Pioneer Elite Receiver Owners.

[Jon Liu]

I know there are a few of us that have the Pioneer Elite receivers. More specifically, this is for those with the VSX-72TXV through the VSX-84TXSi.

I got this email, you guys might have already gotten it, too. I remember several people having issues with low sub out when dealing with HDMI, among other things...

Here's the email I got:

March 15, 2007

Dear Valued Customer:
*****Re: Free Firmware Upgrade for Certain 2005 and 2006 Pioneer Home A/V Receivers

We would like to inform you of the availability of a free firmware upgrade to address a potential service issue with the following Pioneer home A/V receivers:

VSX-72TXV
VSX-74TXVi
VSX-81TXV
VSX-82TXS
VSX-84TXSi
VSX-9110TXV-K

Pioneer has become aware that in some circumstances the above-listed receivers may experience certain audio and/or video symptoms related to the use of an HDMI port on the receiver. The symptoms include (1) picture quality issues (dark screen image, no video image, white screen and/or intermittent picture) when the input signal to the receiver is connected through an analog port (component, S-Video, composite) and the output signal from the receiver is connected though an HDMI port, or (2) low subwoofer speaker sound level when the input signal to the receiver is connected through an HDMI port. Importantly, this potential service issue does not pose any health or safety risk.

If you have an affected home A/V receiver and you are experiencing a service issue as described above, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 to arrange for a free firmware upgrade. Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this potential service issue may cause you, and we thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Pioneer.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

I actually took my receiver in yesterday to one of the recommended repair centers about 30 miles away. I took it in about 1:00pm and they called me at 5:00pm saying that it was done. Unfortunately, they were closed so I had to wait until this morning to pick it up, but... it's back and it took less than 24 hours to get it back!!!

Just wanted to let you guys know about the firmware upgrade if you didn't know about it already.

[Peench]

Wow! 24 hours is much better than the 4 months you had to wait last time!!

[Jon Liu]

Yeah, I KNOW!!

I was so skeptical, but the guy reassured me when I called that it would take no longer than a day. If it ended up taking longer, they said that I could just pick it up.

[alter_ego_trip]

The freaking problem I have is there is no authorized service center within 500 miles of me. I have to spend 50+ bucks in shipping to get it fixed. Pioneer should send a call tag to have it picked up. And on top of it the authorized service center than Pioneer gave me won't even answer their phone.

On a side note Jon, did you notice a difference with the update?

[Jon Liu]

Yeah, I noticed a difference. I think before, my system was calibrated for HDMI and such, but, when I went to other sources on optical and analog, the sub was more overbearing. Now, when comparing two songs, one on the PS3 and one streaming to my Xbox 360, the sub output is the same.

It also mentioned fixing issues with HDMI video and such, which, is why I took my receiver in in the first place a long while back.

[alter_ego_trip]

The update would be nice if it would fix my problem with my sat not being recognized via HDMI.

[vbdino]

Finally a place where to share about the Pioneer Elite.

I have a VSX-81TXV since december but started using it in january. I immediately notice a sound problem when playing DVDs. When I select "play", it starts with a logo like thx, for exemple. The switching between those video sequences creates random spark sound on my speakers (B&W). Then when the movie start, it works just fine.

After many tests, changing cables, player, etc., my local reseller was told about this upcoming firmware and should wait for it. But we agreed that firmwares fixes specific things and are not magic cure. So Pioneer accepted to replace a component in my receiver, which will be done tomorrow. It tooked a month to receive the board, was out of stock. Good time to upgrade the firmware.

I did experience once a bug like describe in the Pioneer e-mail, my LG plasma suddenly showed "no signal". I restarted the Pioneer but it is only when I restarted the LG, that I got back a signal.

[Peench]

Welcome to PreGameLobby vbdino!

Sounds like you had almost the same experience as Jon with your receiver being out for a long time before you got it back. That's really weird and hopefully the component they are replacing will fix the problem. Keep us posted.

[KEEZY]

Welcome to the site vbdino.

Jon, I'm pretty sure you would not be allowed to CES. That'd be like putting a shark into a goldfish tank.

[Jon Liu]

hahaha, you're probably right.

[vbdino]

Before packing up my receiver tonight, for tomorrow's repair. I verified again about the noise doing like a "spark". It doesn't do it anymore after doing it for over two months. The only thing that changed is the humidity from about 23% to 29%. My repair shop is aware that it went away but he is still going to replace the component suspected to be the cause.

It is a good thing I purchased it from a specialized music shop.

[Jon Liu]

Good luck vbdino. I took my receiver in for a firmware upgrade just less than a year ago and it took over 2 months to get it back. Granted, there were a lot of factors that led to that lengthy process, but I still wish you a speedy repair!!!

[vbdino]

Well, I don't have my receiver yet, but he told me that he replaced the main board. Since I only talked about the firmware this morning, he didn't have it yet by the end of the day. At the least the repair is done, even though he couldn't reproduce the "spark" problem.

If you know or can get the internet link to download the firmware, that could help speed up the job of obtaining it. They e-mail Pioneer but don't if it will take a while for an answer.

[Jon Liu]

I don't think it's downloadable for the end-user. From my understanding they only send it to authorized repair centers...

[vbdino]

I got my receiver back and the "spark" noise along with it.

Are you using bi-wiring to your speakers?

[Jon Liu]

nah, I use my other channels for the 7.1 configuration.

Dang, that sucks you got the same problem still.

Can you describe this "spark" noise further? I'm curious about it.

[vbdino]

Well imagine you touch two electric wires together, then amplify that sound with the speakers.

I use the work "spark" because it sound like an electric spark.

And it happens when a dvd player switch to a different video file on the dvd. For exemple, selecting "play" cause the dvd to read a different file. In the case of Star Wars III, it plays a file for the THX logo. During the short process of loading the file, the receiver changes to another sound mode and back to Dolby when the video start playing. Off course this video file switch is no more than a second, but long enough to create a situation where the receiver sends that strange signal randomly on any speaker. It is usually one spark, but sometimes there is another on another speaker after the first one. Before repair, the receiver was doing it randomly on all speakers. It stop doing it after about two months of use.

Now the receiver, that I got back, does it again but often from the front right speaker and at some occasions, to other speakers.

If I use analog sound instead of digital, it doesn't happen. I tried both coaxial and optical. Same results. Tried three different dvd player.

While watching a movie, there was never any problem. If change chapters, no problem. If I stop or pause and play again, no problem.

I am using UltraLink 4/C 12awg in-wall speaker cables. I have 4 B&W DM603 S3, 1 B&W LCR 60 S3 and 1 B&W ASW 600.

I tried to keep apart the electric wires from the speakers wires. I tried to connect only the front speakers because the cables are not inside the walls, so not close to any electric wires. I tested the electrical wall inlet and it is properly ground, etc., and it has its own electric breaker.

Strange, isn't it!

[vbdino]

Btw, is my subwoofer supposed to work when I listen to music coming from my expressvu receiver. The audio connection is stereo. With some sound mode selectable with the receiver, I can get all 5 spearks to work, but not the subwoofer, the led behind stays red.