Picked up a VSX-84TXSi today - Page 12

I've got two question for you guys. First, are the feet on the receiver easily removed? The only way I can get the receiver into my AV furniture is to first remove the feet, slide the unit in, and then reattach the feet. I need to clear a bar that surrounds the area the unit would go in, but once the bar is cleared, I have adequate ventilltion since the area opens up vertically.

The 2nd question is for anyone using the 84 with a FIOS PVR. How does the HDMI handshake work? Thanks all.

Whoa..... thank you so much!

I was just hooking up a HTPC (same situation HDMI -> DVI connector) and tearing my hair out trying to figure out why I was not getting any audio!

Would have been a long time before I figured this one out!

Worked great for me also!

So does anyone know if the feet on the 84TXSi are easily removed?

When I run the MCACC, the subwoofer level check also comes through the center channel. Has anyone noticed this ? Also, watching ATL today, there was some distortion through the center channel during certain low frequency music. It sounds like the Pioneer is channelling LFE to the center channel.

Alot of the higher end displays, mostly plasmas, including Pioneer models upscale the 480i just once to do an exact resolution match to the Plasma's native display.

Plasma's seem to range from the 1100's to the 1300's on display resolution.

So what most folks don't realize is they are not seeing the best possible image on their plasma. If you have an upscaling player this can lead to THREE transactions on the video data/image before you see it.

1) Dvd source dics resolution, which are mostly all 480i to start.
2) DVD player upscales.
3) Unless the plasma has that exact particular upscaled display resolution, it will usually do a THIRD adjustment to the video, which at point has already been adjusted once.

Those of you with Pioneer dvd players and Pioneer displays switch the dvdplayer over to 480i out. If the image fills the plasma screen its does just one adjustment, which is the possible best case scenario for a regular sd dvd. HD DVD starts with a much higher source of image resolution.

I set my Pioneer 59avi to 480i out, into my Pioneer plasma and its phenomenal. The Plasma takes the 480i and scales it to its native resolution just once, ie. one transaction.

In this manner you are seeing a regular SD DVD look as good as it possibly ever can be made to, short of some expensive scaler being used.. and even then some of the scalers don't look as good.

Using a Pioneer Plasma and a Pioneer Elite DVD player is great combination.

Some folks use other 480i out dvd players and they work fine too, like the new Oppo. I should add, the 59avi does play PAL discs if they are not region encoded. Also some other plasmas take in 480i and upscale it just once like the Pio Plasmas.

anyone ?

how about handling handshake from a SA 8300 DVR? My 74 couldnt handle it and I was hoping the 84 reolved the issue. anyone?

Interesting. Did you make sure that all of your speakers are set to small?

yes.

In fact, I am going to run the manual MCACC now to see if I get the same results.

I just checked it again and it appeared that LFE was coming from the center but it was actually the reference level from the left speaker mimicking a lfe effect but the rumble was definitely coming from the sub. So, what I actually noticed was the front right, left and center speakers all have some sound emanating from them when the SW level check is performed. Maybe it is not critical, but I would think that when someone runs the MCACC, they don't expect to hear any output from the three front speakers when the SW level check is occurring.


I also want to get rid of the distortion from the center speaker during moderate volumes, so I adjusted the 125hz level lower and brought the trim down on that channel.

Looks like a phillips screw up the center of the foot to hold it on.

Roy

I posted this from a friend who just hooked up one of these units, I am curious if anyone knows the answer to the questions below. Thanks for any help...


"Having some problems with the dedicated iPod input (special cable). While it does some interesting things, like let you see the menu on the tv, and run the music portion with the remote, the explanation of how to access the picture/video portion of the iPod is not very well explained in the manual.

The second room output is very low. Have to crank the AudioSource amp up very high to get enough signal to the deck. Didn't need to do that with the Marantz. Can't find any settings or adjustments for the output."

Thanks very much Roy. I have to know that I can remove these feet easily before I seriously consider the unit. The unit looks good and I love the 4 HDMI inputs. I can throw out my HDMI switcher and get the audio improved from my Toshiba A1.

My only remaining concern is how the HDMI switching works with the FIOS DVR. As most of know all too well, these guys don't always play well together.

has the HDCP handshake issue been resolved with the 84?

I haven't got the second room output connected, but I think I can help with the iPod question. To view picures (slide shows, and I presume videos -- my 4th generation iPod photo doesn't have video) you need to press the photo button on the remote, but then use the iPod itself -- menus/interface to control the slides or video. While this is not ideal (you need to access the iPod physically), it is more a limitation of the current iPod firmware than the Pioneer.

Hope this helps. I do like the iPod features, although the Pioneer on-screen menu is not very attractive (color and nicer fonts would have helped).

Suzook.........

What HDCP handshake issue are you referring to?

I know I have an issue with my Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player and the Pioneer 84 (in conjunction with my InFocus projector), but both my Sony upconverting DVD mega-changer and my HD-Tivo work just fine over HDMI.

So which "issue" are you referring to?

plugging in a Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD DVR into the Pio 74 via hdmi resulted in HDCP error. Its well documented. I was hoping it was resolved with the 84.

Oh.... the SA8300 problem is with the 8300 not the Pioneer. Pretty much everyone with the 8300 is having HDMI issues no matter which receiver/switch they are using.

I spoke with the SA person in charge of the 8300 at last CES and he acknowledges the bug but told me that fixing it was a very low priority for them because it effected so few people.

HiHoStevo. How do you have your A1 hooked up to your 84 now? I have this exact same issue, and curious if you have found a good work around.

Well in a weird sort of way I am glad to hear I am not the ONLY one with this issue (but then sorry at the same time)!

