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Pioneer VSX-1123 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver (Black)
Brand | PIONEER |
Connectivity Technology | HDMI, MHL, Bluetooth, Composite A/V, USB, Ethernet, Wireless Adapter Port, Analog Audio, Digital Input/Output, Pre-Amp Output, Headphone, Front Audio/Video Inputs See more |
Controller Type | iOS, Android |
Special Feature | Pioneer auto MCACC room calibration, Digital core engine with texas instruments aureus DSP, Dolby TrueHD Dolby Pro Logic IIz/Dolby digital plus, iPod digital transmission via front USB terminal, HDMI audio return channel (ARC) See more |
Compatible Devices | Speaker |
Total HDMI Ports | 1 |
Connector Type | RCA, USB, HDMI |
Audio Output Mode | Surround |
Surround Sound Channel Configuration | 7.2 Channel |
Color | Black |
About this item
- Dolby TrueHD Dolby Pro Logic IIz/Dolby Digital Plus
- Digital Core Engine with Texas Instruments Aureus DSP
- HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)
- Pioneer Auto MCACC Room Calibration
- iPod digital transmission via front USB terminal
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This Item Pioneer VSX-1123 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver (Black) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $475.23$475.23 | $569.99$569.99 | -43% $399.00$399.00 List: $699.00 | -34% $598.00$598.00 List: $899.99 | $698.00$698.00 | -29% $281.41$281.41 List: $399.00 |
Delivery | Get it Mar 27 - Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
Volume control | 4.3 | — | — | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.0 |
Value for money | — | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | — |
Screen quality | — | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 5.0 | — |
Bluetooth connectivity | — | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.1 | — |
Sold By | UxpressOne | Huppins | Huppins | Amazon.com | Electronics Expo (Authorized Dealer) | Amazon.com |
number of channels | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
connectivity tech | HDMI, MHL, Bluetooth, Composite A/V, USB, Ethernet, Wireless Adapter Port, Analog Audio, Digital Input/Output, Pre-Amp Output, Headphone, Front Audio/Video Inputs | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, USB, HDMI | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB, Ethernet | Bluetooth, HDMI |
control method | remote | remote | voice | — | voice | remote |
controller type | Android, iOS | Remote | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | Android, iOS |
audio output type | Speakers | Speakers | Speakers | Speakers | Speakers | Speakers |
supported services | Pandora, Internet Radio | — | TuneIn | Spotify | Pandora, Netflix | Deezer, Pandora, TIDAL, TuneIn, Spotify |
Product Description
Product Description
The Pioneer VSX-1123 7.2 Channel HD Multi-Zone Network ready AV Receiver featuring AirPlay, HTC ConnectTM, 4K Ultra HD Up-Scaling and MHL 2.0 compatibility. Pioneer sound enhancements include Phase Control, Auto Phase Control Plus, PQLS Bit-stream, Advanced Sound Retriever, Auto Level Control, Advanced Surround, Virtual Speakers, and Virtual Depth.
From the Manufacturer
Get the most out of your home theater experience with the VSX-1123. View larger
The Pioneer VSX-1123-K 7.2 Channel HD Multi-Zone Network Ready AV Receiver
The VSX-1123 is a true multi-zone audio video power house with 165 Watts (1 kHz 1 % THD @ 6 Ohms) 1ch Driven or 90 Watts (20Hz-20kHz .08% THD @ 8 Ohms) of clear audio reproduction and advanced new technologies such as 4K Ultra-High Definition Up-scaling, True Multi-Zone Audio Video, an energy-saving ECO Mode, and a whole host of networked entertainment options the new VSX-1123 is an unparalleled way to help you get the most out of your home entertainment experience.
Connectivity is Key
Smartphones have become a convenient and powerful way to stay connected to your favorite entertainment. Pioneer's new networked receivers give instant access to your favorite content and control options through smartphones and tablets. The VSX-1123 unleashes more music and video content in the living room and through the home, thanks to class-leading digital connectivity and flexible networking features.
The VSX-1123 features the latest Made for iPhone and iPad certification, which includes the iPhone5 and the iPad Mini. Since this receiver is networked, it also supports Apple's AirPlay wireless music streaming technology allowing you to wirelessly stream music from your iPhone, iPod or iTunes-running Mac or PC directly to the receiver.
