Thread: Pioneer's latest is a real contender Amplifier

Pioneer's latest is a real contender Amplifier ,Plus-certified receiver, this Pioneer will decode all available forms of surround audio from your disc collection. It supports USB and iPod sources, and even has an onboard WMA9 Pro decoder, and so can decode coaxial or optical digital audio direct from your Pc. Just about our only spec gripe is that it comes with only two HDMI inputs. This Pioneer seems a more assured, rounded listen than someofits forebears. It's a little lean, so you'd be advised to avoid teaming it with bright speaker systems, but with sympathetic partnering, there's much to admire in theVSX-1018's accuracy, its precise touch with transients and fine details, and its assuredness with the big dynamics.


There's enough heft here to bring the crashing combat sequences near the end 'of Iron Man into vivid, sofa-shuddering life. Music cracks along apace, too, the Pioneer providing the pace its Yamaha rival (see page 31) lacks, at the expense of some refinement.
This is a very successful receiver. It's up against tough rivals, and we'd take at least one in preference to it, but just the same, if you like the Pioneer way of doing things, you'll be very happy with this.