Pioneer VSX-915 Operating Instruction

AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER

VSX-815 VSX-915

www.pioneerelectronics.com

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Operating Instructions

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.

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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CAUTION – PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK DO

NOT USE THIS (POLARIZED) PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION CORD.

RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET

UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

ATTENTION –

POUR PREVENIR LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES NE PAS UTILISER CETTE FICHE POLARISEE AVEC UN PROLONGATEUR UNE PRISE DE COURANT OU UNE AUTRE SORTIE DE COURANT, SAUF SI LES LAMES PEUVENT ETRE INSEREES A FOND SANS EN LAISSER AUCUNE PARTIE A DECOUVVERT.

D2-4-4-1_EF

WARNING: Handling the cord on this product or

cords associated with accessories sold with the product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to

WARNING – TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK

HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

D1-4-2-1_En

the State of California and other governmental entities to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Wash hands after handling

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IMPORTANT NOTICE – THE SERIAL NUMBER FOR THIS EQUIPMENT IS LOCATED IN THE REAR.

PLEASE WRITE THIS SERIAL NUMBER ON YOUR ENCLOSED WARRANTY CARD AND KEEP IN A SECURE AREA. THIS IS FOR YOUR SECURITY.

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

Cet appareil numérique de la Classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

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Information to User

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

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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.

Manufactured under license from Dolby

For U.S. and Australia Model

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Laboratories. "Dolby", "Pro Logic", "Surround EX", and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

"DTS" ,"DTS-ES Extended Surround" and "Neo:6" are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

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The lightning flash with arrowhead, 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 INSTRUCTIONS — All the safety and

operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.

RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS — The safety and

operating instructions should be retained for future reference.

HEED WARNINGS — All warnings on the product

and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS — All operating and use

instructions should be followed.

CLEANING — The product should be cleaned only

with a polishing cloth or a soft dry cloth. Never clean with furniture wax, benzine, insecticides or other volatile liquids since they may corrode the cabinet.

ATTA CHMENTS — Do not use attachments not

recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards.

WATER AND MOISTURE — Do not use this

product near water — for example, near a bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like.

ACCESSORIES — Do not place this product on an

unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer.

CART — A product and cart combination should be

moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart combination to overturn.

VENTILATION — Slots and openings in the cabinet

are provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, and these openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

POWER SOURCES — This product should be

operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company.

LOCATION – The appliance should be installed in a

stable location.

NONUSE PERIODS – The power cord of the

appliance should be unplugged from the outlet when left un-used for a long period of time.

GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION

• If this product is equipped with a polarized alternating current line plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other), it will fit into the outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

• If this product is equipped with a three-wire grounding type plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin, it will only fit into a grounding type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding type plug.

POWER-CORD PROTECTION — Power-supply

cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product.

OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING — If an

outside antenna or cable system is connected to the product, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode. See Figure A.

LIGHTNING — For added protection for this

product during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges.

POWER LINES — An outside antenna system

should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal.

OVERLOADING — Do not overload wall outlets,

extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

ELECTRIC SERVICE EQUIPMENT

Fig. A

OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY — Never push

objects of any kind into this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

SERVICING — Do not attempt to service this

product yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE — Unplug this

product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

• When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.

• If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product.

• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

• If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation.

• If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.

• When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance — this indicates a need for service.

REPLACEMENT PARTS — When replacement parts

are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other hazards.

SAFETY CHECK — Upon completion of any service

or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.

WALL OR CEILING MOUNTING — The product

should not be mounted to a wall or ceiling.

HEAT — The product should be situated away from

heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

ANTENNA LEAD IN

GROUND CLAMP

WIRE

ANTENNA DISCHARGE UNIT (NEC SECTION 810-20)

GROUNDING CONDUCTORS (NEC SECTION 810-21)

GROUND CLAMPS

POWER SERVICE GROUNDING ELECTRODE SYSTEM (NEC ART 250, PART H)

NEC — NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE

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Contents

01 Before you start

Introduction to home theater Checking what’s in the box Loading the batteries Installing the receiver Ventilation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

02 5 minute guide

Listening to Surround Sound Using the Quick Setup

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

03 Quick surround sound setup

Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Other problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

04 Connecting up

Making cable connections

Analog audio cables Digital audio cables

Video cables About the video converter Connecting a DVD player and TV

Connecting the multichannel analog

outputs Connecting a satellite receiver or other digital set-top box Connecting other audio components

About the WMA9 Pro decoder Connecting other video components

Using the component video jacks

Connecting to the front panel video

terminal Connecting antennas

FM wire antenna

AM loop antenna

Using external antennas Connecting the speakers

Hints on speaker placement AC outlet Operating other Pioneer components

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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. . . . . . 26

