Official Pioneer VSX-521k owners thread - Page 8

I'll tell you tomorrow. Tonight I'm testing my new 521 with four 4-ohm Acoustat towers.

I recently purchased this receiver and am having a problem with the HDMI... surprise surprise.

My Setup:

HTPC > (HDMI) > Receiver > (HDMI) > Samsung Plasma TV

When the receiver (or tv) powers off and then later when I power it back on, it will no longer recognize the HTPC signal (HDMI just blinks). It requires a full reboot of the HTPC to get the receiver and HTPC to correctly "Handshake". I have localized this to the receiver by connecting the HTPC directly to the tv, powering the tv off and back on. No problems with the picture coming right back.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to rectify this w/ the receiver? It is very frustrating. Every time I turn off anything I must reboot the HTPC.

IDK if I would do that. The receiver is rated down to 6-ohm from my understanding. You will end up doing damage to the receiver by trying to run 4-ohm speakers on it. Maybe not right away, but it will eventually cause damage.

I received my first Acoustat pair from a fellow who thought the loudspeakers were damaged, but it was his amp that failed, so this has been on my mind since day one. Yet in 17 years, five different solid state amps/receivers rated officially only at 8-ohms in their literature have not failed while driving my 4-ohm Acoustats.

The Pioneer appears no different. The VSX-521 drove my 4-Ohm Acoustat 1+1s to room-filling volume with no sense of strain. I may eat crow in this thread someday, but I'm satisfied enought to use the 521 as my daily driver for the Acoutstats until the day I want to drive them with tubes again.

Edit
The fact that Pioneer rates the 521 down to 6 Ohms gives me greater confidence, not less. YMMV.

Is there SQ difference between 521 and 821 ie we're just paying more for the 821 on the extras?

Hello!
Some one try to conncet the VSX-521-K to one Samsung UExxD8000?
I heard these TV can work on ARC with other receptors liek onkyos.
But when I actiavte the opcion ARC, I not works, and I lost the HDMI control...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Well i got the sony str-dn1010 like 2 days ago it sounds good and everything but i can get vsx-521 for the same price should i jump ship

Here's my simple solution, use the optical output on the TV!

ARC isn't an advantage to me and seems to cause more headaches than its worth. Using the optical output will give you the same audio, so what if you have to add a $2 cable.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

I assume you're using the TV to stream Netflix, YouTube or something like that? And the TV is networked?

Hey guys---Firstly I'd like to thank you in advance for taking a gander at my setup quagmire and sparing a few synapses. Also, I'm all apologies in advance should my flow, format or prose is not meet the forum's criteria; this is my 1st post!!!

For brevity's sake, I'll highlight my two questions and elaborate below:

1. Am I capable of running a RCA cable w/ SPDIF connection from my soundcard's Analog/Digital Out jack to Pioneer VSX-521's coaxial cable input?

2. Am I putting my VSX or Klipsh promedia speaker satellites at risk by using the receiver and the speakers together?


Setup:

TV - Samsung SyncMaster P2770HD
AVR - Pioneer VSX-521
PC - Soundblaster Audigy Platinum Ex Soundcard(with breakout box)
PS3 Slim [HDMI to TV]
5 Klipsch Promedia Satellites (Subwoofer to be added in the near future)

I really just want to listen to my computer audio and ps3 through the 5.1 receiver with my speakers and a sub in the future.

Unfortunately my VSX-521 works insofar as the tuner gets AM/FM reception and plays through the speakers and can add effects. When I've attempted to hook up the TV and the PS3 to the VSX-521 via Optical, the receiver always reverts back through the cycle to the analog input after toggling with "signal select."

While trying to connect my Audigy soundcard on my PC to the VSX-521 via coaxial inputs, I get the same issue of it toggling through the connects to rest back at analog. I am unable to pick up a signal before it starts to cycle through. Below is a graphic from the Audigy manual that highlights my intentions of sending my pc's audio to the Receiver's coaxial input. Is coaxial digital the best/optimal/easiest plug on the Receiver?

I'm wondering if these inabilities to connect to a signal are signs of a malfunctioning model or have I lost the plot, so to speak, when it comes to hooking up a system?

As for the compatiablity question with the Klipsch satellites and the receiver: I don't know what specs to look for when it comes to "not blowing out the speakers/receiver." Any guidance here would be well appreciated.

I will attempt some different wiring setups with other cables to sort out any issues, but I would be thankful for any thoughts or inputs. Thanks again and my apologies for the length.

