Price, features.

No headroom, dynamic range absolutely sucks. Orange display I find unpleasant.

I consider myself an audiophile, simply because I have been a musician for 25+ years, and been in the music business-so I know what instruments should sound like in a recorded and reproduced format. I know what should, and SHOULD'NT be heard from a system.
Having been a Pioneer fan and user for two decades, I was really disappointed with my 508. The sound sounded really restricted, and had no useable dynamic range. Found myself constantly fiddling with the volume control while watching movies, and it was too easy to make the power section clip.
100 watts x5? my a$$!! I hated this unit more with each progressive listen. Before returning the Pioneer, I bought the above mentioned Onkyo unit. Now, THAT's what music and home theatre is all about! I was, I admit, very tempted to go with the Pioneer Elite VSX 26, because AMAZON.com has them for roughly $826....great savings, but then I came to my senses and bought the Onkyo-and took my lumps and paid a little more than internet prices to buy it here locally, but at least if it DOES give me any problems after burn-in, well, I can take it to a real, live person, locally. No, the Onkyo so far does not hum, or do anything it should not, and I have about 10 hours on it right now, the majority being Movie viewing. Sorry Pionner, but I don't think I will be coming back.

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Previously owned two older Pioneer audio units.I replaced this new Pionner unit after three weeks with an Onkyo TX-DS777...don't miss the pioneer one little bit.

Remote, Dolby Digital

Have to CRANK the volume to get results

Sounded much better than my old Harmon/Kardon. Great for home theater applications. 100x5 watts is NOT correct, either that or it is a very low current amp.
I got this for $300 CANADIAN, which we all know is ALOT less in American funds beacuase our currency is SH!T right now LOL. I have it hooked up to Mission fronts, JBL rears and a Cerwin-Vega center channel, with a sub that matches my mission perfect (Nuance).

GREAT VALUE!! A++

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Harmon/Kardon (about 15 years old)

VALUE

Low power

Great deal - good cost

DUSTY - LEARN TO SPELL WHEN BASHING AN ITEM..... quiet is not the same as quite.

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Sony, Yamaha

VALUE

Low power

Great deal - good cost

DUSTY - LEARN TO SPELL WHEN BASHING AN ITEM..... quiet is not the same as quite.

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Sony, Yamaha

Price.

This is a great reciever for the money. I have no problems with it thus far. I like this reciever a lot more than the Sony STR-DE 835. As for some of you not liking the orange, I think its a lot better than some of these recievers with goofy looking lettering and multicolors, like the AIWAS. Great reviever, excellent value.

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sony str-de 835

Dolby digital, Universal remote, A/B switching, good sound, value

Have to toggle thru sources on remote, Must use remote for several functions, Low volume

Good value, paid $159 with shipping from UBID. The remote works my Panasonic DVD, 15 yr old Toshiba VCR, 3 yr old Panasonic VCR, 8 yr old Toshiba TV. Sounds clean with all inputs. Using older Polk m10's as my mains. Crank up Stevie Ray Vaughan DVD live from Austin, & the room is alive!!! At -28 it is quite loud & clean. Surround effects are best at low levels or off.

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Older Pioneer VSX9500

At the time I purchased this, I thought it was a very good deal compared to other receivers. However, the price has dropped dramatically.

Pioneer Customer Service is awful. Hard to get through, and since the warranty only lasted 90 days, they could only offer a place to get it serviced.

After owning this for about 5 months, I started hearing a slight hum coming from the center speaker. As mentioned, Pioneer's warranty expired and refused to help me. I endured this hum for quite awhile, only noticing it when sound scenes are very low. Then, about 6 months later, I started hearing a hum coming from my subwoofer. Once again, I tried hard to ignore, only hearing it with silent DVD scenes. Yesterday -- the main reason I'm now reveiwing this for the public -- the front left and front right speaker channels have quit on the DVD mode. They do work on all other settings, but since DVD's are the main source of Dolby Digital signals I wish to hear (I still get a dolby digital signal on my Dishnet Satellite HBO channel when playing DD movies activating all 6 speakers), I feel that this receiver has got to be replaced. I'm even nervous about selling this on ebay, even despite disclosing all its problems. Because, what's next. Essentially, the quality of use that I got out of this for a short 2 years -- considering my last Harmon Kardon lasted fine for 15 years -- is very poor, if not horrible. I really have no choice but to highly discourage anyone from buying this model. And, after the unfavorable support I got from Pioneer, I'd stay completely clear of this brand altogether.

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Harmon Kardon, pre-Dolby Digital

Great value for the money.

Display is somewhat lacking.

Excellent value. Built-in crossover (100, 150, 200) for front, center, and/or surrounds depending on what kind of speakers you own (big or small). Preouts for center and subwoofer for amplified speakers (or incase you want to use or tv speakers as a center channel).

Display is lacking and is orange, however, you can dim it.

3 digital inputs...

All in all good buy if you're short on cash and need a good amp.

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Technics SA-EX410

cost, features, remote, optical inputs....

no DTS, volume display too small, no direct function control
from the remote - you have only one button and must scroll

I really am very surprised - this receiver has stood up to my tests and has provided a great listening experience. I'm not going to say that it is the best receiver out there, (The Denon 5700 is) but I really think this is the best value in a receiver that I've ever gotten.

I understand that in the 2000 year Pioneer has released the 509, and that is essentially the 508 with DTS. At the same price point I would bet that there is nothing really competitive to this on the market.

And I love the DD performance - makes my relatively small rears come alive! I've got an unusual setup Large fronts (15" subs built in) a really small center and small rears, yet the 508 hasn't disapointed. It was very easy to configure for these speaker sizes, and channel customization (+/- 10db) is simple with there own buttons on the remote.

To those who complain about the wattage being untrue - I've had the police to my apartment 6 times because of complaining neighbors. I question the setup of their systems - check the ohm selector on the rear of the unit or get new speakers!

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Sony de-835, denon 3300

Looked nice

Did not appear to produce the power stated.

Unit had limited power. A 1/2 volume the unit shutdown due to an over power condition.

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Replaced it with a Yamaha HTR-5140