05 Controls and displays

Front panel Display Remote control

Operating range of remote control unit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . 33

06 Listening to your system

Auto playback Listening in surround sound

Using the Advanced surround effects Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music settings

Neo:6 Music settings Listening in stereo Listening with Acoustic Calibration EQ Choosing the input signal Using the surround back channel (Extended mode) Using the Virtual Surround Back mode (VirtualSB) Using Loudness and Midnight listening Enhancing dialog Using the tone controls

Playing other sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Selecting the multichannel analog inputs . . . 42

Using the sleep timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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. . . . . 37

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

07 The System Setup menu

Making receiver settings from the System

Setup menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Surround back speaker setting . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Manual MCACC speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Fine Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Fine Channel Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Manual speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Speaker setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Crossover network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Channel level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

08 Using the tuner

Listening to the radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Improving FM stereo sound . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Tuning directly to a station . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Saving station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Naming station presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Listening to station presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

09 Making recordings

Making an audio or a video recording . . . . . . 54

10 Controlling the rest of your system

Setting the remote to control other components Selecting preset codes directly Programming signals from other remote controls Erasing one of the remote control button settings Erasing all of the remote control presets Direct function Confirming preset codes Controls for TVs Controls for other components

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

. . . . . . . . . . . 55

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

. . . . 57

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . . 60

11 Other connections

Second Zone speaker B setup

Switching the speaker system Bi-amping your front speakers Bi-wiring your speakers Connecting additional amplifiers

. . . . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . . . . . 63

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

. . . . . . . . . . 64

Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display Using the SR+ mode with a Pioneer plasma display

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

12 Other Settings

The Input Assign menu The Other setup menu

Dynamic Range Control Setup Dual Mono Setup LFE Attenuator Setup SR+ Setup for Pioneer plasma displays

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

13 Additional information

Troubleshooting Resetting the main unit Switching the speaker impedance Specifications Power cord caution Cleaning the unit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

. . . . . . . . . 72

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English Italiano Français

. . . 68

Nederlands

EspañolDeutsch

Before you start01

Chapter 1:

Before you start

Introduction to home theater

You are probably used to using stereo

equipment to listen to music, but may not be

used to home theater systems that give you

many more options (such as surround sound)

when listening to soundtracks.

Home theater refers to the use of multiple

audio tracks to create a surround sound effect,

making you feel like you're in the middle of the

action or concert. The surround sound you get

from a home theater system depends not only

on the speakers you have set up in your room,

but also on the source and the sound settings

of the receiver.

DVD-Video has become the basic source

material for home theater due to its size,

quality, and ease of use. Depending on the

DVD, you can have up to seven different audio

tracks coming from one disc, all of them being

sent to different speakers in your system. This

is what creates a surround sound effect and

gives you the feeling of ‘being there’.

This receiver will automatically decode Dolby

Digital, DTS, or Dolby Surround DVD-Video

discs, according to your speaker setup. In most

cases, you won’t have to make changes for

realistic surround sound, but other

possibilities (like listening to a CD with

multichannel surround sound) are explained in

Listening to your system

on page 34.

Checking what’s in the box

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

• Setup microphone

• Remote control unit

DTV MENU

GUIDE

TOP MENU

RECEIVER

DTV ON/OFF

STANDARD ADV.SURR

MIDNIGHT/

LOUDNESS

DISPLAY

AUDIO

TUNER

SHIFT

MPX

RECEIVER CONTROL

CH RETURN

SUBTITLE

DIALOG E INPUT ATT

/CH SEL

EFFECT

REC STOP

DTV INFOREC MUTE

ACOUSTIC

STEREO

HDD

LEVEL

SLEEP

DVD

D.ACCESS

T.EDIT

TV VOL

SYSTEM

SETUP

ST ST

SELECT

INPUT

TV CONTROL

TUNE

ENTER

TV CH

VOL

RETURN

BAND

CD-R/TAPE

TUNE

FL DIMMER SR

TUNER RECEIVER

ENTER

CLASS

DISC

• Dry cell batteries (AA size IEC R6) x2

• AM loop antenna

RECEIVER

DVD/LD TV/SAT DVR/VCR TV CONT

SELECT

MULTI CONTROL

INPUT

SOURCE

• FM wire antenna

• Warranty card

• These operating instructions

Before you start

Loading the batteries

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.

• Batteries with the same shape may have 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.

Installing the

• 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)

receiver

Ventilation

When installing this unit, make sure to leave space around the unit for ventilation to improve heat dispersal (at least 8 in. (20 cm) 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.

8 inches

Receiver

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.

