Contents

01 Before you start

Introduction to home theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Checking what’s in the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Loading the batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Installing the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

02 5 minute guide

Listening to Surround Sound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Using the Quick Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

03 Quick surround sound setup

Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Other problems when using the Auto

MCACC Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

04 Connecting up

Making cable connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Analog audio cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Digital audio cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Video cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Connecting a DVD player and TV. . . . . . . . . . 16

Connecting the multichannel analog

outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connecting a satellite receiver or other

digital set-top box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connecting other audio components . . . . . . 18 About the WMA9 Pro decoder . . . . . . . . . . 18 Connecting other video components . . . . . . . 19 Using the component video jacks . . . . . . . . 20

Connecting to the front panel video

terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Connecting antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 FM wire antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 AM loop antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Using external antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Connecting the speakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A and B speaker systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Hints on speaker placement . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Operating other Pioneer components . . . . . . 25

05 Controls and displays

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Remote control (VSX-815/915) . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Remote control (VSX-515) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Operating range of remote control unit . . . . . 35

06 Listening to your system

Auto playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Listening in surround sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Using the Advanced surround effects . . . . . 37 Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music settings. . . . . . . . 38 Neo:6 Music settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Listening in stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Listening with Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . 39 Choosing the input signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Using the surround back channel

(Extended mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Using the Virtual Surround Back mode (VirtualSB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Using Loudness and Midnight listening. . . . . 43 Enhancing dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Using the tone controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Playing other sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Selecting the multichannel analog inputs . . . 44 Using the sleep timer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

07 The System Setup menu

Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Surround back speaker setting . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Manual MCACC speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Fine Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Fine Channel Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Manual speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Speaker setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Crossover network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Channel level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

08 Using the tuner

Listening to the radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Improving FM stereo sound. . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Tuning directly to a station . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Saving station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Naming station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Listening to station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Changing the frequency step . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

09 Making recordings

Making an audio or a video recording . . . . . . 57

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Pioneer VSX-815-S/-K, VSX-915-S/-K manual Contents
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VSX-815-S/-K, VSX-915-S/-K specifications

The Pioneer VSX-915-S/-K and VSX-815-S/-K are part of Pioneer's renowned line of AV receivers that provide home theater enthusiasts with an impressive range of features and technologies. These models are particularly recognized for their exceptional audio quality and versatility, making them ideal for both music lovers and movie enthusiasts alike.

One of the standout features of the VSX-915 is its Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding capabilities, which allow users to experience high-definition audio quality that matches the latest in cinematic releases. This model is equipped with Pioneer's Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC), enabling automatic speaker setup and optimization based on the room's acoustics. This technology ensures that listeners enjoy a balanced sound field, regardless of the room's layout.

The VSX-815 model, while slightly more compact, does not compromise on functionality. It retains essential features such as Dolby Digital EX and DTS 96/24 decoding, providing rich surround sound that enhances the home theater experience. The unit's direct energy HD amplification delivers robust audio output while maintaining low distortion levels, ensuring that high-frequency details are preserved without sacrificing power.

Both models include a robust selection of inputs and outputs, including HDMI connectivity, which supports 1080p video pass-through. This makes it compatible with a variety of modern devices, from Blu-ray players to gaming consoles. The VSX-915 also supports multi-zone audio distribution, allowing users to enjoy different sources in different rooms, which adds a layer of convenience for those who like to entertain.

Pioneer's proprietary technologies, such as the Phase Control, help in enhancing sound clarity, providing a more coherent audio experience. Additionally, both receivers feature a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for easy navigation through settings and options.

In terms of design, both the VSX-915-S/-K and VSX-815-S/-K feature an elegant and functional aesthetic that fits well in any home entertainment setup. With their build quality and attention to detail, they are built to last while delivering superior sound quality.

In summary, the Pioneer VSX-915-S/-K and VSX-815-S/-K represent an excellent investment in high-quality home audio experiences, combining advanced technologies and user-friendly features that cater to both casual listeners and dedicated audiophiles.
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