That is just half the story. Pioneer is the only receiver brand with HTC Connect, the only unified approach for the Android platform for streaming music wirelessly from select compatible HTC smartphones. HTC Connect makes it easy to wireless stream your favorite music to your receiver, there is no need for a separate app, HTC Connect is built right into your phone's music player.
Wireless Streaming
The VSX-1123 also supports DLNA 1.5 media streaming which allows for access to your favorite music from a DLNA server or computer connected to the same home network. Not only are compressed music files supported such as MP3, WMA, and AAC but also high resolution files such as FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless and DSD (SACD).
Can't find the remote? Because the VSX-1123 is a networked receiver, simply download Pioneer's iControlAV2013 at no charge, turning your Apple or Android device into a remote control for the VSX-1123. iControlAV2013 not only allows you to control and manage your receiver settings, this app also allows you to access music stored on your smartphone and push it wirelessly to the receiver, without juggling between iControlAV2013 and your phone's built in music player. iControlAV2013 makes it easy to stream new music with Pandora, or use vTuner internet radio to access thousands of radio stations from all over the world.
Windows 8 Certified
Windows 8 Play To feature makes it easy to stream your favorite music stored on your PC to Pioneer's new line of networked AV receivers. Don't limit your media experience to laptop speakers. With the Windows 8 Play To feature and Pioneer's new networked receivers you can enjoy your media library on the biggest speakers in the house.
4K Ultra-HD Compatible, with Up-scaling
4K x 2K resolution, usually referred to as simply "4K Ultra HD", is the latest high definition video display format, with four times the resolution of 1080p. The Pioneer VSX-1123 is ready not only to pass through 4K Ultra HD video signals to a compatible display, but also to upscale any content you want to watch, meaning it can support home theater systems dedicated to producing the highest quality picture available today.
Expanded HDMI Connectivity and MHL 2.0 Compatibility
Offering more inputs than comparable receivers, the VSX-1123 features 8 HDMI inputs, including support for both 3D and 4K Ultra HD sources. The front HDMI terminal is MHL 2.0 (Mobile High-Definition Link) compatible, letting you connect and control compatible Android devices. High-definition video can be displayed on your HDTV with multi-channel sound, while also charging your device. MHL 2.0 adds support for 3D content, 1080P 60Hz, and faster cell phone charging.
ECO Mode
The new, energy-saving ECO Mode found on all 2013 Pioneer AV receivers goes far beyond the conventional wisdom about "green" electronics, with a standby power consumption of only 0.1 watt when enabled. Our ECO Mode offers all of the convenience features of today's modern AV receivers, including Network Standby and HDMI CEC support, while reducing power consumption in both on and standby modes.
The intelligent ECO Mode analyzes your sources in real time, adjusting power consumption accordingly to meet your needs, or you can choose the power-saving settings that are right for you. You can control ECO Mode using the receiver's front panel, the included remote control, or the ECO Manager page of Pioneer's free iControlAV2013 for your smartphone or tablet. Now you can feel better about your entertainment experience without sacrificing power or features.
On-Screen Display (Simple Overlay)
If your home theater system is hidden away in a cabinet or closet it is often difficult to know the current volume level or other status indicators of the receiver. This is where the On Screen Display feature comes into play. When turned on, On-Screen Display will overlay your receiver's basic information such as volume, input, and surround mode as you make adjustments using the remote.
Multi-Zone Audio
The VSX-1123 can be setup to use two of its seven amplifiers to power a set of speakers in a second room such as a bedroom or patio. This "second zone" can enjoy content that is different than what is be listened to in the main room.
HDZONE Output
A new Zone 3 HDMI Out (HDZONE) feature allows for routing either the same signal as the main zone or a separate source to a second zone via HDMI. All of this can be controlled effortlessly by using our new iControlAV 2013 IOS and Android application.
A Customized Home Theater Experience
The VSX-1123 features Pioneer's exclusive Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration system (MCACC), providing an optimized multi-channel listening experience by measuring every speaker's connection, noting its size and distance from the listening point, sound levels and timbre in order to calibrate, customize and maximize performance specifically for your room.
