*Official* Pioneer Elite VSX-21/23THX Owners Thread - Page 61

Originally Posted by aerodynamics

I have a 21 and was wondering how to switch inputs with the receiver on standby?

I'm trying to setup activities on my Harmony 880 to watch TV and movies with the receiver off. I have everything hooked up via HDMI to the receiver (BDP, cable STB, and TV). Kuro Link is "on" so when the TV powers up the 21 goes to standby. But if I want to watch a movie, the 21 wont switch to the "BD" input. The only way is to turn on the 21 fully and switch inputs manually.

There are times when I don't need the surround speakers on (ie nightime viewing) and getting the receiver to cooperate in this manner has been a head scratcher.

Originally Posted by dmspen

Anyone here have there Elite 21 connected to a video processor?
I have an older KeyDigital iSync Pro. I had my DISH receiver connected to my Elite 21 via HDMI (at 1080i), then to the iSync. When I apply power to the Pioneer. the iSync would flip out, cycling between 'no input' and 'Standby' mode.
I'm wondering if there might be an hdmi issue at work here. I could cycle different eq on/off and everything would eventually work, but what a pain!

Originally Posted by CR_Client

Are both your TV and your BD player KURO-compatible? There won't be any pass-through in standby mode unless they are both KURO-link compatible(which, I understand, is slightly contrary to what we have told other people in recent posts). Unfortunately, the owner's manual isn't very forthcoming on how this pass-through works, but it appears that the KURO link should identify that an input was powered on, and switch to that component, whether the receiver is on or in standby.

Can't be much more help than that, as I don't have any KURO devices other than my receiver. All of my inputs and output are Sony devices (PS3, DVD changer, TV).

Originally Posted by aerodynamics

It does pass-through initially when I switch from TV to BD but if I want to go back to TV, I haven't been able to find a way to do so without turning on the 21 fully and doing it manually.

The setup is when the TV powers on, the 21 goes from off to standby. The signal then passes-through. If I want to watch a movie and power on the BDP, the 21 senses the signal and is passed-through. Beyond that, I haven't found a way to switch it back. Powering off the BDP just gives me a blank screen.

My equipment:
Panasonic plasma S1
Panny BD60 player
Motorola DCH3200 STB

TIA.

Originally Posted by Mark Jones

A couple of newbie questions...what is the best wiring approach to having TV viewing capability (Pio 6020 FD) w/o having have to have AVR (VSX-21TXH) powered on? I'm assuming Kuro Link can't help w/this but I could be wrong.

Two approaches I see are: HDMI signal split out of Motorola DVR STB..one side to TV and the other to VSX-21 and the other approach would be STB to TV via HDMI w/optical out to AVR. Do I possibly sacrifice PQ or audio processing choices at the AVR if the approach is to wire STB directly to TV via HDMI?

One last question...I've seen varying responses on the question of signal upconversion for SD signals out of STB...would using component hook-up from STB to AVR really provide a better image for SD content than going w/an STB-AVR HDMI hook-up that wouldn't touch the signal on the way to the TV?

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Originally Posted by CR_Client

If, by "go back to the TV", you mean switch to the Motorola STB, which is hooked to the 21, then it can't be done. The only devices that can be passed through on the 21/23 while in standby are KURO-link devices.

Don't you just love HDCP and proprietary control formats?

Originally Posted by Santapimp27

Just wondering how the owners of the VSX-23TXH like it?

Im deciding between it and the Onkyo 707

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Originally Posted by Mikes2cents

I cannot speak for the Onkyo 707, no experience with it. I can say that my 23 makes beautiful surround. Like nothing I have heard anywhere aside from an actual theater. Even with some crappy speakers I hooked up at first. Now it just rocks with some better units. Just ordered another sub lol.

So MCACC has it's setup memory shortfalls that are well documented here, and the AVR has some other issues/bugs also documented, I am more than satisfied with mine. The minor (to me) problems with it are far surpassed with performance when you keep hookup simple and get it calibrated to your system.

This is a high tech piece of equipment trying to do a lot of things and it has some bugs. This is not at all unlike PCs were and are. Why is it we find it acceptable for computers to crash and have bugs, but we harp on a receiver that is trying to do a lot of things with different components?

