Entered CNET Catalog: 11/29/2001
SKU: HTZ-77DV
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
Manufacturer description
Pioneer HTZ-77DV is the perfect entertainment solution for either the living room or bedroom. A comprehensive home theater system that fits just about anywhere, the HTZ-77DV consists of a DVD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3-compatible player with six mode DSP (Hall 1, Hall 2, Jazz, Dance, Theater 1, Theater 2, and Simulated Stereo), Advanced Theater (Musical, Drama, Action, Virtual Surround, Rear Wide), Midnight Mode, a Dolby Digital/dts decoder, an AM/FM tuner, five satellite speakers, a powered subwoofer, and a pre-programmed/learning remote control. The speakers and crossovers of the HTZ-77DV were engineered to provide a robust sound to fill a room, from a small speaker that can be easily blended into the surrounding environment. Each of the five satellite speakers is powered by a 30-watt amplifier, while a 50-watt amplifier drives the subwoofer. All amplification is contained in the subwoofer making speaker connections easy. CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/02/2001
Pioneer started with the radical styling of its HTZ-55DV system, added MP3 CD support, and reworked the satellite speakers a bit to come up with the HTZ-77DV home theater in a box (HTIB). The slim-line DVD player/tuner is tiny--about the size of a small telephone book--and the separate, blue fluorescent display looks cool and lets you put most of the system out of sight. However, it lacks a DVD changer and some connection options that you can find in similarly priced kits. Pioneer started with the radical styling of its HTZ-55DV system, added MP3 CD support, and reworked the satellite speakers a bit to come up with the HTZ-77DV home theater in a box (HTIB). The slim-line DVD player/tuner is tiny--about the size of a small telephone book--and the separate, blue fluorescent display looks cool and lets you put most of the system out of sight. However, it lacks a DVD changer and some connection options that you can find in similarly priced kits.
Shrinking the system
Pioneer succeeded in making the HTZ-77DV so small by building all the amplification into the rather large (16.5 inches tall and deep, and 7.5 inches wide) subwoofer, which you can stuff in a corner or next to your entertainment center to move it out of the way. The kit's small satellite speakers are equipped with a lone 3.5-inch driver. The 6.5-inch subwoofer's internal amplifier serves up 30 watts to each of the five sats and uses 50 watts for itself.
The real brains of the operation reside in the silver DVD/tuner box, which boasts the latest 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters, Dolby Digital, DTS, and MP3 decoding. But the back-panel connections are a bit sparse; you get just standard composite and S-Video outputs for your TV. At a list price of $865, we expect to see component video outputs. However, if your TV is modest (32 inches or smaller), you'll find that this DVD player is up to the task. Digital and analog input provisions are few. You'll be able to hook up a satellite receiver with a digital audio connection as well as a VCR; however, you can't connect a turntable. In addition, 5.1-channel DVD-A/SACD inputs didn't make the cut either. Thanks to this component's separate display, you can hide it as well.
Mandatory remote
Don't misplace the HTZ-77DV's universal remote or you'll be stuck with just the DVD player's Play/Pause, Stop, Open/Close, and Power On/Off buttons--you can't even adjust the volume or select an input without the remote. The soft-touch microbuttons on the DVD player didn't always function unless we moistened our fingertips. The remote is pretty well designed, although it's too easy to punch its Tuner or Tape buttons when trying to raise or lower the volume.
Once you dim the lights, you'll forget just how small the sats are. We revved up Sylvester Stallone's Grand Prix racing flick, Driven, and the HTZ-77DV dished out the soundtrack's throaty rumble of megahorsepower with flair. Dialog--even Stallone's trademark mumble--was articulate. Loudness capability was a bit above average for a HTIB with very small sats. The Pioneer's DVD sound is clean and clear, avoiding the harshness we've heard from some microsats.
The Woodstock DVD's heady mix swirled over our listening room; the surround effects on the Jimi Hendrix and Who tracks were surprisingly huge. The sat/sub blend was smooth, so midrange quality was good, but the sub wasn't terribly powerful. Bass from CDs and DVDs didn't have the solidity and punch we heard from the sub. Even the Pioneer's less expensive but larger sibling, the $620 , had a bit more low-end grunt.
The $865 HTZ-77DV is more than sonically competitive with Sony's svelte HTIB but lacks that system's DVD changer. If you're not too concerned about playing MP3 CDs, also consider the nearly identical HTZ-55DV. And if size and style aren't your biggest criteria, we recommend that you look at Pioneer's less expensive HTD-510D or JBL's powerful .
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 User Rating: 
6/10
Poor long-term reliabilityby - September 1, 2004
Pros: Good features, sound, price, size. Nice while it works.
Cons: Breaks down on a regular schedule. After about 15 months it shut down and would not turn back on. If I attempted to do so, it would flash a message reading "DVD 3.3 Error", and immediately turn itself back off (and wouldn't even let me get the disk out
Review:
User Rating: 
7/10
Have to return it.by - December 7, 2002
Pros:
Cons:
Review: Have the system for 2 weeks. It won't play 2 out of the 5 DVD movies we rented. Played the discs in another DVD player (to make sure it is not the discs that are the problem) and it played fine. It is a great system but we have to return the unit unfortunately.
