Pioneer VSX-D509S Dolby Digital Audio/Video Receiver

by Pioneer

Product Details

Product Manual [1.52mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 15.4 x 16.6 x 6.2 inches ; 18.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 22 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00004SD9G
• Item model number: VSX-D509S
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,407 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

With both Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding, S-video switching, 5.1-channel analog inputs, four digital-audio inputs, and the ability to deliver 100 watts across all five main channels, Pioneer's VSX-D509S is poised to satisfy many a movie and music fan. Its value goes deeper than its feature set, however: the VSX-D509S offers full-bodied sound with fine detail and texture. Vocals sound clear and well-defined, while the bass--crucial for dynamic surround-sound reproduction--is taut and authoritative. Operation is a breeze: the receiver's setup and controls work perfectly, and radio signals come in clear as crystal.

Pioneer's four Advanced Theater modes (Musical, Drama, Action, and Expanded) enhance DTS and Dolby Digital playback, giving you plenty of options when it comes to surround-sound playback. Six stereo DSP (digital signal processing) modes for music simulate the sonic environment of a large wooden concert hall, a modern hall with stone walls, a jazz club, a dance club, and two different movie theaters.

We like that the VSX-509S has S-video switching, a coaxial digital input, and 5.1-channel direct inputs, all of which are aimed at superior audio-video performance.

Radio signals come in clear as a bell. Dolby digital and DTS surround processing are both excellent, and we even found the relatively subtle DSP modes to be more to our liking than usual.

While we're pleased that Pioneer uses five-way binding posts for the front three channels, the surround channels use cheaper spring-loaded terminals, which require bare-wire connections--something to consider if you currently have banana-terminated speaker cable. This isn't a major shortcoming--most receivers use them--but we wish manufacturers would use identical connectors for all channels, especially in a performance-driven machine like this one.

Pioneer's VSX-D509S's strengths are many, and the receiver represents a very fine value. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Clean, rich sound
• DTS decoding
• S-video switching
• 5.1-channel direct inputs

Cons:

• Spring-loaded push terminals for surround channels

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not true S-Video switching, October 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pioneer VSX-D509S Dolby Digital Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

Despite what the Amazon.com review says, this receiver does NOT offer true S-Video switching. It only offers video and S-Video SELECTING, which allows you to choose either standard video or S-Video sources, but the standard signal is not sent through the S-Video outs and the S-Video signal is not sent through the standard video outs.

SWITCHING, a term used in video production, indicates that any video source, regardless of the signal format, would be sent through the output channel. For an a/v receiver, S-Video switching implies that a unit allows you to hook up both S-video and standard video sources and view all of them through either the standard or S-video output. This model does not offer that feature.

For example, suppose that you hook up a satellite receiver to this a/v receiver by using it's S-Video output, and you also hook up your VCR to this a/v receiver by using standard video inputs and outputs. In this situation, you would never be able to record anything from the satellite receiver, because you do not have the VCR input connected to the receiver's S-Video output. Further, unless your television (or monitor) accepts both S-Video and standard video input and can switch between the two based on presence or absence of signal, then you will have difficulty using this receiver with both standard and S-Video sources.

Amazon.com does sell a Monster Cable standard- to S-Video adapter that works quite well. My solution was to use these adapters to "step up" the standard video signals from my older devices and connect everything to the S-Video inputs and outputs on this receiver. I did have my doubts, but I am very pleased with the results. However, at $99 each, this can be an expensive resolution.

My only other serious disappointment with this receiver is that there are only three sets of a/v/S-v inputs in the rear. Although the fourth set is a separate input channel, the connectors are located on the front of the receiver. This is fine for hooking up a camcorder on occasion, but it is very aesthetically displeasing to use the front connectors on a regular basis.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Value + Performance = Great deal, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pioneer VSX-D509S Dolby Digital Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

The 509S is nicely priced so that just about anyone can establish a home theater system without breaking the bank. I myself bought this to upgrade to DTS (my old Pioneer had only Dolby Digital), but I'll be using it as my primary receiver now that I've had a chance to use it.

If you've owned previous Pioneer receivers which were themselves noisy, you won't have to worry about this model. While there are some noticeable aspects missing in this model from previous Pioneer receivers (most likely absent to cut down on costs), most of these were bells and whistles that don't affect performance. I do wish Pioneer had kept the visual display of multi-channel sound, however; I miss being able to immediately see if a DVD actually has all of the multi-channel sound it claims to have.

The only real downside to this receiver is that it is only minimally intuitive. I had to spend a lot of time with the manual to figure out the proper outputs for connections. That wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that the manual isn't exactly intuitive either. One big hint: the outgoing connections are pre-set for certain items. I couldn't understand why I wasn't getting any audio from the optical digital connection to my DVD player until I found an oblique reference stating that the Digital 1 output was pre-set to "CD player"; changing the setting to "DVD" corrected the problem.

There were other issues too (a skittish remote that required multiple attempts at programming), but now that the receiver is set, I'm extremely pleased. I even went out and got some DTS Compact Discs to enjoy (which, when done right, harken back to the best days of Quadraphonic sound).

A nice receiver and a great value.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice receiver, a good value, September 18, 2000

By 

John "John" (PHOENIX, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pioneer VSX-D509S Dolby Digital Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

I had this receiver for about a month now and really like it. It sounds great, has some nice features, and was easy to connect everything to.

I can't give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. The manual is not very well written. Sometimes you have to jump around to several sections to get your questions answered about a certain feature. I am also unimpressed with the remote. It is supposed to be a univeral/learning remote, and it does recognize my devices (mostly RCA) but it's hard to use. I have to press 5 buttons just to watch DSS on my TV. (press reciever on, press TV, press power on, press TVC/DSS, press power on). That assumes that the TV is already set for channel 90. If not, I have to change the channel also. You would think that I should only have to select DSS and it should assume that I also will want the receiver and TV to turn on also. Same hassle when using other devices like the VCR. On my original remote I just pressed DSS and everything came on and was ready to go. I tried to get around this hassle by using the learning mode but this hasn't worked out. The section of the manual that explains the remote is also poorly written and I had to figure some things out by trial and error.

Overall though this is a great receiver and you won't go wrong if your purchase it. (just don't throw away your old remote)