Difficult receiver choice

[admin_exported]

I have a difficult choice to make and hopefully someone can help.
I can't get a review of the Pioneer SC-LX71 anywhere, only the American version. I was hopeing that it would be in todays mag.
Does anyone know anything about the 71?
I have been tempted by the great deals right now on the ONK's 876 or 906 via the promotional offer with Absolute AV(can't shift them?), but I realy like the pioneer at the moment, am considering the 81 if a deal can be made, but a bargain is a bargain and if there isn't much difference with either of the ONKYO's compared to the 71 then I may go for the 876 and save a fair bit of money.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Del

After Pio's myself

However I can't seem to find the deals on Absolute AV about the Onkyo amps, could only find Harmon Kardon

I may be having a... Der moment though!

Any clues?

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

We have the 71 and the 81 set up here as well as the 906. The Pioneer amps are on form right now and the 71 and 81 are proving far more popular than the Onkyo. There is only £100 in between a 906 and the LX71 and the Pioneer offers all home cinema excitment that you get from the Onkyo as well as being solid in Stereo.

It depends on the speakers as to which would be the best for you but as an all rounder the Pioneer is the winner of the to me.

Ask away if you need anything specific.

Nick

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that Nick

Have you a contact number on the website

I wish to speak

 

[Anonymous]

johnnymunro:
Hi Del

After Pio's myself

However I can't seem to find the deals on Absolute AV about the Onkyo amps, could only find Harmon Kardon

I may be having a... Der moment though!

Any clues?

Whoops!

sorry i meant Exceptional AV.

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

http://www.thehomecinemacentre.co.uk/home-cinema-contact.html

We are just closing right now but I am back in from 8am tomorrow.

Nick

 

[Anonymous]

TheHomeCinemaCentre:
We have the 71 and the 81 set up here as well as the 906. The Pioneer amps are on form right now and the 71 and 81 are proving far more popular than the Onkyo. There is only £100 in between a 906 and the LX71 and the Pioneer offers all home cinema excitment that you get from the Onkyo as well as being solid in Stereo.

It depends on the speakers as to which would be the best for you but as an all rounder the Pioneer is the winner of the to me.

Ask away if you need anything specific.

Nick

Thankyou for the reply.
I did think that the 71 might out do the Onk 906 (the stereo performance is very important to me), but the 81 keeps popping up(Can get 2 876's for the same money).
Basically I would rather pay a little extra for what I want rather than buy something, although good, not quite what I want, and then be dissatisfied.
I can't get a demo right now on the 71 unless I pay a deposit and take it home to try and then give it back if I'm not happy. That's ok, but whatever I take home will be an improvement to what I have at the moment.
As for the speakers, I think I may need to upgrade but will have to wait a while for that.

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

the 81 does out perform the 71 in stereo in particular. It is not just the second HDMI output that increases the price. Particular attention has been spent on the audio performance and the Pioneer comes up with the goods. The 81 sits nicely in the range with the 90 and when you hear them back to back ( 71/ 81/90 ) you can hear that they all share the same approach or tone with varying degrees of detail and insight.

If you are looking to change the speakers the 71 or 81 will give you more options later on and you will not be disappointed with either. The 81's that we have installed have been driving a whole variety of speakers in all sorts of room sizes and the amp excels in each environment which is a sign of a good product to me.

Nick

 

[Anonymous]

HI guys,

Looking for the same amps and I'm confused as well as
to which to buy... Tough decision! I am in a process of buying everything from
scratch (tv, amp, BP, speakers,...) and my focus in on set from pioneer (not speakers
though). So 71 or 81, that's the question ;-) On top of that, can anybody tell
me if B&W 684 set would be good match for one of them? Or maybe some other suggestions
for speakers set?

Thanks for advice.

Stone28

 

[Anonymous]

TheHomeCinemaCentre:
the 81 does out perform the 71 in stereo in particular. It is not just the second HDMI output that increases the price. Particular attention has been spent on the audio performance and the Pioneer comes up with the goods. The 81 sits nicely in the range with the 90 and when you hear them back to back ( 71/ 81/90 ) you can hear that they all share the same approach or tone with varying degrees of detail and insight.

If you are looking to change the speakers the 71 or 81 will give you more options later on and you will not be disappointed with either. The 81's that we have installed have been driving a whole variety of speakers in all sorts of room sizes and the amp excels in each environment which is a sign of a good product to me.

Nick

Well after a lot of thinking,I've bit the bullet and paid the deposit today on the 81.
Got it for £1299.99.
I think this is a good price.
The 71 was going for £999.99.
Many thanks for the help.

 

[Clare Newsome]

It's a fantastic receiver and that's a great price - enjoy!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:It's a fantastic receiver and that's a great price - enjoy!

Thanks Clare, I hope so.
It's a massive jump to what I have(Would I be right in saying the 81 is High end Kit?), I do think that the 71 would have been an exellent buy as well. But I finally made the choice based on rather than upgrade again in two years time, this will be a purchase for at least 4 years and although I could get an Onkyo 876 at the moment for £719 or for the difference of £300 the 71, would either do what I want now and in a couple of years, I also think it will be a good HiFi in it's own right as well.
I haven't auditioned any of the latest receivers (stupid I know, but I don't have the time and would feel bad getting a shop to set it up for me only to buy elswhere)so this purchase is based on reviews from yourselves and what I have read.

