Pioneer ELITE 81TXV

[Pirate]

Tom, being the kind soul he is, posted THIS over in the HD section and it got me thinking. I'd like to secure my sound system for at least a few years. I thouth I had to wait for HDMI 1.3 in order to do that, but according to that AVS link, that may not to be the case.

As some of you know, I'm a Pioneer fan (I love my current rec, but it has no HDMI). This 81TXV is actually affordable and if that post is right it will pass all of the new sound formats.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...979804,00.html

[tomdkat]

You know me.... I would take the plunge.

Peace...

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Tom, being the kind soul he is, posted THIS over in the HD section and it got me thinking. I'd like to secure my sound system for at least a few years. I thouth I had to wait for HDMI 1.3 in order to do that, but according to that AVS link, that may not to be the case.

As some of you know, I'm a Pioneer fan (I love my current rec, but it has no HDMI). This 81TXV is actually affordable and if that post is right it will pass all of the new sound formats.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...979804,00.html

This looks great, PH. I really think it will last you a long time and is a worthy investment. Plus, having your electronics all hook nicely into your receiver and some via hdmi, is great. I know I like my str-dg1000, so I am sure you'll like the Pioneer.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Plus, having your electronics all hook nicely into your receiver and some via hdmi, is great.

That's the one thing I won't do with the Pioneer. Apparently the next model up (the 82TXS), which I assume would be similar, adds artifacts into the video via HDMI, so I’ll probably buy a stand-alone switcher.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

That's the one thing I won't do with the Pioneer. Apparently the next model up (the 82TXS), which I assume would be similar, adds artifacts into the video via HDMI, so I’ll probably buy a stand-alone switcher.

That's a shame. I know that I find it very convenient to have everything routed through the receiver.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by ganthc

That's a shame. I know that I find it very convenient to have everything routed through the receiver.

I'll need a switcher anyway for all the HD-DVD-BVD-DVD-BD-NDDs players. Besides, the sound is what matters and Pioneer does a fine job with that.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

That's the one thing I won't do with the Pioneer. Apparently the next model up (the 82TXS), which I assume would be similar, adds artifacts into the video via HDMI, so I’ll probably buy a stand-alone switcher.

Are the artifacts added if the receiver does any upconversion (to 1080i or 1080p) or are the artifacts introduced during straight pass-thru too?

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Are the artifacts added if the receiver does any upconversion (to 1080i or 1080p) or are the artifacts introduced during straight pass-thru too?

Peace...

Originally Posted by From review

Video processing is really what a lot of people are concerned about at this time. As HDMI becomes more and more common, we are going to see a lot of the web of A/V connections reduced to just a few wires. For now, most of us have a mishmash of components that have different output capabilities. What we want is something that takes all that and transfers it all to component or HDMI so that we are only having to run a single wire to the display. This simplifies our lives as the video is automatically switched when you change sources on your receiver. The VSX-82TXS is supposed to be able to convert any incoming signal to all the different monitor outs.

In the course of reviewing this receiver I noticed some visual artifacts on the display that seemed static - some vertical lines that ran across the screen mostly at the bottom and top of the display. Unfortunately, I had a display in for review the same time I was reviewing the 82TXS so it took me a while to identify the problem. I thought I had a bad monitor until I ran a 6.75 MHz test and the display failed. For those of you that don't know, this is a 480p test. There is no way that display should have failed (it was 720p capable). So, off I went to test the connections and discover the cause. Eventually, I figured out that when I turned the video conversion "Off" so that all the unit was doing was switching, it passed the 6.5 MHz test and the artifacts went away. On a whim, I went back and sent the unit a 480i signal. With a 480i signal, the unit passed the 6.75 MHz test. It seems that sending the unit a progressive signal caused it to fail the test.

But that was not the end of the saga. Buried deep in the AV Parameter menu is an option called Resolution. You can select Pure , 480p , 720p , or 1080i depending on your display capabilities (the default is Pure) . Once I selected 720p , I found that the unit now passed the 6.75 MHz test on both component and HDMI. But I still noticed some visual artifacts on the HDMI output. If I sent a 480i signal, I noticed the visual artifacts on both component and HDMI. I've informed Pioneer of my findings and will report back once they respond.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Take a look and tell me what you think.

I think you and everyone should wait for the Onkyo avr reviews. I know I am.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I think you and everyone should wait for the Onkyo avr reviews. I know I am.

I can get this Pioneer for around $600-$700. The Onkyo's will be $1K at their cheapest. And if the only thing I'm paying for is a logo on the front, I can't say I see the point.

[Iguana Man]

You have little patience. I was there (shit..still am) BUT, I think it's worth waiting for.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

You have little patience. I was there (shit..still am) BUT, I think it's worth waiting for.