User Rating: 7/10
nice little systemby - October 2, 2002
Pros:
Cons:
Review: Unfortunately I had problems with the DVD sound not working after owning for only 2 months. Took it into a Pioneer repair shop and they fixed it. A friend bought the same system at the same time and has also had some problems. Other than that I love it...
User Rating: 7/10
good sound,sub though 65W doesnt blow u awayby - August 22, 2002
Pros:
Cons:
Review: good sound when u play movies or music downers-no component,no prologic 2
User Rating: 
8/10
Serves its purpose wellby - August 15, 2002
Pros:
Cons:
Review: I recently picked up this mini hometheater system and I had a hard time tracking it down. I really like the size and the form factor of this device. Particularly the way that the display screen is separate. It makes it easy to configure your device any way you want. The sound quality is great for such a small device and since I'm living in a small apartment right now it's perfect. When I move into a house I could use this system for my bedroom and get a bigger system for my living room. All around it's a great deal and it serves it's purpose well.
User Rating: 
9/10
Fine Product for people in small flatsby - January 13, 2002
Pros:
Cons:
Review: if you arenīt able to juice up a lot, becaus of the silly guy nextdoor, thats the right pice of electronics for you.
User Rating: 8/10
Surprising!!!by - December 28, 2001
Pros:
Cons:
Review: Great little system.. I felt it sounded better than the Sony 700 I was comparing it too. Love it at home the sound is very immersive. One thing i didnt like was where was the component cable option. I mean seriously.. otherwise.. I am in love.
User Rating: 
10/10
Awesome!!! DVD at its BEST!by - December 18, 2001
Pros:
Cons:
Review: yet again, pioneer excel in its design & sound. Some may complain for its single deck instead of carousel deck BUT it is design for DVD not VCD & it has VCD function as well! I have bought it & thanks GOD its to good to be TRUE!
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Pioneer HTZ-77DV specifications
- General
- Product Type Home theater system
- Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight Main unit : Right/left channel speaker : 8.7 in x 3.1 in x 16.5 in , DVD player / AV receiver : Subwoofer : 8.3 in x 3.1 in x 2.6 in , Speaker system : Center channel speaker : 4.6 in x 16.4 in x 4.3 in , Speaker system : Right/left rear channel speaker : 4.6 in x 12.5 in x 2.6 in , Speaker system : 7.5 in x 3.1 in x 5.9 in , Speaker system : 8.1 in x 2.0 in x 5.9 in
- Enclosure Color Silver
- Localization English
- Audio System
- Components Speaker system , DVD player / AV receiver
- Sound Output Mode Surround Sound
- Built-in Decoders DTS decoder , Dolby Pro Logic , Dolby Digital
- Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Yes
- DSP Preset Qty 6.0
- Surround System Class 5.1 channel
- Output Channel Qty 5.0
- Output Power / Total 200.0 Watt
- Amplifier Output Details 50.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 1.0 channel(s) ( Front ) , 30.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 1.0 channel(s) ( Subwoofer ) , 30.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 2.0 channel(s) ( Rear ) , 30.0 Watt - 4.0 Ohm - 2.0 channel(s) ( Center )
- Timer Sleep , Wake
- Built-in Display Fluorescent
- Display Illumination Yes
- Additional Features Midnight Mode
- Digital Storage Media None
- Connectors
- Coaxial Digital Input Yes
- Optical Digital Output Yes
- Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 2.0 x Center channel speaker - External - 30.0 Watt - -19900.0 Hz - 4.0 Ohm - Wired , 2.0 x Right/left channel speaker - External - 30.0 Watt - -19900.0 Hz - 8.0 Ohm - Wired , 1.0 x Right/left rear channel speaker - External - 30.0 Watt - -19900.0 Hz - 8.0 Ohm - Wired , 1.0 x Subwoofer - External - 50.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - Wired
- Driver Details Right/left rear channel speaker : 1.0 x Full-range driver - 3.5 in , Center channel speaker : 1.0 x Woofer driver - 3.5 in , Right/left channel speaker : 1.0 x Full-range driver - 3.5 in , Subwoofer : 1.0 x Full-range driver - 6.0 in
- Detachable Grilles Yes
- Radio
- Type Radio tuner - AM/FM - Digital
- Tuning Display Fluorescent display
- Preset Station Qty 30.0
- Station Memo Display Yes
- Turntable
- Type None
- CD System
- CD system type None
- DVD
- Type DVD player
- Media Format CD-R ( PAL ) , DVD ( NTSC ) , CD-RW , CD
- Audio D/A Converter 24bit / 96kHz
- Slow Motion Speed 1/2 , 1/4 , 1/16 , 1/8
- DVD Repeat Modes A-B repeat , Random
- Cassette System
- Cassette system type None
- Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
- MD System
- MD system type None
- Headphones
- Headphones Type None
- Microphone
- Type None
- Remote Control
- Remote Control Programmable remote control - Infrared
- Features Learning
- Connections
- Connector Type 2.0 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ) - Rear , 1.0 x Antenna ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear , 3.0 x SPDIF output ( 4 pin mini-DIN ) - Rear , 1.0 x SPDIF input ( Click-fit x 2 ) - Rear , 1.0 x S-Video output ( RCA phono ) - Rear , 1.0 x Audio line-in - Rear
- Power
- Power Device Power supply - Integrated
- Miscellaneous
- AV Furniture None
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