Pioneer VSX-820 User Manual

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AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER

RECEPTEUR AUDIOVISUEL A VOIES MULTI-CANAUX

RECEPTOR AUDIO-VIDEO MULTICANAL

VSX-820

Operating Instructions Mode d’emploi

Manual de instrucciones

WARNING

This equipment is not waterproof. To prevent a fire or shock hazard, do not place any container filled with liquid near this equipment (such as a vase or flower pot) or expose it to dripping, splashing, rain or moisture.

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WARNING

Before plugging in for the first time, read the following section carefully.

The voltage of the available power supply differs according to country or region. Be sure that the power supply voltage of the area where this unit will be used meets the required voltage (e.g., 230 V or 120 V) written on the rear panel.

This product is for general household purposes. Any failure due to use for other than household purposes (such as long-term use for business purposes in a restaurant or use in a car or ship) and which requires repair will be charged for even during the warranty period.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

THE MODEL NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER OF THIS EQUIPMENT ARE ON THE REAR OR BOTTOM. RECORD THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR ENCLOSED WARRANTY CARD AND KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

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If the AC plug of this unit does not match the AC outlet you want to use, the plug must be removed and appropriate one fitted. Replacement and mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of this unit should be performed only by qualified service personnel. If connected to an AC outlet, the cut-off plug can cause severe electrical shock. Make sure it is properly disposed of after removal. The equipment should be disconnected by removing the mains plug from the wall socket when left unused for a long period of time (for example, when on vacation).

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WARNING: Handling the cord on this product or

cords associated with accessories sold with the product may expose you to chemicals listed on proposition 65 known to the State of California and other governmental entities to cause cancer and birth defect or other reproductive harm.

Wash hands after handling.

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CAUTION

This product satisfies FCC regulations when shielded cables and connectors are used to connect the unit to other equipment. To prevent electromagnetic interference with electric appliances such as radios and televisions, use shielded cables and connectors for connections.

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Information to User

Alterations or modifications carried out without appropriate authorization may invalidate the user’s right to operate the equipment.

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NOTE:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: — Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. — Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. — Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. — Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Product Name: AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER

Model Number: VSX-820 Responsible Party Name: PIONEER ELECTRONICS (USA) INC. SERVICE SUPPORT DIVISION Address: 1925 E. DOMINGUEZ ST. LONG BEACH, CA 90810-1003, U.S.A. Phone: 1-800-421-1404 URL: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com

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IMPORTANT

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION:

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

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Read these instructions.

1) Keep these instructions.

2) Heed all warnings.

3) Follow all instructions.

4) Do not use this apparatus near water.

5) Clean only with dry cloth.

6) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in

7) accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as

8) radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized

9) or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10)

Protect the

power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

VENTILATION CAUTION

When installing this unit, make sure to leave space around the unit for ventilation to improve heat radiation (at least 40 cm at top, 10 cm at rear, and 20 cm at each side).

WARNING

Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the product, and to protect it from overheating. To prevent fire hazard, the openings should never be blocked or covered with items (such as newspapers, table-cloths, curtains) or by operating the equipment on thick carpet or a bed.

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Operating Environment

Operating environment temperature and humidity: +5 °C to +35 °C (+41 °F to +95 °F); less than 85 %RH (cooling vents not blocked) Do not install this unit in a poorly ventilated area, or in locations exposed to high humidity or direct sunlight (or strong artificial light)

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11)

Only use attachments/

accessories specified by

the manufacturer.

12)

Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

13)

Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

14)

Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or

has been dropped.

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WARNING

To prevent a fire hazard, do not place any naked flame sources (such as a lighted candle) on the equipment.

CAUTION

The STANDBY/ON switch on this unit will not completely shut off all power from the AC outlet. Since the power cord serves as the main disconnect device for the unit, you will need to unplug it from the AC outlet to shut down all power. Therefore, make sure the unit has been installed so that the power cord can be easily unplugged from the AC outlet in case of an accident. To avoid fire hazard, the power cord should also be unplugged from the AC outlet when left unused for a long period of time (for example, when on vacation).

Caution

To prevent fire hazard, the Class 2 Wiring Cable should be used for connection with speaker, and should be routed away from hazards to avoid damage to the insulation of the cable.

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Thank you for buying this Pioneer product. Please read through these operating instructions so you will know how to operate your model properly. After you have finished reading the instructions, put them away in a safe place for future reference.

01 Before you start

Checking what’s in the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Loading the batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installing the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

02 Controls and displays

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Operating range of remote control . . . . . . . 10

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

03 Connecting your equipment

Placing the speakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Hints on the speaker placement. . . . . . . . . 17

Connecting the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Connect the surround back or front

height speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Switching the speaker system . . . . . . . . . . 20

Making cable connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

HDMI cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

About HDMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Analog audio cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Digital audio cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Video cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

About video outputs connection . . . . . . . . . . 22

Connecting a TV and playback components

Connecting using HDMI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Connecting your component with no

HDMI terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Connecting a satellite receiver or other

digital set-top box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Connecting an HDD/DVD recorder, VCR

and other video sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Using the component video jacks . . . . . . . . . 26

Connecting other audio components . . . . . . 26

Connecting antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Using external antennas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Connecting to the front panel video

terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Plugging in the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . 23

04 Basic Setup

Automatically setting up for surround

sound (MCACC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Before you start

• Batteries with the same shape may have

Checking what’s in the box

Please check that you’ve received the following supplied accessories:

• Setup microphone

• Remote control

• Dry cell batteries (AAA size IEC R03) x2

• AM loop antenna

•FM wire antenna

• iPod cable

• These operating instructions

Loading the batteries

different voltages. Do not use different batteries together.