(20 cm)

English

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

Nederlands

Español

5 minute guide02

Chapter 2:

5 minute guide

Listening to Surround Sound

This receiver was designed with the easiest possible setup in mind, so with the following quick setup guide, you should have your system hooked up for surround sound in no time at all. In most cases, you can simply leave the receiver in the default settings.

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

1 Hook up your DVD player.

For surround sound, you’ll want to hook up using a digital connection from the DVD player to the receiver. You can do this with either a coaxial (recommended), or an optical connection (you don’t need to connect both). If you hook up using an optical cable, you should refer to

on page 66 to assign the optical input to

DVD

Use a video cord to connect the video output on your DVD player to the receiver using the jacks shown below.

2 Hook up your TV.

Use a video cord to connect your receiver to the TV using the jacks as shown below.

The Input Assign

Optical cable

VIDEO IN

DIGITAL OUT

STANDBY/ON

DVD player

¡¢41

Coaxial

VIDEO OUT

cable

OPT

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

DVD PLAYER

COAX

(CD)

(DVD /LD)

(DVR/VCR)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

(TV/SAT)

OPT

COAX

(CD)

COAX

(DVD /LD)

/ TAPE

OUT

DVD / LD

FRONT

REC

CD-R

/ MD

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

ANTENNA

OUT

CONTROL

DVR/ VCR

OUT

VIDEO

OUT

MONITOR

OUT

SUB

WOOFER

PREOUT

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

S-VIDEO

IN TV/ SAT

IN DVD /LD

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

REC

IN CD-R

/ TAPE / MD

PLAY

AUDIO

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

AUX

Video cord

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

Video cord

CEN-

SUB

TER

WOOFER

SURROUND

DVD 5.1CH INPUT

A B

S P E A K

E R S

This receiver*

MONITOR

OUT

COMPONENT VIDEO

(

DVR/ VCR

MONITOR OUT

FRONT

RL R L

VIDEO

S-VIDEO

)

(

)

ASSIGNABLE

DVD/ LD

BPRYPBPR

(

)

TV / SAT

CENTER SURROUND

SURROUND BACK

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

FRONT

SURROUND

SURROUND BACK

LLL

RRR

PREOUT

CENTER

5 minute guide

3 Connect your speakers.

A complete setup of eight speakers (including the subwoofer) is shown here but everyone’s home setup will vary. Simply connect the speakers you have in the manner shown below.

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.

Make sure you connect the speaker on the right to the right terminal and the speaker on the left to the left terminal. Also make sure the positive and negative ( those on the speakers. You can use speakers with a nominal impedance between 6–16 see

Switching the speaker impedance

less than 8

Ω

Front speakers

LR C LSRS

AUX

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

OPT

OUT

OPT

COAX

(CD)

OUT

COAX

(DVD

/LD)

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

OUT

CONTROL

DVR/ VCR

VIDEO

TV/

OUT

SAT

DVD

MONITOR

/LD

OUT

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH

SUB

INPUT

REC

WOOFER

CD-R

PREOUT

/ TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

AUDIO

This receiver*

ANTENNA

on page 72 if you plan to use speakers with an impedance of

Center speaker

CEN-

SUB

TER

WOOFER

COMPONENT VIDEO

(

DVR/ VCR

SURROUND

DVD 5.1CH INPUT

OUT

S-VIDEO

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

MONITOR OUT

FRONT

RL R L

A B

S P E A K E R S

Surround speakers

MONITOR

OUT

BPR

)

S-VIDEO

(

)

ASSIGNABLE

DVD/ LD

YPBP

(

)

TV / SAT

CENTERSURROUND

SURROUND BACK

Powered

FRONT

SURROUND

SURROUND BACK

LLL

RRR

+/–

) terminals on the receiver match

Surround back speakers

SBL SBR

PREOUT

CENTER

Ω

(please

subwoofer

INPUT

English

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

Nederlands

Español

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

Caution

• Make sure that all the bare speaker wire is twisted together and inserted fully into the speaker terminal. Use good quality speaker wire to connect the speakers to the receiver.

Note

1• If you’re not using a subwoofer, change the front speaker setting (see

•

If you are using only one surround back speaker, connect it to the surround back left (L) terminal.

Speaker setting

on page 48) to large.

5 minute guide02

Make sure that the speaker cable you’re using

is properly prepared with about

/8 in. (10 mm) of insulator stripped from each wire, with the exposed wire strands twisted together (

fig. A

Unscrew the terminal a few turns until there is enough space to insert the exposed wire (

fig. B

). Once the wire is in position, tighten the

terminal until the wire is firmly clamped (

fig. C

fig. A fig. B fig. C

/8 in. (10mm)

Where you place the speakers will have a big effect on the sound. Place your speakers as shown below for the best surround sound effect. See

Hints on speaker placement

page 24 for more on this.