Choose the Pioneer AV Receiver That's Right for You
SC-1323SC-1223VSX-1123VSX-1023VSX-823VSX-523 Amplifier TypeClass D3Class D3Discrete Direct EnergyDiscrete Direct EnergyDiscrete Direct EnergyDiscrete Direct EnergyPower180 Watts x 7170 Watts x 7165 Watts x 7140 Watts x 7140 Watts x 5140 Watts x 5Number of HDMI Inputs/Outputs8 in / 2 out (Main Zone & Zone 2)8 in / 2 out (Main Zone & Zone 2)8 in / 2 out (Main Zone & Zone 2)6 in / 1 out6 in / 1 out4 in / 1 out4K Ultra HDPass-through and Upscaling
(Pass-through only)
(Pass-through only)
(Pass-through only)Video Conversion to HDMI
(Marvell QDEO)
(Marvell QDEO)
(Marvell QDEO)---MCACC Room CalibrationAdvanced MCACCAdvanced MCACCAdvanced MCACCMHL 2.0 Input-Powered Multi-Zone Audio
(Multi-Source) 1x Powered 1x Passive
(Multi-Source)
(Multi-Source)
(Multi-Source)--HDZone (HDMI Zone Output)
(Multi-Source)
(Multi-Source)
(Multi-Source)---Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod (30-Pin and Lightning)
(iPhone 5/iPad/iPod)
(iPhone 5/iPad/iPod)
(iPhone 5/iPad/iPod)
(iPhone 5/iPad/iPod)
(iPhone 5/iPad/iPod)
(iPhone 5/iPod)AirPlay & HTC Connect-Windows 8 Compatible-DLNA 1.5 (DMR)-USB File PlaybackAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/WMA/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/WMA/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/WMA/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/WMA/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/WMA/AACMP3/WMA/AACNetwork File Music PlaybackAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/AACAIFF/WAV/Apple Lossless/FLAC/MP3/AAC-192kHz 24-Bit Hi Resolution Music PlaybackAIFF/WAV/FLACAIFF/WAV/FLACAIFF/WAV/FLACAIFF/WAV/FLACAIFF/WAV/FLAC-Gapless PlaybackAIFF/WAV/FLAC/Apple LosslessAIFF/WAV/FLAC/Apple LosslessAIFF/WAV/FLAC/Apple LosslessAIFF/WAV/FLAC/Apple LosslessAIFF/WAV/FLAC/Apple Lossless-Pandora & vTuner Internet Radio-iOS / Android Remote Control AppiControlAV 2013iControlAV 2013iControlAV 2013ControlAppControlApp-AVNavigator PC / Mac Setup Software-
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 14.25 x 17.13 x 6.63 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 21.6 pounds |
Manufacturer | Pioneer |
ASIN | B00BKXCKRC |
Item model number | VSX-1123 |
Customer Reviews |
3.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #457,724 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #133 in Audio/Video Receivers & Amplifiers #532 in Audio Component Receivers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | March 5, 2013 |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the compatibility, sound quality and features of the av receiver. For example, they mention it works well, has a brilliant range of features and the iPod control is useful. They appreciate the HDMI, and value. That said some complain about the performance and ease of use.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the compatibility of the av receiver. For example, they mention it works well, it's quite usable, and the iPad/Android app works well. Some say the system is great and produces loud and clear sound. That said, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...of the app tries to mimic the Airplay feature from iOS devices, it does a nice job. The Push Player has a nice layout and is very easy to use...." Read more
"...There were no problems with the Roku, but I could just not get it to play any audio from my XBMC computer...." Read more
"...Pandora, radio, and DTV signals are playing nicely, with good quality sound through my Onkyo speakers...." Read more
"...Ok, a competent receiver, and the price is ok... resigned to the decision... v the hassle to send it back.. anyway I need something....." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the av receiver. They mention that it sounds great, and the voices are clearer and distinct. They also appreciate the functionalities and the lossless audio formats that it can play. Customers also mention that the product is powerful and can drive the speakers loudly. However, some customers find the setup process difficult.