• When disposing of used batteries, please comply with governmental regulations or environmental public instruction’s rules that apply in your country or area.

• Do not use or store batteries in direct sunlight or other excessively hot place, such as inside a car or near a heater. This can cause batteries to leak, overheat, explode or catch fire. It can also reduce the life or performance of batteries.

The batteries included with the unit are to check initial operations; they may not last over a long period. We recommend using alkaline batteries that have a longer life.

CAUTION

Incorrect use of batteries may result in such hazards as leakage and bursting. Observe the following precautions:

• Never use new and old batteries together.

• Insert the plus and minus sides of the batteries properly according to the marks in the battery case.

Installing the receiver

• When installing this unit, make sure to put it on a level and stable surface.

Don’t install it on the following places: – on a color TV (the screen may distort) – near a cassette deck (or close to a device that gives off a magnetic field). This may interfere with the sound. – in direct sunlight – in damp or wet areas – in extremely hot or cold areas – in places where there is vibration or other movement – in places that are very dusty – in places that have hot fumes or oils (such as a kitchen)

Before you start01

Receiver

40 cm (16 inches)

Ventilation

When installing this unit, make sure to leave space around the unit for ventilation to improve heat dispersal (at least 40 cm (16 in.) at the top). If not enough space is provided between the unit and walls or other equipment, heat will build up inside, interfering with performance and/or causing malfunctions.

Slot and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation and to protect the equipment from overheating. To prevent fire hazard, do not place anything directly on top of the unit, make sure the openings are never blocked or covered with items (such as newspapers, table-cloths and curtains), and do not operate the equipment on thick carpet or a bed.

Controls and displays 02

English

Français

Deutsch

Nederlands

Italiano

Español

SPEAKERS

AUTO/DIRECT STEREO/ ALC STANDARD

LISTENING MODE

ADV SURROUND DIRECT CONTROL

iPod iPhone

DIMMER DISPLAY BAND TUNE TUNER EDIT PRESET ENTER

PHONES

INPUT SELECTOR

STANDBY/ON

PHASE

CONTROL

MASTER VOLUME

MCACC

SETUP MIC

AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI- CHANNEL RECEIVER

VSX

-820

VIDEO INPUT

AUDIOLRVIDEO

iPod

iPhone

USB

1 27854 63

1110 141312

Note

Chapter 2:

Controls and displays

Front panel

 STANDBY/ON

INPUT SELECTOR

dial

Selects an input source.

MCACC

indicator

Lights when Acoustic Calibration EQ (page 37) is on (Acoustic Calibration EQ is automatically set to on after the Auto MCACC Setup (page 29)).

4 Remote sensor

Receives the signals from the remote control (see Operating range of remote control on page 10).

SPEAKERS

Use to change the speaker system (page 20).

DIMMER

Dims or brightens the display. The brightness can be controlled in four steps.

DISPLAY

Switches the display of this unit. The listening mode, sound volume, Pre Out setting or input name can be checked by selecting an input source.

6 Character display

See Display on page 11.

7 Tuner control buttons

BAND

Switches between AM, FM ST (stereo) and FM MONO radio bands (page 48).

TUNE /

Used to find radio frequencies (page 48) and SIRIUS Radio channels (page 66).

TUNER EDIT Use with TUNE /, PRESET / and ENTER to memorize and name stations for

recall (page 48, 49). Used to preset the channel in SIRIUS Radio (page 66).

1 The Pre Out setting may or may not be displayed, depending on the input source you have selected.

Controls and displays02

30°

7 m (23 ft.)

30°

PRESET /

Use to select preset radio stations (page 49) and to select SIRIUS Radio channels (page 66).

MASTER VOLUME PHONES

Use to connect headphones. When the headphones are connected, there is no sound output from the speakers (page 41).

10 Listening mode buttons

AUTO/DIRECT

Switches between Auto surround mode (Auto playback on page 33) and Stream Direct playback. Stream Direct playback bypasses the tone controls for the most accurate reproduction of a source (page 36).

STEREO/ALC

Switches between stereo playback, Auto level control stereo mode (page 35) and Front Stage Surround Advance modes (page 35).

STANDARD

Press for Standard decoding and to switch between the various 2 Pro Logic II, 2 Pro Logic IIx, 2 Pro Logic IIz and NEO:6 options (page 32).

ADV SURROUND

Switches between the various surround modes (page 34).

iPod iPhone DIRECT CONTROL

Change the receiver’s input to the iPod and enable iPod operations on the iPod (page 60).

iPod iPhone/USB

Use to connect your Apple iPod or USB mass storage device as an audio source (page 58 and page 61).

AUDIO/VIDEO

See Connecting to the front panel video terminal on page 28.

jack

dial

terminal

input

MCACC SETUP MIC

Use to connect a microphone when performing Auto MCACC setup.

jack

Operating range of remote control

The remote control may not work properly if:

• There are obstacles between the remote control and the receiver’s remote sensor.

