Thank you for buying this Pioneer product. Please read through these operating instructions so you will know how to operate your model properly. After you have finished reading the instructions, put them away in a safe place for future reference.

Contents

01 Before you start

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Checking what’s in the box. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Installing the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Loading the batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

02 5 minute guide

Introduction to home theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Listening to Surround Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup . . . . 10 Playing a source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Better sound using Phase Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

05 Listening to your system

Auto playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Listening in surround sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Standard surround sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Using the Home THX modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Using the Advanced surround effects . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Listening in stereo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Using Stream Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Selecting MCACC presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Choosing the input signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Using surround back channel processing . . . . . . . . . 29 Using the Virtual Surround Back mode . . . . . . . . . . 29 Using Midnight and Loudness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Using the Sound Retriever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Enhancing dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Using the tone controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

03 Connecting your equipment

Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 When making cable connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 About the video converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Connecting your TV and DVD player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Connecting a satellite/cable receiver or other

set-top box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Connecting a DVD/HDD recorder, VCR and other video sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Using the component video jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Connecting digital audio sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

About the WMA9 Pro decoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Connecting analog audio sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Connecting a component to the front panel inputs . . 16 Installing your speaker system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connecting the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Placing the speakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 THX speaker system setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Connecting antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Connecting external antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Plugging in the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 AC outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

04 Controls and displays

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Operating range of remote control unit . . . . . . . . . . 22 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Remote control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

06 Using the tuner

Listening to the radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Improving FM stereo sound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Tuning directly to a station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Saving station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Naming station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Listening to station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

07 The System Setup menu

Making receiver settings from the System Setup

menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Automatic MCACC (Expert) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Surround back speaker setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Manual MCACC setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Fine Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Fine Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Standing Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Acoustic Calibration EQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Data Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Manual speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Speaker Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Bass Peak Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 X-Curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 THX Audio Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

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Classe Audio VSX-81TXV-S manual Contents
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VSX-81TXV-S, VSX-81TXV specifications

The Classe Audio VSX-81TXV and VSX-81TXV-S are flagship home theater receivers that embody the brand’s commitment to delivering high-fidelity audio and immersive cinematic experiences. These models are tailored for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts seeking uncompromising performance and versatility.

One of the standout features of the VSX-81TXV is its powerful amplification capabilities. With a robust multichannel amplifier, it offers high power output across all channels, ensuring clean and dynamic sound reproduction regardless of the volume level. This makes it ideal for powering a wide range of speakers, from efficient bookshelf models to demanding floor-standing designs.

Both models are equipped with advanced digital signal processing technology, delivering precise audio processing for various surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This allows users to experience three-dimensional sound that wraps around them, creating a more engaging and lifelike audio environment. The ability to decode these formats highlights the receivers’ forward-thinking design and compatibility with modern home theater setups.

Connectivity is another highlight, with multiple HDMI inputs enabling seamless integration with various sources, including Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and gaming consoles. The HDMI 2.0 support ensures 4K video transmission for high-definition visuals, while HDCP 2.2 compliance future-proofs the system against upcoming content standards.

Another notable characteristic is the user-friendly setup and calibration features. The built-in room correction technology automatically adjusts the audio output based on the specific acoustics of the room, ensuring an optimized listening experience tailored to the user’s environment. This eliminates the guesswork typically involved in manual adjustments.

Aesthetically, both models showcase a sleek design with an emphasis on high-quality materials. The minimalist interface and intuitive controls provide ease of use, appealing to both seasoned audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

In conclusion, the Classe Audio VSX-81TXV and VSX-81TXV-S represent a blend of power, technology, and aesthetics, designed to elevate the home entertainment experience. Their robust amplification, advanced audio processing, extensive connectivity options, and user-friendly features make them formidable choices in the realm of high-performance home theater receivers. Whether for casual viewing or critical listening, these models promise to deliver exceptional quality and performance for a diverse audience.
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