Pioneer VSX-1131 170W 7.2 Channel A/V Receiver $289 (w/emailed code)

this or denon avr-730h?

This or Onkyo TX-NR656?

I ask that because I still have a 656 unopened I got for $320 and could easily return it in favor of the cheaper Pioneer if it's essentially equivalent or actually better than the 656. From my quick glance it seems the Onkyo 656 might be slightly better.

Sadly there is no store in NYC for instore pickup.

It shows $580 for me and then $368 shipped after code is applied.

Since not much is happening here, I checked into my own question and found a few interesting things:

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-...x1131.html
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2579756
https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums...cid=196771

Basically there are several posts saying that the VSX-1131 and TX-NR656 are virtually identical internally and the main difference is the software and front/back panels. Comparing the back panels the Onkyo has a few more inputs. Some spec sheet I found (which I don't know if I can trust) claimed the Onkyo did not have HDMI upconversion but it does have video conversion to HDMI, while the Pioneer has both. Apart from that I cannot spot any other differences.

If everything were 100% identical between the units but the Onkyo has more inputs, I would not worry about saving $30 by buying the Pioneer instead. Unfortunately things are not so clear. I hope someone knows more and can post the answer.

Besides the inputs which everyone can see, what is the difference between the Pioneer VSX-1131 and Onkyo TX-NR656?

Quote from wezlypipz : It shows $580 for me and then $368 shipped after code is applied.

Same for me, but their ad does show the $289 price, so as long as you can show that to them I expect they would adjust it at the register.

Quote from Baguda : Since not much is happening here, I checked into my own question and found a few interesting things: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-...x1131.html http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2579756 https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums...cid=196771 Basically there are several posts saying that the VSX-1131 and TX-NR656 are virtually identical internally and the main difference is the software and front/back panels. Comparing the back panels the Onkyo has a few more inputs. Some spec sheet I found (which I don't know if I can trust) claimed the Onkyo did not have HDMI upconversion but it does have video conversion to HDMI, while the Pioneer has both. Apart from that I cannot spot any other differences. If everything were 100% identical between the units but the Onkyo has more inputs, I would not worry about saving $30 by buying the Pioneer instead. Unfortunately things are not so clear. I hope someone knows more and can post the answer. Besides the inputs which everyone can see, what is the difference between the Pioneer VSX-1131 and Onkyo TX-NR656? Same for me, but their ad does show the $289 price, so as long as you can show that to them I expect they would adjust it at the register.

Awesome! I was just gonna ask the same question and research but you did all the work for me. Guess I'll just keep my Onkyo which has been great. Thanks!

Quote from SlickDeath : Awesome! I was just gonna ask the same question and research but you did all the work for me. Guess I'll just keep my Onkyo which has been great. Thanks!

Well, I found what I could, but there aren't a lot of direct comparisons between the 2 models. I usually post questions and nobody answers them, so I end up researching and then post a little more hoping that will get someone to confirm if it's correct. It's rare to get the info I hope for, but it does happen sometimes. Sometimes I get tempted to post wrong information as that seems to prompt correct replies far better than asking a question in the first place. There's a name for that principle or law, but I forgot it. For instance, one could say "the Onkyo TX-NR656 blows the Pioneer VSX-1131 out of the water with more power and software settings" and one would probably get an answer saying "no, they are basically the same" whereas if one posted "what's the difference between the 656 and 1131?" one will usually get crickets chirping.

Right now as far as I can tell the units are very close, but the Onkyo has more at least 1 more of each type of video input. I even read the complete 7-page (which is quite small actually) TX-NR656 owner's thread on AVS and it was still vague what the 656's upscaling abilities are. I guess I'm going to have to find out by trying it myself. I have a 1131 on hold through tomorrow just in case I change my mind. I sure hope I get time to set up the 656 tonight (doubtful).

How does this compare to Denon AVR-X1300W? Thank you

Quote from Baguda : Well, I found what I could, but there aren't a lot of direct comparisons between the 2 models. I usually post questions and nobody answers them, so I end up researching and then post a little more hoping that will get someone to confirm if it's correct. It's rare to get the info I hope for, but it does happen sometimes. Sometimes I get tempted to post wrong information as that seems to prompt correct replies far better than asking a question in the first place. There's a name for that principle or law, but I forgot it. For instance, one could say "the Onkyo TX-NR656 blows the Pioneer VSX-1131 out of the water with more power and software settings" and one would probably get an answer saying "no, they are basically the same" whereas if one posted "what's the difference between the 656 and 1131?" one will usually get crickets chirping. Right now as far as I can tell the units are very close, but the Onkyo has more at least 1 more of each type of video input. I even read the complete 7-page (which is quite small actually) TX-NR656 owner's thread on AVS and it was still vague what the 656's upscaling abilities are. I guess I'm going to have to find out by trying it myself. I have a 1131 on hold through tomorrow just in case I change my mind. I sure hope I get time to set up the 656 tonight (doubtful).