• Direct sunlight or fluorescent light is shining onto the remote sensor.

• The receiver is located near a device that is emitting infrared rays.

• The receiver is operated simultaneously with another infrared remote control unit.

Controls and displays 02

English

Français

Deutsch

Nederlands

Italiano

Español

Display

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1PHASE

Lights when the Phase Control is switched on (page 36).

2AUTO

Lights when the Auto Surround feature is switched on (see Auto playback on page 33).

3ST

Lights when a stereo FM broadcast is being received in auto stereo mode.

4TUNE

Lights when a normal broadcast channel or SIRIUS channel is being received.

5 Speaker indicators

Lights to indicate the current speaker system,

A and/or B (page 20). 6 Sleep timer indicator

Lights when the receiver is in sleep mode (page 13).

7 Tuner/SIRIUS preset indicators

PRESET

Shows when a preset radio station is registered or called.

MEM

Blinks when a radio station is registered.

8 PRESET information or input signal indicator

Shows the preset number of the tuner or the input signal type, etc.

10 11 12 13 13 1514

9 Character display

Displays various system information.

10 DTS indicators

DTS

Lights when a source with DTS encoded audio signals is detected.

Lights when a source with DTS-EXPRESS or DTS-HD encoded audio signals is detected.

Lights to indicate DTS-ES decoding.

96/24

Lights when a source with DTS 96/24 encoded audio signals is detected.

NEO:6

When one of the NEO:6 modes of the receiver is on, this lights to indicate NEO:6 processing (page 33).

11 Dolby Digital indicators

Lights when a Dolby Digital encoded signal is detected.

Lights when a source with Dolby Digital Plus encoded audio signals is detected.

Controls and displays02

2HD

Lights when a source with Dolby TrueHD encoded audio signals is detected.

Lights to indicate Dolby Digital EX decoding.

2PLll(x)

Lights to indicate 2 Pro Logic II / 2 Pro Logic IIx decoding. Light will go off during

2 Pro Logic IIz decoding. (see Listening in surround sound on page 33 for more on

this).

12 ADV.S.

Lights when one of the Advanced Surround modes has been selected (see Using the Advanced surround effects on page 34 for more on this).

13 SIGNAL SELECT indicators

DIGITAL

Lights when a digital audio signal is selected. Blinks when a digital audio signal is selected and selected audio input is not provided.

HDMI

Lights when an HDMI signal is selected. Blinks when an HDMI signal is selected and selected HDMI input is not provided.

14 Up Mix/DIMMER indicator

Lights when the Up Mix function is set to ON (see page 37). Also, lights when DIMMER is set to off.

15 DIR.

Lights when the DIRECT or PURE DIRECT mode is switched on (page 36).

Controls and displays 02

English

Français

Deutsch

Nederlands

Italiano

Español

RECEIVER

Remote control

RECEIVER

3 4

INPUT SELECT

BD DVD

DVR CD

ADAPTER iP od USB

TUNER

SIRIUS

6 7

AUTO/

DIRECT

AUDIO

PARAMETER

TOP MENU

HOME MENU SETUP

iPod CTRL

Connecting your equipment

Placing the speakers

By connecting the left and right front speakers (L/R), the center speaker (C), the left and right surround speakers (SL/SR), and the subwoofer (SW), a 5.1 ch surround system can be enjoyed.

Further, by using an external amplifier, you can connect the left and right surround back speakers (

SBL/SBR

surround system.

To achieve the best possible surround sound, install your speakers as shown below.

) and the left and right front height speaker (

FHL/FHR

) to boost your system up to a 7.1 ch

• You can also connect one surround back speaker (SB) and enjoy a 6.1 ch surround system.

120

SBL

a. This layout is available only when the additional amplifier is connected to the unit and the surround back or front height speakers are connected to the amplifier. For details, see Connect the surround back or front height speakers on page 19.

120

SBR

120

FHL

120

FHR

120

Connecting your equipment 03

English

Français

Deutsch

Nederlands

Italiano

Español

Hints on the speaker placement

Where you put your speakers in the room has a big effect on the quality of the sound. The following guidelines should help you to get the best sound from your system.

• The subwoofer can be placed on the floor. Ideally, the other speakers should be at about ear-level when you’re listening to them. Putting the speakers on the floor (except the subwoofer), or mounting them very high on a wall is not recommended.

• For the best stereo effect, place the front speakers 2 m to 3 m (6 ft. to 9 ft.) apart, at equal distance from the TV.

• If you’re going to place speakers around your CRT TV, use shielded speakers or place the speakers at a sufficient distance from your CRT TV.

• If you’re using a center speaker, place the front speakers at a wider angle. If not, place them at a narrower angle.

• Place the center speaker above or below the TV so that the sound of the center channel is localized at the TV screen. Also, make sure the center speaker does not cross the line formed by the leading edge of the front left and right speakers.

• It is best to angle the speakers towards the listening position. The angle depends on the size of the room. Use less of an angle for bigger rooms.

• Surround and surround back speakers should be positioned 60 cm to 90 cm (2 ft. to 3 ft.) higher than your ears and titled slight downward. Make sure the speakers don’t face each other. For DVD-Audio, the speakers should be more directly behind the listener than for home theater playback.