"...It has a plethora of codecs it can play, lossless audio formats, upconverts sources to HDMI and 4K resolutions, Audio Return Channel and 3D capable...." Read more
"...or "golden ears", but the thing definitely kicks, and sounds great to me...." Read more
"...I'm no audiophile, but sound overall is good. I admit that I have yet to watch a serious movie, with sound worth reviewing...." Read more
"...It sounds great to me, but I'm not much of an audiophile. I did get the surround working, plus two B speakers in the bedroom...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the features of the av receiver. Some mention that the iPod control is useful, and the apps for controlling the receiver are useful. They appreciate the ability to control the system from their iPads, and mention that there are plenty of inputs and HDMI ports.
"...Also it can be used as a universal remote, it is capable of learning other remote codes effectively eliminating a bluray player, TV remote, or any..." Read more
"...Another thing I really like and use heavily is the apps for controlling the receiver...." Read more
"...Nice menus appear on your TV screen, including pictures of the speaker layout you setup...." Read more
"...It has ARC and HDMI control features, so when I play a movie from my smart TV, the TV can output sound directly to the stereo, with HDMI control,..." Read more
Customers like the HDMI in the av receiver. They mention that it has lots of HDMI inputs, and has dual HDMI outputs. They also appreciate the lossless audio formats and the HDMI pass through feature. Customers are also happy that it provides 2 subwoofer outputs and zone 2 assignable sound, and that it comes with a plethora of sound modes.
"...a plethora of codecs it can play, lossless audio formats, upconverts sources to HDMI and 4K resolutions, Audio Return Channel and 3D capable...." Read more
"...But my real favorite features are the tons of HDMI inputs and "HDMI Zone"...." Read more
"...to the Pioneer the DirecTv settings show that it is not a 4k supported device...." Read more
"...The one last element I like about this receiver is the multiplicity of HDMI ports...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the av receiver. They mention that it has great sound at a great value.
"...WHAT?! That is freaking amazing for this price point. Now if only 4K TVs were a lot cheaper... it's coming, I guess...!..." Read more
"...Ok, a competent receiver, and the price is ok... resigned to the decision... v the hassle to send it back.. anyway I need something....." Read more
"...Exellent value for what I paid. Couldnt be happier...." Read more
"...I was lucky to pay $ 400 for this, and in my case its worth the price. I would not pay the current $600...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the av receiver. Some mention that it's easy to setup and use, with stable software that significantly reduces setup time. However, others say that the online instructions are not very easy to navigate, the manual is confusing, and the UI and setup is a mess.
"...Learn the remote and all it's functions, it can be a quick and easy way to make changes on your receiver...." Read more
"...The iPad/Android app works well.Setup wasn't always fun, but much of that was user error...." Read more
"...This makes is so much easier to deal with, than the crazy remotes on any receiver with a ton of features, or the front-panel, which actually does..." Read more
"...The online instructions we not very easy to navigate. Now that it is up and running, a few comments for fellow amateurs...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the performance of the AV receiver. They mention that it does not work very well, the amplifier does not function, and the right side of the receiver does not operate. Some customers also report that the HDMI output stopped working after less than 60 days. Overall, some customers are disappointed with the product's performance and durability.
"...I messed with settings and searched online for a few days and could not get it to work...." Read more
"...and there you go front Top Left running again but now both right sides not working... Try again and no change.. both front main and top not..." Read more
"...The icing on the cake was when it died after 3 months, power supply failure according to Pioneer who told me it was not covered under their warranty..." Read more
"Works as expected, however I noticed that the cable box does not play nicely with the receiver and TV...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the surround sound of the av receiver. They mention that the sound stage is relatively dull, the sound quality when playing streamed songs from Spotify kind'a sucks, and the CD sound bad through the DVD player. The right speaker connection will no longer output sound and the stereo mode for audio defaults to. Some say that the audio would crackle and add visible noises to the videos.
