me. Finally, when getting it out of the box, I was quickly able to set up the receiver with speaker distances, size, etc. Pretty quick functions but not as quick as some of the nicer Pioneer Elite models that I have played with in the past. Also, I understand why others wanted a backlit remote but I use my Sony RM-AV3000 to run everything so it isn't an issue. Overall, I have no major complaints since I paid only $299 for this unit and I got a 2 year warranty on it for $20 (recommended for refurbished items). For reference, my equipment is: Paradigm Monitor 9's fronts Paradigm CC-370 Center channel Paradigm ADP-370 surrounds Sony DVP-S360 (DVD player) Toshiba 36" TV Xbox w/optical and component outs

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha HTR-5460

Fit and finish Lots of power Tons of digital and Analog I/O Price (on-line, but you lose the warranty!) Good remote that can take care of the duty of your whole system if you should so choose.

MSRP of $800 and .1% THD. RIPOFF! No backlight on remote.

Short and sweet? This receiver is, cosmetically beautiful. The Urushi finish is wonderful but be careful cleaning it. It can scratch rather easily. The unit also has a door on the front that hides most of the controls. Sound? Very powerful 110w x 7. Great soundstage. Love the "Midnight" setting. It boosts the bass and treble to give a pleasant listening experience at low volume levels. This receiver is really made for movies. It does an admirable job of rendering the sound stage of most movies. My only disappointment was that I failed to see that this unit has .1% THD. In stereo mode (which I what I use it for mostly) you can hear too much hiss (at least for me). I assumed that buying an "Elite" would have the typical .01% THD of the rest of the line. I bought the unit for $399 on Ebay, so how mad can I be? If I bought it for $800 msrp, I would be flame throwing mad. The remote is nice but at the MSRP of the unit you would think they could cough up some backlighting. Aside from that, it is handling ALL the remote duties for my system by itself, so again how made can I be? For reference, my system is: Pioneer Elite VSX-41 Pioneer Elite DV-C36 DVD/CD Carousel Pioneer Elite PD-F09 101 CD Changer Pioneer Elite M-72 100w 4 Ch Amplifier Mirage M-890i Fronts (Bi-wired, Bi-amped) Mirage BP 150 Subwoofer Paradigm CC-170 Center Paradigm Atoms Rear

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha Entry Level AV receiver Technics (garbage)

Look, power, features, 3 year warrantee(in Canada)

Plastic faceplate, remote.

I purchased my pioneer elite receiver to replace an older Yamaha RXV-592. I'm very happy so far, a very good receiver. Enough inputs and features for my needs and good power. Nice clean look, everything that should be hidden is behind a flip down door. Pioneer could have used a metal faceplate instead of plastic as this one scratches very easily. It is the only receiver in Pioneer's Elite lineup that has a plastic face. The volume knob is slightly cheesy and the remote could have been backlit. However these are minor inconveniences to me and I'm very happy with this product.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RXV-592

Higher than usual power for the price, the look, input features, 7.1 channel and remote control.

No TV onscreeen menu. No THX, probably trade-off for the extra power. No biggie at all.

The Pioneer Elite VSX-41 would be the step-up brother of the retailed Pioneer 811S. I bought it to replace a low end receiver that I started with on my small TV room. The aesthetic is impressive given the soft gloss finish of the front panel. Though careful in cleaning it. Takes very little effort to leave scratch marks. The power (110 watts) is adequate (if not too much for a small room) while the input options are vast. The 7.1 feature is a great plus, not to mention a set of PreOuts for future amplification. As for the sound projection, I'm satisfied with the low and high frequencies being delivered with the boosting through Midnight and/or Loudness features at lower volumes since I'm low-volume listener. I have a Sony SACD player that makes use of the 5.1 channel analog inputs while I still stick with a coaxial digital on watching DVD movies. No problem in switching on input features, all controllable by the remote. The receiver is comfortably flexible for people who enjoys various types of input functions. The remote control that has the LCD to remind you on what mode you're at and at what step you're in if you're programming buttons is a big help. One miss I would have preferred the VSX-41 should've had was: TV-onscreen menu.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic SA-DX1050, Kenwood VR-6070 THX

listed above

listed above

First off I havent had this in my own system yet, just done much comparing with other recievers in its price range. I am very picky and Im looking in the 500 dollar price range. Mostly I've been comparing this to the Onkyo tx-sr600 and the Onkyo's cousin the Integra 5.3 both of which I like also. POWER: Pioneer elite vsx-41 110 X 6, Integra 80X6. After doing some serious A-B testing with the Integra it seams the Pioneer has more power able to produce lower and deeper bass out of the NHT towers I was auditioning them through. The Pioneer also had more room left on the Volume dial to turn it up. It sounded to me also that the pioneer elite vsx-41 was just as clean and clear in the upper-midrange and the detail in the highs were just as good. I run JBL Studio bookshelfs all around so either one of these will push my speakers to maximum listning levels with out problems. I also have some lower impediance DIY speakers I run for casual listning they are the D3's Very good speakers for rock rap and shear output at less that 150 price tag to build. Avantage- still goes to the Pioneer FEATURES -Both of these have all the current decoding options but THX. No big deal here. -The Pioneer has 5 digital inputs, Integra 4. -Both have optical inputs on the front(a plus for both). -Pioneer has no onscreen display like the Integra but apears to be easy to set up. -Both have multiroom support the Integra steps up here and offers A-bus 12v trigger and a few other fancy options for this type of setup. -Both also have component video switching but the Integra offers composit to S-Video conversion as well -Both have multichannel inputs Pioneer 8ch and the Integra 6ch. -Pioneer has 7.1 channel pre-amp out-puts the Intgra doesnt. -All inputs and outputs are gold plated on both of these units. Advantage: this is a close one the OSD was pretty important but so were the multichannel inputs and the preamp outs out the Pioneer. The kicker was the 5 digital inputs on the Pioneer compared to the 4 on the Integra. The theres the Composite to S-video conversion on the Integra. Nice touch Winner: Tie REMOTES -Pioneer has a nice remote with a LCD screen and learning capabilities with macros but is not blacklit. Come on pioneer 800 dollar reciever and no blacklite remote? -Integra's remote a little large but nicely laid out and blacklit with learning capabilities and macros. Winner: Integra. OVERALL Well Im still tring to decide I have the option to take one back to get the other and I may just do that. The out put could easly sway one way or another I would like to here more peoples input on these recievers. Please email me if you are willing to share your experiences.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer elite 24tx,JVC,Onkyo 595, Sherwood 6108, and Denon 5800