Pioneer VSX-D608 Receiver
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Great sound, great price
Pros
supports a variety of configurations, digital inputs, good quality sound
Cons
menus take some time to learn and aren't always intuitive
Recommended it?
Yes
While the VSX-D608 was about $100 more than the 508, it was worth every penny. First of all, lets talk about the output. The 608 delivers 100 watts over 5 channels, providing discrete Left, Right, Center, Left Rear and Right Rear channels. There is ample power for any good home theater system, with plenty of power left in reserve. There are also pre-outs for a powered subwoofer or powered center channel if you should choose to use them. You can hook up two sets of front speakers, and all of the primary hookups use banana jacks instead of spring terminals. The banana jacks will accept bare wires or banana plugs, both of which are simple to use and less likely to come loose. Each speaker can be independently adjusted so that sound is optimized for the center of the room. There are also several different digital signal processors (DSP) to select from for both audio and video. (ie: Jazz, Rock, Classical, Arena, Theater, 5-D stereo, Action, Drama, etc.) For the most part though, I leave everything set to standard.
For inputs, you can pretty much hook up anything on the market today. There are separate S-video jacks for each source, as well as stereo A/V RCA jacks. The receiver will switch the video sources for you, if you don't want to run them all directly to the TV. One caveat is that receivers don't modulate the signal source. In other words, you cannot cross-connect a VCR with RCA video to a TV with S-Video. Since the receiver doesn't change the signal from an analog RCA to a composite S-Video, you also have to hook up the RCA video output to your TV.
As for surround sound, there are several options. You can use stereo A/V (ie: from a VCR) to decode Dolby Pro Logic, or analog 5.1 inputs from a DVD player. Better yet, you can use the digital coax, or fiber optic from a supporting DVD player to decode DTS or AC-3 surround sound. There are about 3 digital inputs (either coax or fiber). The DVD source defaults to coax, so if you want to use fiber, you must change the configuration. It took some time and some careful reading to figure out the menu options, but once you learn them, it's easy enough.
The remote control is universal and will control just about any device. The display on the unit lists the manufacturers and the code numbers, so you don't have to go hunting down the book each time you add a new device. This can be a lifesaver if you misplace the book.
Overall, the receiver was an excellent buy. The sound is incredible, and there is a definite difference between the digital surround of the DVD and the Pro Logic surround of the VCR. Both sound great, but the digital can blast you out of your seat. I would recommend this receiver to anyone.
For inputs, you can pretty much hook up anything on the market today. There are separate S-video jacks for each source, as well as stereo A/V RCA jacks. The receiver will switch the video sources for you, if you don't want to run them all directly to the TV. One caveat is that receivers don't modulate the signal source. In other words, you cannot cross-connect a VCR with RCA video to a TV with S-Video. Since the receiver doesn't change the signal from an analog RCA to a composite S-Video, you also have to hook up the RCA video output to your TV.
As for surround sound, there are several options. You can use stereo A/V (ie: from a VCR) to decode Dolby Pro Logic, or analog 5.1 inputs from a DVD player. Better yet, you can use the digital coax, or fiber optic from a supporting DVD player to decode DTS or AC-3 surround sound. There are about 3 digital inputs (either coax or fiber). The DVD source defaults to coax, so if you want to use fiber, you must change the configuration. It took some time and some careful reading to figure out the menu options, but once you learn them, it's easy enough.
The remote control is universal and will control just about any device. The display on the unit lists the manufacturers and the code numbers, so you don't have to go hunting down the book each time you add a new device. This can be a lifesaver if you misplace the book.
Overall, the receiver was an excellent buy. The sound is incredible, and there is a definite difference between the digital surround of the DVD and the Pro Logic surround of the VCR. Both sound great, but the digital can blast you out of your seat. I would recommend this receiver to anyone.