Front speaker (R)

Subwoofer (SW)

Surround back speaker (SBL)

Surround speaker (RS)

Surround back speaker (SBR)

Front

speaker

(L)

Listening position

Center speaker (C)

Surround speaker (LS)

5 Press QUICK SETUP on the front panel to specify your speaker setup, room size and listening position.

Use the

to confirm your selection. See

Setup

settings.

6 Play a DVD, and adjust the volume to your

MULTI JOG

dial to select and

Using the Quick

below if you’re unsure about the

liking.

Make sure that

DVD/LD

is showing in the receiver’s display, indicating that the DVD input is selected. If it isn’t, press

DVD/LD

the remote control to set the receiver to the DVD input.

There are several other sound options you can select. See

for more on this.

Listening to your system

ENTER

on page 34

4 Plug in the receiver and switch it on, followed by your DVD player, your subwoofer and the TV.

Make sure you’ve set the video input on your TV to this receiver. Check the manual that came with the TV if you don’t know how to do this.

Note

1 See also 2• You may need to set your DVD player to output Dolby Digital, DTS and 88.2/96kHz PCM (2 channel) audio (see your DVD player’s manual for more on this). 3 Depending on your DVD player or source discs, you may only get digital 2 channel stereo and analog sound. In this case, the listening mode must be set to tichannel surround sound.

Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu

STANDARD

(see

Listening in surround sound

on page 43 for more setup options.

on page 34 if you need to do this) if you want mul-

5 minute guide

Using the Quick Setup

You can use the Quick Setup to get your system up and running with just a few button presses. The receiver automatically makes the necessary settings after you have selected your speaker setup, room size and listening position. Use the front panel controls for the steps below.

• If you want a more complete setup option, refer to

Automatically setting up for

surround sound (MCACC)

you choose to do so, you can skip the Quick Setup.

1 If the receiver is off, press



STANDBY/ON

2 Press

SW DET

receiver checks your setup for a subwoofer.

SW YES

check, then the display prompts you to select your speaker setup.

3 Use the speaker setup.

When a subwoofer was detected in step 2, you can cycle between the following choices:

flashes in the display while the

to turn the power on.

QUICK SETUP

SW NO

confirms the subwoofer

MULTI JOG

2.1ch 3.1ch

7.1ch

6.1ch 5.1ch

If a subwoofer wasn’t detected in step 2, you can cycle between the following choices:

2.0ch 3.0ch

7.0ch

6.0ch 5.0ch

on page 12. If

dial to choose your

4.1ch

4.0ch

• Check the table below to find the speaker setup that corresponds with your system.

4 Press

5 Use the room size.

Depending on the distance of your speakers from the listening position, choose between small, medium, or large ( average-sized room.

6 Press ENTER.

7 Use the listening position.

You can cycle between the following choices:

•

8 Press

The display shows the speaker setup, room size and listening position that you have selected.

ENTER

MULTI JOG

FWD

– If you are nearer to the front

speakers than the surround speakers

MID

– If you are equal distance from the

front and surround speakers

BACK

– If you are nearer to the surround

speakers than the front speakers

ENTER

dial to choose your

S, M

or L), M being an

dial to choose your

to confirm your setup.

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Deutsch

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Quick surround sound setup03

Chapter 3:

Quick surround sound setup

1 Connect the microphone to the MCACC

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.

Important

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

• Make sure the headphones are unplugged.

Caution

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

INPUT

RECEIVER

SELECT

DVD/LD TV/SAT DVR/VCR TV CONT

CD-R/TAPE

MULTI CONTROL

TUNER RECEIVER

SOURCE

D.ACCESS

TOP MENU

DTV MENU

T.EDIT

GUIDE

ST ST

SYSTEM

SETUP

TV VOL

FL DIMMER SR

TUNE

ENTER

TUNE

TV CONTROL

INPUT

SELECT

TV CH

ENTER

CLASS MENU

BAND

RETURN

VOL

DISC

SETUP MIC

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.

2 If the receiver is off, press turn the power on.

4 Press then press the

• Press

5 Select ‘A. MCACC’ from the System Setup menu then press

6 Make sure ‘SB NORM.’ is selected then press ENTER.

Try to be as quiet as possible after pressing

ENTER

tones to establish the ambient noise level.

jack on the front panel.

AUX

TUNER

MCACC SETUP MIC

DIGITAL IN

MASTER VOLUME

UPDOWN



RECEIVER

If you have a subwoofer, turn it on.