I have a Pioneer Elite receiver on another system. With that receiver I've always left it in PLII mode. With the 521 I can't seem to "force" the receiver into that mode. For example, on the sat receiver, if I turn off dolby and send the audio pcm, I can switch the a/v receiver to PLII. If I turn dolby on I can't switch the receiver to PLII. Is this simply because the 521 is a much less expensive receiver?

I'm somewhat ignorant about this so bear with me if this is an obvious answer. The reason I wanted to keep the a/v receiver on PLII is that I prefer the sound on non 5.1 programming.

Thanks in advance.

It is my experience that the 521 will use PLII when it sees fit. If it's receiving a DD5.1 signal, it won't use PLII as there is no use. If it's receiving a 2-ch stereo signal, it will use PLII. Make sure you don't have AUTO SURROUND turned on.

Hi, I have an question on using Audio Return Channel with this receiver. I have a Toshiba 46wx800u and a 60gb ps3. I run the ps3 with 1.4 hdmi to the tv(hdmi 2). Then I connect the receiver out to the tv's arc. I set the tv to output audio to amplifier and turn on the receiver's hdmi control an arc on.

Is this the right setup? What input should the receiver be on? I can't seem to get the tv to send the audio to the receiver. I can't pass the ps3 to receiver to tv because the 3d doesn't work this way and I'm trying to find new ways to work around it. If worse comes to worse, I just I'll use the optical cable but I would prefer using hdmi for audio so I would appreciate any help! Thanks!!

So i got mine today and so far so good

It is not the right setup. For the best sound, you should run the PS3 HDMI to the receiver, and the receiver to the TV. The VSX-521k supports 3D, so your PS3 should recognize it. ARC is only necessary if you want to listen to the TV tuner using the receiver, and don't want to use an optical cable. Most TVs can't pass 5.1 from an external source, only the internal tuner and maybe internet streaming if you've connected the TV.

ARC only good for anyone use OTA. It's useless with any AVR with HMDI in/output.
More info about that in the manual.

I looked through the thread and didn't notice this (sorry if it has already been asked)...is there a way to limit the volume on the VSX-521? My kids like to turn up the volume dial. A lot.

I looked at this again and the issue is that this receiver will not automatically switch back to PLII when you go from Dolby 5.1 programming to PCM. This is on Directv. Everytime I'm watching non 5.1 and I want surround I have to manually switch the receiver. I guess it's something I'll have to live with.

Just bought this unit set it up with the mic. It sounds great so far love how clean the sound is. I do seem to have a tad bit of noise but im running hdmi cables that are several years old. Im hoping some 1.4 cables will help out. My main complaint is the bass seems to be a bit on the low end. I had to turn up the bass on my sub most of the way up. I tried turning up the bass using the button on the remote and I get a cant select message. Any way of turning up the bass?

I had the same problem with my 521 for the 2 months I owned it. After finally getting the sound set up nice we just couldn't take it anymore. Having to turn the unit on and off sometimes 3 or 4 times just to get it to connect to the HDMI signal got very frustrating.

Finally took it back to Best Buy to have it checked out, they said they didn't have any problem with it but offered to ship it to the manufacturer to be checked out. I told them we just wasn't satisfied with the unit (it replaced a Denon that got hit by lightning, we never had this problem with the Denon) and asked if we could swap it out for the same Denon the 521 replaced (store was out back when we replaced it). Anyhow, they swapped it out for us, took it home, hooked it up and picture comes on instantly when Denon is turned on. Wife is happy again.

The Denon doesn't have all the bells and whistles the 521 has (even though it was $20 higher), but it still sounds nice. I think it's the Denon 1321.

Try setting the sub to PLUS

How would I go about doing that? I've yet to learn the ins and outs of the receiver.

In the setup menu go to 2.Manual SP Setup and go to 2a.Speaker Setting. Under Subwoofer change YES to PLUS.

I use RCA analog input which cause the sub to be inactive when I set my floorstanding speakers to large.

thanks, tried and my bass is sounding a lot better now. Still not as loud as my 8 year old Sony receiver but the bass is much cleaner.

Hey Everyone!

It's been a long day playing with my VSX-521k and I'm having a few problems that I just cannot figure out.

Firstly, the bass seems almost non-existent. The auto-calibration recommended that I set my speakers to small (they are not small imo, Polk M30 rears and M20 fronts and a csi100). Is this the default setting, or is this the result of the calibration? I have read that people put the subwoofer setting to, "plus" but I cannot do this unless I change my speakers to the, "large" setting.

