Pioneer 1018 inqury - Blu-ray Forum

callas01 · 11-07-2008, 03:59 AM

Hello everyone, I was talking with my wife because she is getting ready to let me buy my xmas present (new receiver) and I have been pretty much set on the Sony 920... she asked me which ones I have been looking at and I told her my pro's and con's about the Yammy 663 and onkyo 606, she asked about any others and I brought up the pio. and so she said well they make really nice stuff and would I rather do that, and I showed here the price diff. and she really wasn't bothered by it and said you always make the right decision, get what you want......

SO, here I am, I only want to discuss the Pioneer 1018. NOT every other receiver, please no anti sony bias, I will accept bringing up the differences of the 2 units, but I would really like to know what the owners of the pioneer think.

Please I want the good, the bad and the UGLY. what seperates it from other receivers like the DAC's or anything else, links to unbiased reviews, issues with setup, do you have to assign inputs, people say bad things about their actual power output.. is that correct??.good or bad customer service...etc.

I played with the Pio. just briefly at BB, but it was hooked up to a polk 5.1 HTiB, and I couldn't get a good feel for the receiver... I also tried to read through the 86 pages at AVS, but its 86 pages!?!

Thanks for your help.

TENSE · 11-07-2008, 04:29 AM

i would most definitely go with the pio 1018 over the sony 920.

callas01 · 11-07-2008, 04:31 AM

yeah, not really the response I want, I want insite not opinions. thanks though

TENSE · 11-07-2008, 04:34 AM

this would probably help!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...t=pioneer+1018

callas01 · 11-07-2008, 04:44 AM

Thank you, I have already read the official thread and the engadget page. I've read the spec sheet too, but I guess what I am looking for is real world experience with the AVR, Thanx TENSE.

jay9228 · 11-27-2008, 12:10 AM

callas01

Hi there, hopefully I can help you out a bit. I'm fairly new to the home theater game, but after the last two weeks I have some experience with the new Sony's and Pio1080.. I purchased the S820 a week and a half ago as the next step towards my home theater, replacing my old Sony 5.1 receiver, can't remember the model anymore, already donated to a friend. I ended up returning it two days later, but not because I was not happy with it, but it turned out that it was not compatible with my older Sony 51" rear-pro tv.. This older tv only had a DVI input, not HDMI, so when I connected my PS3 to it, I would have video but no audio. After a few phone calls to Sony tech, I was told my only option was to use optical for audio and HDMI for video only. However I also discovered that the amp did not allow me to select optical audio input for the input which was using HDMI at the same time, after a second call I was then told my only option then was to buy a new TV... yah, right.. Other then this issue, I was pleased with the amp's sound quality and features, if it had worked as I had hoped with my equipment I certainly would have kept it...

After returning it I went and picked up the Pio1018, very comparable in features and now that I have listened to many different sources and played with all the surround options, I think I have a real winner on my hands. The sound is amazing, True-HD in 7.1 with my entry level Polk speakers is un-describable, my friends are all buying Blu-Rays just to leave at my house

Of course, this setup works flawlessly with my PS3 and older Sony TV, something I still wish the SONY receiver would have worked, but I think in the end I like this receiver more.

Just to note, the 720 and 920 will have the same issue for anyone else using an older TV.

Conclusion, they are both excellent receivers, if you have no concerns with compatability with the rest of your gear, I'm certain you will be happy with either. Personally, I think after having tried both, and even if the Sony had worked with my setup I would still choose the Pioneer, from most sources there is no difference in sound quality, but with True-HD, the 1018 really shines in my opinion.

-Jay

BACsader · 11-27-2008, 12:17 AM

I have the Older Elite version of the 1018 the VSX-91TXH and I have to say, in its class, it is hands down the highest quality receiver. It has the best watts per channel and a solid amplification system using direct power that do not run hot at all. It also has a fantastic calibration system that is very accurate. The sound on it is nothing short of fantastic. I would highly reccommend it, even if it costs a couple bucks more. Down the road, you will be happy with it and not that it is very important, it is more asthetically pleasing than all of the other receivers in its class. Good Luck.

crackinhedz · 11-27-2008, 12:18 AM

you got mail callas.

crackinhedz · 11-27-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BACsader

I have the Older Elite version of the 1018 the VSX-91TXH and I have to say, in its class, it is hands down the highest quality receiver.

