Jun 18 Podcast #430: Pioneer VSX-820-K Audio/Video Receiver
Podcast, Review Tags: Dolby, Receiver, Surround Sound 
Every Fall, just before Christmas, we do a receiver buying guide to help our audience decide on what to buy. Last Fall our value receiver was an Onkyo SR607 which sold for $320. After spending time with the Pioneer VSX-820-K ($280) we have a new king! The VSX-820-K is a 5.1 system that has 4 HDMI inputs and does next generation audio.
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Other:
Pioneer VSX-820-K Audio/Video Receiver (Street Price $280)
Every Fall, just before Christmas, we do a receiver buying guide to help our audience decide on what to buy. Last Fall our value receiver was an Onkyo SR607 which sold for $320. After spending time with the Pioneer VSX-820-K ($280) we have a new king! The VSX-820-K is a 5.1 system that has 4 HDMI inputs and does next generation audio. Here are some key features of the low cost solution from Pioneer:
Features
- Channels: 5.1 surround sound
- Power: 110x5 watts
- HDMI Specification: v. 1.4, 3D, Deep Color and X.V. Color
- HDMI Ports: 4 in, 1 out
- Component Ports: 2 in, 1 out
- Audio Codecs Supported: DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Pro Logic IIz with pre-out
- Automatic Calibration
- Video Modes Supported: 1080p and below
- Digital Formats Supported: JPEG, MP3, WAV, WMA
- Certified - "Works with iPhone"
Setup
The first thing you notice is that the unit is light, it weighs just under 20 pounds (9 Kg) . Like all receivers you connect your speakers, input sources, power and turn it on. This unit does not have an Ethernet connection so there are no network setup steps involved. Our system came with the optional AS-BT100 Bluetooth Adapter ($100) for connecting Bluetooth enabled sources like cell phones, iPods and even iPads. To use these devices you have to pair your device with the receiver and that step took us about 10 minutes - eight minutes to try and figure it out without a manual then an additional two once we gave in and read it.
The auto calibration was quite simple to use. Plug in the included mic to the front of the receiver and then place it where you want the audio optimized, hit go and wait. We found the calibration to be accurate however we like our surrounds a bit hotter than standard so we went into the manual settings and increased the gain a bit. One irritation we have with the unit is that the onscreen display is not visible with HDMI. You need an analog connection to the TV for onscreen feedback. As a result we stuck with the front panel. Note: Banana plugs are your friend!
Performance
The 820 did a great job reproducing Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio. Actually we were pleasantly surprised how good the audio sounded when mated to our Aperion speakers. For most home applications (not theater rooms) this receiver will be all that you need. There is plenty of power to fill any family or living room. The 820 does support Dolby Pro Logic IIz but you'll need an additional stereo amplifier. This is one way Pioneer was able to cut costs on the device. Its actually a smart move. Most of us won't use the additional speakers. Your other option is to move up to the 7.1 920 which will cost about $100 more than the 820.
The 820 also comes with a cable to integrate your iPod Touch, iPhone, and even your iPad. The cable has a USB and RCA video connector on one end, which connects in the front of the unit, and 30 pin dock connector on the other. Typically when you dock your iPod like this, say in a car, you can not control the iPod from the device itself. Control is passed to your car stereo. When connected to the 820 you still control the iPod through the iPod interface which makes selecting your music simple. You can play videos through the 820 as well but only through an analog connection to the TV. The 820 does not convert analog to digital or vice versa. Your input and output must match to see anything on screen.
If you want to free yourself from cables you can use the Bluetooth adapter to play music off your idevices, as long as you are in range of the Bluetooth receiver. The operation is similar to other Bluetooth devices like the Ford Sync system. Audio sounded good and we could not notice any degradation in quality when compared to the wired connection. Our range was decent, pretty much anywhere in the media room (15 X 25 feet). Once we went beyond that the audio quality degraded quickly.
Conclusion
The pioneer VSX-820-K is now our new go to receiver for value. But don't let the word value scare you, the 820 is very capable and will fill any family room with glorious HD audio. The iPod connection cable is a great touch and if you want to go wireless the Bluetooth adapter is a nice feature. The only complaint we have is that there is no onscreen menu and no video from your iPod if all you have is a digital connection to your TV.
Reader Comments (5)
I can't believe they're still making units that don't have on-screen support in digital mode or HD modes. What's their major hurdle there? I had that problem like three years ago! Looks like a nice receiver otherwise, thanks for the review.
Hi Guys,
Will the iPhone dock work with apps such as Pandora or Rhapsody?
Thanks,
Tom
Tom,
We didn't test it specifically but it should work. All other docks I have used work with Pandora and other apps.
Ara
Great review. I just bought the 820 on amazon and set it up this weekend.
Amazing review guys!
I was looking for more information on the web and found this website.
Great ideia with the videocast.
Keep it up with the good job!
Greetings from Brazil!