Pioneer VSX-917V AV-receiver
The Japanese electronic giant, Pioneer Corporation, updates with enviable regularity the model range of AV equipment, in which theatre receivers take one of leading positions. Here is VSX-917V - the market novelty and the representative of the latest generation.
The first thing, which you should notice, is gorgeous for its price category functional equipment. Pioneer VSX-917V receiver has such number of functions that it will be difficult to find competitors by this factor. Judge for yourself: in addition to decoders of surround and full spectrum of interfaces there are the branded MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) system of acoustic calibration, the possibility of bi-amping of frontal pair and even USB port, with a help of which you can listen to audio files from external digital devices. To improve the playback quality of compressed formats, the manufacturer recommends you to use a special Surround Retriever processing, which is based on psychoacoustic model of human hearing and allows to compensate shortcomings of compression. Already traditionally for the devices of high quality there is the possibility to print multipage screen menu on the external monitor that significantly simplifies the setting of the system's parameters. The full featured remote control, having in the memory all the main control codes for main devices of the major manufacturers, is very handy.
I confess that the surprise for me became soft, almost analog sound of Pioneer VSX-917V receiver from linear inputs. The tendency to a bit excessive softness presentation of sound phonogram by this device will be undoubtedly appreciated by the lovers of calm musical genres, but more energetic styles at the same time look sometimes too lightweight. So, symphonic compositions sometimes lose in expressiveness and hidden energy, entrusted by the composer. At high volume levels uncomfortable limitations of signal at its peaks are sometimes heard, mainly caused by insufficient power reserve. However, the vast majority of the users won't, probably, notice it.
The situation with playing through digital interfaces is clearly different for the better. Despite of some loss in the lower bass and its slight compression, the sound obtains much larger openness and authenticity. MIDs, almost devoid of extraneous color, move to the forefront. The upper range receives lightness and airiness, the resolution in this spectrum is also greatly increased. Localization of the formed sound images becomes much more confident, even the sound's depth appears.