I would highly reccommend it

I'd like to second this statement.

callas01 · 11-27-2008, 06:21 AM

Thanks Guys,

Unfortunatly, this information came after I had already purchased the Sony 920. I bought it last Thursday. It will be here Friday. I was going to buy the Pioneer and then I saw something that struck me, it was the dimensions, so I went and measured my AV rack, the Pioneer was 1-1/16" too deep, once I got the cables in and everything the front of the receiver would be off of the edge of the shelf..... I measured the Sony and even that is 3/4" deeper then my current Sony, but I can make that work. I think the pioneer was 17.25" deep and the Sony was 13.75" deep. or close to those #'s

I did my homework though, I had listened to each of the Yammy 663, onkyo 606, and the both the pioneer and Sony(Sony was hard to find), also a harman or a Marantz... not sure it was at BB . I was most impressed with the Pioneer and the Yammy, then the Sony and finally Onkyo... but I really am not a big Onkyo fan anyways... also, the onkyo only upscaled to 1080i, but it did have 2nd zone which I liked, Yammy was bothering me cause I constantly read that it lost power at the top end... but it sounded really good, but I couldnt get over how it was reviewed. the Pioneer i listed to on polk 6570's... I was surprised that they actually made those speakers sound good, cause I don't like those little pieces of poop. I found the sony 920 in costa mesa at a sony style store... I actually got to listen to it on sony speakers no less(which is what I have) and it sounded very good too.

So it came down to sony or Pioneer, when I saw the size, and then the price drop of the sony, my mind was made up, I was buying the Sony.

Jay, the 720 and the 820 will not process video from another input such as componet or optical then out the hdmi output, the 920 will. I learned this from my 710, which is the whole reason I wanted the 920 over the lower 820 & 720.

Plus what was important was that the 920 unlike the 820 and 720, is a full bandwidth receiver, has on screen gui, decodes the audio codecs, can upscale to 1080p, it can take in audio and video from other inputs and send it out via hdmi and supports deep color and xvycc. The only other reciever that I like that did all that was the pioneer. the only thing I ever read about the pioneer was that the 130 watts per channel was actually rated at 110 when in full surround sound, which even still that is excellent so I was not bothered by that at all. I read that the sony actually does the full 100 watts per channel in full surround, so they were so close for me that it really came down to one thing......... the size of the AVR.

I was going to buy the pioneer $449, I ended up getting the Sony for $380.

I am happy and anxiously awaiting the delivery of the sony. Thanks Guys.

BTBuck1 · 11-27-2008, 06:50 AM

i'd buy a new audio cabinet before i ever ran a Sony Receiver again.

After comparing my old Pioneer 1014tx vs the STRDE995 I had, the Pioneer destroyed it in every way shape and form.

I have the Yammy 663 now, I wanted the 1018 but it worked out that I ended up with the 663, by brother has the 1018 and While I like my Yamaha and it does everything i want it to do, My heart is still with Pioneer.

JasonR · 11-27-2008, 07:45 AM

Receivers in this price range comes down to brand loyalty and feature set, not much else....

callas01 · 11-27-2008, 02:08 PM

I actually considered putting the pioneer under the center channel, but then that meant rerunning all of my surround wires. In order to do that I have to go under the house & I hate going under the house. And no I wasn't going to buy a new AV Rack. I can say that the pioneer was a great sounding receiver, one of the best I had heard, but the Sony was awesome too. People here are so quick to dismiss Sony receivers, I know my 710 lacks some, but I really was impressed with the 920. And yes there was some brand loyalty too, which is why the Onkyo & Yamaha were rejected so quickly (plus things like setting the inputs, 1080i upconversion, reviews etc.). I think they may be great for some people, just my heart was in other places. The 920 if you look at the specs, its just like the entry level ES Receiver 2400, they are pretty much the same minus the pre-outs and rs232 connection. They sounded pretty much similar too.

Anyways, I am happy with my purchase.

DimeMecka · 11-28-2008, 09:37 PM

I recently bought a 1018 very nice receiver!I up graded from a Sony home in the box set up and I have to say what an upgrade.I have definitive pro cinema 600 speakers and wow my ears are so impressed!

hagar852 · 11-29-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay9228

callas01

Hi there, hopefully I can help you out a bit. I'm fairly new to the home theater game, but after the last two weeks I have some experience with the new Sony's and Pio1080.. I purchased the S820 a week and a half ago as the next step towards my home theater, replacing my old Sony 5.1 receiver, can't remember the model anymore, already donated to a friend. I ended up returning it two days later, but not because I was not happy with it, but it turned out that it was not compatible with my older Sony 51" rear-pro tv.. This older tv only had a DVI input, not HDMI, so when I connected my PS3 to it, I would have video but no audio. After a few phone calls to Sony tech, I was told my only option was to use optical for audio and HDMI for video only. However I also discovered that the amp did not allow me to select optical audio input for the input which was using HDMI at the same time, after a second call I was then told my only option then was to buy a new TV... yah, right.. Other then this issue, I was pleased with the amp's sound quality and features, if it had worked as I had hoped with my equipment I certainly would have kept it...

