Pioneer VSX-521, VSX-821, VSX-921 and VSX-1021 A/V Receivers

18705 Views 32 Replies 16 Participants Last post by TriniBoy101, Jun 7, 2012

hugh

Discussion Starter · Mar 8, 2011

Pioneer has added the Pioneer VSX-521, VSX-821, VSX-921 and VSX-1021 receivers to its 2011 line-up.

Features of all four new receivers which come in a glossy black finish include: the ability to decode the latest HD audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby ProLogic IIz); Auto Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration (MCACC) which analyzes the room’s speaker configuration and then optimizes the sound level and equalization; and Auto Level Control which compensates for fluctuating volume levels across digital audio tracks, television channels and commercials.

In addition, all four receivers have HDMI 1.4a inputs including support for the audio return channel (ARC) that send audio signals to the receiver from compatible TV tuners and online services built into televisions, such as Netflix. For the consumer who intends to periodically use the built-in speakers of their televisions, the Pioneer line-up also includes a new HDMI Standby Through feature to pass audio and video from a set top box through the receivers without the need to turn on the component.

The Pioneer VSX-521 and VSX-821 will be available in Canada later this month for $329 and $429 respectively. The VSX-921 and and VSX-1021 will be available in April for $499 and $699 respectively.

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

PokerChip

· #2 · Mar 8, 2011

Now this sounds interesting as I was looking at the 1025.

Would these be the equivalent as far as quality (video processing, sound quality, etc.)?

Also, any mention of being able to control the receiver with the apps (from an iPad as an example)?

Prices seem quite reasonable....

hugh

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 8, 2011

I actually posted in the Smartphone forum about the apps announced today but here's the info

Air Jam – Used in conjunction with the VSX-1021 receiver and AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter (sold separately), Air Jam lets you pair up to four devices via Bluetooth. Once connected, each user can cue songs from their music libraries to create a collective playlist to play back on their A/V Receiver. Each connected device will display the list of songs added by all users and the device each song will play from.

iControlAV2 – The app enables control of volume, bass, balance and room settings and is further enhanced when used with an iPad, integrating all four app controls into a single screen. Additional features include a graphic representation of before and after MCACC room calibration, and sound adjustments that enable users to create their own equalizer settings with a simple “touch and draw” on the screen. The iControlAV2 App also includes Blu-ray player control when connected to a compatible Pioneer Blu-ray player.

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Civuck

· #4 · Mar 8, 2011

PokerChip said:
Now this sounds interesting as I was looking at the 1025.

Would these be the equivalent as far as quality (video processing, sound quality, etc.)?

Also, any mention of being able to control the receiver with the apps (from an iPad as an example)?

Prices seem quite reasonable....

Looks like Anchor Bay for the video processing on the 1021 and 921.

If you can still find last year's Pioneer 1325 discounted, it's an excellent bargain with superior video processing to these new models and a number of other advantages. These new models seem more iTunes-cozy with not much else.

wozman

· #5 · Mar 9, 2011

Do any of these receivers come with 2 HDMI-OUT? or am I still stuck with the ELITE brands for that.

Also do they support multi zone?

Thanks

PokerChip

· #6 · Mar 9, 2011

Thats's exactly the answer I was looking for Civuck. That would explain the price difference.

I'll eventually get some time to look into it. Thanks!

JohnnyCanuck

· #7 · Mar 9, 2011

The 1325, 1120, 1125, and Elite VSX-32 and 33 all feature Marvell video scaling. Civuck's right that in his comment about the 1325, but I would include the others as well.

wilsoncfrhk

· #8 · Jan 4, 2012

Pioneer VSX 921

Does anyone knows how to turn on the Standby Through feature mentioned below?

In addition, all four receivers have HDMI 1.4a inputs including support for the audio return channel (ARC) that send audio signals to the receiver from compatible TV tuners and online services built into televisions, such as Netflix. For the consumer who intends to periodically use the built-in speakers of their televisions, the Pioneer line-up also includes a new HDMI Standby Through feature to pass audio and video from a set top box through the receivers without the need to turn on the component.

Nuje

· #9 · Jan 5, 2012

I worked on that, too, with my new VSX-1021, but came to the conclusion that my four-year-old TV (Samsung HL61A750) didn't have the ARC capability, so it was a no-go.

Too bad - I'd love to be able to make use of that feature.

The disappointing feature that doesn't work for me is the iControlAV2 iPhone app not being able to turn on the receiver - major fail there.

57

· #10 · Jan 5, 2012

ARC should be separate from the HDMI Standby Passthrough discussed by wilsoncfrhk. In other words if the AVR has HDMI Standby Passthrough, ARC is not a TV requirement. I have read that the HDMI passthrough does use a bit more power in standby than if the AVR is in regular standby (off)

I always suggest you download the operating manual and then perform searches in the pdf for the item you're trying to enable...

redzone

· #11 · Jan 5, 2012 (Edited)

Nuje i have a 1021 and the android app turns on the reciever im not sure why the ipad one wouldnt.

you need to go into settings and make sure under networking standby(or something to that effect) is turned on or it wont work.

wilsoncfrhk

· #12 · Jan 5, 2012

57, thanks for your reply.

I connected my Rogers PVR box to the video 1 of the Pioneer VSX-921 receiver and the HDMI out to a Sony TV KDL55EX620.

The TV will display no input signal if I turn off the Pioneer VSX-921 receiver.
I read the receiver should have the Standby Pass-thru feature. It doesn't seem to work. Any idea?

