The "OFFICIAL" Pioneer Elite VSX-52 / 53 Owner's Thread - Page 35

Hey guys,
I have a Pioneer VSX-53 receiver, and I'm planning to buy a Hauppauge HD PVR. Now i am planning to record my PS3 gameplay, and my PS3 is hooked up to my receiver via HDMI. I was wondering if the VSX-53 can output a 1080p signal to my tv via HDMI while also outputting a 1080i component signal to the HD PVR. Is this possible?
thanks in advance

I'm having trouble connecting my VSX-52 to my Samsung TV (UN55C8000) with the Anynet+ (HDMI Control) feature.

For more than half a year it was working fine, but I turned on the TV last night (first time watching TV in a couple of months) and now the audio won't pass through the receiver. The HDMI Control feature is set to "on" on both the TV and receiver, and the HDMI cable is plugged into the ARC input on the TV...yet my TV wont recognize my receiver when I go into the Anynet+ menu Anyone know what I did wrong?

I had the same problem with my VSX 52 and Samsung D8000 blacking out for a second or two all the time. I finally resolved it by getting a different MODEL cable box from Comcast. I had to try three different boxes before I found the one that worked. My installer led me down this path, and while I doubted him; he was right. Extremely frustrating, but have not had a "blackout" in the six months since I changed the box.

Ah, but it's not a cable box, it's an antenna feed. The Audio Return Channel should (and used to) transmit the TVs audio to my receiver. I have a feeling it's more of a problem with the Samsung TV. This "smart"TV really isn't all that smart.

Hi Guys,

I recently had an Elite VSX-23TXH that went bad and BB decided to go ahead and replace. I was told that there is currently no comparable sku and that I would just get what I paid for the VSX-23TXH in return. With that said should I go with the VSX-53 (which I argued was the comparable model, both have 100 watts and 2 hdmi outs) or the SC-61?


I have been debating back and forth which to do, I already have to pay around $250 to get the VSX-53 and the SC-61 would be around $450 out of pocket. Is the class D amplification and the extra 15 watts per channel worth an additional $200 to get the SC-61??? Also noticed that the SC-61 isn't THX certified where as the vsx-53 is.

Any thoughts would help me make my decision easier, currently leaning towards just getting the SC-61.
Edited by JTang05 - 6/19/12 at 9:51am

Gotta agree. Go for the Class D SC-61!!

I ended up just going with the VSX-53 after going back and forth the whole day, figured wasnt worth an extra $200 out of pocket, no complaints so far.... Fingers crossed!

I've been gone for a while from this thread. With the ridiculous naming conventions of the new Pioneer receiver line, what model is comparable to last years' VSX-52?

Hi to all;
Basic question from a newbie. I just received my new Pioneer Elite VSX-53 this weekend and believe that I have set it up properly as a 7.1 system to a Samsung HK-R618w 61 in. DLP with a Pioneer DMP-BDT210 Blu-Ray player.. I ran the MCACC Advanced routine. It set my speakers to Large. No matter what DVD I play my display shows Stereo. I reset the speakers to Small but no change. How can I be assured that I am getting 7.1 sound? I do seem to get surround sound during intros but perhaps not in the movies. All input is HDMI to the receiver and all output is via HDMI.What settings do I need to assure 7.1 output when viewing TV or DVD? I do want stereo from my Technics SL-1700 turntable and from music CDs. .Any help will be appreciated. New to forums and posted this as a new thread but wanted it here. Sorry if that's improper etiquette.

Check the audio out settings of the Panasonic Blu-ray player via its settings menu

Make sure that when you did your setup, that you didn't accidentally toggle direct or pure direct mode. If you did, it will play everything stereo.

Greetings to all in the Pioneer Elite VSX52 thread. I need some advice.


Over a month ago my Onkyo receiver blew out or, rather melted. I went through a long ordeal to get it replaced under warranty. I want a good receiver for my home theater system. Currently everything is in flux as new units are coming out. Best Buy told me that they have a floor model VSX52 they will sell me for $550. I have been shopping the Marantz AVR6006 and 6007 as well as the Denon 3313 and 2313. I know that I am jumping price points but is there any advice you may offer to tilt the scales? I need 6 HDMI. I can get by with 5 but would have to split. I need 3D pass-thru. My primary usage is movie use but I have the following devices - Apple TV, Mac Mini, DVD juke boxes (2), DVR (component based), Oppo DVD player, PS3, CD jukebox, Ipod, TV, and prism tv box. The newer Marantz adds 4K and 7.2 ( I believe that is all) over the 6006 model and the Denon 3313 is similar to the 6007 from what I can tell. I am trying to decide between the previous years' VSX 52, AVR 6006 and current year AVR 3313 and 2313.

Hello, I just purchased and installed a VSX-52. It's working great, except every time I shut off the power, the volume level drops back down to zero (or the minimum, which is -80). Is there a way I can have the receiver remember the volume level when I turn off the power? Or is this a defect in my unit? Thanks.

Just purchased an open box VSX 52 from Best Buy. The only issue I can see so far is that it wobbles when placed on a flat surface. Seems to be the back left leg as you are facing the unit. I put a piece of paper under the corner and it is now solid as a rock. Should I worry, or is this not really that big a deal?