I have a set of Component cables running to the projector also (sure glad I did that), so I have the A-1 connected to the 84 via Component and then output the video over Component to the 7210.

Which projector are you using?

Does your A-1 get locked to 720p (this is the native rate of my InFocus) also?

You can PM me with your woes if that would be better and maybe we can find some other work-arounds. I have spoken to Pioneer (they don't believe it is their issue) and Toshiba (same result). I sent a message to InFocus's Bob Williams but have not received any response at all from them.

In all honesty Steveo, I"d say the problem is with in the InFocus. Based on all the threads I've read relating to the Toshiba, your problem is very very rare.

As much as Toshiba likes to claim that they are not at fault with problems related to their HD DVD players, I also say that the issue lies with the InFocus. Now if someone could explain why this is the case...

As my Sony mega-changer & HD-Tivo (which would not work with my Denon 2807) all play nice with the Pioneer I tend to agree with you.

I am wondering if the problem is in the implementation of the M1 connector which is InFocus's proprietary version of DVI.

Sure would be nice if I could get someone at InFocus to respond to me...

I have a Samsung DLP rear projector (HLN61) that has a single DVI (supposedly HDCP supporting) connection.

I have the same behavior, no matter what I try, if the A1 is connected via HDMI through the 84, and HDMI - DVI to the Sammy, the A1 gets forced to 720P or locks up if I switch to 1080i.

So what are you doing for your audio hookup now? My current work around is to go component straight to my TV, and using the analog inputs for audio. But I would like to be able to use the up conversion capabilities of the player for SD (which i guess i can can keep the HDMI cable hooked up and change the resolution to 720p when i watch SD... but that is a PITA).

If we can go from the A1 to our displays via HDMI-DVI and are able to switch resolutions, but as soon as we introduce the Pioneer into the picture, doesn't that mean it is more of a Pioneer issue?

Can anyone confirm if the 84 with allow you to use the Multi Channel inputs with a HDMI video source? This is my only gripe with the 74 and if the 84 would allow it, i may have to upgrade.

Fred

Aaron and HiHoStevo,

I just purchased an 84, and I did not have any problems with 1080i output (according the the Toshiba player) going through HDMI input #2 to my Sony VPL-VW100. I watched a complete movie last night. Now I did notice that if I stop the HD-A1, my VPL-VW100 does not think there is any signal coming from the 84, but I have NOT been able to spend anytime investigating this.

Bryan

Thanks Bryan. I am glad to hear that it works fine with the Ruby, as the Pearl will be on my list of potential PJs to get once I get my room finished.
I think the 84 works fine with an HDMI-HDMI connection. HiHo and I are both going to native 720p displays via DVI.

Nope. I tried it and there seems to be no way.

First-off, thanks to everyone for all your helpful posts. I wouldn't have been confident enough to accumulate the equipment below w/o the guidance I received from threads like these and others at AVS.

I recently upgraded my VSX-53TX to the VSX-84TSi and, thanks to this thread, with virtually no buyer's remorse. I wanted iLink and HDMI switching. The OTB sound quality is excellent. However, during my brief time with 84, I've noticed two issues.

Not sure if this was discussed, but the first issue I ran into involves MCACC. During the SW check, setup throws a "volume too loud, retry" exception. My sub is connected using the XOver Bypass input on the OM-200 and it was the same connection used with the 53. I worked-out the issue by reducing the main volume on the receiver until the exception was resolved. The rest of the MCACC setup continued at a much lower volume without further exceptions. The results were a much lower volume with MCACC "on" compared to MCACC "off" and its sounds like the mid-frequencies took a sharp dip.

Ironically, I like the sound with MCACC "on" despite having to jack-up the volume. However, I'm concerned that lowering the volume during the rest of the MCACC setup may have done more harm than good.

The second issue I noticed involves the Faroudja DCDi scaler. Specifically, the Cable output on the Sony GWIII. My Scientific Atlanta 3250 Cable box is connected to the 84 using component cables and the 84 connects to the GWIII using DVI. When 1080i is selected on the 84, the image becomes darker with considerable edge enhancement. All other settings produce the same picture I would get if the cable box was connected directly to the GWIII.

Is there a way to make adjustments to DCDi? I've run through the manual and scanned through the setup menus for DCDi adjustments but have yet to see them. My current settings on the GWIII were done using a DVE configuration DVD. I'm debating running DVE again with 1080i selected on the 84. But I'm not sure if I'm going to see any appreciable difference. Personally, I like the way the GWIII scaler looks.

My Equipment:
Pioneer VSX-84TXSi
Pioneer VSX-79AVi
Scientific Atlanta 3250HD (Rogers Cable - Canada)
Sony KDF-42WE620 (GWIII, ..........I think)
Mirage OMNI-250 (L,R)
Mirage OMNI-CC (C)
Mirage OMNI-50 (SL,SR)
Mirage OM-200 (SW)
PureAV PF60 (Power Conditioner)
APC XS1000 (UPS)

Hi Aaron....... very interesting that you get the same results with a Samsung...

So it appears that the HDMI -> DVI is the issue, not just InFocus's M1 version of DVI, but rather something in the conversion process itself.

Have you tried connecting your A-1 to the Component in on the 84 and then with video conversion on in the AV-Parameters section, attempting to output the signal over HDMI?

Whenever I do this the signal winds up being sent to my projector as a 480p signal. It makes no difference what I set the av-parameters to (I have tried them all) any resolution input to the Component comes out the HDMI as 480p. I have confirmed with PIoneer that it should not work that way... you should be able to set any output resolution you want in the av-parameters and that is what should come out the other side... however in my implementation it does not work at all.

Could you check this out on your end?