RECEIVER

SYSTEM SETUP

exit the System Setup menu.

on the remote control,

SYSTEM SETUP

button.

again at any time to

ENTER

. The system outputs a series of test

Note

1 If you are planning on bi-amping your front speakers, or setting up a separate speaker system in another room, read through

Surround back speaker setting

2 The receiver will automatically exit the current menu 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. 3 If you are planning on bi-amping your front speakers, or setting up a separate speaker system in another room, read through

Surround back speaker setting

on page 43 and make sure to connect your speakers as necessary before continuing.

and make sure to connect your speakers as necessary before continuing.

Quick surround sound setup

If the noise level is too high, the display for five seconds. To exit and check the noise levels again, press (see the notes about ambient noise below) or press

ENTER

when you’re prompted to

• Do not adjust the volume during the test tones. This may result in incorrect speaker settings.

The system now checks the microphone and your speaker setup.

If you see an may be a problem with your mic or the speaker connections. Turn off the power, and check the problem indicated by the below), then try the auto surround setup again.

•

ERR MIC

tion.

•

ERR Fch

tions.

•

ERR Sch

connections.

•

ERR SBch

speaker connections.

•

ERR SW

been switched on and volume on the subwoofer is turned up.

7 When you see CHECK OK in the display, confirm your speaker configuration.

Use speaker in turn. actual speakers connected. If the speaker configuration displayed isn’t correct, use



(cursor left/right) to change the setting.

When you’re finished, go to the next step.

8 Select CHECK OK in the display then press

ENTER

The Auto MCACC finishes by checking the subwoofer level.

ERR

message in the display, there

– Check the microphone connec-

– Check the front speaker connec-

– Check the surround speaker

– Check the surround back

– Make sure the subwoofer has

/

(cursor up/down) to check each

YES

NOISY!

blinks in

SYSTEM SETUP

RETRY?

ERR

message (see

or NO should reflect the

/

• If the subwoofer output level is too high/

SW.VOL.DWN/SW.VOL.UP

low, the display for five seconds. To exit and check your subwoofer output level, press

SYSTEM SETUP

when you’re prompted to

9 The Auto MCACC Setup has finished!

The MCACC indicator on the front panel will light to show the surround settings are complete.

The settings made in the Auto MCACC Setup should give you excellent surround sound from your system, but it is also possible to adjust these settings manually using the System

Setup menu (starting on page 43). Optionally, when you see

/

(cursor left/right) to select one of the following options then to check the settings:

•

CHK SP

– Check the size and number of speakers you’ve connected (see page 48 for more on this)

•

CHK DIST.

speakers from the listening position (see page 50 for more on this)

•

CHK LEVEL

your speaker system (see page 49 for more on this)

•

CHK EQ

to check the adjustments to the frequency balance of your speaker system based on the acoustic characteristics of your room (see page 46 for more on this)

10 When you’re finished, select back to the System Setup menu.

• Remember to disconnect the microphone after completing the Auto MCACC Setup.

or simply press

SKIP?

/

(cursor up/down)

– Check the distance of your

– Check the overall balance of

– Select either

ALL CH

blinks in

ENTER

RETRY?

you can press

F ALIGN

‘SKIP?’

to go

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Note

1• Depending on the characteristics of your room, sometimes identical speakers with cone sizes of around 5 inches (12cm) will end up with different size settings. You can correct the setting manually using the

• The subwoofer distance setting may be farther than the actual distance from the listening position. This setting should be

accurate (taking delay and room characteristics into account) and generally does not need to be changed.

Speaker setting

on page 48.

Quick surround sound setup03

Other problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup

If the room environment is not optimal for the Auto MCACC Setup (too much background noise, echo off the walls, obstacles blocking the speakers from the microphone) the final settings may be incorrect. Check for household appliances (air conditioner, fridge, fan, etc.), that may be affecting the environment and switch them off if necessary. If there are any instructions showing in the front panel display, please follow them.

• Some older TVs may interfere with the operation of the microphone. If this seems to be happening, switch off the TV when doing the Auto MCACC Setup.

Connecting up

Chapter 4:

Connecting up

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 any connections, switch off the power and disconnect the power cord from the AC outlet.

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.

Coaxial digital audio cable Optical cable

• 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.

Video cables

Standard RCA video cables

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

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Analog audio cables

tandard RCA video cable

Right (red)

Left (white)

Connecting up04

S-video cables

S-video cables give you clearer picture reproduction than standard RCA video cables by sending separate signals for the luminance and color.

S Video

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 (

) signal and the color (

PB and

PR) signals and then output. In this way,

interference between the signals is avoided.

Component video cables

Green (Y)

Blue (P

)

Red (P

About the video converter

VSX-915 model only

The video converter allows you to connect video sources using composite connections and the signal will be output through both the

composite and S-video If more than one video component is connected to the same input function, the converter gives priority to the S-video connection.

MONITOR OUT

jacks1.

