Does anyone have any experience with the Pioneer Elite VSX-49TX THX Ultra2? I have been able to find it online for right around $2500.00, and it looks like a solid piece. I doubt it, but does anyone have any experience in comparing it to the 950/770?

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Benjamin King
benjaminking@yahoo.com

This months Home Theater mag. has a shoot out between the Anthem AVM-20 and an Anthem power amp whose model # I don't remember, Pioneer VSX-49TX and the Denon 5803. While the conclusion was the pre/pro - amp combo was best overall they had good things to say about both the Pioneer and Denon receivers. For what I know, $2500 is a killer price if it is from an authorized dealer.

I wonder if the new 7 channel amp that Outlaw will bring out will, when paired with the Outlaw 950, make the Outlaw separates lower priced and higher powered than the Pioneer 49 receiver.

mojoman,

I doubt that the internet deals are from authorized dealers, but it sure sounds tempting. There are a lot of features, and I have been reading about better performance than the Denon 5803. As far as power goes, it offers more than I currently need, and it has all the features that I would want on a pre-amp at this point anyway. I am really curious to see what the power rating will be on the upcoming Outlaw amp. Anyone care to speculate? 65, 100, 150?

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Benjamin King
benjaminking@yahoo.com

I vote for 80-120 wpc. 150 is too close to the old 750. Mid-powered (like the Parasound HCA-855A @ 85x5) will generally blow away receivers rated at 100-125 wpc.

Now I'm curious.

Does anyone know off hand the wattage per channel, from 20 to 20,000Hz into 8 ohms (which is the way separate amplifiers are usually measured) of the Pioneer Elite 49TX and Denon 5803, with all channels running?

[This message has been edited by Will (edited July 10, 2002).]

Here are measurements taken by Sound & Vision for the Pioneer:

Output at Clipping : (1kHz @8/4 ohms)
1 Channel Driven - 154 watts
5 Channels Driven - 148 watts
6 Channels Driven - 144 watts

For the Denon 5800 (I think that it has the same amp as the 5803):
1 Channel Driven - 187 watts
5 Channels Driven - 138 watts
No data for 6 Channels.

Both of those receivers have really good stats.


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Benjamin King
benjaminking@yahoo.com

[This message has been edited by BenjaminKing (edited July 10, 2002).]

my local high-end shop prefers the integra 9.1 to the pioneer elite. i haven't had the opportunity to sit down and compare them (or compare either to the 950/770).

When I was reciever shopping over a year ago I had an opportunity to audition recievers from Denon, Pioneer, and Integra/Onkyo. I found that in each price category the Integra sounded fuller, and "warmer" while still retaining the clarity that I was looking for. I am aware that this may not help in a "side to side" compairison of the two models you are looking at, but I can tell you this: when the dust settled, I went home with an Integra 6.2, and am very happy with the decision.

-Jason

There's a comparisone between the top Integra, Denon, and Yamaha receivers in this month's Sound & Vision magazine (the one with the 950 review).