The "OFFICIAL" Pioneer Elite VSX-52 / 53 Owner's Thread - Page 9

I just bought a vsx-52, and I cannot figure out how to get the HDMI input to default to my cable box when powering on everything. I have tried different hdmi input ports to plug the cable box into, but none seem to "stick" the next time I power on. I have to use the input selector on the 52 remote to select the hdmi port the cable box is plugged into. Any help here?

Hoping to get some advice, insight and recommendation on the Pioneer vsx 50 and 52

Originally Posted by Bud B

Hi Blackwaltz,

You asked,


The best thing that I would have you do if you have not done so already is to go to the Pioneer Website and Compare the VSX 50 to the VSX 52..
The Link is here..

i'll have to give it some more thought.

Originally Posted by winston9332

What ir system are u using that works with the rear input?

I have a VSX-52. I am trying to use an IR repeater.
I can not get the IR in port on the back of the receiver to accept and act on the data I send to it. Strangely, if I put an IR Emitter in the receivers IR out port, and dangle that emitter in front of the receiver, it will accept the signals.
So the IR signal is going into the receiver, but not used, then that same signal I can send out the IR out port and it works!?!
Why does the receiver refuse to act on the signal? Its like its locked in on the front sensor and refuses to acknowledge the input on the back.

I figured out the IR input pinout. Its a stereo input.
The sleeve or the base part of the connector is the ground.
The ring or middle part of the connector carries the IR signal.
The tip, I don't know what it's for but I'm not using it. I don't see any voltage on it.
Using the IR in on the back, I no longer have the issue of the receiver getting confused by receiving 1 IR signal directly and 1 from the IR blaster.
Happy Camper.

Originally Posted by silvrevo

Well HOLLY CRAP !!!!!!!

Thanks Bud B,, after getting on here and doing more research for my next avr , I almost made a BIG boo boo!

See I like the Idea of what Pionner has to offer in the Elite line, and I found a killer deal for a E52 @ $619 shipped, new.

From a Amazon dealer!

Well Crap.

I have also looked into the Onkyo 609, found it online new for $379 shipped.

Then read about all the crap people have with these on here!

Well now im back to the drawing board!

I want to have a new avr with hdmi connects to replace my non hdmi Yamaha, that I have had for 11 years with ZERO Issues!!!

I just want to have better sound with hdmi, along with what im missing playing BlueRays.

And more than that I want to use my Android or Iphone to play Pandora or Sirius thru my cell phone! I dont have internet or a pc at home. But I did more homeowrk and found out I can get a network at home and have all the features that this beloved Pioneer offers!

But nope! And Iam very very iffy about getting onboard with a Onkyo 609!! I dont need those Fing headaches! No way

I want a good quality avr to play pandora and sirius and Rhapsady, ect.

I have found Integra, which is a upper brand of Onkyo. Its a 20.3. I cant get it for $540,, 3 yr warrenty. I only need a 5.1 , as Im not looking to o any more than that.

My system is......

Vandersteen 1B's 15 yrs old and perfect
Klipsch rear speakers mounted and wired in wall
Blose front speaker
Paradiam 10" Sub.

Can one of you please point me in the right direction for a trouble free quality avr that will last me as long as my perfect Yamaha?

And also, can android cell phones plug into all these avr's as easy as iphones can? All I see is Iphone friendly ones ,,, umm I did just pick up the new
4s Iphone, pretty much for this reason,,, but man I miss my htc EVO!

Thanks a bunch in advance!!!!!!

Looking at $500-$600. Aslo Looking at buying online AND NOT HAVING MY WARRENTY VOIDED!!!

Wow,,,, thanks for the BIG heads UP Bud B!!!!!

He said then it gets sent to a Pioneer repair shop. And that is how Pioneer fixes broken Elites.

Thumbs up MCACC over Audyssey, Yep, I've found not everybody is happy with Auto-EQ of *any* type.
That's a BIG reason why I much prefer MCACC over Audyssey based receivers.