The following chart shows when the video signal will be converted fro

m the vari

ous video

inputs (left column) for output to the

MONITOR OUT

Video terminal

VIDEO IN (Composite)

S-VIDEO IN

COMPONENT VIDEO IN



• The

jacks (top row):

MONITOR OUT

VIDEO

(Composite)

S-VIDEO







COMPONENT

VIDEO

mark above indicates that the



component video input must be assigned before it will be output (see

component video inputs

Assigning the

on page 66 for

more on this).

• When recording video sources, they must be connected using the same type of video cable as you used to connect the recorder to the receiver.

• Also note that this feature is available with NTSC signals only. For PAL signals, make sure you’ve used the same type of cable for your video component and monitor connections.

Note

1 The

COMPONENT VIDEO MONITOR OUT

jacks only output the signal from the component video input.

Connecting up

Connecting a DVD player and TV

This page shows you how to connect your DVD player and TV to the receiver.

1 Connect a coaxial digital audio output on your DVD player to the DIGITAL COAX 1 (DVD/LD) input on this receiver.

Use a coaxial digital audio cable for the connection.

2 Connect the composite video output and the stereo analog audio outputs

DVD player to the DVD/LD inputs on this receiver.

Use a standard RCA video cable3 and a stereo RCA phono cable for the connection.

• If your DVD player has multichannel

3 Connect the analog audio outputs from your TV to the TV/SAT inputs on this receiver.

This will allow you to play the sound from the TV's built-in tuner. Use a stereo RCA phono cable to do this.

• If your TV has a built-in digital decoder, you

4 Connect the MONITOR OUT video jack on this receiver to a video input on your TV.

Use a standard RCA video cable to connect to the composite video jack.

on your

analog outputs, see

multichannel analog outputs

Connecting the

below for how

to connect it.

can also connect an optical digital audio output from your TV to the

(TV/SAT)

input on this receiver. Use an

DIGITAL OPT 1

optical cable for the connection.

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

DIGITAL

AUDIO OUT

OPTICAL

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

This receiver*

COAXIAL

DIGITAL OUT

DVD player

COAX

(DVD /LD)

OPT

(CD)

OUT

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

AUX

DVR/ VCR

TV / SAT

DVD /LD

FRONT

REC

CD-R

/ TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

AUDIO

ANALOG OUT

FM UNBAL

Ω

OUT

CONTROL

VIDEO

OUT

MONITOR

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

OUT

SUB WOOFER

AUDIORL

LOOP

PREOUT

VIDEO IN

ANTENNA

VIDEO OUT

OUT

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

S-VIDEO

English

Deutsch

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Nederlands

Español

Note

1 If your DVD player only has an optical digital output, you can connect it to the optical input on this receiver using an optical cable. When you set up the receiver you'll need to tell the receiver which input you connected the player to (see

on page 66). 2 This connection will allow you to make analog recordings from your DVD player. 3 For better quality, you can also connect with S-video using the video output, you can connect this too. See 4 For better quality, you can also connect with S-video using the

jacks

on page 21 if you want to use the component video outputs to connect this receiver to your TV.

Using the component video jacks

S-VIDEO DVD/LD

S-VIDEO MONITOR OUT

jack. If your player also has a component

on page 21 for more on this.

jack. See

The Input Assign

Using the component video

Connecting up04

Connecting the multichannel analog outputs

For DVD Audio and SACD playback, your DVD player may have 5.1 channel analog outputs.In this case, you can connect the multichannel analog outputs to the multichannel inputs of

this receiver as shown below.

his receiver*

AUX

OPT

OUT

(DVR/VCR)

OPT

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

COAX

DIGITAL IN

(CD)

OUT

COAX

(DVD

/LD)

RL RL

FRONT

OUTPUT

FM UNBAL

Ω

DVR/ VCR

VIDEO

IN TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

REC

CD-R / TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

AUDIO

CENTER OUTPUT

LOOP

OUT

CONTROL

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

SURROUND

OUTPUT

CEN-

SUB

TER

WOOFER

DVD 5.1CH INPUT

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

SUB

WOOFER

OUTPUT

SURROUND

S P E A K E R S

COMPONENT VIDEO

(

FRONT

VIDEO

OUTPUT

DVR/ VCR

MONITOR OUT

BPR

)

CENT

ANTENNA

OUT

S-VIDEO

1 Connect a set of audio/video outputs on the set-top box component to the TV/SAT

AUDIO and VIDEO inputs on this receiver.

Use a stereo RCA phono cable for the audio connection and a standard RCA video cable for

the video connection.

2 Connect an optical digital audio output from your set-top box component to the DIGITAL OPT 1 (TV/SAT) input on this receiver.

Use an optical cable for the connection.

