Pioneer 7.1-Channel VSX-9120TXH-K

Right now futureshop.ca has this puppy on sale for $649.99 (save $350). Looks like a pretty nice receiver and a very tempting price.

PIONEER-EXCLUSIVE INNOVATIONS

Phase Control (Bass Management System Ensures Precision Low Frequency Output)
Sound Retriever for Improved Sound Quality of Compressed Music Files
Advanced Direct Energy Power Amplifier
Front Stage Surround Advance

FEATURES FOR SUPERIOR SOUND QUALITY

Equal High Power for All Seven Channels 130 Watts
Third-Generation SHARC Processor + New Freescale 180MI PS Processing DSP
192 kHz/24-bit DAC
XM HD Surround Powered by Neural Audio

SURROUND SOUND TECHNOLOGIES

Built-in Dolby True HD, DD+, DTS HD
THX Select 2 Certified
Built-in DTS-ES/ DTS 96/24/ DTS NEO:6/ Dolby Digital EX/ Dolby Pro Logic IIx Decoders
WMA 9 Pro Decoder
Advanced Surround (15 modes, including Front Stage Surround Advance)

ENHANCED CONVENIENCE

iPod Ready with OSD
XM Satellite Radio Ready with OSD
SIRIUS Satellite Ready with OSD
Pre-programmed LCD Remote Control Unit
Digital Video Converter (up to Component)
FL Dimmer (4 steps)

TERMINALS

HDMI Video Repeater
A 3.5 mm Audio Jack Input on the Front Panel
7.1-Channel Input
6 Digital Inputs (2 Coaxial, 4 Optical) and 1 Digital Output
Component Video Terminal (3 Inputs, 1 Output)
S-Video Terminal (5 Inputs, 3 Outputs)
Front A/V Inputs with Optical Digital Input
Audio (Tuner Included)/Video Inputs: 5A/4AV
Audio/Video Outputs: 1A/2AV + 1V
SR+ (Smart Remote)
Large Speaker Terminals (FL/FR/C/SR/SL/SBR/SBL)

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10088271&catid=10551&logon=&langid=EN&MSCSProfile=3C79F0C7EA3162B2F4DE0859C8631BEA03A2F24D920D5A1E5DEF8F6C56E0D81B6B8F03D98E48287BAE946038880ADA800054F843ADF7D326FA37566D98F9ADC8D8A5E6F1B0D35BAE0D41DE287EDDC6CC2FFACBD3C0E3097BC33B95812D96F93F7F5A0D80FFBB5842202B705665F1B735D85D2CE21139562E

[Post edited by Falcon01 on Mar 29, 2008]

Looks good. Is it DTS-HD Master Audio it decodes, and how many HDMI inputs does it have?

John

1 ..JJ


so.. ehhh onkyo

Yeah, with more and more pieces of audio-video equipment coming with HDMI outputs, people might want a new receiver with as many HDMI inputs as possible in order to let the receiver do all the switching. And be sure the receiver will do DTS-HD Master Audio as well as TrueHD.

John

The VSX-9120TXH-K is an excellent receiver for the price with lots of reasonably clean power, but unfortunately only has 2 HDMI in connections. This may or may not be a problem for you. At least it decodes everything you can throw at it.

Before pulling the trigger, you may want to consider other options. I'm on my second Yamaha receiver now, and I personally think they offer the best bang (and sound) for the buck, particularly the newer Yamaha RX-V663 that I upgraded to. Still only 2 HDMI inputs, but for $400 (or under), you can afford to get a fancy $50 switcher from monoprice.com when the need arises.

The V663 can pass 24p, has Deep Color support, and Burr-Brown DACs.

Does it do DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD?

Falcon, yes... it decodes everything, DD+, TrueHD, and DTS HD Master Audio. It also has 2 sub-outs, which is useful to some people, but I just use one of them. According to my wife, one is even too much!

There is a dedicated official thread of this model on AVSForum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=995796

You can get a Yamaha RX-V663 for close to $350 right now on "buy it now" eBay. Even if you end up paying duty fees and GST/PST plus $60 shipping to Canada, I'd honestly say it's a better receiver than the Pioneer VSX-9120TXH-K (except in raw power) or the entry level Onkyo receivers (605 or 705) - IMO of course. All said and done, it's going to cost you less than $500 total to get into your hands in Canada. A no brainer I would say.

Hmmmm good to know. Thanks for the info Sky. I've always preferred Yamaha receivers so this is a match made in heaven for me.

I agree the Yamaha receivers rock. I AM pissed though about the Yamaha RX-V2600 I purchased only a year and a half ago.....almost completely out-dated already. The sound is incredible, but it only has HDMI v1.1, so it doesn't pass 1080P...only 1080i. Also, it does not have support for the new audio codecs but it DOES accept them decoded through PCM over HDMI.

$1300 for a receiver and outdated in under two years....

Bosshog I feel your pain man. Funny enough I almost purchased that receiver but I didn't because of budget constraints at the time. That receiver is still top notch and if it has the analogue 5.1 inputs you can enjoy the hidef audio codecs (Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, DTS HD MA) through them. Assuming you have a hidef player with the 5.1 outputs of course.

Yeah I have analog outs on my Blu deck and my HD DVD deck, so I am good there. In the end I just decided to live with 1080i (ran HDMI to my receiver, used the PCM signals from the Toshiba A1 and Samsung BDP-1400) so I am getting the new codecs decoded by the players that way.

I decided I could live with only 1080i out of my receiver because I tested two setups:

1) HD source 1080p signal direct to my 58" Viera plasma
2) HD source to my R-XV2600 receiver, 1080i to my 58" Viera plasma

I could see ZERO difference in picture quality....so for me at least this whole 1080i vs 1080p thing is over-rated. The R-XV2600 is a wicked receiver as you say, and if someone else could live with the set-up I have they could get a REAL cheap one used on EBay, it seems everybody wants their receivers to do the decoding.

I'm ok with my set-up, just annoyed at how fast $1300 receiver was behind the times.

[Post edited by Bosshog7 on Mar 31, 2008]