The "Official" Pioneer VSX-1020-K Owner's Thread - Page 20

^^^

i'm going to "guess" that when you use a mp3 player like the sandisk through the usb port, the avr "thinks" it's a "plain jane usb flash drive"...

assuming that "guess" is correct...

the disk format has to be fat32 in order for it to read it... it will not read a ntfs formatted drive...

I had the same problem initially after running the auto calibration. Did you do any tweaking afterwards? I went into the setup and changed my speakers from Large to Small and that fixed the problem. I also adjusted the levels of the front channels and the sub a bit.

I also did the auto calibration, placed all speakers at "small" and set crossover to 80hz. I didn't change anything mannually other than those two adjustments. The volume difference between the standard stereo mode and the f.s. stereo wide/focus modes is very apparent. Weird that standard stereo would be so quiet. I also noticed that the power varies quite a bit depending on the input being used. For example, I need to place the cable box at -10db to get it loud but the CD/DVD produces a loud/rich sound at -25db.

^^^

1) read this post about proper microphone positioning and re-run.

2) check your cable box settings and make sure that you don't have some type of volume compression going on.

3) levels are highly source dependent, but you shouldn't have to be getting anywhere near -10 off of reference for cable (which makes me think that something in the cable box is at work). different stations will also broadcast at different levels (drives me crazy during football season switching back and forth between fox and cbs).

4) as far as cd's go... again, this is source/recording dependent... i will listen to a "good" classical recording anywhere between -10 and -5, however, most "pop" music has so little dynamic range, anything much over -25 is too loud....

ymmv...

^^^^^^

I too am noticing that I have to turn the volume up to -8 / -10db to have a decent sound. I have Klipsh Reference floor standing and center channel, along with 2 B&W CCM80's for the surrounds. No subwoofer yet.

I noticed that MCACC set all of my speakers to large, and the frequency to 150hz.

I set only the floor speakers to large and the frequency to 100hz.

Does anyone have an idea of how to correct this, recommended settings, etc?

I also noticed I cannot adjust the treble, bass , etc in the audio menu... I just don't see those options......

The link that ccotenj posted is absolutely correct as far as mic placement but there is another important piece of information to follow -

"In most rooms regardless of the actual speaker size a setting of small and 80 or 60 Hz will be the correct setting if you have a capable subwoofer."

This was the case even though my front left/right speakers have internal powered subwoofers. I fudged with the vsx1120 settings for two days before achieving what I feel is the best sound - I let the internal subwoofers of the mains run off the line level input and set all speakers to small and the crossover to 80hz so that the seperate subwoofer hidden in the corner could do its job properly.

I did find that the Auto MCACC puts the subwoofer slightly too low. I grabbed my trusty SPL meter and verified that the sub needed to be bumped up aprox 1.5-2db after every auto calibration.

I currently own a sr608 and have noticed that even with all the video settings set to passthrough, that the receiver is still running processing on the video signal (and in my opinion degrading it). I was wondering if the Pioneer had a literal untouched passthrough option so that I could get the literal same video feed I would get if the receiver were literally not involved? Thanks for the info, and its too bad regarding the onkyo, as the sound is truly fantastic.

Here are some pictures of the monitor to confirm the sr608 fails to simply passthrough the video signal: http://img22.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=close608.gif . Despite that the images are only gifs for upload, you can still quite clearly see the banding and noise created by the 608 even while set to passthrough. Thanks for any info regarding the pioneer on this issue!

Wow, I have never seen "rainbows" caused by an HDMI switcher.
The Pioneer does have some options to pass the video unchanged. Most importantly is the "Pure" option. I tried a quick side by side comparisons using my ps3 playing Planet Earth and didn't see a difference on my kdl52xbr4.
Check pages 22 and 70/71 of this document http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...G+INSTRUCTIONS

Have you tried using a different input on the TV, different input on the receiver and swapping out the cables to make sure it's a problem with the receiver overall?

ciper, have you downloaded the Harmony update for the 1020? I installed it this weekend and it took care of my HDMI1 problem (It would switch to BD when it was supposed to go to HDMI1). Perhaps the other problems have been fixed as well.