The receiver's clarity is a noticeable difference from my old denon (in a good way), but the bass just isn't there.

Secondly, I am having big problems playing Battlefield 3. Sometimes during the gameplay, the screen will start to get VERY fuzzy and distorted and then cut out intermittently. At this time the audio will be crystal clear. It is purely a video thing. This does not happen with netflix or TV and I have tried a few other games and there were no problems (but I did not play them as long as BF3). I watched many episodes of 30 rock on netflix with no problems, and only played BF for maybe 30 minutes and ran into this frequently.

I have ordered a couple of new hdmi 1.4 cables to determine whether or not it is a cable issue. There is a possibility that I have missed a setting or something.

Overall, I like it so far, but this problem with BF3 has really thrown a wrench into it. I also do not like how bass-lite it is.

Hopefully We/I can figure these things out!

Thanks for reading,

- Matt

(not sure if this is important, but I have my Advanced Surround set to , "Pure Direct". Is this the optimal setting?)

I ran into the same issue regarding the low bass. My recomendation would be to put it on PLUS. This changed my bass dramaticly. I have great sound now. You can also put the bass up higher through the receiver. As far as the video issues only thing I can think of is trying new cables. Ive been havinv some issues where when I start the PS3 up I get some diamond like noise. I restart the PS3 and the problem is gone. I got some high speed cables coming that im hoping will help out. Battlefield 3 sounds amazing with this receiver.

Did you guys tried running THX Optimiser and hear if the SW is active under the "YES" setting?

@Matt Pure Direct means you are bypassing all processing and just using the AVR as a speaker amplifier.

Hi folks ! I live in Finland (Northern Europe as you may know...) and received my 521 a week ago. I paid 290 euros of it, seems to be $407, eh...

Overall I'm satisfied with it, although this my 1st real receiver so there is not much comparsion to do, previously used ready-made hometheater packakges. Main usage and current settings are :

satellite HD DVR - HDMI - Pioneer - HDMI -TV, surround set to PLII Music. Sometimes Radio (Tuner), set to EXT.STEREO. Few notes :

- I also have (minor) issue with hdmi, when going for example to EPG there is a quick green flash in TV which previously didn't appear when connected directly to TV. I can live with that.

- low bass was also a surprise to me. Like many others here I set sub to PLUS (yes requires LARGE front speakers setting, had SMALL after MCACC). I also put Crossover Network (don't understand what this means...) from 100 to 150Hz, maybe this helps a bit. And finally set sub channel level to higher.

Now sub is humming like I want it to do. One 'problem' with my sub (Jamo sub-210) was that when set to 'auto power' it turned off during say wathing news where is no low voices (especially with anchorwoman. And then when going on there was a little 'pop' sound, now it seems to stay on while the 521 is on.

These are my current settings, waiting for the house be emty so can try how this behaves under real load...

One more thing, I use a couple of years old Harmony 600 remote, works perfectly also with 521 (after little tuning of cource...) so if you have problems like not going to right input channel and so I this (or similar) is a solution.

oh my goodness! Thank goodness there is now someone who has excountered the same problem as me. Do you happen to have a screenshot of the fuzziness? I had one I'd like to post but it's not with me right now. It happens to me constantly on the PS3. Picture will go fuzzy, full audio. Occasionally the picture blacks out for a second or two before going to fuzzy.

So, what I have finally done, is ordered a whole set of new high speed HDMI cables from mono price and I'm praying that will do it. I know my cables are GOOD right now, but I do not know which are standard and which are high speed because there are a couple that are older, and perhaps mixing and matching is causing the problems.

I also heard that turning deep colour off can help, but I haven't tried it yet.

If I get my new set of cables before you I'll let you know if it works. Somehow I have a feeling that this is all going to end up at the repair shop, with them saying they couldn't find a problem, and then a fight with Pioneer customer Service to try and let me exchange the receive for another model. Sigh.

Oh PS terance, what kind of TV do you have? Maybe it has something to do with our TV/receiver combination. I have an LG.

Thanks or replying everyone!

I have a Panasonic plasma x series.

I too have ordered some new cables, they should be here in a few days. I really, really hope this works or this will be my second receiver in two days.

I will post a video of the problem when I get home. Restarting the ps3 did not work for me =|

Video should be up in 3ish hours.