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like you solved your own problem.

That's it. Thank you so much.

Hi Remedy,
Unless the 52 looks like it was dropped and the bottom is bent I would not worry about it.
I am also sure that with Best Buy you have a New Warranty.
Does the foot look like it is in correctly.

Well, Enjoy!
I love my 53 and every time that I turn it on!

Bud B

There is a place in setup where you set the Power ON level. Default is LAST which means where you left of but it seems you may have it set to 0.
Search the setup menu or look through the manual.

I think it is something like this... Other Setup Menu -> Volume Setup -> Power On Level

I have VSX-52 and had been having no issues with it until yesterday i could net get any video out of it. Here are the details:
1. Blue HDMI light no longer lights up on any HDMI input i select. Cable box, xbox, ps3, apple tv
2. No setup screen output to my TV (60" pioneer kuro)
3. Ive unplugged the receiver for 2 minutes and plugged it back and restarted still no luck
4. I have done a factory reset using the menus on the front panel and still nothing.
5. Confirmed HDMI input on my TV is correct
6. direct cable to TV from devices works.

Is there some setting i am missing or something i could try or is the HDMI board or some other component ruined? Any help is appreciated, the unit is about 6 months old.

My Integra DTC-9.8 video board went out and I am thinking of replacing it with the VXS-53.

Is anyone using the VXS-53 as a pre/pro? Does anyone know how the quality of the internal compenents to the preouts compares between these two units ( I don't use the XLR outputs on the Integra ).

Any help would be greatly appreciated it...

Sounds like you're HDMI board is gone. Had any power surges or lighning lately? I just had my VSX-1121-K HDMI board go out as well due to a power surge.

Not that I'm aware of, and everything is connected to a surge protector. Does definitely seem like the HDMI board went bad though...

I just got my VSX-51 yesterday. I hooked up all my speakers and turned it on. I selected Tuner and tuned to my favorite radio station, no sound from the speakers. I tuned to a different station and still no sound. I then plugged in some headphones, still no sound.

I went through the speaker setups and i don't have the mic plugged in. I have reset the box numerous times to factory settings after trying different things. Please tell me there is something i have overlooked.

Thanks in advance.

Hello, I just brought home the Pioneer Elite VSX-53. I DID get it as an open box buy so I am uncertain if the issue I am having is inherent to this receiver or maybe the reason someone returned it. I would love to go through the manual and learn everything there is to know but I do not have the time right now and will return it immediately if this is a malfunction. I was wondering if anyone has experienced this fun little circumstance. After being on for about 10 or 15 minutes, it CLICKS! then all video and audio signal is disconnected (as if it has been turned off), the display says "POWER ON". It will not respond to the remote control and even pushing the power button on the unit has NO effect. The only way to get it out of this state is to unplug it. This is weird to me, maybe it's normal and I'm doing something wrong but I have never seen a receiver do this and it is not cool. Anyone have any insight to this issue? Thank you.

I am certainly no expert, but I got my VSX-53 about 10 days ago and have been using it constantly. It has never behaved as you describe as mine has mostly default settings. I have, however, read the manual and on page 54 it describes a Sleep Timer. Perhaps the previous user set the timer.

Hi Medtav,
It's been 2 days so I'm sure that you have either discovered the problem or returned the unit.
I would say though, make sure that you are using Banana Plugs (makes for a clean Install) so that no wires are touching at the rear speaker panel.
Also make sure that your speakers are wired Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative.
It sounds like your speakers are shorting out somewhere and the Pio is shutting down because of it.

Also remember that sometimes the MCACC will say that your speaker(s) are wired incorrectly, but if you know for sure that ALL of your speakers ARE
wired Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative, disregard this and just continue with the MCACC process.
Do NOT Heed the warning and then wire your speakers to a scenario that you know is wrong!
This is mentioned on page 63 of the OP Manual under number 7 and "Reverse Phase".

Let us know what you discovered.

Good Luck,

Bud B
Edited by Bud B - 7/6/12 at 6:13pm

Hi Vir2oso,
With your Tuner, did you connect a good antenna?
Do you have Audio with other Inputs and it is just the Tuner?

Bud B

I bought my parents a similar unit, the VSX-51 last christmas, and it was working great as a two zone receiver.

I'm visiting now, and found that Zone 2 is not working as expected. I can play analog, tuner, and AirPlay to Zone 2. But, no HDMI sources play to zone 2. Since the HDMI sources are the most commonly used, this is a problem. When I originally set it up, hdmi sources worked fine on Zone 2.

Is there some setting that could effect the way the hdmi is handled? I went through the OSD and could not find anything. Any thoughts/tips on what could effect this?

^^^

it's working as designed...

there are no avr's that send hdmi sources to zone 2 in the way you want... the only ones that do anything like that are the upper end aventages, and they really aren't a "zone 2", they are merely a replication of the main zone...

I could have sworn it was working on zone 2 on original setup. Zone 1 must have been off.

I hooked up an optical input from the Apple TV, and it works on the CD input in Zone 1, but not in Zone 2. The analog Wii input works in Zone 2. I am not sure why the optical input would not work with Zone 2. Not exactly the easy usability I was looking for in a receiver for my parents.