Pioneer VSX-9300TX
First impressions This thing is big and heavy! The receiver I was using is the VSX-912K is smaller in length, width, height and weight. The shipping label listed the weight of the 9300 as 50.71 lbs! I had to remove one shelf from my entertainment center just to make space for it. It looks just like the Pioneer Elite VSX-54TX and the 56TXi right down to the piano black finish, but it does not have the heavy aluminum "Urushi" door, just the simple plastic door that comes standard on the non-Elite models. However, it has the remote from the 56TXi which is a large 2 line lcd illuminated learning remote. The rear of the 9300TX also mirrors the 54TX save for the addition of a USB input at the bottom left that will allow you to play music directly from your computer on the receiver. Features The 9300TX is equipped with the Advanced version of Pioneer's Multi Channel Acoustic Calibration, Pioneer's microphone aided surround setup system. It also includes a serial port that allows you to connect the receiver to your computer in order to display/print the acoustic information the receiver measures while doing it's calibration. Power output is rated at 110 wpc @ 8 ohms(20Hz-20kHz) with .09% THD. They do break this specification into front, center, surround and surround back so take from that what you will. It does have 2 2700uF capacitors so it should have decent power reserves. It seems to be endowed with all the current sound formats. These include Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, THX Select and THX Surround EX. Listening modes include all of the aforementioned, as well as THX Cinema, Dolby Pro Logic IIx Movie/Music, DTS Neo:6 Cinema/Music, DTS+Neo:6(Processes DTS 5.1 into 6.1 or 7.1), DTS+Neo:6+THX, DTS-ES+THX. It also includes some DSP schemes such as Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Musical, Monofilm and 5/7-D Theater for movies and Classical, Chamber, Jazz, Rock, Dance and 5/7 CH stereo for music. It features 2 5-100 MHz Component video inputs and 1 output and includes component video upconversion, 5 composite and 5 s-video inputs and 3 outputs. 1 12volt trigger, 3 Optical digital inputs w/ 2 outputs and 2 coaxial digital inputs. It is also Multi room/Multi Source enabled, capable of displaying 2 different video feeds on 2 different monitors while using the Surround back channel as the stereo sound in another room. Overall, it seems very nice so far, however, i've only had it for a few hours yet. |
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     New member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 9 Registered: Jul-05 |
Forgot to mention that it does have Phono input and ground connection. Also, all digital sound and component video inputs are assignable as well as re-nameable. |
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New member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 10 Registered: Jul-05 |
Ok, I keep leaving things out. Pricing might be something people would like to know so here goes! I purchased the Pioneer VSX-9300TX from Best Buy online. I had been watching the price fluctuate for a few months swinging from $1299 one week, to $799 the next week. Only to see it go back up to $1299 the following week. Then the next week it would drop to $899 and then it dropped down over 4th of July weekend to $809. At that time I discovered www.ebates.com(more on that later) where I was able to get another $50 off($10 of every $100 spent up to $500). So I ended up spending $759 + $35 4yr warr. + $35 shipping with 6 months interest free financing. Ordered on July 1st shipped UPS ground and received on July 8th. The only possibly better deal to be had would be to purchase it at www.vanns.com who is offering it for $799 no tax and free shipping and as a bonus, you have the option of purchasing the JBL Northridge E150P powered subwoofer for an extra $50. This Sub sells for $359.99 at Best Buy online! Vanns regular price for this receiver is $1099.00 in case you were wondering, but they've had it for $799 for about a month now. If Vanns had offered a warranty similiar to Best Buy I probably would have purchased it there and bought the JBL Sub as well, but it's nice to know that if my Pioneer ever goes down, I can drive it to Best Buy less than 5 miles from my place to get it serviced. Back to ebates. By creating an account at www.ebates.com by merely entering in your e-mail address, a password and your mailing address. I was given access to a $10 off every $100 spend up to $500) coupon, utilized by accessing www.bestbuy.com through ebates website. A few days after the transaction I got confirmation that my purchase qualified me for $7.XX rebate credited to my account. When my rebate amount reaches at least $10, they send you a check. If you guys are like me and scour the internet for prices before making almost any purchase you could end up getting a decent amount of money back. There are hundreds of online retailers that qualify including Best Buy and Circuit City, Office Depot and plenty of non-electronics centered retailers as well. Check it out you'll be surprised. |
