Pioneer VSX-1016TXV review

The VSX-1016TXV is a seven-channel receiver, but if you're only going to use five channels, you can reassign the remaining two channels to run B stereo speakers in another room or to biamplify compatible front speakers; that is, ones with separate woofer and tweeter connectors. Biamping can produce significant performance advantages and allow the speakers to play louder without distorting.

If you want to take advantage of the VSX-1016TXV's XM Satellite Radio capability, buy a Connect-and-Play antenna ($50) and a $13 a month XM subscription. If you're a subscriber, the Pioneer can decode not only the standard XM channels but the handful of XM channels that feature HD Surround sound. The HD Surround-encoded channels can sound pretty good and produce decent front-to-rear separation, but if you inadvertently leave the HD Surround processing on when listening to standard XM channels, the sound quality suffers, volume is reduced, and left-to-right stereo separation is decreased. The regular channels sound best in stereo.

In addition to the aforementioned JVC model, Sony's STR-DG800 ($400) almost matches the VSX-1016TXV's features set--it's XM-compatible but lacks HD Surround. Home-theater sonics are comparable, but we'd give the nod to the Pioneer for its more musical sound on CDs. If you're not swayed by the VSX-1016TXV's HDMI-switching capability, THX certification, or video format conversion, save $200 and go for Pioneer's VSX-816 receiver. It otherwise matches just about every feature of the higher-priced Pioneer. We started our auditions of the Pioneer VSX-1016TXV with the V for Vendetta DVD. The film is set in totalitarian-governed London in the year 2020, and the VSX-1016TXV reveled in V's swashbuckling swordplay and rendered every splattered slash of the bloodbaths with a vengeance. V's orgy of violence is accompanied by rumbling bass, heavenly choirs, and the metallic clash of his blade. The film is capped off a rousing set of really big explosions, and we felt every one, thanks to the Pioneer's ample power reserves. Home-theater skills were definitely up to snuff.

"Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" from Pink Floyd's Pulse DVD sounded exquisite. The ambiance of the concert hall and each note of David Gilmour's slow-motion guitar echoed through our home theater. The Pioneer's sound is very detailed and clear, but we prefer the slightly warmer tonal balance of Denon and Harman Kardon receivers. The Pioneer's Dolby Digital soundstage is also a little less spacious than we prefer, but that's very much a subjective opinion.

We heard the best sound from the VSX-1016TXV when we played The Police's Every Breath You Take SACD. Sting's bass had remarkable texture and detail, and Stewart Copeland's drums crackled with impressive dynamic energy. The disc's surround mixes weren't all successful (though no fault of the Pioneer), but the best mixes, such as the one on "King of Pain," produced a spectacularly enveloping soundscape.