This receiver*

AUX

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

OPT

COAX

(CD)

COAX

(DVD /LD)

OUT

AUDIO

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

VIDEO

OUT

CONTROL

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

ANTENNA

S-

DVR/ VCR

TV / SAT

DVD /LD

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

REC

CD-R

/ TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

DVD/multi-channel decoder with multi-channel analog output jacks

2 1

DIGITAL OUT

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but

connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

OPTICAL COAXIAL

VIDEOAUDIOR

AV OUT

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'.

Note

1 The multichannel input can only be used when 2 If you've already connected your TV to the need to press the input select button for the input you connected the set-top box to. 3 For better quality, you can also connect with S-video using the video output, you can connect this too. See 4 If your satellite/cable receiver doesn’t have a digital audio output, omit this step. If it only has a coaxial digital output, you can connect it to one of the coaxial inputs on this receiver using a coaxial digital audio cable. When you set up the receiver you'll need to tell the receiver which input you connected the set-top box to (see

DVD 5.1 ch

TV/SAT

inputs, simply choose another input. However, to receive a signal, you'll

Using the component video jacks

STB

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

is selected (see page 42).

S-VIDEO TV/SAT

jack. If your set-top box also has a component

on page 21 for more on this.

The Input Assign menu

on page 66).

Connecting up

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.

1 If your component has a digital output, connect this to a digital input on the receiver as shown.

The example shows a coaxial connection to the

digital input jack using a coaxial digital

audio cable.

2 If necessary, connect the analog audio outputs of the component to a set of spare audio inputs on this receiver.

You’ll need to make this connection for components without a digital output, or if you want to record from a digital component. Use a stereo RCA phono cable as shown.

3 If you're connecting a recorder, connect the analog audio outputs (REC) to the analog audio inputs on the recorder.

The example shows an analog connection to the

CD-R/TAPE/MD

analog output jack using

a stereo RCA phono cable.

This receiver*

AUX

DVR/ VCR

TV / SAT

DVD /LD

FRONT

REC

CD-R

/ TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

AUDIO

2 3

AUDIO OUT

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

OUT

CONTROL

VIDEO

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

OUT

PLAY

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

AUDIO IN

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

OPTICAL COAXIAL

DIGITAL OUT

COAX

(DVD /LD)

OPT

(CD)

OUT

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

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

ANTENNA

REC

English

Deutsch

OUT

S-V

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Italiano

Nederlands

Español

About the WMA9 Pro decoder

This unit has an on-board Windows Media® Audio 9 Professional (WMA9 Pro) decoder, so it is possible to playback WMA9 Pro-encoded audio using a coaxial or optical digital connection when connected to a WMA9 Pro-

Note

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.

Connecting up04

D V

T S

compatible player. However, the connected PC, DVD player, set-top box, etc. must be able to output WMA9 Pro format audio signals through a coaxial or optical digital output.

Microsoft, Windows Media®, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/ or other countries.

Connecting other video components

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

1 Connect a set of audio/video outputs on the recorder to the DVR/VCR AUDIO and VIDEO inputs on this receiver.

Use a stereo RCA phono cable for the audio connection and a standard RCA video cable for

the video connection.

2 Connect a set of audio/video inputs on the recorder to the DVR/VCR AUDIO and VIDEO outputs on this receiver.

Use a stereo RCA phono cable for the audio connection and a standard RCA video cable for

the video connection.

3 If your video component has a digital audio output, connect it to a digital input on this receiver.

The example shows a recorder connected to the

DIGITAL COAX 1 (DVD/LD)

input.

This receiver*

AUX

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

OPTICAL COAXIAL

DIGITAL OUT

OPT

OUT

OPT

COAX

(CD)

OUT

COAX

(DVD

/LD)

AUDIO

1 2

OUT

R L

AUDIO OUT

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

VIDEO

OUT

CONTROL

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

R L

AUDIO IN

ANTENNA

REC

OUT

S-VI

VIDEO IN

DVR/ VCR

TV / SAT

IN DVD /LD

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

REC

CD-R

/ TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

VIDEO OUT

VCR, DVR, LD player, etc.

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

Note

1 For better quality, you can also connect with S-video using the ponent video output, you can connect this too. See 2 For better quality, you can also connect with S-video using the 3 If your video component doesn’t have a digital audio output, omit this step. If it only has an optical digital output, you can connect it to the optical input on this receiver using an optical cable. When you set up the receiver you'll need to tell the receiver which input you connected the component to (see

Using the component video jacks

The Input Assign menu

S-VIDEO DVR/VCR IN

S-VIDEO DVR/VCR OUT

on page 21 for more on this.

on page 66).

jack. If your set-top box also has a com-

jack.

Connecting up

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.