Of course if the Onkyo does all these things without any issues then get that and I will STFU. I just don't know because my budget does not allow me to experiment.

KISS: Keep it simple stupid. Why run video through an amp when your TV can take the signal and convert it to what it can display best? When the STB or whatever source sends 1080P, my TV takes it and displays it, duh! Most all HDTVs have a processor in them that does what needs to be done to optimize whatever signal it gets for the display. So it is about getting the audio for me. A lot of posts/problems here can be resolved with this connection theory.

Yes my 23 has more HDMI inputs. I use none of them. For the money I decided to go with the 23 since it was little enough more and had zone three as well along with that beautiful face plate. Keep in mind the 21 and 23 are the current bottom of the line Elites. That means they are not budget but not high end either. Having said that, my 23 is high end enough for what I need.

Originally Posted by Santapimp27

I hear ya man. Im about 99% settled on the 23 for my system. Definitely the best looking receiver in this price range for sure.

What speakers are you currently using?

I just picked up paradigm monitor 9's for a 5.1

Originally Posted by milanogtr

Can someone confirm this for me? Is pioneer currently working on a firmware update for the VSX 23TXH regarding the remote control cant power on issues? If so, does anyone know when the firmware will release and how to do it? Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by NewbieRob

I can get the 21THX for only a little more than the 1019. I am familiar with most of the advanatages the Elite model has, but are there any advantages with the 1019 over the 21? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Mark Jones

I don't seem to get much output to my surrounds...I have manually changed the outputs to the various speakers via the MCACC menu..this seems to help a bit, but at the expense on the sound level out of the mains.

Also, which of the audio processing modes will help pump up the output to the surrounds?

Thanks for any insights here.

Originally Posted by david_nc

.....I've had my '23 almost 2 weeks and have NEVER had any problem with this. In fact, I've used the remote exclusively to turn the unit on and off to see if I have the problem. FWIW, mine was made in late November, if that has anything to do with it.

Not to discount those whose have this problem, but it doesn't seem to be universal. Like most things, you generally won't hear from those who don't have the problem.

Originally Posted by Deeselcyde

Absolutely not. Get the 21.

Originally Posted by meanderfox

just got finished setting up my VSX-23TXH, its amazing except for one small snag, ive got my comcast HD box hooked up to it with HDMI, and the HD channels look and work great. however when i switch to any of the standard def channels, the tv says unsupported mode. however, it worked fine when the box was connected directly to the tv. is there some simple thing im not doing? or should i be thinking about exchanging it before the return period is up?

Originally Posted by meanderfox

just got finished setting up my VSX-23TXH, its amazing except for one small snag, ive got my comcast HD box hooked up to it with HDMI, and the HD channels look and work great. however when i switch to any of the standard def channels, the tv says unsupported mode. however, it worked fine when the box was connected directly to the tv. is there some simple thing im not doing? or should i be thinking about exchanging it before the return period is up?

Originally Posted by Mikes2cents

I don't run any video including cable box through my 23 for a number of reasons, your problems being one of those. Connect it directly to your TV and run digital audio to the 23. Of course for those without a TV with multiple HDMI inputs, you probably need to go into the TV's menu and find a display setting that works. I don't know what TV you have so you will need to poke around in the setup and find what it is set at. I hope you can find a fix there, but the way I connect mine is a no brainer.

Originally Posted by CR_Client

This came up earlier in the thread, probably in the page 50-52 range. It was related to the way the STB was converting the output signal and how it was being handled by the AVR. A quick search might help.

I, however, do not subscribe to the "only ever hook a STB directly to the TV" camp, mostly because a) my TV has only one HDMI, b) I don't have a STB, and c) the reasons given for doing it are usually specious at best. Unless you MUST be able to watch the STB without having the AVR on, it's much more simple to use the AVR for its intended design, controlling the flow of A/V for your entire system.

Of course, most of the problems with setups any more can be traced almost directly to DMCA and HDCP. You can thank the morons in the MPAA, RIAA, Washington, DC, etc. for that.