"...worked fine when hooked straight to the TV, but this receiver would not play any sound...." Read more
"...The first thing it showed on my TV screen was 1 speaker not working, and 4 speakers out of phase (Red/Black switched)...." Read more
"...and front right channels both stopped working.. well front right had barely audible sound.. checked speakers, wiring, power reset.. swapped left..." Read more
"...-Internet radio is really nice.Cons:-Doesn't remember the volume for each input...." Read more
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First before I begin I think I need to cover Pioneer MCACC a bit. MCACC stands for Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System, and it is a piece of software built into the receiver which optimizes the sound for your room. You plug in a mic that comes with the unit and set it up at ear level where you would sit and listen to your music, movies and other audio sources. It will adjust the system sound and generate the best acoustics and listening levels for your room. Your first run you want to run MCACC in Full Auto, ALL CH ADJ, with the following speaker settings, either Normal(SB/FH), Normal (SB/FW), or Speaker B. Unless you have THX speakers set that option to no. Also for the above setting you need to to have at least a 5.1 system. I set my receiver to Speaker B when I ran MCACC. After I ran MCACC and then I copied the results to all 6 memory slots, just so I can have a backup when tweaking the settings. Even though I copied the results I only adjusted the speaker distance and some of the levels on only the first memory slot. Also MCACC will let you know if you have the phase of the speakers crossed, positive going to negative instead of positive going to positive and negative going to negative.
This receiver has really good ventilation, nice big gaps in the case for heat dissipation. It gives off a lot less heat then my previous unit. Buying an A/B class amplifier that was my biggest concern, that it will generate a lot of heat. Fortunately that is not the case here, you could potentially put something on top of it provided of course that it has enough clearance but I would advise against it. Unlike my previous receiver this one will not cook breakfast.
Crossover or X.Over frequency is the frequency at which the LFE channel or the .1 channel for the subwoofer gets cut off at. Anything above this frequency will not be sent to the subwoofer. Also, apparently when studios mix the soundtracks to accommodate those without subwoofers the LFE gets mixed to the other channels as well. How much I am not sure. When you set the subwoofer to Plus the receiver will ignore the X.Over and all bass will be sent to this channel. If you have set the front speakers to Large and the Sub to just Yes, the full range of the L+R channel will be sent to the Large speakers. For instance my front speakers have a fq response of 37Hz to 20kHz, the sub covers 37Hz to 200Hz, this means that if I have a X.Over of 80Hz and my speakers set to large, the L+R channel will not be cut off below 80Hz and these channels will receive the full spectrum of the soundtrack. The subwoofer however will only receive the LFE (.1) channel at 80Hz and below. LFE channel only goes up to about 120Hz, so why is 80Hz a popular cut off fq? Several reasons, the Dolby LFE is normally 80Hz and below, DTS contains only about 5% of the LFE between 80 - 120Hz and as far as human perception goes anything 80Hz and under becomes non directional to the human ear more or less. You can set your X.Over at 120Hz or rather 150Hz and get the full LFE track. Alternatively setting a crossover for small speakers will send fq's above this cut off to the small speakers and anything below to the woofer. If you want some more reading in regards to this, pages 132 to 134 of the official MCACC thread on AVS Forum have more detail. [...]
I think the biggest mistake people make when they buy this receiver is that they do not run the MCACC, they don't read the Manual, and that they don't know how to set the receiver to playback the soundtrack properly. Read the manual, there are a lot of settings on this receiver for a reason and going in blindly will only result in your frustration. Personally there are two settings you need to understand AUTO SURROUND, ALC, DIRECT and PURE DIRECT. Here what the Manual says about these. DIRECT - Plays back sound from the source with the least modification next to PURE DIRECT. With DIRECT, the only modifications added to PURE DIRECT playback are calibration of the sound field by the MCACC system and the Phase Control effect. PURE DIRECT - Plays back unmodified sound from source with only minimal digital treatment. Direct mode uses EQ and Standing Wave. Pure Direct does not. Pure Direct only uses the channel level and distance settings gathered from your calibration. ALC (Auto Level Control) is perfect for night viewing, with this setting all channels will output at the same level. AUTO SURROUND, as it specifies picks the best surround mode for you on the receiver.
I generally use Direct for all my listening needs as it applies the MCACC treatment in only a limited manner. I like the way it sounds, in movies it makes it sound lively. This is a subjective preference though. Compared to my AVR 2650 from Harman Kardon this receiver kicks ass. It does not have that boomy sound, and it balances the Highs, Mediums, and Lows quite nicely. Where as my H/K sounded kind of flat. After running MCACC on this Pioneer and tweaking the levels a bit afterwards I feel immersed in the movies. This device gives me that Theater sound experience that I did not know I was lacking with the H/K Avr 2650. Either way I am satisfied with the sound reproduction on this.