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Unregistered guest |
Chris, Sounds like you did a great job with the price, thanks for the tips. I'm almost ready to plunge with the same receiver and I'll make good use of those. One question for you though on features. I see that several sites list among their features "sound delay," so does it have a soundtrack delay feature to adujst for lip sync problems. I tried emailing Pioneer reps but they denied that this model had that feature. Thanks for looking. |
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Bronze Member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 15 Registered: Jul-05 |
Thanks for you response Scot. To answer your question...Yes. I'm looking at page 62 of the owners manual right now and it states,"The delay can be adjusted from 0.0-6.0 frames (in 0.1 frame steps)." I think you'll be very happy with it! This is my third Pioneer A/V receiver and hopefully my last for a long time. The previous 2 never let me down, in fact I sold them to co-workers. You will love the remote too! It's big and easy to use for people with big hands/fingers, everything on it lights up(buttons and the 2 line lcd display), it can be taught to control just about anything, can turn all your components off with the touch of one button, has one macro spot that will take up to 5 commands and it just plain looks cool. Just make sure you keep the manual hand for the first week or so. It's not very complicated to use, but it does have LOTS of functions and features and you will be continually going back and finding new uses for them. Feel free to ask me any other questions anytime. |
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Unregistered guest |
Chris, Thank You for your prompt response! You just told me all I needed to know to make this my final choice of a receiver. And thanks for the info on vanns.com and their offer on the JBL subwoofer, I need to add one of those as well. Anyway, that's what I love about these forums, you can find all the information the salesmen or reps never seem to know. Keep up the good work, Chris. |
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Unregistered guest |
I am looking at the VSX-9300 vs. the VSX-1015. What are the differences justifying the price difference? Please also respond to my email address.... |
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New member Username: RobjamellPost Number: 4 Registered: Nov-04 |
Great job! Does the 9300 have an onscreen display? Also, why is it not listed on Pioneer's website? Thanks in advance. |
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New member Username: BlackgoreSunland, California Usa Post Number: 1 Registered: Aug-05 |
Replacing recievers looking at either Pioneer VSX-9300TX 7.1 or for another $105.00 I can step up to the Pioneer Elite VSX-56TXi THX! Im wanting to go for the elite but is it a older model then the 9300tx? Wish I could see a comparison between them. HELP! what should I do? |
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Bronze Member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 26 Registered: Jul-05 |
Steve, They are the same receiver save for 4 differences 2 of which you probably wont' care about. 1. All Pioneer Elites have an amber fluorescent display, hence the 56TXi has amber, but the 9300TX has a blue display(big deal) 2. The door covering the front panel on the 9300TX is aluminum skin on a plastic frame. The 56TXi has aluminum frame and skin(who cares) 3. The 56TXi has firewire(i.link) input/output for use with dvd-a/sacd through one wire as opposed to 6 individual audio cables(only a big deal if you plan on getting such a dvd-a/sacd player 4. All Elite receiver get a 2 year manufacturer warranty when purchased from an authorized retailer. I can tell you that I have had both now that they are the same save for those differences. They even use the same remote control. BTW. The only reason I have the 56TXi now is because my 9300TX was struck by lightning and Best Buy no longer carries it(www.vanns.com does though). I had a warranty through Best Buy so they let me upgrade to the 56TXi for a pittance since I paid so little for the 9300TX. Because of what I paid, there was nothing in that price point even comparable to the 9300TX except its slightly older brother the 56TXi. Rob, Sorry I didn't respond sooner, the 9300TX definately has an on screen display. |
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New member Username: BlackgoreSunland, California Usa Post Number: 2 Registered: Aug-05 |
Thanks for the info im still tempted to go with the Elite 56Txi. I found the 9300TX at BEST BUY for $770.00 plus tax ($883.63)(daughter works thereI get Emp discount) but online I can get the Elite 56Txi for only $66.00 ($899.95 includes shipping) at BigOnDigital.com. One more Question does the elite have the onscreen display also it says it does on Pioneers specs on there site??? Thanks Steve |
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New member Username: BlackgoreSunland, California Usa Post Number: 3 Registered: Aug-05 |
