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pioneer vsx-1018ah

Sony and Pioneer receivers edge out the competition in CNET shootout

Back in November, I asked the question, "What's the best midpriced AV receiver?"--but had to confess that we hadn't reviewed as many as we would've liked. Since then, Senior Associate Editor Matt Moskovciak and resident Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg sequestered themselves in the CNET listening room and put several models to the test.

When the smoke cleared, the Sony STR-DG920 was at the top of the heap, with the Pioneer VSX-1018AH and Onkyo TX-SR606 impressing us as well. The Denon AVR-1909 sounded great and was packed with features, but that model's confusing remote control … Read more

Review: Pioneer VSX-1018AH light on HDMI inputs, big on the rest

Just a few years ago, HDMI connectivity was a major step-up feature on AV receivers; now, it's standard for all but the least expensive models. The Pioneer VSX-1018AH is a midrange AV receiver with three HDMI inputs, which may be enough to cover all your home theater gear, but is actually one input fewer than competitors like the Onkyo TX-SR606 and Sony STR-DG920.

On the other hand, we liked almost everything else about the VSX-1018AH, from its solid sound quality to its extensive list of features. Beyond the standard inputs and outputs, the VSX-1018AH also offers on-screen iPod navigation … Read more

What's the best midpriced AV receiver?

Update (February 12, 2009): Check out our follow-up story, with full reviews of all the products mentioned here.

I receive a lot of e-mail asking why we haven't reviewed many AV receivers in recent months. First off, let me say: mea culpa. Reviews coverage of this category has suffered, mostly because AV receivers are among the most time-consuming products to analyze (because they now need to be examined in detail for their audio and video performance). But enough of the excuses; here's what we're doing to remedy the situation. … Read more