After returning it I went and picked up the Pio1018, very comparable in features and now that I have listened to many different sources and played with all the surround options, I think I have a real winner on my hands. The sound is amazing, True-HD in 7.1 with my entry level Polk speakers is un-describable, my friends are all buying Blu-Rays just to leave at my house

Of course, this setup works flawlessly with my PS3 and older Sony TV, something I still wish the SONY receiver would have worked, but I think in the end I like this receiver more.

Just to note, the 720 and 920 will have the same issue for anyone else using an older TV.

Conclusion, they are both excellent receivers, if you have no concerns with compatability with the rest of your gear, I'm certain you will be happy with either. Personally, I think after having tried both, and even if the Sony had worked with my setup I would still choose the Pioneer, from most sources there is no difference in sound quality, but with True-HD, the 1018 really shines in my opinion.

-Jay

What would have worked for you is getting a HDMI > DVI adapter and plugging that to the TV directly and then doing optical to receiver for audio..

11-07-2008, 03:59 AM	#1
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Pioneer 1018 inqury Hello everyone, I was talking with my wife because she is getting ready to let me buy my xmas present (new receiver) and I have been pretty much set on the Sony 920... she asked me which ones I have been looking at and I told her my pro's and con's about the Yammy 663 and onkyo 606, she asked about any others and I brought up the pio. and so she said well they make really nice stuff and would I rather do that, and I showed here the price diff. and she really wasn't bothered by it and said you always make the right decision, get what you want...... SO, here I am, I only want to discuss the Pioneer 1018. NOT every other receiver, please no anti sony bias, I will accept bringing up the differences of the 2 units, but I would really like to know what the owners of the pioneer think. Please I want the good, the bad and the UGLY. what seperates it from other receivers like the DAC's or anything else, links to unbiased reviews, issues with setup, do you have to assign inputs, people say bad things about their actual power output.. is that correct??.good or bad customer service...etc. I played with the Pio. just briefly at BB, but it was hooked up to a polk 5.1 HTiB, and I couldn't get a good feel for the receiver... I also tried to read through the 86 pages at AVS, but its 86 pages!?! Thanks for your help. Last edited by callas01; 11-07-2008 at 10:38 PM.

11-07-2008, 04:31 AM	#3
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	yeah, not really the response I want, I want insite not opinions. thanks though Last edited by callas01; 11-07-2008 at 04:34 AM.

11-28-2008, 09:37 PM	#14
DimeMecka Expert Member Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Zanesville,Ohio PSN-DimeMecka Home Theater Gallery:49 Blu-ray collection:96	I recently bought a 1018 very nice receiver!I up graded from a Sony home in the box set up and I have to say what an upgrade.I have definitive pro cinema 600 speakers and wow my ears are so impressed! Last edited by DimeMecka; 11-28-2008 at 10:13 PM.

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11-07-2008, 04:29 AM	#2
TENSE Senior Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Los Ageles, Ca Home Theater Gallery:10	i would most definitely go with the pio 1018 over the sony 920.

11-07-2008, 04:34 AM	#4
TENSE Senior Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Los Ageles, Ca Home Theater Gallery:10	this would probably help! https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...t=pioneer+1018

11-07-2008, 04:44 AM	#5
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Thank you, I have already read the official thread and the engadget page. I've read the spec sheet too, but I guess what I am looking for is real world experience with the AVR, Thanx TENSE.

11-27-2008, 12:10 AM	#6
jay9228 New Member Member since:Nov 2008	callas01 Hi there, hopefully I can help you out a bit. I'm fairly new to the home theater game, but after the last two weeks I have some experience with the new Sony's and Pio1080.. I purchased the S820 a week and a half ago as the next step towards my home theater, replacing my old Sony 5.1 receiver, can't remember the model anymore, already donated to a friend. I ended up returning it two days later, but not because I was not happy with it, but it turned out that it was not compatible with my older Sony 51" rear-pro tv.. This older tv only had a DVI input, not HDMI, so when I connected my PS3 to it, I would have video but no audio. After a few phone calls to Sony tech, I was told my only option was to use optical for audio and HDMI for video only. However I also discovered that the amp did not allow me to select optical audio input for the input which was using HDMI at the same time, after a second call I was then told my only option then was to buy a new TV... yah, right.. Other then this issue, I was pleased with the amp's sound quality and features, if it had worked as I had hoped with my equipment I certainly would have kept it... After returning it I went and picked up the Pio1018, very comparable in features and now that I have listened to many different sources and played with all the surround options, I think I have a real winner on my hands. The sound is amazing, True-HD in 7.1 with my entry level Polk speakers is un-describable, my friends are all buying Blu-Rays just to leave at my house Of course, this setup works flawlessly with my PS3 and older Sony TV, something I still wish the SONY receiver would have worked, but I think in the end I like this receiver more. Just to note, the 720 and 920 will have the same issue for anyone else using an older TV. Conclusion, they are both excellent receivers, if you have no concerns with compatability with the rest of your gear, I'm certain you will be happy with either. Personally, I think after having tried both, and even if the Sony had worked with my setup I would still choose the Pioneer, from most sources there is no difference in sound quality, but with True-HD, the 1018 really shines in my opinion. -Jay