• If the surround speakers cannot be set directly to the side of the listening position with a 7.1-channel system, the surround effect can be enhanced by turning off the Up Mix function (see Setting the Up Mix function on page 38).

• Try not to place the surround speakers farther away from the listening position than the front and center speakers. Doing so can weaken the surround sound effect.

• Place the left and right front height speakers at least one meter directly above the left and right front speakers.

CAUTION

• Make sure that all speakers are securely installed. This not only improves sound quality, but also reduces the risk of damage or injury resulting from speakers being knocked over or falling in the event of external shocks such as earthquakes.

Important

• To connect the surround back or front height speakers, an additional amplifier is required. Connect the additional amplifier to the PRE OUT SURR BACK/FRONT HEIGHT outputs of this unit and connect the surround back or front height speakers to the additional amplifier (see

Connect the surround back or front height speakers on page 19).

The Pre Out setting must be set if the above connections are performed. Select SURR.BACK if the surround back speaker is connected and HEIGHT if the front height speaker is connected (If neither the surround back speaker nor the front height speaker is connected, either setting will suffice) page 47

(see The Pre Out Setting on

Connecting your equipment03

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

Single

)

OUT

TV/SAT

DVD BD

DVR/VCR

MONITOR OUT

PRPBY

Class 2 Wiring

DVD IN BD IN

OUT

MONITOR

COMPONENT VIDEO

ANTENNA

TV/SAT

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

FRONT CENTER

SURROUND

CD-R/TAPE

DVR/VCR

CD-R/TAPE

PRE OUT

AUDIO

SIRIUS

FM UNBAL 75

LOOP

ADAPTER PORT

VIDEO

(

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

)

(BD)

(

DVD

)

ASSIGNABLE

SPEAKERS

SUBWOOFER PRE OUT

RSLSR

Center speaker

Surround speakers

Front speakers

Powered subwoofer

Speaker system B

Connecting the speakers

The receiver will work with just two stereo speakers (the front speakers in the diagram) but using at least three speakers is recommended, and a complete setup is best for surround sound.

Make sure you connect the speaker on the right to the right (R) terminal and the speaker on the left to the left (L) terminal. Also make sure the positive and negative (+/–) terminals on the receiver match those on the speakers.

You can use the speakers connected to the B speaker terminals to listen to stereo playback in another room. See Switching the speaker system on page 20 for the listening options with this setup.

You can use speakers with a normal impedance between 6 Ω and 16 Ω. However, note that only the front speakers are set to a value between 12 Ω and 16 Ω if you select SPAB in Switching the speaker system on page 20.

Be sure to complete all connections before connecting this unit to the AC power source.

Connecting your equipment 03

English

Français

Deutsch

Nederlands

Italiano

Español

10 mm (

/8 in.)

12 3

10 mm (

/8 in.)

IN BD

SURR BACK /

FRONT

HEIGHT

(

Single

)

OUT

TV/SAT

DVD BD

DVR/VCR

ANTENNA

CD-R/TAPE

DVR/VCR

CD-R/TAPE

PRE OUT

DVD

TV/SAT

COAXIAL

OPTICAL

(CD)

ASSIGNABLE

OUT

HDMI

DVR/VCR

(

CD-R/TAPE

)

AUDIO

SIRIUS

UNBAL

LOOP

ADAPTER

(

OUTPUT 5 V 1

1 2

SUBWOOFER PRE OUT

INPUT

ANALOG

SBL/FHL SBR/FHR

Surround back or

front height speakers

Surround back or

front height

channel amplifier

Bare wire connections

A-Speaker terminals:

1 Twist exposed wire strands together.

2 Loosen terminal and insert exposed wire.

3 Tighten terminal.

123

B-Speaker terminals:

1 Twist exposed wire strands together.

2 Push open the tabs and insert exposed wire.

3 Release the tabs.

CAUTION

• These speaker terminals carry HAZARDOUS LIVE voltage. To prevent the risk of electric shock when connecting or disconnecting the speaker cables, disconnect the power cord before touching any uninsulated parts.

• Make sure that all the bare speaker wire is twisted together and inserted fully into the speaker terminal. If any of the bare speaker wire touches the back panel it may cause the power to cut off as a safety measure.

Connect the surround back or front height speakers

Connect the PRE OUT outputs of the unit and additional amplifier to add a surround back or front height speaker.

• If the surround back speaker or the front height speaker is connected, set the Pre Out setting (see The Pre Out Setting on page 47).

• You can use the additional amplifier on the surround back channel pre-outs for a single speaker as well. In this case plug the amplifier into the left (L (Single)) terminal only.

Connecting your equipment03

Note

HDMI cable

Switching the speaker system

Three speaker system settings are possible using the SPEAKERS button.

• Use the SPEAKERS button on the front panel to select a speaker system setting.

SPEAKERS DIMMER DISPLAY

Press repeatedly to choose a speaker system option:

• SPA – Sound is output from the speakers connected to the A speaker terminals and

PRE OUT SURR BACK/FRONT HEIGHT

(multichannel playback is possible).

• SPB – Sound is output from the two speakers connected to speaker system B (only stereo playback is possible).