I own the 656 and it upconverts anything hdmi to 4k and it works pretty good I tried it with the cable box and it noticeably looks better. I didn't get around to trying upconversion on my regular bluray player or old hd dvd player. I love it so far it replaced a Onkyo 808 due to no 4k pass through. It's noticeably weaker but sound quality is the same from what I can tell.

Does the Pioneer have the updated GUI like the Onkyo? The GUI on my 2012 SC-1522K looks like it was developed on a Scanimate with the anti-wrinkle setting turned off.

Hmmm. I've been (im)patiently waiting for the Yamaha TSR-7810 or RX-V781 to go on sale. Seems like I missed a great sale by a few days (when I started looking a couple weeks ago) and am still bummed about that. This Pioneer isn't my first choice; but for $300 I just might need to dip into my cash stash and take a trip to Fry's tomorrow.

FWIW, I got talked out of the VSX-1131 and told to keep the TX-NR656 for $30 more by the audio guy. He knows more than I do (and was sacrificing a sale), so I hope he is right.

Quote from Magowin : I own the 656 and it upconverts anything hdmi to 4k and it works pretty good I tried it with the cable box and it noticeably looks better. I didn't get around to trying upconversion on my regular bluray player or old hd dvd player. I love it so far it replaced a Onkyo 808 due to no 4k pass through. It's noticeably weaker but sound quality is the same from what I can tell.

When you say the 656 is weaker, do you mean that you have to crank the volume knob up more to get the same sound as your previous unit? I guess that's not the end of the world as long as the 656 can produce the same sound as my 646 which I'm satisfied with apart from its lack of 4K ability (and I need another unit for another room). Regarding upconverting HDMI, I've seen that listed in the specs, but I'm unclear if the 656 can (up)convert composite/component video to HDMI.

I've also not found any detailed info regarding what gets output in these 2 situations:

If you have 1 HDMI output (main) connected to a 4K TV and the sub HDMI output connected to a 2K projector:

(1) If you input a 4K source, what do you get on each HDMI output?
(2) If you input a 2K source, what do you get on each HDMI output?

My wild guess is (1) 4K on main and 4K on sub meaning the projector won't display anything and (2) 2K on main and 2K on sub. My hope was (1) 4K on main and 2K on sub and (2) 4K upconverted on main and 2K on sub. I guess I won't know until I try it. In the information Internet age, information on certain obscure things (i.e. the stuff that interests me) is often hard to come by.

Quote from Baguda : FWIW, I got talked out of the VSX-1131 and told to keep the TX-NR656 for $30 more by the audio guy. He knows more than I do (and was sacrificing a sale), so I hope he is right. When you say the 656 is weaker, do you mean that you have to crank the volume knob up more to get the same sound as your previous unit? I guess that's not the end of the world as long as the 656 can produce the same sound as my 646 which I'm satisfied with apart from its lack of 4K ability (and I need another unit for another room). Regarding upconverting HDMI, I've seen that listed in the specs, but I'm unclear if the 656 can (up)convert composite/component video to HDMI. I've also not found any detailed info regarding what gets output in these 2 situations: If you have 1 HDMI output (main) connected to a 4K TV and the sub HDMI output connected to a 2K projector: (1) If you input a 4K source, what do you get on each HDMI output? (2) If you input a 2K source, what do you get on each HDMI output? My wild guess is (1) 4K on main and 4K on sub meaning the projector won't display anything and (2) 2K on main and 2K on sub. My hope was (1) 4K on main and 2K on sub and (2) 4K upconverted on main and 2K on sub. I guess I won't know until I try it. In the information Internet age, information on certain obscure things (i.e. the stuff that interests me) is often hard to come by.

Yeah the 656 is only 100 watts per channel the 808 was 135 watts per channel so on the 656 volume needs to be 70 - 80 to get output I was getting on old receiver on 55 - 65.

I no longer have anything component connected my last thing was a Wii that the 808 would upconvert but I now have the Wii U so it's in HDMI port. I have my VCR connected to my cable box. I think I remember reading in manual that it won't upconvert from the component and composite ports skimming through it. The 808 was awesome though for Wii 1080p looked so much nicer than the 480p before.

Quote from Magowin : Yeah the 656 is only 100 watts per channel the 808 was 135 watts per channel so on the 656 volume needs to be 70 - 80 to get output I was getting on old receiver on 55 - 65. I no longer have anything component connected my last thing was a Wii that the 808 would upconvert but I now have the Wii U so it's in HDMI port. I have my VCR connected to my cable box. I think I remember reading in manual that it won't upconvert from the component and composite ports skimming through it. The 808 was awesome though for Wii 1080p looked so much nicer than the 480p before.

Thanks for the clarification. I may be safe because both the 646 and 656 are rated 100W per channel, so I'm expecting my movie volume level should be around +40 to +50 which is where I usually listen on the 646. Yeah, I'm probably not going to get composite/component (up)conversion to HDMI on the 656 (and I'm pretty sure the 646 doesn't do it). I don't know if HDMI supports a 480i or 480p signal, so I don't know if upconversion is required.

If someone had been able to tell me that the Pioneer VSX-1131 could do this and the Onkyo could not and that the units were identical in all other ways (apart from number of inputs), then I might have gotten the VSX-1131 today.