The iControlAV2013 app. I use an Android device the Nexus 4, and the app is a convenient way to browse my music library on my DLNA server and phone itself. The Push Player in the input section of the app tries to mimic the Airplay feature from iOS devices, it does a nice job. The Push Player has a nice layout and is very easy to use. Using the volume rocker on my phone will respectively turn the receiver's volume up and down. When playing music via push player an icon appears in the status bar of the phone for quick and easy access. The fact that I can be lying on my bed and turn on my receiver via the app is very nice, then I can browse and push songs to it. Before you can do that the Network standby feature needs to be turned on in the menu. You can switch zones and sources with the app, control volume, switch inputs, change listening modes, change the balance, phase, emphasize the bass or treble, and many other features. It is a nice visual representation of the controls available for the receiver. Mostly I use the app for playing music, when I'm watching TV or Movies I reach for the remote. Also the App is free for both Android and iOS.
The DLNA server connectivity option is also great, I have a linux media server at home and this device connects to DLNA server perfectly. I use Plex Media Server. I love being able to stream my complete music library to the receiver and with this supporting lossless formats I don't need to convert anything. One thing to note and I have found this a constant on the net, and even in my past personal experience windows DLNA server which is built into some of Microsoft products is less than stellar and has connectivity issues. Even if you get the device to see the server once that does not necessarily mean it will see it again. Take it from an IT guy, find yourself a third party applications like Plex, TVersity or Twonky. These applications are more reliable and are universal not proprietary to the manufacturer. Microsoft product only works well with microsoft product, avoid like the plague.
The remote has a ton of buttons, I like options, so the buttons are very welcome. Learn the remote and all it's functions, it can be a quick and easy way to make changes on your receiver. Also it can be used as a universal remote, it is capable of learning other remote codes effectively eliminating a bluray player, TV remote, or any other IR remote. The remote feels very light and flimsy, however the button presses are very responsive and I like the receiver function button. For anyone with kids this prevents the little ones from making changes to the settings if they decide to pick up and play with the remote.
The OSD is not pretty by any means, but who cares it has to be functional. As far as I'm concerned I care about the functionality of the device and the quality of sound reproduction than a pretty interface.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are available via adapters, unfortunately you have to buy them seperate. Personally I try not to use Wi-Fi where I can, most of my house is wired, I have two gigabit switches sitting in each room that has a TV and network capable devices. I only use Wi-Fi on my phone and laptop. So this receiver is wired. Bluetooth is very lossy, generally I stay away from streaming music via Bluetooth there is too much quality loss. Also it is very susceptible to interference, if you're an audiophile this is probably not your cup of tea anyways. Now Pioneer says that it has some sort of tech that improves this, the only way I would consider Bluetooth as a streaming option is if the Bluetooth copied the entire digital file and buffered it in memory for playback. This is the only way that I can see the original file retaining it's quality, unfortunately I can not find any information on the Pioneer Bluetooth streaming except that you require the Air Jam application for android to stream the songs to the Bluetooth device. Also the Pioneer devices are Apple friendly, including AirPlay and such.
With 7 HDMI inputs and analog source to HDMI and 4K up-scaling you can't go wrong. It has a second HDMI Zone out, so you can have a different sources on two different TV's add Zone B speakers and this thing is a sure winner. This device will allow HDMI pass through after it has been switched off. It will pass through the last source that was selected on the receiver before it was turned off.
Zone 2 functionality seems to be somewhat of a mystery to people when it comes to this unit. Don't worry it was to me as well, but then I did a little digging or rather reading and got it going. Remember, RTFM. Either way it was a non issue after that. Settings for Zone 2 are as follows, in the receiver menu go to 4.System Setup - 4a.Manual SP Setup - 4a1.Speaker System and change to ZONE 2.
Then go to 4f.Other Setup - 4f7.Play ZONE Setup, set Play ZONE to ZONE 2. If you are using the secondary HDMI zone you will need to make changes to the HDZONE settings.
You are able to change the contrast, hue, saturation, etc... on this device. Just like the audio options there are many video adjustments that can be made.
