Pioneer's 2007 A/V receivers range: big on XM / Sirius satellite radio

Pioneer today announced four new A/V receivers -- lovingly designated as the VSX-517, VSX-817, VSX-917V, and VSX-1017TXV (pictured) -- three of which feature compatibility with Sirius' SiriusConnect SC-H1 and XM's Connect & Play Satellite Radio solutions. The VSX-1017TXV top-of-the-range THX Select 2 certified model also features iPod connectivity -- seriously, what doesn't in this day and age? -- via a separate and optional iPod docking station. All four receivers feature Pioneer's proprietary digital sound processing technologies which are designed to adapt the audio output to different room spaces, as well as Pioneer's Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration for optimizing sound across several channels. Now for the raw specs: the first three models are all capable of pumping 110 Watts over each of their 7 channels -- 5 in the case of the VSX-517 -- with the top end 1017TXV upping that another 10 to 120 Watts/channel output. Only the top two models (VSX-917V and VSX-1017TXV) feature HDMI video switching, so if you opt for either the VSX-517 or VSX-817 you'll have to settle for their audio-only coaxial and optical inputs. Pioneer is asking $199 for the VSX-517, $299 for the VSX-517, $399 for the VSX-917V, and has yet to make its mind up on a tag for the VSX-1017TXV. Bar the top end model which will be available in July this year, all other models will be up for sale in April.

[Spike @ Jan 8th 2007 8:25AM]

So, is it REAL HDMI switching with HDMI sound support?

I have a VSX-1016TXV, nice receiver, except for that quirk. HDMI switching without support for HDMI sound is kinda pointless.

Apart from the ipod/xm/sirius support, there isnt much that places this model different from the VSX-1016TXV.

[Ryan J. @ Jan 8th 2007 9:51AM]

HDMI 1.3? Dolby True HD & DTS-HD processing?

[Dan Armstrong @ Jan 8th 2007 1:26PM]

Are these prices right!? $399 for all that?

[Tim in Augusta @ Jan 8th 2007 5:34PM]

I got XM for xmas and it included a "mini passport"/"mini tuner" that supposedly is meant to replace the XM Connect and Play, but no new products seem to be using the new tuner. A new product coming out now with the former technology makes me wonder if the "mini tuner" concept is in danger of becoming vaporware.

[JP @ Jan 11th 2007 10:29AM]

Along with Spike's question whether the VSX-1017TXV is able to pass video and audio via HDMI (and not require a separate cable like the VSX-1016TXV), does the VSX-1017TXV's setup menu appear through HDMI?

[ET @ Mar 14th 2007 10:51AM]

Does the 1017 support video input up conversion to HDMI? This is something Denon 2807 has, I wonder if Pioneer's non elite line will do it.