• SPAB – Sound is output from speaker system A, the two speakers in speaker system B, and the subwoofer. Multichannel sources are downmixed only when the STEREO or ALC mo de is se lecte d for stereo output from speaker systems A

and B.

• SP – No sound is output from the speakers.

Making cable connections

Make sure not to bend the cables over the top of this unit (as shown in the illustration). If this happens, the magnetic field produced by the transformers in this unit may cause a humming noise from the speakers.

Important

• Before making or changing connections, switch off the power and disconnect the power cord from the AC outlet.

• Before unplugging the power cord, switch the power into standby.

HDMI cables

Both video and sound signals can be transmitted simultaneously with one cable. player and the TV via this receiver, for both connections, use HDMI cables.

If connecting the

Be careful to connect the terminal in the proper direction.

1 The subwoofer output depends on the settings you made in Speaker Setting on page 43. However, if SPB is selected above,

no sound is heard from the subwoofer (the LFE channel is not downmixed).

2 You can use speakers with a normal impedance between 6 Ω and 16 Ω. However, be aware that only the front speakers are set

to a value between 12 Ω and 16 Ω when you select SPAB.

3 • Set the HDMI parameter in Setting the Audio options on page 38 to THRU (THROUGH) and set the input signal in Choosing

the input signal on page 41 to HDMI, if you want to hear HDMI audio output from your TV or flat panel TV (no sound will be heard from this receiver).

• If the video signal does not appear on your TV or flat panel TV, try adjusting the resolution settings on your component or display. Note that some components (such as video game units) have resolutions that may not be displayed. In this case, use a (analog) composite connection.

• When the video signal from the HDMI is 480i, 480p, 576i or 576p, Multi Ch PCM sound and HD sound cannot be received.

Connecting your equipment 03

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Note

Right (red)

Analog audio cables

Left (white)

Coaxial digital audio cable Optical cable

About HDMI

The HDMI connection transfers uncompressed digital video, as well as almost every kind of digital audio that the connected component is compatible with, including DVDVideo, DVD-Audio, SACD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio (see below for limitations), Video CD/Super VCD and CD.

This receiver incorporates High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI

) technology.

This receiver supports the functions described below through HDMI connections.

• Digital transfer of uncompressed video (contents protected by HDCP (1080p/24, 1080p/60, etc.))

• 3D signal transfer

• Deep Color signal transfer

• x.v.Color signal transfer

• Input of multi-channel linear PCM digital audio signals (192 kHz or less) for up to 8 channels

•

Input of the following digital audio formats: – Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, High bitrate audio (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio), DVD-Audio, CD, SACD (DSD signal), Video CD, Super VCD

HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC.

“x.v.Color” and x.v.Color logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Analog audio cables

Use stereo RCA phono cables to connect analog audio components. These cables are typically red and white, and you should connect the red plugs to R (right) terminals and white plugs to L (left) terminals.

Digital audio cables

Commercially available coaxial digital audio cables or optical cables should be used to connect digital components to this receiver.

Video cables

Standard RCA video cables

These cables are the most common type of video connection and are used to connect to the composite video terminals. The yellow plugs distinguish them from cables for audio.

tandard RCA video cable

1 • Use a High Speed HDMI® cable. If HDMI cable other than a High Speed HDMI® cable is used, it may not work properly.

• When an HDMI cable with a built-in equalizer is connected, it may not operate properly.

2 Signal transfer is only possible when connected to a compatible component. 3 • HDMI format digital audio transmissions require a longer time to be recognized. Due to this, interruption in the audio may

occur when switching between audio formats or beginning playback.

• Turning on/off the device connected to this unit's HDMI OUT terminal during playback, or disconnecting/connecting the

HDMI cable during playback, may cause noise or interrupted audio.

4 • When connecting optical cables, be careful when inserting the plug not to damage the shutter protecting the optical socket.

• When storing optical cable, coil loosely. The cable may be damaged if bent around sharp corners.

• You can also use a standard RCA video cable for coaxial digital connections.

Connecting your equipment03

Green (Y)

Blue (P

)

Red (P

)

Component video cables

VIDEO IN

PRP

COMPONENT VIDEO IN

HDMI IN

MONITOR OUT

PRP

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

HDMI OUT

Terminal for connection with source device

Terminal for connection with TV monitor

Playback

component

The OSD will not

appear.

Video signals can be output.

Component video cables

Use component video cables to get the best possible color reproduction of your video source. The color signal of the TV is divided into the luminance (Y) signal and the color (P

R) signals and then output. In this way,

interference between the signals is avoided.

B and

About video outputs connection

This receiver is not loaded with a video converter. When you use component video cables or HDMI cables for connecting to the input device, the same cables should be used for connecting to the TV.

The signals input from the analog (composite and component) video inputs of this unit will not be output from the HDMI OUT.

Connecting your equipment 03

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Note

Select one

HDMI/DVI-compatible TV

HDMI/DVI-compatible

Blu-ray disc player

This connection is required in order to listen to the sound of the TV over the receiver.

This connection is necessary in order to see the OSD of the unit on the TV.

Connecting a TV and playback components

Connecting using HDMI

If you have an HDMI or DVI (with HDCP) equipped component (Blu-ray disc player, etc.), you can connect it to this receiver using a commercially available HDMI cable.

