Pioneer VSX-1020-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
by Pioneer
Our Price: $549.00
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Category: Speakers
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PioneerBrand: Pioneer
Edition: Electronics
Model: VSX-1020-K
Publisher: Pioneer
Studio: Pioneer
Music Label: Pioneer
Product features:
- Front USB connectivity provide iPod, touch, and iPhone users ultimate plug-and-play integration of their Apple products with their home theater
- Simple connectivity to high-performance HD video, HD audio, portable, internet, wireless, and analog components
- The latest version of HDMI inputs and outputs provide more HD connectivity options with "future-proof" 3-D capability
- 1080p video conversion and upscaling ensures the highest quality video from any source
- Pioneer PL-990 Automatic Stereo Turntable
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters) - Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return [Newest Standard]
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - Flat (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters)
- AmazonBasics High-Speed A to C Type, HDMI to Mini-HDMI Cable with Ethernet (6.5 Feet/2 Meters)
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - Braided (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Pioneer VSX-1020-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
Customer Review: Almost a perfect receiver
Summary: 4 Stars
Well normally, I don't post reviews, but I certainly base my purchase decisions off of fellow reviewers hear on Amazon, so it's time to pay it forward. This receiver purchase comes after needing a receiver that has HDMI inputs to compliment the new additions to my downstairs entertainment setup. After buying the Samsung 55" LED 240hz from Amazon, I decided it was time to upgrade the receiver.
Components I have include a Samsung Bluray player, Wii, Scientific Atlantic DVR (from Cox) and I also have the Apple airport which allows me to stream my upstairs music library to the downstairs (very awesome!). I also bought the Harmony One remote which I'll get into a little bit later in this review. The receiver so far has very much met or exceeded my expectations, with only a few things that I have to say would equal a "con".
Pros:
Sound. Although I'm no audiophile by any means, I certainly have become one. Pioneer does a great job at offering several different presets of how to listen to your content. I also like that each input maintains it's own setting. I have my bluray's played with a certain audio setting, as with radio, the Wii, etc.
Extras. I'll admit, that I actually paid a little bit more to have the iPhone remote feature which works really well....for volume and selecting inputs only though. I'll admit that all my friends almost expect me to "wow" them with my gadgets and toys, and the Pioneer app does not disappoint. I also took the time and renamed all of the inputs that I'm using, so rather than seeing "HDMI 1", I renamed it "DVD", or "iTunes" and "Wii". The receiver is nice with that option.
Internet connection. As mentioned, I have the Apple airport express and because I have several devices which needed a physical LAN connection to include the Samsung TV and DVD player, I bought a Netgear switch (which basically just expands the Internet connection to up to 5 devices). With the receiver, it was literally plug and play and no setup was needed on my end, which I was glad for.
Speaker setup. At first, I didn't think much of the speaker MCACC setup, but after doing it with the wired microphone, it was actually very easy. For those who don't have their speakers perfectly centered within their room (for example, I sit a lot closer to my rear left speaker, versus the rear right speaker), I suggest using the MCACC setup. The only thing I changed was the setup identified my front speakers as being large, when in fact they were small. I have Bose speakers with the bass module (which is not the same as a sub-woofer!) and I think that was the reason.
Plenty of inputs. I honestly can't imagine that you could use all of the HDMI and other inputs that are provided to you...which is great feature. I like having a device where I've got room to grow into it versus wondering how I'll make another device fit.
Heat. When I was reading reviews for receivers, heat seemed to be concern. Now that I have a somewhat more enclosed setup, I too have noted that's a good thing to keep in mind. I would rate the Pioneer as being very good in this department. Even after hours of running it, the Pioneer puts off less than moderate heat. If anything, I think the cable box is more to blame. But I would recommend leaving the receiver on a shelf to itself, with nothing on top of it.
Cons:
Remote. If there was any frustration, I think it had to do with being overwhelmed. Between the DVD player, TV, and receiver remote, hands down, do yourself a favor and invest in the Harmony One remote. I didn't even bother trying to program the Pioneer remote to learn the other remotes, etc. Also, I definitely agree with the criticism of the Pioneer remote...c'mon Pioneer - no back light, small buttons...you guys need to do better. But like I said, that remote is sitting in a drawer right now thanks to a REAL remote, the Harmony One.
