Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH Receiver with HDMI, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Decoding

The Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH is one of the new-generation receivers that is ready for the future by incorporating onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD surround decoding. In addition, this receiver has extensive connection capabilities, power to spare, and very flexible audio and video operation. If you are looking for a receiver that integrates flexible audio and video connectivity, as well as great audio performance that will not become "obsolete" in just a few years, then check out the rest of this review.

Features of the VSX-91TXH include:

1. Home Theater Audio/Video Receiver with THX Select2 Audio Processing and Composite, S-Video, Component Video Conversion (480i to 480p) to HDMI output.

2. 7 Channels of amplification featuring 110 WPC at .09% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) FTC Rating

3. Built-in Surround Sound and Digital Audio Decoding Formats:

Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD
DTS-HD
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital EX
Dolby Pro logic IIx
DTS 5.1
DTS-ES
DTS Neo:6
Windows Media 9
XM Neural and XMHD Surround.

4. 2 HDMI inputs and 1 output, 3 HD-compatible Component Video inputs and 1 output. 5 Composite and 5 S-Video A/V inputs. 4 Monitor outputs.

5. 2 VCR connection loops for VCRs or VCR and DVD Recorder. 1 iPod input, XM and Sirius Radio Tuner/Antenna connections.

6. Composite, S-video, Component to HDMI video conversion (480i to 480p). No video upscaling from 480p to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p.

7. 7 assignable digital audio inputs (2 coaxial and 5 optical ), RCA audio connections for CD player and CD or Cassette audio recorder. 7.1 channel audio inputs for DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray, or HD-DVD. HDMI audio is supported for SACD, DVD-Audio, PCM, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD.

8. Dual banana-plug-compatible multi-way speaker binding posts. Subwoofer line output provided.

9. AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Connectivity. Subscription and optional Antenna/Tuner are required for receiving XM and Siruis Satellite Radio Service.

10. Room Audio Calibration via Auto MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) with supplied Microphone.

For an additional close-up look at, and explanation of, the connections of the 91TXH, check out my Pioneer VSX-91TXH Photo Gallery.

Review Setup - Hardware

Home Theater Receivers and Separates: the Outlaw Audio Model 950 Preamp/Surround Processor paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier, Yamaha HTR-5490 (6.1 Channels) , and an Onkyo TX-SR304 (5.1 Channels).

DVD players: OPPO Digital DV-981HD DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player, OPPO Digital DV-980H DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player (on review loan from OPPO), and the Helios H4000 Upscaling DVD Player.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD Players: Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player and a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Player, Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc Player, and LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo player.

CD-Only Players: Denon DCM-370 and Technics SL-PD888 5-Disc Changers.

Loudspeaker - System #1: 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.

Loudspeaker - System #2: Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system.

Loudspeaker - System #3: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers.

Louspeaker System #4: Cerwin Vega CVHD 5.1 Channel Speaker System (on review loan from Cerwin Vega).

Powered Subwoofers used: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 - used with Systems 1 and 2. and Yamaha YST-SW205 - used with System 3, and the 12-inch Powered Subwoofer provided with the Cerwin Vega System.

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV, and Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV.

Audio/Video connections were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

16 Gauge Speaker Wire was used in all setups.

Level checks for speaker setups were done using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Review Setup - Software

Blu-ray Discs included: Pirates of the Caribbean 1 & 2, Alien vs Predator, Superman Returns, Crank, The Host, and Mission Impossible III.

HD-DVD Discs included: 300, Hot Fuzz, Serenity, Sleepy Hollow, Heart - Live In Seattle, King Kong, Batman Begins, and Phantom of the Opera

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: House of the Flying Daggers, Serenity, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, V For Vendetta, U571, Lord of Rings Trilogy, and Master and Commander.

For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible, Sheila Nicholls - Wake.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

Content on CD-R/RWs was also used.

The Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc was also used for more precise video performance measurements with regards to the video conversion and 480i/480p de-interlacing functions of the 91TXH.

A key to great audio performance is proper speaker setup. The 91TXH provides an excellent tool to accomplish this: MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System).

By way of a microphone supplied with the unit, and a built-in test tone generator that provides several types of test tones, the 91TXH is able to automatically calculate the size of your loudspeakers, their distance from your listening position, and other parameters that will enable your system operate in your listening environment.

Although no automatic system can be perfect, or account for personal taste, the MCACC did a very credible job of setting up speaker levels properly. The MCACC calculated my speaker distances accurately, and even adjusted the audio levels and equalization to compensate.

At the conclusion of the automatic setup process, you are able to access all of the setting parameters via the onscreen menu display. You can then make any changes of your own, if you wish.

I found that after the MCACC procedure was complete, my speaker balance was very good, with all channels fairly well balanced. However, I increased the level of the center channel to suit my own preference.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take