I guess I need a calculator huh its only $16.32 more for the Elite 56TXi versus the 9300TX. Steve |
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Bronze Member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 27 Registered: Jul-05 |
Yes, the 56TXi has the exact same on screen display as the 9300TX with the exception of the menus that deal with the i.link connections. I envy you...I have a buddy who works at Best Buy, but he won't use his discount for me for anything...especially now that I have a better receiver than him ;=_ My only issue is that Pioneer is known to be very strict with their warranty regarding the Elite line and non-authorized retailers. I purchased my 9300TX from BestBuy.com when it was available there and purchased the warranty and it's the only thing that saved me when it got hit by lightning. Another plus is that Best Buy only charges $35 for the 4 year warranty. I did't even have my 9300 for 31 days before it got zapped(now I have a $150 Belkin PureAV surge protector). Now my local Best Buy has the Magnolia Home Theater built in and when I brought the receiver in, they told me it was no longer available because they were no longer purchasing the 9300 from Pioneer. There were going to give me any receiver within $100 of the price I paid, but I paid $765 before shipping, tax and warranty. There is nothing anywhere near that price that can touch the 9300TX. After about 1½ hours of deliberation, the Magnolia supervisor allowed me to upgrade to the 56TXi for $200 +$35 warranty(don't leave Best Buy without it). BTW, the 56TXi is priced at $1499.98 at the local Magnolia section. As upset as I was that initially that they couldn't just replace my 9300TX, I shudder to think how I would have been feeling if I had purchased it from an unauthorized vendor, let alone without a warranty. Of course, all that may not matter if you really want the i.link connectivity. I don't have $600+ to spend on a dvd-a/sacd player and would have cared less. That being said, I think you will be happy with either model. But Best Buy will stand by you if you purchase the warranty. Here's some background though. Power surge came through coax into my cable box, exited my cable box through the s-video connector and entered the receiver. The receiver distributed that surge to my powered subwoofer, my TV, my dvd/vcr deck and my Playstation2. The same surge also came through the coax in my bedroom and got my vcr and cable modem(missed my cheap HTiB and TV, not to mention my computer(actually, it got the on-board network connector, but didn't get the PCI one I had installed). If you have more than one coax coming out of your wall(ex. cable a and cable b). You must get a surge protector that has 2 coax inputs! That was my mistake. Mine only had one so I connected it between my cable box and my VCR. My TV is still not working...had the repair man here today, but the processor they shipped him had a big crack in the circuit board along several key junctions. I still have no Hi-def capability after 3 weeks! |
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New member Username: BlackgoreSunland, California Usa Post Number: 4 Registered: Aug-05 |
Damn that sucks that lightning really did a number on your system. I live in L.A. California and we hardly ever see lightning here and I have a decent serge protection device but its not shilding my satalite dish cable or my cable vision cable. I used to live back east and yes I would have to worry much more about lightning there. Think I will take my chances with the un-authorized deal and get the Elite over the 9300. I have a $1000.00 Yamaha DVD player I baught just to play SACD and Super Audio CD's it sucks playing DVD's compaired to my much cheaper Panasonic I use for movies. I do not think it has the i-Link as its 3 or 4 years old now but who knows in the future I may need i-Link so why not get it. Im kinda worried about my main speakers they are Pinnacle Aerogels and they can be BI-AMPED and thats what im doing now with my two sony ES recievers and I get great bass response from them. When I first hooked them up (not Bi-Amped) the bass was getting overpowered by the mids and treble. I have to run the amp for the woofers about 5db louder then the amp for the mids and tweeters. So im hoping going back to one amp the Pioneer with its auto adjusting eq feature will eq them to sound great without bi-amping. I realize if I wanna go back to 5.1 I can use the 7.1 rear centers channel for bi-amping but im looking forward to 7.1 so I hope I don't need to do this. I hear Sony recievers have a crappy EQ section (tone) compaired to these Pioneers wich are much warmer so I can't wait the change should be killer. I don't think the sonys were giving my Pinnacles justace. Thanks dude for all you help I REALLY appreciate it. Steve |
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Bronze Member Username: Thunder18Post Number: 28 Registered: Jul-05 |
No problem man. You may look for a 4 channel amplifier in future sometime to bi-amp your speakers. Nothing beats a basic amplifier for power. |
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