We tested the Pioneer AVR VSX 934 Home Cinema Amplifier!

We tested the Pioneer AVR VSX 934 Home Cinema Amplifier!

At the request of one of our repeat customers we tested a home theatre amplifier again a couple of days ago. The spacious, Mediterranean-style house with garden had a very large cinema room. Opposite to the comfortable, reclining armchairs with armrests, we found ourselves facing an imposing projector screen. This time we came to test the Pioneer AVR VSX 934 home theatre amplifier. The acoustics of the room were almost impeccable, although a few more diffusers would be needed for the ideal sound. (This is already planned by the owners anyway.) Sound-absorbing panels and curtains have already been placed by the owner, but there is still room for improvement in sound due to not treated reflection points.

Get to know this great mid-range device better!

The aesthetic, modern look, available in black or silver, was to our liking. The display is clear and the device has two large dials on the plastic front panel. For the Pioneer VSX 934, 3D surround sound is achieved with Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer and DTS Virtual: X technology. The 160 Watt (6 Ohms) audio device per channel has, among other things, 6 HDMI and 2 HDMI outputs, as well as Phono inputs for digital and vinyl record playback. The seven-channel amplifier favours movie fans with 5.1.2 settings, support for Dolby Atmos and DTS: X.It can also handle uncompressed, high-definition Dolby True HD, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS: X and multi-channel Dolby Digital Plus. The HDMI connectors can also handle 4K content as well.Thanks to Apple Airplay 2, you can create your own multi-room system from Apple devices.

With a wireless speaker, it is possible to play music on both speakers at the same time. With DTS Play-Fi, you can control multiple rooms. Of course, streaming services have not been forgotten either (Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music), and the built-in Bluetooth, Wifi, LAN interface and Internet radio also add to the amplifier’s myriad of functions. The iControlAv APP is free to download, allowing you to use your iPhone or iPod Touch as a remote control. With the MCACC calibration system, the device can be adjusted to the acoustics of a given room. It is also equipped with 4 analog audio inputs as well as coaxial and optical digital audio inputs.

The test

We first listened to a live recording of the legendary band Guns N ’Roses hit Sweet Child O ’Mine. Along with high quality speakers and ceiling speakers, the amplifier performed great. The sound was full of life, clear and precise, every little detail and finesse was audible. When the unsurpassed Slash slammed into the guitar strings, we could almost feel the rhythm in our guts. The concert atmosphere was completely captivating, we felt like we were in the crowd of the raging audience. The bass was firm, powerful. The PHONO input meets the needs of fans of vinyl records. There is an undeniably unique, nostalgic sense of life that catches you when old records come across. But this does not mean that the technology of the past cannot meet the modern tools of the 21st century. While listening to Mozart’s Magic Flute, the story almost came to life. At the sound of the Night Queen’s aria, anger and a desire for revenge were palpable. We witnessed incredibly lively and clear, accurate sounds and singing. Each instrument of the orchestra was clear and audible. We simply didn’t find anything to complain about while playing the vinyl record either.

However, since it’s just a home theatre amplifier, we couldn’t miss cinema either. We thought we might want to test a movie that abounds in action scenes and special effects.

That’s how we selected Star Wars: The Age of Skywalker in Blue-ray quality of course. The Pioneer VSX 934 amplifier is also great for special effects. We heard the vibration of the lightsabers, the glide of the Millennium Falcon, the sounds of space fights, and clear dialogues. We got a really detailed sound experience. Maybe the bass range for the movie didn’t feel as percussive as we expected, but it didn’t spoil our fun..

Advantages of Pioneer VSX 934:

-excellent sound quality

-several function

-strong bass

-energetic, well controllable

-value for money

Perhaps the only disadvantage is the lack of expandability.

Our opinion:

We found that the Pioneer’s 2019 model performed convincingly during testing. It also brought its best form the relatively large cinema room. It provided intense, detailed, real and clear sound in all tests. Among the mid-range home theatre amplifiers, it absolutely plays its part, in return for the price we get the right device. It should be mentioned that, as with most amplifiers, it is important to pair it with quality speakers if you really want to get the most out of your sound. Don’t neglect the acoustic treatment of the rooms either! It is recommended to request an online acoustic measuring so that we can determine the reflection points with 95% accuracy. When buying audio devices, keep in mind that the acoustics in the store where we are trying out are probably completely different from those in our homes and studios, so they will not sound the same in different locations.

G.H.