• If the receiver is connected to a TV using an HDMI cable, the OSD will not be displayed. Be sure to use a standard RCA analog video cable to connect.

VIDEO IN

HDMI IN

IN BD

DVD

TV/SAT

DVR/VCR

OUT

HDMI

DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

COAXIAL

(CD)

OPTICAL

(

CD-R/TAPE

OPTICAL

ASSIGNABLE

)

ASSIGNABLE

SUBWOOFER PRE OUT

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

)

Single

PRE OUT

TV/SAT

1 2

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

CD-R/TAPE

DVD BD

AUDIO

DVR/VCR

OUT

DVR/VCR

(

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

UNBAL

SIRIUS

LOOP

ADAPTER PORT

ANTENNA

)

VIDEO

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

MONITOR OUT

DVD IN BD IN

PRPBY

COMPONENT VIDEO

TV/SAT

MONITOR

OUT

IN (

DVD

IN (BD)

ASSIGNABLE

SPEAKERS

FRONT

SPEAKERS

)

HDMI OUT

SURROU

Class 2 Wiring

1 If you wish to see the OSD screen (for setup, etc.), switch the TV input to analog. (With HDMI input, the OSD will not be

displayed.)

2 If the connection was made using an optical cable, you’ll need to tell the receiver which digital input you connected the TV to

(see Choosing the input signal on page 41).

Connecting your equipment03

Note

MONITOR

OUT

DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

COAXIAL

VIDEO OUT

OPTICAL

DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

OPTICAL

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

VIDEO IN

Select one

DVD player

This connection is required in order to listen to the sound of the TV over the receiver.

Select one

Connecting your component with no HDMI terminal

This diagram shows connections of a TV and DVD player (or other playback component) with no HDMI terminal to the receiver.

123

IN BD

DVD

TV/SAT

DVR/VCR

OUT

HDMI

COAXIAL

(CD)

OPTICAL

(

CD-R/TAPE

ASSIGNABLE

)

ASSIGNABLE

1 2

SUBWOOFER PRE OUT

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

)

Single

PRE OUT

TV/SAT

CD-R/TAPE

DVD BD

AUDIO

DVR/VCR

OUT

DVR/VCR

(

SIRIUS

ADAPTER PORT

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

ANTENNA

UNBAL

LOOP

)

VIDEO

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

MONITOR OUT

PRPBY

COMPONENT VIDEO

TV/SAT

DVD IN BD IN

ASSIGNABLE

MONITOR

OUT

IN (

DVD

IN (BD)

SPEAKERS

FRONT

SPEAKERS

)

SURROUN

Class 2 Wiring

1 If the connection was made using an optical cable, you’ll need to tell the receiver which digital input you connected the TV to

(see Choosing the input signal on page 41).

2 If the connection was made using an optical or a coaxial cable, you’ll need t o tell the receiver which digital input you connected

the DVD player to (see Choosing the input signal on page 41).

3 If both TV and player has a component video jacks, you can connect these too. See Using the compon ent video jacks on page 26

for more on this.

Connecting your equipment 03

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Note

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

Single

)

OUT

TV/SAT

DVD BD

DVR/VCR

MONITOR OUT

PRPBY

DVD IN BD IN

COMPONENT VIDEO

ANTENNA

TV/SAT

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

CD-R/TAPE

DVR/VCR

CD-R/TAPE

PRE OUT

COAXIAL

OPTICAL

(CD)

ASSIGNABLE

(

CD-R/TAPE

)

AUDIO

SIRIUS

UNBAL

LOOP

ADAPTER PORT

VIDEO

(

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

)

(

1 2

ASSIGNA

SUBWOOFER PRE OUT

DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

OPTICAL

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

VIDEO OUT

Select one

STB

Select one

DVR, VCR, LD player, etc.

Connecting a satellite receiver or other digital set-top box

Satellite and cable receivers, and terrestrial digital TV tuners are all examples of so-called ‘set-top boxes’.

Connecting an HDD/DVD recorder, VCR and other video sources

This receiver has audio/video inputs and outputs suitable for connecting analog or digital video recorders, including HDD/DVD recorders and VCRs.

• Only the signals that are input to the VIDEO IN terminal can be output from the VIDEO OUT terminal.

• Audio signals that are input through the digital terminal will not be output from the analog terminal.

SUBWOOFER

COAXIAL

(CD)

OPTICAL

(

CD-R/TAPE

ASSIGNABLE

) ASSIGNABLE

1 2

PRE OUT

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

Single

PRE OUT

)

TV/SAT

CD-R/TAPE

DVD BD

AUDIO

DVR/VCR

OUT

DVR/VCR

(

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

UNBAL

SIRIUS

LOOP

ADAPTER PORT

ANTENNA

)

VIDEO

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

MONITOR OUT

DVD IN BD IN

PRPBY

COMPONENT VIDEO

TV/SAT

ASSIGNABLE

MONITOR

OUT

(

DVD

IN (BD)

1S2

)

1 If the connection was made using an optical cable, you’ll need to tell the receiver which digital input you connected the set-

top box or video component to (see Choosing the input signal on page 41).

2 If the set-top box or video component also has an HDMI or a component video output, you can connect this too. See Connecting

using HDMI on page 23 or Using the component video jacks on page 26 for more on this.