I too found video degradation with the 608 and believe that hyperactive video processing (even in "through") is to blame. For me, it appeared in less detail, ruddy colors, and frame dropping.

I can report no such issues with the 1020.

Inputs and cables would be irrelevant as the clean set of images use exactly all the same cables and inputs as well on the TV. The rainbow color is actually not a part of the image, that is a side effect of taking a photo of a constantly refreshing image, so no worries on that distortion. Its more the very blatant banding it is adding, as well as an obnoxious anti-noise filter it is running. Both are degrading the image quality imo, and if I can't find a way to have it passed through untouched I am hoping that the 1020 might be a viable alternative to accepting degraded video quality. Thanks for the link though, I will definitely read that over now.

couple of questions...

1. I just bought three Martin Logan Encore TF's, as they were on sale for a steal. These LCR speakers are 4 ohms... Any idea if the 1020 will have problems running these? I believe the speaker product sheet did say something about being compatible with 8 ohm receivers, but not quite sure how that is possible if its just the impedance of the speaker.

2. I don't plan on using more than a 5.1 setup in my HT system. Any input on why I should not opt for the 820 model, other than the HDMI compatible GUI? I would like to run some zone 2 speakers to my kitchen, but I believe the 820 has that feature.

Thanks!

When was this update published? I have my software set to automatically connect to the internet so I would assume I do have it?


Then i may have been looking for the wrong thing in my side to side comparison hehe

I'm happy so far with the 1020. I have noticed that I need to turn it up pretty high sometimes, but I'm going to check some settings that I learned about here. I've kept the manual on the coffee table for "light" reading while the wife makes me watch Gossip Girl, etc. She loves the receiver so it make it easier for me to play with it.

I saw some questions about PS3 only transmitting PCM. You need to enter the system settings and change the output to HDMI. I'm not using any optical. That should work, although I'm still waiting to play a TrueHD BR for my own test.

Pioneer 50" Plasma, PS3, 1020K, Directv HD DVR, In-ceiling speakers, Sony center and sub (looking for low profile center channel that won't break budget. Wife likes current tiny speaker for its looks, but I find it tin-y). 2 HDMI from DVR and PS3 to Receiver-1 out to TV, gotta love it (although I now have a cabinet full of cables that I won't use again)

I noticed that the sub doesn't come on when I'm playing music in stereo. I ended up switching to Neo:6 Music and now it plays, but not out of LS or RS. I want to hear all speakers but center (like i said, it sux). I read earlier about changing speaker "size" to activate sub in stereo mode, will give it a try.

I am also curious about a question that someone asked earlier. In a party situation, I would love to have a picture on the tv (movie/game) but play music from another source on receiver. With my old sony it was easy b/c I didn't run everything through it via HDMI. Optical from PS3 to receiver and single RCA cable from DVR to receiver. that way I could turn on tv and just switch receiver input to music source.

Can i select "through" for HDMI for TV viewing and then change input to music source? Anyone tried? (BTW, previous post asked how to occasionally hear TV audio alone, selecting "through" is best)

Also, I'm using the Harmony 900 ($100 off at BB made it same price as ONE). Love the 900, it has all the blueray buttons (red, yellow, green, blue) which also work with my Directv. Came with mini blasters so I can use the RF all over the house (especially during previously noted parties). Set up was a breeze, but I haven't tried to do any fancy programing on it yet. Needs additional "adapter" to fully control PS3, but they say it controls PS3 perfectly.

If you don't want the center speaker to play, tell the receiver in the speaker setup section that you don't have a center. (And then, optionally, recalibrate.) Then the receiver will give you a "virtual" center, distributing signal that would have gone to the center instead to the fronts.

I picked one of these up this weekend and so far love it...

However there are times when I want to watch TV without the surround sound on. While I am getting a picture on my TV from my satellite receivers no audio is being sent to the TV.

How do I set it to pass along the audio to the TV?

