Hi there,

Hopefully someone can help me with this one. I just upgraded to a Pioneer VSX-816 from an older Technics SA-AX6.

I notice that with the Pioneer, whenever the receiver is turned on, there is a slight "white" noise coming from my speakers. I wouldn't describe it as a humming or buzzing - perhaps just a very slight hissing that is only noticable if you're within about 3-4' of the speaker.

I definitely didn't have this issue with my Technics - they were completely silent even when the receiver was turned on. Adjusting the volume on the Pioneer doesn't have any effect - it is constant, and occurs over all of the inputs. Is this just normal?

I have the same problem.... never had that problem with other receivers before, it sound like a bad connection...I must change signal input to make it go away, otherwise this background sound will be present.

Also there a huge difference with dialogue enhancer ON, voices also play from front speakers + center channel, in case you're worry because you don't hear voices from center.....

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean change your signal input? I notice it on all of the inputs, regardless of whether I actually have something connected.

Sorry I meant the button signal sel on the bottom of the remote.

Mine does that when only at startup, once it's warmer, the sound that you describe goes away.

Do you know why it does that ?

Mine does that when only at startup, once it's warmer, the sound that you describe goes away.
Thanks rikee - I'm going to let it warm up tonight and see if it goes away. I'm hoping that it's not "normal" or that I'm being too anal - because you really have to be beside the speaker to hear it.

Well, look mine does that when there is no active input selected, once I start my DVD or my cable box, the sound is perfect, no complain. I also can hear this little sound when I switch between the inputs.

An update. Let it run for about 20 minutes and no difference after it was warmed up. It is a constant background noise regardless of what input I select and regardless of whether I have anything connected.

But an interesting discovery - if I actually Mute it through the remote, it disappears. No white noise. However, if I turn it down all the way manually it doesn't go away - only if I Mute it.

Does that make any sense?

Well, I just did some testing too and the sound dissappear after like 30 seconds, maybe this is caused by my optic cable and it needs some time for synchronization but anyway, if I press mute, the sound is still there but completly goes away before 1 minute. I suggest you to take it back and try with a new one. I took the extented warranty for 15$ so if the problem gets bigger, I will take it back.

Anyone else with the 816? I'd prefer to have some further confirmation before I unhook everything and package it up for an exchange or refund. Many thanks.

I get the sound you describe on my 816 when it first powers up. (sounds like a ground loop or bad ground connection) It disappears after a short warm-up so I haven't bothered to do anything about it. Sounds like a common problem for these units...

I think you are right be if you close your receiver and turn it on again once it is still warm, you wont hear this little sound so it might be part of the warm up process.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

I ended up replacing the Pioneer with the Denon AVR-587 - it's definitely not as flashy, and it's got fewer "extra" features - but the sound quality seems more natural to me, and most importantly - no hissing!

Hey, is it just me or my 816 shuts off everytime I try to play it a tad louder?
And I do not mean REAL loud, just enjoying it and all of a sudden ... OVERLOAD, can someone help?