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

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

02 5 minute guide

Introduction to home theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Listening to Surround Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Automatically setting up for surround sound (MCACC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Other problems when using the Auto

MCACC Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Better sound using Phase Control . . . . . . . . 10

03 Connecting up

Making cable connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Analog audio cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Digital audio cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Video cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 About the video converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Connecting a DVD player and TV . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting the multichannel analog

outputs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Connecting a satellite receiver or other

digital set-top box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Connecting other audio components . . . . . . 15 About the WMA9 Pro decoder . . . . . . . . . . 15 Connecting other video components . . . . . . 16 Using the component video jacks. . . . . . . . 17

Connecting to the front panel video

terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connecting to the front panel audio

mini jack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connecting antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Using external antennas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Connecting the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Hints on speaker placement. . . . . . . . . . . . 20 AC outlet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

04 Controls and displays

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Operating range of remote control . . . . . . . 27

05 Listening to your system

Auto playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Listening in surround sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Using the Advanced surround effects . . . . . 29 Setting the effect options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Listening in stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Using Front Stage Surround Advance . . . . . . 30 Using Stream Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Listening with Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . 31 Using surround back channel processing . . . 31 Using Virtual Surround Back (VSB). . . . . . . 32 Using Midnight and Loudness. . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Using the Sound Retriever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Enhancing dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Using the tone controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Playing other sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Choosing the input signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Selecting the multichannel analog inputs . . . 34 Selecting the front audio inputs . . . . . . . . . . 34

06 The System Setup menu

Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Surround back speaker setting . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Manual MCACC speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Fine Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Fine Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Acoustic Calibration EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Manual speaker setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Speaker Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Crossover Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Channel Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Speaker Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

07 Using the tuner

Listening to the radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Improving FM stereo sound . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Tuning directly to a station . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Saving station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Naming station presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Listening to station presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

08 Making recordings

Making an audio or a video recording . . . . . . 46

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Pioneer VSX-917V manual Contents

VSX-917V specifications

The Pioneer VSX-917V is a sophisticated receiver that stands out in the crowded landscape of home audio systems. Launched as part of the Pioneer VSX series, the VSX-917V embodies a blend of practicality and advanced technology, making it an excellent choice for both movie lovers and music enthusiasts.

One of the main features of the VSX-917V is its impressive power output, delivering a robust 110 watts per channel across a total of seven channels. This ensures that even larger spaces can be filled with rich, immersive sound without distortion. Partnered with the receiver’s Dynamic Range Control, it allows for an optimized audio experience, where both soft whispers and booming action sequences can be enjoyed with equal clarity.

The VSX-917V supports various surround sound formats, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and DTS. This capability allows users to experience multi-dimensional audio that encapsulates them in their favorite films and games. The receiver also features Pioneer's proprietary MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System), which automatically calibrates the audio settings based on the acoustics of the room, providing a tailored audio experience for every listener.

Connectivity is another essential aspect of the VSX-917V. The receiver comes with multiple HDMI inputs, capable of handling high-definition video and audio signals, making it compatible with the latest devices such as Blu-ray players and gaming consoles. The HDMI 1.3 port also supports 1080p video upscaling, ensuring that all content played through the receiver is delivered in outstanding quality.

Additionally, the VSX-917V boasts a built-in AM/FM tuner and allows for convenient iPod integration via a direct connection, enabling users to play their favorite digital music seamlessly. The intuitive interface and remote control feature enhance user-friendliness, making system configuration straightforward.

In terms of design, the receiver features a sleek black finish, giving it a modern aesthetic that fits well into any home entertainment setup. The comprehensive menu system makes navigation effortless, allowing users to customize audio settings quickly.

Overall, the Pioneer VSX-917V is a feature-rich receiver that combines power, connectivity, and advanced audio technologies to create a compelling audio experience. With its robust build and user-centric design, it remains a remarkable choice for anyone looking to elevate their home audio system. Whether for casual listening or cinematic evenings, the VSX-917V meets all expectations.