I’m just confused, and I don't want to pay extra for logos. But, not having an HDMI receiver is becoming a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, I would like to see TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus on the receiver's display.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I’m just confused, and I don't want to pay extra for logos. But, not having an HDMI receiver is becoming a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, I would like to see TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus on the receiver's display.

Quit being offline mode! I hate that! You and you know who know what I mean.

Ok. I still say wait. Can't we at least hear one single review? One?

Come on man...relax.

[tomdkat]

Thanks for posting that, PH. Here is a quote from that review:

Originally Posted by review posted by PH

Eventually, I figured out that when I turned the video conversion "Off" so that all the unit was doing was switching, it passed the 6.5 MHz test and the artifacts went away.

So, using the receiver as a HDMI switcher (doing NO video conversion or processing, just as a pass-thru) shouldn't pose any problems since the video signal is left below. It's when the receiver converts the video to some other resolution that the artifacts appear. PH, the VSX-81TXV can serve as your HDMI switcher.

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

PH, the VSX-81TXV can serve as your HDMI switcher.

So, if I have my HD-DVD player set to 1080i/p going to the receiver in "off" mode, I wonder what resolution signal it will be sending to my 720p projector. It should still be sending the pure 1080 signal... right?

[Taxi]

Right. And then your projector should be able to do the down conversion to 720p.

Originally Posted by WhinerMan

You and you know who know what I mean.

Fine...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Taxi

Right. And then your projector should be able to do the down conversion to 720p.

So why wait for the Onkyo? I mean, unless we think they're going to destroy the ELITE (which I doubt), the only pros I see are possible 1080p upconversion and, again, the logos on the front.

I already know Pioneer gives good audio.

[Taxi]

The only pro it seems would be if the Onkyo could do stellar upconversion.

Personally, I don't think it's the job of the switching box (which is basically what a receiver is when it comes to video) to do any signal conversion. But that's just me.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Taxi

The only pro it seems would be if the Onkyo could do stellar upconversion.

Personally, I don't think it's the job of the switching box (which is basically what a receiver is when it comes to video) to do any signal conversion. But that's just me.

I tend to agree. My PJ does good conversion on it's own and I'm sure my next PJ will as well.

And I'm getting really tired of LFE-less HD-DVD.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

So why wait for the Onkyo? I mean, unless we think they're going to destroy the ELITE (which I doubt), the only pros I see are possible 1080p upconversion and, again, the logos on the front.

Of course, I see no reason to wait for the Onkyo to come out (even though Ruined likes the Audyssey EQ better ) but I'm partial and biased.

Peace...

[chlngr1970]

I haven't seen any artifacting on my 82TXS. I dunno what the reviewer is talking about here

Also, does the 81 do HDMI Audio?

j

[Iguana Man]

There is a notice on that page worth looking at.

Important: Notice about Firmware Upgrade for Certain '05 and '06 Home A/V Receivers
March 15, 2007

Dear Valued Customer:

Re: Free Firmware Upgrade for Certain 2005 and 2006 Pioneer Home A/V Receivers

We would like to inform you of the availability of a free firmware upgrade to address a potential service issue with the following Pioneer home A/V receivers:

VSX-72TXV VSX-82TXS
VSX-74TXVi VSX-84TXSi
VSX-81TXV VSX-9110TXV-K

Pioneer has become aware that in some circumstances the above-listed receivers may experience certain audio and/or video symptoms related to the use of an HDMI port on the receiver. The symptoms include (1) picture quality issues (dark screen image, no video image, white screen and/or intermittent picture) when the input signal to the receiver is connected through an analog port (component, S-Video, composite) and the output signal from the receiver is connected though an HDMI port, or (2) low subwoofer speaker sound level when the input signal to the receiver is connected through an HDMI port. Importantly, this potential service issue does not pose any health or safety risk.

If you have an affected home A/V receiver and you are experiencing a service issue as described above, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 to arrange for a free firmware upgrade. Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this potential service issue may cause you, and we thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Pioneer.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

So does this resolve the HDMI issue mentioned in the review? If I read both correctly I think so!

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

So does this resolve the HDMI issue mentioned in the review? If I read both correctly I think so!

Maybe, maybe not. The reviewer didn't mention if he saw artifacts when using an HDMI-in/HDMI-out connection or a component-in/HDMI-out connection.

Converting analog video (component in) to digital (HDMI out) is different than scaling the video to some other resolution or de-interlacing it, etc.

Or, maybe the reviewer got a bum unit.

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

Also, does the 81 do HDMI Audio?

I think so.

[Iguana Man]

Sorry...

Those Pio's look awesome!

[tomdkat]

So PH, are you taking the plunge on this receiver or are you gonna try one of the 82TXVs?

Peace...