OPTICAL DIGITAL

AUDIO OUT

PLAY

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

REC

ANALOG AUDIO IN

VIDEO IN

VIDEO OUT

Connecting your equipment03

BD player

Note

PLAY

DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

COAXIAL

ANALOG AUDIO IN

REC

OPTICAL

Select one

CD-R, MD, DAT, Tape recorder, etc.

Using the component video jacks

Component video should deliver superior picture quality when compared to composite video. A further advantage (if your source and TV are both compatible) is progressive-scan video, which delivers a very stable, flicker-free picture. See the manuals that came with your TV and source component to check whether they are compatible with progressive-scan video.

• If necessary, assign the component video inputs to the input source you’ve connected.

This only needs to be done if you didn’t connect according to the following defaults:

• COMPONENT VIDEO IN 1 – BD

• COMPONENT VIDEO IN 2 – DVD

See The Input Assign menu on page 46 for more on this.

• For the audio connection, refer to

Connecting your component with no HDMI terminal

on page 24.

PRE OUT

CD-R/TAPE

DVR/VCR

IGNABLE

1 2

TV/SAT

DVD BD

AUDIO

SIRIUS

MONITOR OUT

DVD IN BD IN

PRPBY

ANTENNA

UNBAL

LOOP

COMPONENT VIDEO

MONITOR

OUT

IN (

DVD

IN (BD)

ASSIGNABLE

1 2

)

Important

• If you connect any source component to the receiver using a component video input, you must also have your TV connected to this receiver’s COMPONENT VIDEO OUT jacks.

Connecting other audio components

The number and kind of connections depends on the kind of component you’re connecting. Follow the steps below to connect a CD-R, MD, DAT, tape recorder or other audio component.

SUBWOOFER

COAXIAL

(CD)

OPTICAL

(

CD-R/TAPE

ASSIGNABLE

)

ASSIGNABLE

1 2

PRE OUT

SURR BACK / FRONT HEIGHT

(

Single

PRE OUT

)

TV/SAT

CD-R/TAPE

DVD BD

AUDIO

DVR/VCR

OUT

DVR/VCR

(

OUTPUT 5 V 100 mA MAX

SIRIUS

ADAPTER PORT

ANTENNA

UNBAL

LOOP

)

VIDEO

DVR/VCR

OUT IN

MONITOR OUT

DVD IN BD IN

PRPBY

COMPONENT VIDEO

TV/SA

ASSIG

R YPB

COMPONENT VIDEO IN

1 Note that you must connect digital components to analog audio jacks if you want to record to/from digital components (like

an MD) to/from analog components.

2 If the connection was made using an optical or a coaxial cable, you’ll need t o tell the receiver which digital input you connected

the component to (see Choosing the input signal on page 41).

R YPB

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

Connecting your equipment 03

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F connector

ANTENNA

UNBAL

LOOP

Outdoor antenna

5 m to 6 m

(15 ft. to 18 ft.)

Indoor antenna

(vinyl-coated wire)

Using external antennas

Connecting antennas

Connect the AM loop antenna and the FM wire antenna as shown below. To improve reception and sound quality, connect external antennas (see Using external antennas below).

fig. a fig. b

ANTENNA

To improve FM reception

Use an F connector (not supplied) to connect an external FM antenna.

ANTENNA

UNBAL

LOOP

1 Push open the tabs, then insert one wire fully into each terminal, then release the tabs to secure the AM antenna wires.

2 Fix the AM loop antenna to the attached stand.

To fix the stand to the antenna, bend in the direction indicated by the arrow (fig. a) then clip the loop onto the stand (fig. b).

3 Place the AM antenna on a flat surface and in a direction giving the best reception.

4 Connect the FM wire antenna into the FM antenna socket.

For best results, extend the FM antenna fully and fix to a wall or door frame. Don’t drape loosely or leave coiled up.

Connect a 5 m to 6 m (15 ft. to 18 ft.) length of vinyl-coated wire to the AM antenna terminal without disconnecting the supplied AM loop

To improve AM reception

antenna. For the best possible reception, suspend

horizontally outdoors.

Connecting your equipment03

MASTER VOLUME

MCACC

SETUP MIC

VIDEO INPUT

AUDIOLRVIDEO

iPod

iPhone

USB

CONTROL ON / OFF

LVIDEO

AUDIO/VIDEO OUTPUT

This receiver

Video camera

(etc.)

Connecting to the front panel video terminal

Front video connections are accessed via the front panel using the INPUT SELECTOR or VIDEO button on the remote control. There are standard audio/video jacks. Hook them up the same way you made the rear panel connections.

•Push down on the PUSH OPEN tab to access the front video connections.

Plugging in the receiver

Only plug in after you have connected all your components to this receiver, including the speakers.

• Plug the AC power cord into a convenient AC power outlet.

CAUTION

• Handle the power cord by the plug part. Do not pull out the plug by tugging the cord, and never touch the power cord when your hands are wet, as this could cause a short circuit or electric shock. Do not place the unit, a piece of furniture, or other object on the power cord or pinch the cord in any other way. Never make a knot in the cord or tie it with other cables. The power cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be stepped on. A damaged power cord can cause a fire or give you an electric shock. Check the power cord once in a while. If you find it damaged, ask your nearest Pioneer authorized independent service company for a replacement.

