Pioneer VSX-816-K/S 7.1 Channels Receiver
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- Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® DTS® DTS ES® THX EX® Dolby Pro Logic II DTS Neo:6 DTS 96/24
- THX Certification: No
- Number of Channels: 7.1 Channels
- Type: Receiver
- Surround Mode Power: 110 Watt @ 8 ohm, 1 kHz, THD: 1%
- Stereo Mode Power: 110 Watt @ 8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD: 0.7%
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Remarkable value and sound but more complicated than a point and shoot camera
Pros
Clean sound with many audio options. Quick set up mode can bypass complexity
Cons
Requires setting aside time for studying the manual and for trial and error.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This unit belongs on your short list for 7.1 digital receiver/amplifiers for under $300. The sound quality is excellent. Although the set up was somewhat difficult, it was worth it.
The following instructions appear on the 3rd last page (page 63) of the operating manual of the Pioneer VSX-816 amplifier/receiver:
Resetting the main unit: Use this procedure to reset all the receiver's settings to the factory default.
This should be printed in bold on the first page. Audio equipment has gone digital and now suffers from many of the same problems as a home computer with trade offs between complexity/versatility and simplicity/ease of use. Where would home computing be without (ctrl)(alt)(delete) or safe mode? The digital camera industry has learned how to balance these trade offs but this understanding may not have arrived in the digital receiver/amplifier market.
A disclaimer: I am not a high end audio visual consumer. I replaced my 20 year old AR bookshelf speakers because the speaker cones dried out and the low frequencies sounded like thunder. I replaced my 15 year old analog Pioneer receiver/amplifier because the volume slider produced a snap, crackle and pop. Also, I wanted an amplifier output for a sub woofer. I do not have a home theater configuration, and I use my VSX in a Quick Setup (a button on the front panel) 2.1 configuration. My inputs consist of a DVD/CD player, a VCR, and a tape player. My outputs consist of two bookcase speakers and a sub woofer.
For the first month, before the arrival of my sub woofer, my VSX performed wonderfully. Then the sub woofer arrived and wonderful was elevated to spectacular. However, my wonder and excitement disappeared when I was playing a CD of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor and noticed that it sounded little different than before the arrival of the sub woofer. Moreover, the sub woofer was not putting out any sound.
I followed the clues: a) The audio system had a great base when I watched and listened to a DVD yesterday. b) The display showed a 5.1 system even though I had used the quick setup for a 2.1 system. c) The sub woofer worked when I played the FM radio but not when I played a CD.
My diagnosis was hindered by not having the output for the VSX hooked up to the TV. The VSX display is not robust and all the fancy features require stepping through a video menu. In fact, if you are not going to go the home theater route attaching a TV output, you might consider a different digital receiver/amplifier.
After hours of trying different buttons on the VSX and reading different pages in the manual, I finally discovered the reset instruction on page 63.
After resetting the system and repeating the 2.1 quick set up, my system immediately returned to its prior splendor, and Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor never sounded better.
Resetting the main unit: Use this procedure to reset all the receiver's settings to the factory default.
This should be printed in bold on the first page. Audio equipment has gone digital and now suffers from many of the same problems as a home computer with trade offs between complexity/versatility and simplicity/ease of use. Where would home computing be without (ctrl)(alt)(delete) or safe mode? The digital camera industry has learned how to balance these trade offs but this understanding may not have arrived in the digital receiver/amplifier market.
A disclaimer: I am not a high end audio visual consumer. I replaced my 20 year old AR bookshelf speakers because the speaker cones dried out and the low frequencies sounded like thunder. I replaced my 15 year old analog Pioneer receiver/amplifier because the volume slider produced a snap, crackle and pop. Also, I wanted an amplifier output for a sub woofer. I do not have a home theater configuration, and I use my VSX in a Quick Setup (a button on the front panel) 2.1 configuration. My inputs consist of a DVD/CD player, a VCR, and a tape player. My outputs consist of two bookcase speakers and a sub woofer.
For the first month, before the arrival of my sub woofer, my VSX performed wonderfully. Then the sub woofer arrived and wonderful was elevated to spectacular. However, my wonder and excitement disappeared when I was playing a CD of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor and noticed that it sounded little different than before the arrival of the sub woofer. Moreover, the sub woofer was not putting out any sound.
I followed the clues: a) The audio system had a great base when I watched and listened to a DVD yesterday. b) The display showed a 5.1 system even though I had used the quick setup for a 2.1 system. c) The sub woofer worked when I played the FM radio but not when I played a CD.
My diagnosis was hindered by not having the output for the VSX hooked up to the TV. The VSX display is not robust and all the fancy features require stepping through a video menu. In fact, if you are not going to go the home theater route attaching a TV output, you might consider a different digital receiver/amplifier.
After hours of trying different buttons on the VSX and reading different pages in the manual, I finally discovered the reset instruction on page 63.
After resetting the system and repeating the 2.1 quick set up, my system immediately returned to its prior splendor, and Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor never sounded better.