Input selection. I too experienced problems initially when turning on the receiver and it would automatically go to the "BD Input". But thanks to other reviewers, I turned off the TV's "Anynet" feature and made some adjustments on what HDMI slots I used. What's nice about the Harmony One is that it allows you to select an actual HDMI slot of your choice (for example HDMI 3, which could be your DVD player) versus having to manually select input several times to toggle your way there. I did read some other reviews where the "input complaint" seems to be popular, but was slightly confused, because even on the Pioneer remote, you could easily select HDMI 1 to Radio, to HDMI 5 without having to manually toggle. I think the reviewers who are having those issues are using devices that do not even have HDMI inputs. I'll just say this, if you don't own 1 device that had HDMI, you're probably wasting your money with a high end receiver like this.
Pass through technology. Okay, so here is BIG con for me and I'm a bit shocked. I initially had the bright idea that I was going to run everything into my receiver and only have one HDMI going out to the TV...well that bright idea won't work for you. Why? Well because this receiver does not have "pass through technology". Meaning that if I want to watch cable TV, I can't just turn on my Samsung and start flipping away, I would have to turn on the receiver AND would have to select the TV input...somewhat disappointing. It goes the same for watching movies, because everything goes through the receiver, you're committed to turning on the receiver (even if you do not want to watch it on surround sound). Now, I will say Pioneer does allow you to toggle the volume so you can choose to listen to a device through either your TV or surround, but the steps to make that toggle are not worth it to me AND, you would still have to have the receiver turned on. So for me, I adapted and hope you take this advice: for watching TV (via cable box), I suggest you run your HDMI cable from cable box into to TV HDMI, but then run audio cables out from the cable box to your receiver (either through standard red/white cables OR what I did, which was using the optical cord with the red laser). Running the audio cables separate allow you to listen to audio on your receiver when YOU want to. Because I'll be honest, although I love this receiver, it only goes on when I'm watching DVD's, playing the Wii, or streaming my iTunes library.
You could easily do the same thing with your DVD player, but I actually only watch movies via surround, so the above work around was only needed with cable TV.
So-So:
Multi zone setup. Although I'm not using the multi-zone feature, I am powering outside speakers. Again, I love the ability to stream my iTunes library (using the Apple airport express) and this is what's nice about having an iPhone (I can use the Remote app and or Pioneer app), but what I do not like is the fact that I have to select the "B Speaker" feature from the receiver itself...there is no remote option that allows you to toggle between "A, B, or Both"...if anyone knows otherwise, please advise.
Audio selections. While the instructions were okay, I wish it would have provided a bit more insight on what audio options should be used under certain conditions. Again, I'm no audiophile, so I have a very sneaking suspicion that I'm not maximizing my surround sound experience for Bluray movies. One thing to note, I'm not impressed with the Samsung Bluray DVD player one bit and plan on bringing my PS3 downstairs (which is the BEST Bluray player out there today), just remember to turn on the highest audio option from the DVD player, to achieve that golden digital / DTS 7.1 or even 5.1 sound.
Internet radio. Although I have a LAN Internet cord running into the receiver, it's strictly to support the Pioneer iPhone app...not the Internet radio feature. I tried the Internet radio feature a few times but wasn't impressed. It does have some decent channels, but the biggest issue I see is that you have to have the TV turned on so you can select your channels you want to listen to. For me, if I'm going to have my TV turned on, then I might as well use the cable box's radio station features...even using the cable box stations, I can easily select a channel which I know to be a "Top 40" station, without actually having to have the TV on. The Internet radio through the receiver is a let down because of how slow it is going between channels and the fact that you need to have your TV to see what it is you're selecting.
Thanks for reading!
Description of Pioneer VSX-1020-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
Key Features are 110 Watts X 7, 7 Channel Configurable Amplifier, Surround Back. Dolby Pro-logic IIz or B Speaker, Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD Master Audio and Advanced MCACC. It has a 9 Band EQ. Auto Crossover Setting, USB to PC Graphs, PQLS ? 2 Channel, Auto Level Control ? Multi-Channel, Sound Retriever AIR ? Multi- channel. It has a Internet radio. iPod Digital USB / USB Memory Audio. Its iPhone Certified, Sirius Satellite Radio, HDMI Repeater (6 In / 1 out), Analog to HDMI Video Conversion, HDMI to HDMI 1080p Scaler, Component Video (2 in / 1 out), Full Color GUI, iControl pioneer AVR iPhone / iTouch ?APP? Multi-Zone A/V Pre-out, Preset Remote ControlDigital Cameras & Photo Categories
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