ARC also supported on this receiver, unlike my previous receiver this time around it was pretty much plug and play. On the receiver you need to go to the Sytem Setup - HDMI Setup and turn Control On and ARC On. Once you do this you need to setup your TV on Samsungs it's called AnyNet+ on LG SIMPLINK... etc. Each manufacturer has their own proprietary ame for the CEC control standard. I tested ARC with Netflix and the receiver was playing back the DD 5.1 soundtrack perfectly. For ARC to work in any setup one needs to user an HDMI 1.4 spec cable.
Two things, I read somewhere that ARC puts a strain on the HDMI board on the Receiver and that it is recommended to use the Optical instead. I don't know how much truth that holds. I also want to add that I am no longer using the Geffen HDMI detective with this receiver, I do not get audio and video flicker anymore. If you're wondering what that is just have a look see at my previous blog post "The device that saved my home theatre.". It appears that it was the Harman Kardon receivers fault after all, poor HDMI boards.
A lot of people think that you should be able to plug and play something and it should sound amazing. Unfortunately this is the culture a lot of manufacturers are breeding, specifically Apple. I have to disagree. You are able to get away on this receiver by just running the Advanced MCACC and leave it at that, and the receiver will sound beautiful. However if you want the Maximum out of your experience I suggest you play with some of the sound options. Start with the basic stuff like levels and balance, then perhaps work your way up to adjusting the EQ and seeing what sounds the best for your environment and listening pleasure. One buys a receiver so they can get the best out of their home theatre, take some time and learn the functions if you don't understand them, play with them see what they do to your sound reproduction.
I messed with settings and searched online for a few days and could not get it to work. I am not the only one that has had issues with Pioneer receivers and XBMC, you can find other people online complaining about it as well. If you run the HDMI cable from the XBMC computer through the TV and then go to the receiver though the optical audio cable, the receiver will play the surround sound audio fine, but not if the computer is directly connected to the receiver. So this seems to me to be an issue with the receiver and not with my computer. I have no use for a A/V receiver that requires me to run the input through the TV first. I sent this back and bought the Yamaha RX-V673 receiver instead, it is not only cheaper, but works flawlessly with XBMC. I plugged in my computer with the same settings I tried to use with this Pioneer receiver and it immediately started working.
This receiver also seemed to have a lip sync issue with content played from the Roku device, but that was easily corrected by adjusting the audio delay a bit, but I don't think that should be necessary and wasn't with the next receiver I bought.
So fair warning to those who have an HTPC running XBMC, you may not get any sound.
Setup wasn't always fun, but much of that was user error. Here's some things I ran into that might help others:
Sometimes I couldn't get HDMI output to send signal to TVs. I almost returned the stereo over it.
If this happens to you, check a couple of things:
Some HDMI cables need to run in a certain direction. After failing to get HDZone to work, my girlfriend noticed that the HDMI going to the TV was labelled "source", and the stereo end was "display". Reversing the cable solved one problem.
Also, to get HDMI to work, you often really have to power everything down (unplug) and restart.
Another gotcha, I could get pandora playing to Zone2, but not directv sound, which did work in Main and HDZone (I have a component cables directly from directv to the TV, so i only needed audio to the stereo). The cause: I hadn't connected directv's composite output (red white yellow) to the stereo, only the HDMI, so it didn't have analog sound to pass to zone2.
I initially couldn't get the firmware to update (stuck at 0%, then failed with error 7), but I was eventually able to do it (maybe a factory reset helped?)
Switching inputs on zones can be done from buttons on the unit or from the apps. You can also use pandora on the app and pause/skip/control volume, etc., but no thumbs up/down :(
The printed manual was minimal, it's mostly online. There's an AVNavigator PC/Mac app for setup, there's also the OSD on the stereo itself, along with the apps you use to control normal stereo use.
I saw some criticism of the OSD display being ugly - it doesn't matter, it's only for setup, you'll rarely use it.
It has ARC and HDMI control features, so when I play a movie from my smart TV, the TV can output sound directly to the stereo, with HDMI control, the TV will actually switch the stereo's output to TV sound, and the TV remote control can control the volume. Make sure to enable ARC on the TV itself, mine was disabled.
It sounds great to me, but I'm not much of an audiophile. I did get the surround working, plus two B speakers in the bedroom.
Setup took a while, figuring out all the settings, etc. A bit of pain over two weekends.
Overall, really happy with it so far.