Digital Trends

Pioneer bills the VSX-816 audio/video receiver as the perfect choice for a small- to medium-size home theater. I don't know too many “small” home theaters that would accommodate the seven loudspeakers and 700 watts that the VSX-816 supports, but these days a receiver manufacturer has to super-size power even at the lower end of the lineup if they hope to make a sale.

Like many value-priced audio/video receivers on the market today, the VSX-816 is chock full of features, many of which the average consumer will never use. Your eyes will glaze over before you finish reading all the decoding options. This baby plays ‘em all from Dolby Pro Logic through Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES and others in between.

The VSX-816 is the second model in Pioneer's latest audio/video receiver line, coming in at $299 above the entry-level $199 model. Among other things, the extra hundred bucks nets you built-in XM HD Surround with Neural Surround, a 5.1-channel format that XM says it will utilize for special live performances. You get 700 watts of power in both models, qualifying both for the designation bang for the buck.

But at those prices (starting price on the Web for the VSX-816 was $228 at press time), something's gotta give. A few things had to give, in fact. The paper in the owner's manual is made of coloring book-stock which doesn't give the impression it will last a long time. The binding posts lack the threading holes of higher end types, making it more difficult and less secure to make a solid connection. It sure would be nice to have HDMI, but not at this price. Check out our full review.