Pioneer VSX-D811-S - Well worth buying!
Written: Apr 24 '03
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Pros: Everything
Cons: Not a thing
The Bottom Line: A superb 7.1channel amp thats worth every bit you pay for it. I cant fault this unit in any way!
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| godatguitar's Full Review: Pioneer VSX-D811S 7.1 Channels Receiver |
I have to start off by saying that i paid double what this unit now sells for, and I am still more than happy to pay that amount again to buy a new one, as this amp is a superb unit with nothing to fault for the money.
I saw this unit in a shop window, knowing nothing about it at all, but i was impressed. Very little hifi equipment can catch my eye, and THEN perform as well as this bargain. It looks like it should cost around $1000, and yet the price tag said $450, maybe there is a catch then?
Not at all. I was impressed straight away. Its a 7.1 channel amp, with so many features I am still learning and I have had the unit nearly 6 months! This does not mean that it is complicated to use at all, in fact, exactly the opposite!
I opted for the 'S' version, in silver, as it matches the rest of my hifi equipment and looks top notch. I wont list all of the spec here as there is so much i could be going on for ages, but lets just give an overview of the important bits:
Dolby Digital/Ex, Prologic I/II, DTS
7.1 Channel
100W/channel RMS (main channels)
RDS Tuner
2x Coax IN, 2 optical IN, 1 optical OUT
Front panel optical IN, analogue in
There is so much more to list, such as NEO, advanced surround options etc but if you want to know this I suggest you visit pioneers web site for more info.
I run 2 mission m74i floorstanders as my main speakers, with a matching mission centre speaker, a Sony 32inch 100Hz pure flat tv and a yamaha DVD-S520 dvd player.
The amp took about 1/2hr to set up, to get basic options working, but there is so much to do to completely set it up i recon would take about 2hrs. However, it is well worth spending this time getting the most out of this amp, as it will definately impress both you and your friends!
MUSIC
Music sounds good through this amp. Bearing in mind that this unit is not intended for stereo performance, this unit definately out-performs similar units in this area. Of course, a good main stereo amp would knock this one away, but then it would not have all the surround features this one has.
FILM
Wow. If you can, choose DTS. It is superb. The sound is crisp and accurate, surrounding you in immense noise throughout SWORDFISH and yet very subtle music and ambient noises during Forrest Gump. This amp will please in small or large rooms, as you can adjust the balance of treble and bass via the midnight/loudness settings or via the jog dial. Midnight allows you to listen at quiet volumes with plenty of bass and important frequencies, and loudness i tend to use a lot, which just increases the low and high ends.
I cannot say much more on this amp, other than GO BUY IT NOW! If you are looking at this price figure, dont even hesitate. Pioneer have excelled again. You wont be disappointed!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
godatguitar
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Location: Hampshire, UK
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
I am a University Student Studying MEng Computer Electronics.
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