On the Audyssey equipped system, you can run an Audyssey EQ setup to provide room & speaker calibration using Audyssey filters which provide much higher resolution than a simple EQ. Of course, there are plenty of complaints on the Audyssey thread and elsewhere from people stating that Audyssey isn't getting things right... too much bass, or too little, or too much high-end roll-off, etc. Well, fortunately, to make adjustments for that, you can switch to manual, and tweak your settings with 5 or 7 bands of EQ, sometimes 9 bands as with a 1909, so you can imagine I was pretty excited about the possibilities. I like to tune the EQ when listening to different content/sources, so this would be the best combination of auto room correction combined with my manual EQ tweaks. Heaven right? Unfortunately, NO!! The devil is in the details, and you can verify what I'm about to say from the Denon 1909 manual among others (even in the Audyssey & Denon 1909 threads, and the Audyssey FAQ.) If I was to do what I just told you, and tweak the EQ setting to my tastes or depending on the content, I would LOSE all Audyssey filters, calibrations, and correction, along with losing Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Audyssey Dynamic Volume capabilities when using a manually tweaked EQ. All you are left with is a basic graphic EQ which provides no room correction and will not address issues in the time domain. Why is that you ask? Because you must switch from Audyssey mode to Manual mode to make ANY EQ adjustment. Suddenly, hundreds of time domain Audyssey correction filters lost! And as if that wasn't bad enough, you cannot configure more than one custom EQ preset, so if you want to change it, you have to go into setup, and change it manually for each and every channel/speaker. Again, you will lose all Audyssey capabilities and will not have Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Audyssey Dynamic Volume capabilities by making any changes to the EQ. OK, so you decide you will leave Audyssey EQ set rather than making your preferred EQ tweak, because you want the Audyssey room & speaker calibration, Dynamic EQ, and Dynamic Volume capabilities, and you decide you will just use bass/treble controls to adjust the tone to your preference. Another big problem here. Not only does this limit your tweaking to a couple broad frequency ranges, but if you are using Audyssey Dynamic EQ, you can NOT adjust the tone controls either! You will run into the same limitations on other receivers with Audyssey outside of high end stuff using the expensive Audyssey Pro kit and license, which still doesn't make it quick and easy to tweak your EQ curves. Audyssey doesn't want you to be able to tweak the EQ/tone to the content, your hearing, or your tastes.

Compare that to the Pioneer 1018, or the VSX-01TXH. The Pioneer lets you run MCACC on your room environment as a starting point, and then make tweaks to the MCACC settings using 9 bands of EQ, and save this to a an MCACC preset. Not just 1, but 6 MCACC/EQ presets that you can preconfigure! And you can switch between the 6 presets quickly during playback as desired. Unlike Audyssey equipped systems, you still retain your full MCACC calibration & room correction in the time domain. You do not lose functionality of the DRC (Dynamic Range Compression), mightnight, dialogue enhancement, Auto Level Control, THX Loudness Plus, or what have you. Of course, you still have phase control, standing wave control, bass management, etc as well. And from what I understand, the tone controls are still available, although manually tweaking the EQ is much more precise anyway. So if you like to control or tweak your sound, even if just a little bit, in addition to the automatic room & speaker calibration, environmental acoustic correction in the time domain, and without losing other functionality on your receiver, you are much better off with Pioneer and MCACC. Pioneer VSX-1018 and all of the current Elite models are the only ones that handle this the way the tweakers prefer and lets you have the "final" word on how it sounds after all the auto room EQ & calibration has run. Now, finally a match made in heaven.

Now I can just kick back and relax to some great calibrated & tweaked audio just to my liking

Subwoofer isnt even outputting any bass! Any thoughts as to why the levels are so significantly lowered?

Originally Posted by Bud B

Hi jch1,


When you setup your E52 did you set your Speakers to "Small"?
If they are set to Large then they will take your Sub's Levels.

In a post above I added a link to the Owners MCACC Thread, you should start on page one and scan through it.
You should be able to find answers to every question that you have.
You will probably need to do your MCACC over again but do some reading first.

Good Luck and Congrats on your VSX 52 purchase.


Bud B

Originally Posted by jag2006

Went to local BB and listened to the Elite 52 very very nice nice, thet had it for $899 a little over my budget, so I think if the VSX 1121 is simmilar i would be happy withn that, so now I'm off to search(online). Any one know where I can purchase the Elite 52 for under $899 from an authorized dealer. I can purchase today replacing an Onkyo 605.

Originally Posted by StevefromMD

I wasn't going to pay $$$ for teh adapter so I bought an old Linksys router off ebay for $20 and loaded it with DD-WRT which is a third party firmware that will work in most routers. It allows the router to work as a bridge - I actually have 4 routers now in my set up.

Anyway, hooked up the 53 to the router and it works like a charm.

FYI for those thinking of buying that Pioneer dongle. Plus, I now have my Sonos and PS3 plugged into the router rather than working wirelessly.

Originally Posted by StevefromMD

I bought a old WRT-54G2 (Version 1) and used TFTP which is on the DD-WRT site to flash it.

Do your research. It is different with each router. For mine, you have to first load a kill program to the router and then the DD-WRT. This wan't the first time for me, I have three bridges now so it took me literally 10 mins to flash and 3 mins to set it up as a bridge.

Everything you need is at the DD-WRT site.