11-27-2008, 12:17 AM	#7
BACsader Expert Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Cooper City FL Home Theater Gallery:29 Blu-ray collection:72 Blu-ray reviews:9 Trading Score:1	I have the Older Elite version of the 1018 the VSX-91TXH and I have to say, in its class, it is hands down the highest quality receiver. It has the best watts per channel and a solid amplification system using direct power that do not run hot at all. It also has a fantastic calibration system that is very accurate. The sound on it is nothing short of fantastic. I would highly reccommend it, even if it costs a couple bucks more. Down the road, you will be happy with it and not that it is very important, it is more asthetically pleasing than all of the other receivers in its class. Good Luck.

11-27-2008, 12:18 AM	#8
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	you got mail callas.

11-27-2008, 06:21 AM	#10
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Thanks Guys, Unfortunatly, this information came after I had already purchased the Sony 920. I bought it last Thursday. It will be here Friday. I was going to buy the Pioneer and then I saw something that struck me, it was the dimensions, so I went and measured my AV rack, the Pioneer was 1-1/16" too deep, once I got the cables in and everything the front of the receiver would be off of the edge of the shelf..... I measured the Sony and even that is 3/4" deeper then my current Sony, but I can make that work. I think the pioneer was 17.25" deep and the Sony was 13.75" deep. or close to those #'s I did my homework though, I had listened to each of the Yammy 663, onkyo 606, and the both the pioneer and Sony(Sony was hard to find), also a harman or a Marantz... not sure it was at BB . I was most impressed with the Pioneer and the Yammy, then the Sony and finally Onkyo... but I really am not a big Onkyo fan anyways... also, the onkyo only upscaled to 1080i, but it did have 2nd zone which I liked, Yammy was bothering me cause I constantly read that it lost power at the top end... but it sounded really good, but I couldnt get over how it was reviewed. the Pioneer i listed to on polk 6570's... I was surprised that they actually made those speakers sound good, cause I don't like those little pieces of poop. I found the sony 920 in costa mesa at a sony style store... I actually got to listen to it on sony speakers no less(which is what I have) and it sounded very good too. So it came down to sony or Pioneer, when I saw the size, and then the price drop of the sony, my mind was made up, I was buying the Sony. Jay, the 720 and the 820 will not process video from another input such as componet or optical then out the hdmi output, the 920 will. I learned this from my 710, which is the whole reason I wanted the 920 over the lower 820 & 720. Plus what was important was that the 920 unlike the 820 and 720, is a full bandwidth receiver, has on screen gui, decodes the audio codecs, can upscale to 1080p, it can take in audio and video from other inputs and send it out via hdmi and supports deep color and xvycc. The only other reciever that I like that did all that was the pioneer. the only thing I ever read about the pioneer was that the 130 watts per channel was actually rated at 110 when in full surround sound, which even still that is excellent so I was not bothered by that at all. I read that the sony actually does the full 100 watts per channel in full surround, so they were so close for me that it really came down to one thing......... the size of the AVR. I was going to buy the pioneer $449, I ended up getting the Sony for $380. I am happy and anxiously awaiting the delivery of the sony. Thanks Guys.

11-27-2008, 06:50 AM	#11
BTBuck1 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2006 Location:Oceanside, CA. Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:1	i'd buy a new audio cabinet before i ever ran a Sony Receiver again. After comparing my old Pioneer 1014tx vs the STRDE995 I had, the Pioneer destroyed it in every way shape and form. I have the Yammy 663 now, I wanted the 1018 but it worked out that I ended up with the 663, by brother has the 1018 and While I like my Yamaha and it does everything i want it to do, My heart is still with Pioneer.

11-27-2008, 07:45 AM	#12
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	Receivers in this price range comes down to brand loyalty and feature set, not much else....

11-27-2008, 02:08 PM	#13
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	I actually considered putting the pioneer under the center channel, but then that meant rerunning all of my surround wires. In order to do that I have to go under the house & I hate going under the house. And no I wasn't going to buy a new AV Rack. I can say that the pioneer was a great sounding receiver, one of the best I had heard, but the Sony was awesome too. People here are so quick to dismiss Sony receivers, I know my 710 lacks some, but I really was impressed with the 920. And yes there was some brand loyalty too, which is why the Onkyo & Yamaha were rejected so quickly (plus things like setting the inputs, 1080i upconversion, reviews etc.). I think they may be great for some people, just my heart was in other places. The 920 if you look at the specs, its just like the entry level ES Receiver 2400, they are pretty much the same minus the pre-outs and rs232 connection. They sounded pretty much similar too. Anyways, I am happy with my purchase.

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