 

[Anonymous]

Good effort Del

I,m auditioning one tomorrow.

£ 1299 is a good benchmark to barter with , where was that from please

Just spent the last 3 hours putting a Pio 5090 on the wall together with two 5m Van den hul HDMI's behind the plasterboard.

If only the Clearer Audio powercord had arrived

Damn!

 

[Anonymous]

johnnymunro:
Good effort Del

I,m auditioning one tomorrow.

£ 1299 is a good benchmark to barter with , where was that from please

Just spent the last 3 hours putting a Pio 5090 on the wall together with two 5m Van den hul HDMI's behind the plasterboard.

If only the Clearer Audio powercord had arrived

Damn!

Hi Jonny, the place was Hughes electrical, I think their outlets are only based in East Anglia.
There is a website but the deal is'nt there, there sale is on right now so I think the deals are only instore. I didn't need to barter, I decided before if I could get it for £200 less I would buy.
http://www.hughesdirect.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PIO-SCLX81

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

Del - You will be really happy with the 81.

Are you listening to both the 71 and the 81 JohnnyMunro?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Nick at TheHomeCinemaCentre did'nt pick this thread back up till now!!

No I want the Pio 81, based on your assessment of both the 71 and 81 and because I do require it to handle music too

Just need to go out and buy one now if I can find the right deal this side of Christmas!!

Any suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

Del- Just rung Hughes direct they have none in stock....

have you received yours yet?

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

The stock we had last week is all gone and Pioneer are out of stock as well. We have some arriving possibly before New Year but it looks like stock will continue to be limited through January.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that Nick looks like the Pio 5090 is in for a quiet christmas...

But I reckon I can continue researching the speaker choice

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

At least you have a 5090 they are out now as well. Did you look at the Tannoys?

 

[Sc00bied00]

johnnymunro:

Thanks for that Nick looks like the Pio 5090 is in for a quiet christmas...

But I reckon I can continue researching the speaker choice

Auditioned an 81 today, you won't be dissapointed, has loads in reserve and can deliver the goods when needed. Musically it can also deliver.

Can I ask what speakers are you considering to partner this with?

 

[Anonymous]

Well the jury is out at the moment!

The Tannoy revolution signatures seem to get the vote at the moment with me along with the Monitor Audio RSW12 sub (opinion please The Home CinemaCentre)

Coming in with the wife's vote is the Monitor Audio Radius HD Package with the R270HD fronts,R250HD Centre and R90HD rears with the same sub in Piano Black (goes with the Pio 5090 she says!)_

Still hanging around in the background is the B & W MT 30 package with the PV1

Another consideration is if I went for either of the Style packages then I could always buy a new pair of speakers for the stereo requirements in an adjoining room

Decisions decisions.... at least I'm set on the Pio SC-LX81 Receiver..............I THINK

 

[Sc00bied00]

I didn't note what your really into, and what you want to get out of the system your putting together, bolting on Best Buy's to each other may not be what you want to 'hear' when you start listening....

Pleasing the 'her in doors' errrr 'the boss' is always a difficult one. IMHO don't think that an AV amp/surround sound set up will ever match up to a standalone 'stereo' based system as 2 completely different presentations.

When it comes to aesthetics it's a whole new ball game getting the right balance, I've heard the 3005se and the non se KEF's unfortunately not in the same environment, delivery with the se and the pio is smooth and controlled, I think the pio can deliver more than the KEF's can offer IMO, but doesn't lack excitement when required. Haven't heard the B&W MT30's and only know what the reviews say here, If slightly edgy trebles don't please then may not be the way forward, still they could be tamed wilth appropriate cables and partnering equip.

The signature's seem to be the doggy's he haws, sub is a good choice (see my last paragraph), from the review of the Radius music is not it's real forte.

The guy's up here at TheHomeCinemaCenter are a great bunch, knowlegeable and helpful, they present valid arguments for partnering equipment. If you really are spending most of your time with movies/TV etc, invest in this, from your other post if only 10% is with good old hifi then upgrading there for the amout of listening/R&R time doesn't seem right IMO.

You need to get some good demo time not just an hour or so, can you not find a dealer that will allow home demo with some of your options, after all what looks good may not sound right at home, at this price point guestimates is dodgy... and for the missus, seeing/hearing the speakers at home should also help.

HTH - sc00bie

 

[Anonymous]

johnnymunro:
Del- Just rung Hughes direct they have none in stock....

have you received yours yet?

They had to get mine from their Cambridge store, I should get it today..Did you get to audition the 81?

 

[Anonymous]

Sc00bied00:
I didn't note what your really into, and what you want to get out of the system your putting together, bolting on Best Buy's to each other may not be what you want to 'hear' when you start listening....

Good point, it would be nice if there was a list of kit used for reviews.