Pioneer VSX-1017TXV-K - iPod Ready, XM Satellite Ready, and Sirius Satellite Ready 7-Channel A/V Receiver

When it comes to Home-Theater sound, it's beyond numbers and specs. Pioneer VSX-1017TXVK delivers up to 7.1 channel surround sound and allows flexible connectivity for virtually every sound source to connect through. You can even connect an iPod. There's an AM/FM tuner but, if you've got a satellite-radio subscription, it's XM and Sirius ready. You can continue to discuss specs and view the list here. When it comes to uncompromising sound value, trust Pioneer. Equal High Power for All Seven Channels (150 Watts x 7, 1 kHz, 1.0 % THD, 6 ohms); (front); 120 W (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2 % THD, 8 ohms); (center); 120 W (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2 % THD, 8 ohms); (surround); 120 W (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2 % THD, 8 ohms); (surround back); 120 W (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2 % THD, 8 ohms) New Freescale 180MIPS Processing DSP THX Select 2 Certified Built-in DTS-ES/DTS 96/24/DTS NEO - 6/Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital EX/Dolby Pro Logic II x Decoders WMA 9 Pro Decoder Advanced Surround (14 Modes, including Front Stage Surround Advance) iPod Ready with On Screen Display (OSD) - optional dock required XM Satellite Radio Ready with OSD - XM subscription and antenna required SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ready with OSD - Sirius Subscription and antenna required Pre-programmed LCD Remote Control Unit Digital Video Converter (up to Component) Sound Delay HDMI Video Switching 7.1-Channel Input 6 Digital Inputs (2 Coaxial, 4 Optical) and 1 Digital Output Component Video Terminal (3 Inputs, 1 Output) Front A/V Inputs with Optical Digital Input Audio (Tuner Included)/Video Inputs - 3A/5AV Audio/Video Outputs - 1A/2AV + 1V, SR+ Terminal Out Large Speaker Terminals (FL/FR/C/SR/SL/SBR/SBL) Dimensions (W x H x D) - 16-9/16 x 6-13/16 x 18-15/16 inches (420 x 173 x 465 mm); Weight - 33 lbs. (15 kg)

You get what you paid for is what comes to mind with this unit so I take full responsibility for my purchase. Sound, looks, ease of use on this unit are all very nice but there is an issue regarding the HDMI connection and it's not about the video-only pass-thru but rather the HDMI "handshake". It does not like the HDMI connection to a Playstation 3. Video "flashes" and blank video for 3 to 5 seconds is common. I've resolved this by directly making the connection from the PS3 to my Samsung LN52A650 and a separate optical connection from the PS3 to the receiver. My whole goal was to have everything switch through the 1017TXV but now, I have a big pile of remotes that I use to switch from watching Bluray DVD or playing games to watching cable. If I had a do over, I would pay extra for PS3 compatibility and true HDMI connection and upscaling to eliminate the doubling up of HDMI and audio connections.

Overall, this is a great unit. I did a lot of research, and I was really disappointed that (at the time of purchase) there weren't many units that could just take an HDMI signal (video and audio) and work with all the audio channels. The wording is confusing to the point of almost being misleading, and I'm sure more than a few people have purchased this receiver thinking it had full HDMI compatibility. Well, it doesn't, as other reviewers have pointed out. I use optical audio and it sounds great, so that isn't an issue for me. The automatic speaker calibration works great. Just put it where you sit, and it will make all the adjustments for you. I also love the ExtendedStereo feature which is great for programs that are just in stereo. This unit comes with an iPod connector and you can control your iPod from the Pioneer remote which is cool. I basically plugged in an old one with a bunch of music I like and tucked it away. It's like having a 200 CD changer (remember those?) but without the size. The sound - it's amazing. I suppose that is what most people want to know when shopping for a receiver. Get some good speakers. This unit is powerful and clean sounding even at moderately high volumes. Overall, I really have no complaints except for the HDMI thing, and I hear Pioneer has a new model coming out this summer that will solve that problem. I'm not sure if it would be worth purchasing a newer model, because the optical audio works fine for me now.

I was shopping within this price point so I can't be two disappointed about several issues. First, the sound is really fantastic, if you have really good speakers and I do. With a 15" sub-woofer it shakes the house. The the auto sound setup for the room is perfect. I set it up, let it configure and wow, very nice sound profile with a lot of depth. Basically, I'm very happy with the sound aspects of the receiver. There are a few drawback I think are significant. First, the on screen display for the receiver will not output through the HDMI cable to your HD TV. You have to make a separate S-Video or component connection to see them. This is kind of annoying and confusing as it's only in the fine print in the manual. There's no excuse for Pioneer to not support the on screen functions via the HDMI connection to the TV. What where they thinking? The second issue is that the receiver is fairly complex so if reading the manual is not your game to figure this thing out, then you'll be totally lost. For example, my son pressed the DVD button to switch from the DVR to the DVD, but accident hit another button. The sound went off and it took me 30 minutes to figure out how to get the sound back. I am pretty good with technical hardware since that's what I do for a living. So get it setup and don't touch the controls, except for maybe switching sound modes. The Big drawback is that despite the fact that multiple sites and forums name this receiver as a unit that support digital audio through the HDMI ports, it doesn't support it. If you want to hear digital audio from your digital source, you must make a second digital connection via a optical or coax cable to hear your 7.1 surround sound. The HDMI is pass-through only. Interestingly enough, your HD TV can play audio through the HDMI cable, but the receiver will not. If you can get past these three issues, you'll enjoy the powerful sound coming out of this receiver. I hope this helps everyone. Good Luck.

I first selected a Pioneer unit based on my previous good experience with their products. The VSX-1017TXV unit was my final choice based on its features, price and reviews. The receiver was delivered promptly and the on-screen set-up procedure built into the system is quick and results in a great home theater experience without hassle. The remote control navigation and feature selection is well thought out and makes the day-to-day use of the receiver moving from HDTV, TiVo, DVD movies and CD music a snap. I would highly recommend the Pioneer VSX-1017TXV receiver to anyone looking for a mid-price upgrade to their home audio or video system.

Not only is this thing too complex and fails to support the newer codecs but it doesn't support sound via HDMI. I learned this the hard way when trying to setup my 360 and PS3 to output video/sound via HDMI to the receiver.