Hey you guys check this out.

Danny Richie · « **on:** 8 Mar 2005, 04:49 pm »

Have you guys seen this and what do you think?

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_2047431_2046358_tab=B,00.html?compName=PNA_ProductDetailComponent

Could this be the next favorite, budget, digital receiver to tweak and upgrade into another stand out?

Look how cheap these are being sold at Tiger Direct.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1170681&sku=P725-1104

I heard it is even cheaper if you have them not include the cheapy speakers.

I can't believe how cheap some of these electronics really are sometimes.

Just unbelievable.

audioengr · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 06:02 pm »

This "Twin-Wave" laser system on the player is interesting. Changes wavelength to optimize reads from CD or DVD. This might be superior to typical DVD players.

brj · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 06:15 pm »

How do most DVD players currently read CDs? Two lasers?

klh · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 08:46 pm »

Too bad it doesn't have I-link, DVI or HDMI connectability.

audioengr · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 09:16 pm »

Quote from: brj

How do most DVD players currently read CDs? Two lasers?

No, most of them just compromise and use the DVD laser for CD's. One exception is the Sony DVP-S7700, which has two physical lasers.

jswallac · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 10:00 pm »

This combo has been out for quite some time now. I suspect the reason it is so cheap is that it will be discontinued for a new model soon. BTW, the player is identical to the Pioneer 563A, just rebadged. For some reason this receiver never seemed to generate any excitement. If you search on Elite EX500 there are threads dating back about a year.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 10:47 pm »

Thanks jswallic,

I didn't realize this thing was old news.

I am surprised no one has popped up with more info on it or something.

In this thread: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=14733&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=elite%20ex500&start=10
intelonetwo says it does room correction.

Some one else was telling me that it came with a microphone.

Anybody listened to this unit or know any more about it?

Oh yea, I have a 563A and the DVD player that they are bundling with it looks just like it.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 10:58 pm »

I didn't realize that model was still available. Pioneer doesn't seem to replace their entire line every year like some companies do. A couple years ago I looked at that rig at Ultimate, but it was like $800.

It might seriously be worth looking at now as cheap as it's gotten.

MaxCast · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 12:29 pm »

I was told the room correction does not work on the 5.1 ins.

This was a bummer for me when I was looking at the 1014 receiver.

chriss · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 03:13 pm »

Danny wrote "Oh yea, I have a 563A and the DVD player that they are bundling with it looks just like it."

Have you tried it for CD play back. I would be very interested to hear your impression
chris

lvis11 · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 07:36 pm »

I just bought the ex500 combo from ebay for $210 shipped....i will post my comments on it in a few days once i get it and burn it in. Another guy in avsforums has this and he says it blows his old HK 7200 out of the water. If i feel courageous...i will open it up and take pics....

JnC · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Mar 2005, 04:40 pm »

Ivis, be sure to crack it open and take some pictures for us! Thanks!

Danny Richie · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Mar 2005, 04:52 pm »

Yea, and let us know what you think of how it sounds.

BeeBop · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Mar 2005, 10:35 am »

Quote from: audioengr

... most of them just compromise and use the DVD laser for CD's...

My DVD player stopped playing DVDs, but could still play CDs. Guy at the repair shop told me the laser had to be replaced (after he fixed it). Does this mean my player has two lasers?

cowsclaw · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Mar 2005, 08:53 pm »

I was looking into this one before and, if i recall correctly, I passed on it because it did not have component video in.

can anyone confirm?

lvis11 · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 03:01 pm »

that is correct..it does not have any component ins/outs

tubeytubeamp · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 03:10 pm »

So, How does it sound? How many RCA inputs does it have?

lvis11 · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 06:11 pm »

it has
4 x rca
1 x 5.1 input
3 x optical (1 shared..either use coax/optical)
1 x coax
5 x S-video

i have it running continuously for almost 2 days now...so far it is lightly warm to the touch...i did open it up and took pictures...but i cant say i did see too much in there...there were boards on top of each other that i didnt bother unscrew to peek at...i will post pix later tonight...

i have been without a receiver for about 6 months...so i dont really have anything to compare too...so far the sound is ok..(i ran mcacc - setup was a breeze - i ran it at 2 in the am...i was scared i might wake up the whole house...

)...i just compared regular cd and sacd playback on the player (that came with the package) so i was switching back and forth between inputs (i have 2 pioneer dvd players...so one was playing cd and the other sacd of the carpenters).

The sound is more detailed..(not sure if it is brighter..?)...by a bit...as far as i can remember from my last receiver...(which was a kenwood DD only 120w analog). I watched a few scenes from the matrix...on the lobby scene...(again...from what i remember)...on my old kenwood...the music techno background was more "louder" than the pioneer ex500...whereas on the pioneer...the same scene had the background techno music more muted...and the actual gunshots, breaking marble, etc...were more apparent....
watching the Eagles DTS and was amazed at the clarity....much better than PCM (my old kenwood was dd only)
I watched the incredibles dvd on it last night..and noticed i had to change volumes during loud scenes and dialogue scenes....

this is really not a full featured receiver....limited by the number of inputs and amount of flexibility...there was some features on it that i liked...like the dialogue button which enchanced dialogue somewhat...
crossover setting can be changed to..100, 150 and 200hz..i think...no 80Hz setting or lower though...

I still have not played with it enough...more breakin time..testing still needs to be done...but for what i have, and for the amount i got it ($210 - receiver and dvd/sacd/dvd-a player) ...im not complaining...

btw..im using swans 4.1/cc/dipole surround...i have no sub...(mains set to large)

Danny Richie · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 07:23 pm »

Quote

crossover setting can be changed to..100, 150 and 200hz..i think...no 80Hz setting or lower though...

Are you saying that you can't run a full range signal to any of the speaker outputs?

Or is this a setting for the sub only?

lvis11 · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 08:04 pm »

oh..no...this is for sub only...

you can set the speakers to Large, Small....

i have mains set to large, center & surround to small. I have no sub for now..