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

VIDEO MONITOR OUT

1 Connect the component video outputs of your source to a set of component video inputs on this receiver.

Use a three-way component video cable for the connection.

2 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:

•

COMP 1

•

COMP 2

•

COMP 3

See

Assigning the component video inputs

– – –

DVD TV DVR

page 66 for more on this.

3 Connect the COMPONENT VIDEO MONITOR OUT jacks on this receiver to the component video inputs on your TV or monitor.

Use a three-way component video cable.

COMPONENT

jacks.

Connecting to the front panel video terminal

Front video connections are accessed via the front panel using the standard audio/video jacks as well as an Svideo jack and an optical input. Hook them up the same way you made the rear panel connections.

This receiver

CD-R/TAPE/MD

VIDEO INPUT

S-VIDEO

VIDEO

LAUDIO R

VIDEO OUTPUT

TUNER

VIDEO

DIGITAL IN

DIGITAL OUT

button. There are

AUX

MCACC

SETUP MIC

Video

camera

(etc.)

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Connecting up04

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

make sure that the receiver is switched off and unplugged from the wall outlet before making or changing any connections.

below). Always

Antenna snap connectors

Twist the exposed wire strands together and insert into the hole, then snap the connector shut.

/8 in. (10mm)

AM loop antenna

FM wire antenna

AUX

(DVR/VCR)

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

OPT

OUT

OPT

COAX

(CD)

OUT

COAX

(DVD

/LD)

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

FRONT

D V D

5.1CH

INPUT

REC

CD-R / TAPE

/ MD

PLAY

AUDIO

ANTENNA

OUT

CONTROL

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

OUT

S-VIDEO

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

VIDEO

FM wire antenna

Connect the FM wire antenna and fully extend vertically along a window frame or another suitable place that gives good reception.

AM loop antenna

Assemble the antenna and connect to the receiver. Attach (if necessary) and face in the direction that gives the best reception.

Using external antennas

To improve FM reception

Use an F connector to connect an external FM antenna.

F connector

To improve AM reception

Connect a 15–18 foot length of vinyl-coated wire to the AM antenna terminal without disconnecting the supplied AM loop antenna.

For the best possible reception, suspend horizontally outdoors.

Outdoor antenna

FM UNBAL

15–18 ft. (5–6m)

Indoor antenna (vinyl-coated wire)

Ω

LOOP

ANTENNA

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

ANTENNA

Connecting up

Connecting the speakers

A complete setup of eight speakers (including the subwoofer) is shown here but everyone’s home setup will vary. Simply connect the speakers you have in the manner shown below.

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.

Make sure you connect the speaker on the right to the right terminal and the speaker on the left to the left terminal. Also make sure the positive and negative (

those on the speakers. see

Switching the speaker impedance

less than 8

Ω

Front speakers

LR C LSRS

You can use speakers with a nominal impedance between 6–16Ω (please

on page 72 if you plan to use speakers with an impedance of

Center speaker

Surround speakers

+/–

) terminals on the receiver match

Surround back speakers

SBL SBR

The receiver

English

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

AUX

OPT

DVR/

OUT

VCR

(DVR/VCR)

OPT

TV/ SAT

(TV/SAT)

ASSIGNABLE

DIGITAL IN

DVD /LD

FRONT

COAX

REC

(CD)

CD-R

OUT

/ TAPE

COAX

/ MD

(DVD

PLAY

/LD)

AUDIO

This receiver*

WOOFER

FM UNBAL

Ω

LOOP

ANTENNA

OUT

CONTROL

OUT

VIDEO

D V D

5.1CH INPUT

OUT

MONITOR OUT

SUB WOOFER

PREOUT

S-VIDEO

DVR/ VCR

TV/ SAT

DVD /LD

COMPONENT VIDEO

SURROUND

DVD 5.1CH INPUT

FRONT

RL R L

A B

S P

E A K

E R

Powered

MONITOR

OUT

(

DVR/ VCR

MONITOR OUT

BPR

)

S-VIDEO

(

)

ASSIGNABLE

DVD/ LD

YPBP

(

)

TV / SAT

CENTERSURROUND

SURROUND BACK

FRONT

LLL

RRR

SURROUND

SURROUND BACK

PREOUT

CENTER

CEN-

SUB

TER

subwoofer

INPUT

* The illustration shows the VSX-915, but connections for the VSX-815 are the same.

Caution

• Make sure that all the bare speaker wire is twisted together and inserted fully into the speaker terminal. Use good quality speaker wire to connect the speakers to the receiver.

Note

1 If you’re not using a subwoofer, change the front speaker setting (see 2 If you are using only one surround back speaker, connect it to the surround back left (

Speaker setting

on page 48) to large.

) terminal.

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