@dankdan...

if you set your speakers to small, and use any mode other than "pure direct", your sub will get in on the action...

the way to get music from a different source when watching tv is to run another set of audio cables from your source to the input you have defined for your tv... then use the "signal select" option to tell the avr to get the sound from it...

I think you may be right. As a quick test I formatted a Thumb drive in FAT32 loaded music on it and put it in the USB port. Set the receiver to USB and it played the music..

Guess i will see if I can format the SanDisk this weekend.

In order to to get DTS-MA or TrueHD you must use LPCM on any PS3 that is not slim. The HDMI chipset cannot handle the encrypted data for these two audio types so you must uncompress it with the PS3 CPU. "Unfortunately" you wont see the fancy logos on the front of the receiver but you can press select and the ps3 will show the audio format it is decompressing.

If you want to control the PS3 and not spend mucho bucks buy a Nyko BluWave IR adapter. I got mine for 12$ and it does everything except turn the PS3 on,,, which you can easily do since you have to insert the disc

Hi all,
I posted earlier that I connected my Gateway Computer with Blu-Ray to my 1020, I used a DVI (from Computer) to HDMI 1 Pioneer 1020.
I had at the time used for audio, the Mini Stereo plug at Computer to RCA inputs at 1020 going into the Video Input.

I was originally thinking of replacing my Video Card with one that had a HDMI output with Audio and then run HDMI cable from my computer to the 1020.
That was going to be expensive and I then read that DVI and HDMI at least Video wise were the same quality.
After further reading here at AVS I decided to try the very quick and inexpensive Toslink Optical Cable Route for my Audio from Computer to the 1020, my mother board supports up to 7.1 audio.
I purchased a 35 foot Toslink cable from Monoprice, around $6.00
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
and connected it from my Gateway Computers SPDIF Optic Toslink Out to the 1020's Optic input 1, then just added Optic 1 to the HDMI 1 input.
It has really worked great so far, when playing a Blu-Ray I will see DTS on the Pioneer and the Sound and Surround is great.

I just thought that I would throw that out for others looking to connect their computer to the 1020.

My other components are all connected to the 1020 via HDMI.
I renamed HDMI 1 to "Gateway" HDMI 2 to "TWC - Cable" and HDMI 3 to "Panny DVD"
I like using the "Input Select" with the arrows Left and Right to just toggle back and forth through my HDMI Inputs, it is a quick way to go back and forth from my Cable to Computer.

Finally, just let me say that after two weeks, I am really really happy with the Pioneer VSX1020K! It does all that I need it to do and Sounds Great!

I would like the Onkyo feature that allows real time setting adjustments with the GUI layered over the video, but that is really an initial gimmick, because let's be honest here, after the initial setup and tweaking, I will never or very rarely go into the Setup procedure section again.
It's not a feature that you can or need to enjoy on any regular basis!
Once the unit is set, fo-get-a-bout it and just Enjoy! LOL!

Everyone have a Great Day or Evening as the case may be!

Bud

I haven't tried to do this. I see in the manual on page 68 an audio setting "HDMI THRU", which sends audio on to the TV, but this also turns off audio from the receiver. Also, Footnote g on page 69 refers to a "synchronized amp mode" which sends audio to the TV when the receiver is in stand-by.

just found this great explanation on how to set up your ps3 to allow TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. Haven't tried it yet but I'm about to.

need 3 posts to show url...

^^^^^^^

I dont get it. I have my PS3 (Purchased this past December) hooked up with only an HDMI cable, set to Bitstream, and have great audio while the 1020 displays "DTS-HD Master".

Am I doing something wrong?

^^^

no, you aren't doing anything wrong...

you have a ps3 slim, correct? not a fatty?

the slim will bitstream. the fatty will not.

Call me an idiot, but I'm assuming it's the slim as it was purchased 6 months ago in the 250GB flavor.

lol... nah, you aren't an idiot... lack of knowledge isn't idiocy...

yea, it's a slim... it would have to be given what you are seeing on the display of the avr...

Thanks for the clarification buddy

you are welcome.. we're here to help...