solid receiver for the price, great sound and not very confusing (like the higher end sonys)

the remote could be bigger but i have gotten used to it

i got mine new for 200 bucks so i realy cant complain... sounds great and aside from the remote witch to me isnt that bad the reciver is great it offers some more setup options than my old 606S and all its missing is a digital out and S-video switching but for 300 bucks (store price) you cant beat it.. the 800 and 900 series sony models are very nice but do to their funky LCD remotes and menus they are quite a hassle to set up or even change inputs....
and from dismantling my new 409 i found that the DD and DTS decoder was made by yamaha ... very nice...... good receiver

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-D606S,Sony STR-de925,935,835

Price, quality

nothing to really speak of

As my first DD/DTS reciever, I am quite satisfied. The price is right, the features are good and the sound quality is high. I've read the complaints about the remote and they are mostly valid, but it doesn't bother me. I've also never heard the hiss mentioned below, and I don't understand the one guy who completely trashed this reciever in his review.

Similar Products Used:

none

Has everything I need, 100x5 Surround w/ DTS & DD plus a great price...

Remote kinda sux

Perfect surround sound receiever for my needs and plenty of power.

Similar Products Used:

None, first DD receiver

Quality and Performance for the Price.

AM/FM Tuner.

I bought this receiver for my Home Theater (I have Movie Work 408 from CSW). I played LA Confidential and Saving Private Ryan. I could not believe my ears. Even my friends were surprised the quality of surround. The Bass was superb and the surround effect is stunning.

This product is unbeatable at this price.

Similar Products Used:

None.

Price, Features (Dolby Digital & DTS decoder)

None (at this price)

Just got the receiver at Best Buy for $279. I had a VSX-D508 which I had bought 3 weeks ago (for $299) that I just returned to get this one. $20 less and it adds a DTS decoder. Unit was easy to set up and only significant advantage the 508 had was a slightly better remote. This is a new model so availability isn't widespread yet. An excellent choice for the stereo/home theater enthusiast.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-D508

Wholesome price, good sound quality, nice power, Dolby Digital, DTS.

No S-Video, remote isn't great, not the best display.

This is a great receiver for the price. I couldn't believe it was so inexpensive. When I turned it on, I instantly noticed the great sound quality I had come to expect from Pioneer. I use mine with my projector for a great home theater experience, and nothing compares to watching The Matrix in Dolby Digital on a 200" screen! I just wish it had S-Video inputs. There really is no excuse for not having it, whether it is a value receiver or not. Another disadvantage is the remote. It isn't the best I have seen by far, however, I bought a seperate universal remote that is great (One For All 9800). The display on the receiver is not very pretty either, but that doesn't bother me at all. My friends still drool over my recent purchase. So, all together, the weaknesses are not very important to a value receiver. Overall, this is a great investment if you are looking for a cheap fix for your audio system or home theater system.

Nice look, very smooth switching, good harmonic definition in DSP modes

I cannot say the remote is not nice..because I have had no problems with it. What I will say is BASS is lacking, and having to crank it rather high to get the "oommph"

I have always been a Sony nut, and when the Pioneer was recommended to me, I will admit to thinking twice. The amp is well presented, and contains some very effective DSP and DTS sound modes. The output lacks bass, but I am sure that this will be well compensated with the addition of a powered sub. Midnight mode is a must in DTS/AC-3 mode as it lacks a big end punch...you need to crank it to about -30db to start "the feel"..but again, a sub is sure to fix this. Many thanks to VIK for his comments, and advise during my "pondering"...comments well received , thank you again.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STDRE 845 / 940

Low cost, DD/DTS decoding, 5.1 channel inputs, coaxial/optical input

Weak bass, cluttered remote, no banana plug speaker outputs, no s-video input/output, no subwoofer in stereo.

It's cost effective, but if you many things that use s-video avoid this one because it has no input or output for it. The subwoofer is only active in Dolby Digital and DTS. The bass itself is a little weak, the remote is not as desirable. But good bang for the buck..

Similar Products Used:

kenwood vr3080

PRICE!! Ease of use, lot's of out/inputs, plays DTS and DD 5.1... for movies, is excellent. Even decent for music

no S vdo... that's about it

Wow what can I say.... This receiver already got some really good reviews which you should believe in. Unless you are a real audiophil (why the heck are you reading a review on such a low price receiver anyway) you'll love it. Even better, I got the 5 speakers and the sub in that package! That's right, the complete thing (not the HTP 209, but the HTP 2000) for 230 $ Ok, the sub and the speakers aren't perfect but they're waaaay enough for most of the ppl looking for a cheap solution. Try to find a deal that low, for such quality components. Buy it and love it, you won't be disapointed!

Similar Products Used:

None

Sounds great w/ Dolby Digital

Cheap remote; poor sound for HiFi music

I bought this receiver with bundled speakers (1C, 2F, 2S and one powered SW) in an HTP-209 home theater set.

This receiver sounds great, great, great when used with DVD.
The DSP modes are very good, channel separation is very precise, and the active SW delivers enough bass.

For satellite TV this receiver has barely acceptable performance, and it's just not good enough to HiFi (CD) music. Maybe the problem is within the speakers (I foresee some experimentation ahead).

I don't use the built-in radio as my 22 years-old Stereo performs better for this purpose. Again, the probable culprits are the speakers, as they are designed for movies and not for HiFi music.

If you are looking for a very good & affordable DD 5.1 (and DTS) system, check this one. As this was precisely my case, I will rate it 5 stars. And because I bought this one from overseas, I'd prefer not to rate the value, so I'll give it 3 stars.