Audiophiles: Need Your Input, Please!

RazedInBlack

RazedInBlack

RazedInBlack
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Dudes like Dolby and such . . . Is this a good entry level amp?

PIONEER 5.1 CHANNEL HDMI AV RECEIVERS - VSX519

http://www.cybertheater.com/pioneer-vsx-519-v-k-receiver-review-tiny-but-mighty/

Pioneer is, generally, one of those truly excellent brands that you can always count on to supply a solid product. Even the lower-end Pioneer models can be counted on to put out great sound quality with plenty of options, and the Pioneer VSX 519 V-K is a perfect example of this.

The Pioneer VSX 519 V-K is a five channel surround sound receiver with two HDMI inputs, a front mini jack for iPods and the like, an advanced sound retriever and an auto level control with auto speaker setup.

This may be one of the absolute lowest-end Pioneer models out there on shelves today. You can see for yourself that it’s definitely nowhere near top of the line, but this actually doesn’t matter. Yes, it’s low end–they’re only asking two hundred bucks for them on Amazon–but the quality is still there, and that’s what you look for in any system. It may be lacking in bells and whistles, it may not be seven channel, but the Pioneer VSX 519 V-K definitely has the punch you’d want and a good bargain to boot.
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Price: R 3,088.26 incl. vat
http://www.liquorish.co.za/order.ph...&navthreeid=236&navfourid=127&productid=10635
 
Just checked it out - looks great, especially at the price! If you do compare power with other models though, that output looks a little blow out ;)

Would you not consider used?
 
Personally I prefer "lower-end" audio kit...not bottom of the range, but the less "bells and whistles", the better....Firstly, less can go wrong and secondly, which is more important, more of the power supply is available for the amplifier...

@Dolby.....I don't know if that is such a good idea for an AV receiver/processor...these things change every 4-6 months...so if you are interested in the latest tech, then as new as possible....(things like HDMI 1.1 > 1.3 > 1.? for example...better/refined firmware, etc.)..Now if you are talking of a Bryston/Krell/Mark Levinson/McIntosch/Simaudio Moon or Plinius amplifier, then YES!!! by all means.....at times 50 - 70% less than new prices...(be it R20-30k...)...

Having said that, one can get a "good/top of the line a year or two ago" AV receiver for the R3000 - R5000 bracket....I would then look at Denon, NAD or Marantz second-hand AV....these brands have very. very decent power supplies and their claimed wpc is at least there and there abouts...
 
Dolby said:
Just checked it out - looks great, especially at the price! If you do compare power with other models though, that output looks a little blow out ;)

Would you not consider used?
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Ye, maybe. I'm still looking around. But thanks for the input Dolby.
 
the graduate said:
Having said that, one can get a "good/top of the line a year or two ago" AV receiver for the R3000 - R5000 bracket....I would then look at Denon, NAD or Marantz second-hand AV...
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HEy, thats not bad. Besides I found that these brands, people generally look well after them so when they upgrade and sell you know you getting a good product.
 
the graduate said:
@Dolby.....I don't know if that is such a good idea for an AV receiver/processor...these things change every 4-6 months...so if you are interested in the latest tech, then as new as possible....
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While I may usually agree, I mean this specific case ;) The amplifier he's looking offers the same as a 2+ year old amplifier, so he wouldn't be losing any latest features

I'm actually selling my Marantz AV amplifier now - but if you're if in the JHB area, you're than welcome to come listen and compare what a R3000.00 new Pioneer sounds like vs a R4000.00 used Marantz, if only to be more informed
 
the graduate said:
Having said that, one can get a "good/top of the line a year or two ago" AV receiver for the R3000 - R5000 bracket....I would then look at Denon, NAD or Marantz second-hand AV....these brands have very. very decent power supplies and their claimed wpc is at least there and there abouts...
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+1 but I would add Yamaha (& possibly Onkyo) to that list, coming from a NAD owner.

One of the better ways of finding out if a amp is good is to go check it's specs for weight. The good ones are very heavy due to the decent transformers & power supplies they have.
My old NAD T751 only does 70W per channel in stereo config but it's backed up by a whopping 40A of current so it will drive just about anything making other brands claims of 120W etc a load of BS. Even my old 3020i (20W) is a good performer.
 
Dolby said:
While I may usually agree, I mean this specific case ;) The amplifier he's looking offers the same as a 2+ year old amplifier, so he wouldn't be losing any latest features
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Features & quality are two different things. I would rather take a good quality receiver lacking a gazillion features and go for something simpler with good quality.
 
PythonFSi said:
HEy, thats not bad. Besides I found that these brands, people generally look well after them so when they upgrade and sell you know you getting a good product.
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It's probably because the initial purchase price was so high and they are also music lovers so they look after their stuff. Many of them will still have the original packaging, manuals etc. (I Know I do :D )
 
ponder said:
Features & quality are two different things. I would rather take a good quality receiver lacking a gazillion features and go for something simpler with good quality.
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Yea I know ... I don't know why you quoted me ;)
 
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