What is consensus on Pioneer Elite sound quality?

I like a neutral to warm sound. To me the Pioneer is quite neutral. I've heard Yamahas are a tad brighter than neutral while Rotel, marantz are a tad warmer. I'm wondering where NAD's integrateds fall.

I have the Pioneer Elite A-35R stereo integrated amp I use for movies, TV and background music. It is a really nice 2 channel MOSFET amp with a msrp of $200 (recently discontinued but still available) It has 45wpc/8ohms and 65wpc/4ohms.

I've not compared it to PE's HT receivers so I can't comment on that., but I would like to know. I love its gloss black look and sound quality enough that I'm contemplating a full Elite HT system.

I'm driving 88db JBL speakers in a large 16x22 room that opens into a 10x12 kitchen. It will play moderately loud. In a normal room or w/ more efficient speakers it will play very loud.

The sound is warm and smooth with nice detail. The dynamics are layed back and not in your face. The bass is articulate but not boomy. Dialogue is clear and understandable. Cymbals have a nice musical shimmer without harshness. My main music system a tube based system and this has a warm smooth sound I like. Though it is not as airy, clear or dynamic as the Cary tube amp it has the right tyoe of sound for me. Interconnects and speaker cable does make a difference.

Cary is another amp I am considering. Since I have a sub in my w 2 channel system, I'm considering using the Elite as a pre, and use the sub-out, and patch in an outboard tube amp thru front pre-outs

An AV receivers preamp section is lesser quality than the amp section. To many op amps and signal path length for the low the level signal before it is amplified.

A tube preamp (or SS) would provide better sound if the receiver has multichannel amp inputs. If it does, and you have a preamp w/ 2 outputs, you can use 4 of the AV receivers amps and bi-amp your speakers, if they offer connections.

Well from what I've gathered on this site and others, unless I'm going to spend a bit more, I might as well stick with the Elite receiver. I was tmpted by the Cambridge 840A, but it may not be a major sonic improvement over the Elite that I now have. I can't fork over big bucks at the moment so I should keep saving and then do a MAJOR upgrade down the road (possibly a McIntosh or similar.