57

· #13 · Jan 5, 2012

I don't know where you got the quote in post 8, however, I looked through the (921) operating manual and didn't find such a function. I searched through the manual for "standby" and "through". What I did find was that if you used "HDMI control" functionality, the AVR would come on when you, say, turned on your BD player and then you'd automatically have audio (via Amp or TV) depending on if you selected Amp or Through, as discussed on page 35 of the OM. This would not work for the Rogers PVR either since, I believe, the PVR is always sending a signal, even when "off".

So, unless I missed something, this AVR doesn't have a true HDMI standby passthrough. Perhaps it's available on a higher end Pioneer, since the quote in post 8 is not specific about model... You can, of course, select "through" manually as per page 35, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

You could also connect the Rogers PVR directly to the TV via HDMI and optical or coaxial audio to the AVR, that way you could choose the audio device. Or simply listen to the AVR 100% of the time - it's audio is probably superior to the TV.

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stego

· #14 · Jan 5, 2012

i just bought the 1326 lasr week and tried getting my rogers pvr to work. it does work if i set the receiver hdmi input to the cable box first, then power it off. the receiver "remembers" your last input and uses it for the passthrough.

i ended up connecting the cable box direct to tv via hdmi. if i think i need surround sound for tv, l'll run digital coax audio to receiver.

seems to work ok for my panasonic bd and 50s30 tv... although i had to enable the viera link settings in the tv to get it working properly.

joudbren

· #15 · Jan 6, 2012

Stego, just curious, why are you connecting the PVR to the TV instead of the 1326? If you go through the 1326 then you get the benefit of being able to use the onboard Marvell video scaling from the Pioneer (or not but at least you have the option)

You can also use the passthrough mode as you mentioned if you don't want the receiver on when watching TV. As mentioned, just curious...

I found the video scaling to be very good in some situations and is VERY easy to use from the iPad or iPhone app. Your Marvell Qdeo scaler is widely regarded as one of the best available currently. You can turn it on or off and make adjustments and it remembers the settings for every port/device. I have it set to "on" for my PVR but "off" for my Bluray player. I found the iPad app to be indispensable as I didn't even realize at first the receiver was scaling everything by default. The app made it easy to see this and to turn it on or off to suit my tastes.

James

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stego

· #16 · Jan 8, 2012

hi James,

I did have the pvr connected through the receiver at first, but i couldn't get the hdmi control and passthrough to work properly.

i was hoping that by powering on the pvr, the receiver would auto switch the hdmi input with passthrough without actuallu having to power it on and do it manually.

it seems to work with my bluray, which is great, but we don't need or want the receiver on with surround when the kids are watching Treehouse tv. ;-)

plus, i need something simple for my wife to operate...so bypassin thereceiver seemed like the quickest solution for now.

i wonder though if using hdmi passthrough, if u get video upscaling...or if the receiver needs to be on for that.

I do have my appletv hooked up though to the receiver, and i have noticed an improvement in picture quality a little.

i do have to manually flip the hdmi input though when watching it, since the receiver doesn't "sense" it coming on...

may have to read up more in the guide though, since i may be missing something.

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toofart

· #17 · Jan 8, 2012

stego, HDMI passthrough is definitely hit-and-miss on Pioneers. More miss than hit if you ask me. I wired up my cable box/pvr directly to the TV so that I can watch TV without the receiver on, and ran an optical cable from the pvr to the receiver so that I can still get 5.1 audio from the receiver when I want it.

You won't get video scaling & conversion without the receiver being on. I may actually re-wire my pvr to my receiver since I got a Logitech universal remote. It makes it easy for everyone to operate everything with one single remote, plus the receiver does clean up lots of compression and interlacing artifacts from the cable box.

joudbren

· #18 · Jan 8, 2012

toofart said:
stego, HDMI passthrough is definitely hit-and-miss on Pioneers. More miss than hit if you ask me. I wired up my cable box/pvr directly to the TV so that I can watch TV without the receiver on, and ran an optical cable from the pvr to the receiver so that I can still get 5.1 audio from the receiver when I want it.

You won't get video scaling & conversion without the receiver being on. I may actually re-wire my pvr to my receiver since I got a Logitech universal remote. It makes it easy for everyone to operate everything with one single remote, plus the receiver does clean up lots of compression and interlacing artifacts from the cable box.

This has been my experience as well. Ever since I got my Harmony One remote it's just dead easy now to set everything up and have the remote turn everything on and operate it all together like it was a single device. My wife also used to just like having the TV and PVR on and I used to have them connected together (without the receiver) but now that it's a single button press on the remote she uses the entire system as intended and I've connected everything via HDMI again. Plus that way she gets the benefit of the DD5.1 audio on most of the HD channels.

I've mentioned it before, if you have the Logitech remote and a Pioneer receiver, go into the Logitech settings for the receiver and change the power on delay to 4000ms from the default of 1500ms. That's working like a charm for me and now the receiver always has enough time to change the input to the correct device when I'm powering it up from a cold start.

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redzone

· #19 · Jan 8, 2012

My only Peeve with this receiver is that you cannot select A/B speakers with the remote!! How stupid is that?!!

stego

· #20 · Jan 8, 2012

I also have a logitech harmony remote believe it or not, but havent bothered setting it up with my new equipment.

I guess the issue for me is powering on the receiver all the time for children's content etc...or other content for which dd surround is overkill. i figure if the receiver is only used for movies, then i may get alot more years out of it (my 9 yr old HK avr130 is still going strong)

if there was a way to switch the hdmi input without powering on the receiver, then i'd get the best of both worlds, but as it stands now, it seems only to remember the last input used before powering off.

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

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