Meet Jacqueline, the deputy writer and editor extraordinaire hailing from Boston. With a decade of experience under her belt at Forbes.com, where she most recently served as editor, Jacqueline is no stranger to the world of lifestyle publications. Her expertise spans a wide range of topics, from product reviews to how-to guides, and she approaches each assignment with a keen eye for detail and a dedication to excellence. When she's not crafting compelling content, Jacqueline...
Meet Jacqueline, the deputy writer and editor extraordinaire hailing from Boston. With a decade of experience under her belt at Forbes.com, where she most recently served as editor, Jacqueline is no stranger to the world of lifestyle publications. Her expertise spans a wide range of topics, from product reviews to how-to guides, and she approaches each assignment with a keen eye for detail and a dedication to excellence. When she's not crafting compelling content, Jacqueline...
Among the most affordable AV receivers on the market are those made by Yamaha and Onkyo. In contrast, Pioneers are known for their agility and precision.
Pioneer’s VSX-930, a budget-priced receiver, attained a previously unattainable fifth star recently, thanks to a recent improvement in quality.
In spite of having less power and features than the VSX-931, this year’s receiver still offers an attractive price of $449.
Pioneer VSX-1131 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with MCACC built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
Max: Fury Road features the VSX-1131 in its two-hour running time. In the desert wasteland, rumbles and charges a muffled receiver. Watch the gears grinding against one another as the engines roar along in this chase scene. With an emphasis on low-frequency wallops, it delivers a powerful performance. There is a little bit more precision and a little bit more depth to the Pioneer drive. Although there are times when the bass becomes overly rich, it is never plodding or flabby. Richness is not necessarily undesirable but may lose some subtlety and overall sharpness. Despite the punchy kicks, the notes stop and start are unpredictably timed. A more detailed Pioneer sound will result in a seamless surround effect across all speakers. Introducing the new Pioneer AVR-X2300W. A $500 sound system that delivers immersive sound. Our expectations were a little high because we thought that Pioneer’s high-performance receivers (such as the SC-LX59) would have better-handled power and output with a softer, more agile audio approach. Despite its shortcomings, Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads is entertaining on its own, and we enjoy watching it. In spite of its smaller size and power, the new Denon sound system is more engaging and musical. When music is streamed over Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, the subtleties and clarity of songs are lost, but they still maintain a certain undercurrent. You might also want to experiment with stereo and surround modes. It makes everything sound like it’s bigger and grander in stereo than in surround. The Pioneer receiver looks largely the same from the outside. We’ve come to expect Pioneer’s high standards of build quality, including a sturdy rectangular chassis (available in silver or black finishes), an easily readable display, and large control dials. The Pioneer MCACC auto-calibration system recently underwent a major overhaul, including a shortened implementation of the interface. Shorter by a considerable margin. Pioneer’s precise calibration setup means that you can finish eating and drinking (and even getting a cup of tea) during the process. You might remember the joke that we would tell about it taking nearly 10 minutes. MCACC is performing a new calibration before your tea has steamed. The harsh, monotonous test tones almost escape us when we are engrossed in a 10-step process. Calibration is almost the same (almost). The PMC Twenty23 7.1 speaker package can be perfectly matched if we lower the subwoofer volume a few dB. With so many advanced features, the Pioneer AVR-530 is also very affordable at $550. As well as supporting Dolby Atmos and Google Cast, VSX-1131 lets you stream music in high definition. In addition to two HDMI outputs, legacy analog connections, a 6.3mm headphone jack, a 3.5mm jack, and a USB port for charging smartphones, the list of connections is quite comprehensive. Following software updates later this year, Tidal and Deezer subscribers will also be able to experience Spotify Connect on their new headsets.It Sounds Good
Build
Tuning the receiver’s audio settings.Characteristics
Interconnections
Adaptability
Comparison
Pioneer VSX-834
Onkyo TX-SR494
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304
VSX-LX105 Elite 7.2
Color
Black
Black
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—
Connectivity Technology
Bluetooth
Bluetooth, USB
—
USB, MCACC, Mini Stereo Jack, Phones, HDMI
Item Dimensions
17.1 x 12.6 x 6.8 inches
17.13 x 15.94 x 6.3 inches
14.59 x 17.13 x 6.81 inches
17.13 x 14.59 x 6.81 inches
Item Weight
20.85 lbs
21.27 lbs
27.69 lbs
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Output Wattage
80.0 watts
160.0 watts
980 watts
100.0 watts
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FAQs – Pioneer VSX-1131 Review
My current Pioneer amps are the best amplifiers I’ve heard, even though I’ve run Alpines, Zeds, and McIntosh amps before. No matter how good or how bad a brand is, certain stigmas remain attached to it. Big corporations are particularly vulnerable to this. Each of these amps is excellent. You can reset the receiver by turning it off and on again if it won’t respond to your commands. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the power cable if this does not solve the problem. The remote may need batteries replaced. Use your remote control to navigate to this interface, then choose “Home Menu.” Select “Factory Reset” and then select “Start.” Once the request is completed, select “OK” to confirm the action.Pioneer makes good amplifiers?
How do I fix a Pioneer receiver that won’t work?
Which Pioneer receiver has the factory settings?
Conclusion
Pioneer has not always enjoyed the same level of popularity with its VSX products as it has with its higher-end SC-LX products. Sony and Denon have been battling for a couple of years now for this highly competitive $500 price point. Although the VSX-930 received a 5-star rating for its exceptional performance last year, the VSX-1131 isn’t quite as balanced in its power and subtleties as Pioneer’s SC-LX receivers.
VSX-1131 should not be ignored. With so many features crammed into the VSX-1131, Pioneer is sure to be a big seller at this price. When building a home cinema system, one with that much power, openness, and scale would appeal to many people – and it is one to consider.