Pioneer SC-LX71

Why 4 stars?, this is great, I have listened to it, the only point I do agree with is that the bass can sound a little loose, but this should be 5 stars buster!

I look at the so called 'Tech Specs' here and it baffles me why ultra important 'specs'. like the frequency response of the audio channels is totally ignored!!

What have reviewers employed by HiFi Mag got against quoting the frequency response of kit?

i have this amp and i think its brill

but i never thought that i would be as good as the 81, why would pioneer release 2 amps almost the same price and have the cheaper 71  better than the 81.  Anyway i wonder if this review will lower the price of the 71.  Great timing...

i totaly agree, i bought this amp 2 weeks ago and think it is a really greeat bit of kit. the sound quality is fantastic and the surround is second to none. As for the price dropping on the back of this review - i dont think so. was talking to the retailer where i bought it and the price is actually going up due to the exchange rate by about 20% so im gald i bought it before the increase.

I have purchased this amp to upgrade from my DENON 4306... and I am VERY VERY impressed and pleased with the sound + ease of use in setting up.. Surprised it only got 4 stars I payed less than £1000 for it online thats almost  £500 {@ some AV shops} less than SCLX81 and you wouldnt expect it to be as accomplished... It decodes all HD sound formats and response is spot on .. LOVE IT.....

Have to say a somewhat nonsense review here from the

normaly astute guys at What Hi Fi. Its got AIR Studios

seal of approval alomg with THX certification. The guys think its lean in the top and loose in the bass.

however.

It isnt. Its a great amp as the other reviwers state so well.

Well have lost alot of respect for whathifi after reading this review.  

I extensively auditioned both the SC-LX71 and 81, and could not hear any difference between the two!  Other reviews, and people in the know have expressed the same.  How could whathifi be the only one that seems to differ?

I ended up getting the 81, but only because I needed the dual hdmi outputs.  Sound wise they are identical in every way. Its is only a couple of features that justify the extra spend on the 81. How whathifi could find any difference soundwise between them leaves me gobsmacked.....the only explanation must surely be a faulty review unit.

Get another unit (perhaps a class test in an upcoming issue??), and try again cause this online review brings your reputation for fine and reliable reviewing into doubt!!!

I have to disagree with the tide here. I bought both to try at home and sent the LX71 back. I don't know about Tinny or loose but it did seem crisper and more punchy. As for certification teh LX81 does have the higher THX specification so clearly something in the output is different. I also had the Onkyo and Yamaha at the same time and both Pioneers were slightly ahead of either of those for me.