• The receiver should be disconnected by removing the mains plug from the wall socket when not in regular use, e.g., when on vacation.

Basic Setup 04

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ENTER

MUTE

RETURN

AUDIO

PARAMETER

TUNER EDIT

TOOLS

MASTER VOLUME

iPod CTRL

Basic Setup

Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC)

The Auto Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration (MCACC) setup measures the acoustic characteristics of your listening area, taking into account ambient noise, speaker size and distance, and tests for both channel delay and channel level. After you have set up the microphone provided with your system, the receiver uses the information from a series of test tones to optimize the speaker settings and equalization for your particular room.

CAUTION

• The test tones used in the Auto MCACC Setup are output at high volume.

Important

• The OSD will not appear if you have connected using the HDMI output to your TV. Use component or composite connections for system setup.

• The Auto MCACC Setup will overwrite any existing speaker settings you’ve made.

• Before using the Auto MCACC Setup, the iPod USB function should not be selected as an input source.

• If you connected either the surround back speaker or the front height speaker, make sure that the Pre Out setting is correctly set before performing the Auto MCACC Setup (see page 47). (Here is an explanation using the OSD screen for a surround back speaker connection.)

RECEIVER

BD DVD

INPUT SELECT

CONTROL

SOURCESLEEP

INPUT

1 Switch on the receiver and your TV.

Switch the TV input so that it connects to the receiver in analog.

2 Connect the microphone to the SETUP MIC

jack on the front panel.

MCACC

Make sure there are no obstacles between the speakers and the microphone.

If you have a tripod, use it to place the microphone so that it’s about ear level at your normal listening position. Otherwise, place the microphone at ear level using a table or a chair.

Basic Setup04

Note

System Setup

1.Auto MCACC

2.Manual SP Setup

3.Input Assign

4.Pre Out Setting

Return

3 Press on the remote control, then press the

RECEIVER

SETUP

button.

An on-screen display (OSD) appears on your TV. Use /// and ENTER on the remote control to navigate through the screens and select menu items. Press RETURN to exit the current menu.

• Press SETUP at any time to exit the System Setup menu.

4 Select ‘Auto MCACC’ from the System Setup menu then press ENTER.

Try to be as quiet as possible after pressing ENTER. The system outputs a series of test tones to establish the ambient noise level.

5 Follow the instructions on-screen.

• Make sure the microphone is connected.

• Make sure the subwoofer is on and the volume is turned up.

• See below for notes regarding background noise and other possible interference.

6 Wait for the test tones to finish.

A progress report is displayed on-screen while the receiver outputs test tones to determine the speakers present in your setup. Try to be as quiet as possible while it’s doing this.

1.Auto MCACC

Now Analyzing

Environment Check Ambient Noise Speaker YES/NO

Return

• For correct speaker settings, do not adjust the volume during the test tones.

7 Confirm the speaker configuration.

The configuration shown on-screen should reflect the actual speakers you have.

• With error messages (such as Too much ambient noise) select RETRY after checking for ambient noise (see Other

problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup on page 31).

1.Auto MCACC

Check!

[ YES ]

Front

[ YES ]

Center

[ YES ]

Surr

[YESx2]

Surr. Back

[ YES ]

Subwoofer

10:Next

Return

If the speaker configuration displayed isn’t correct, use / to select the speaker and / to change the setting. When you’re finished, go to the next step.

If you see an error message (ERR) in the right side column, there may be a problem with the speaker connection. If selecting RETRY doesn’t fix the problem, turn off the power and check the speaker connections.

8 Make sure ‘OK’ is selected, then press ENTER.

If the screen in step 7 is left untouched for 10 seconds and the ENTER button is not pressed in step 8, the Auto MCACC setup will start automatically as shown below.

A progress report is displayed on-screen while the receiver outputs more test tones to determine the optimum receiver settings for channel level, speaker distance, and Acoustic Calibration EQ.

1.Auto MCACC

Now Analyzing

Surround Analyzing Speaker System Speaker Distance Channel Level Acoustic Cal EQ

Return

1 The screensaver automatically starts after three minutes of inactivity. If you cancel the Auto MCACC Setup at any time, the

receiver automatically exits and no settings will be made.

2 MIC IN blinks when the microphone is not connected to MCACC SETUP MIC.

+ 198 hidden pages

Pioneer VSX-820 User Manual

Contents

Before you start

Checking what’s in the box

Loading the batteries

Installing the receiver

Ventilation

Controls and displays

Front panel

Operating range of remote control

Display

Remote control

Connecting your equipment

Placing the speakers

Hints on the speaker placement

Connecting the speakers

Connect the surround back or front height speakers

Switching the speaker system

Making cable connections

HDMI cables

Analog audio cables

About HDMI

Digital audio cables

Video cables

About video outputs connection

Connecting a TV and playback components

Connecting using HDMI

Connecting your component with no HDMI terminal

Connecting a satellite receiver or other digital set-top box

Connecting an HDD/DVD recorder, VCR and other video sources

Using the component video jacks

Connecting other audio components

Using external antennas

Connecting antennas

Connecting to the front panel video terminal

Plugging in the receiver

Basic Setup

Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC)