Customer Reviews

Pioneer VSX-816-K 7.1-channel XM-Ready A/V Receiver, Black

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

To start off with, as an Alaska resident the free shipping was a deal maker for me. That said, I've had no problems with the receiver itself, save for a small scratch on the faceplate. Super-Saver has its detriments I suppose.

Performance wise, the receiver is excellent for my setup. I haven't had the opportunity to crank the volume due to the next door neighbors, but 5.1 is spot on, and with MCACC I'm finally able to get a decent optimization for the basement i've got my home theatre set up in. MCACC is definitely worth the extra expense as it saves a lot of time and eliminates a lot of the guess work. It took only a few minutes to setup initially, and I don't anticipate any problems when I add the Sony 550 center I just ordered and move my old center channel to the back for a 6.1 setup.

Featurewise, the 3 optical inputs and 3 component video switching was another selling point for me, as I have a DVD player, XBox, and XBox 360 in this setup. 1080i and 720p passthrough is perfect. Being able to assign the optical and component to different inputs is another excellent feature that helped me setup the receiver exactly the way I wanted it. Another feature is the Sound Retriever technology which really does smooth out low bitrate audio. For example, this past weekend I listened to the LDS General Conference (a 16k audio stream) with my wife, and we both thought it sounded great with this feature turned on (and 7 channel stereo). I haven't tried out the XM features yet, maybe one day.

I looked at the 516 as well, but it just didn't have the features I really wanted, and wouldn't have been a stepup at all from my old receiver. The extra features, are in my case, well worth the extra money.

I bought this Audio/Video receiver as a replacement for a another brands at one time top of the line model that just suddenly failed on me. Having only limited funds this time around, this receiver was the best value that had all the features I wanted and needed and then some. Because of the price I had some concerns about overall quality before receiving it. Now that I have put it to use daily over the past two months I am more than pleasantly surprised. It sounds better than the one it replaced and it was much easier to initially set up. I am using it in the 6.1 channel configuration and the automatic quick set up feature for surround sound is a blessing. It works as advertised and quite well at that. The manual that comes with it is above average. This is a flexible, versatile receiver and I highly recommend it, don't let the low price discourage you. If 110 watts per channel suits your needs buy this puppy, you won't be disappointed.

This is an amendment to my earlier review in which I am just now getting around to do:

I am commenting on my own review as a update to my earlier 5 star review. At the time of review the 5 stars were accurate for the product, however, as in many other negative reviews here on this product I now rate it 3 stars perhaps even 2 would be more appropriate. One for each year the reciever lasted before I TOO! had the same problem with mine as many others who wrote negative reviews. Ater approximately 2 years, the left channel went out on my receiver as well, and could be temporarily fixed by various means, such as increasing volumn level, going into speaker set up and increasing the left channel level etc., but it is only a temporary fix, not long after the left channel cuts out once again. This receiver should had lasted at least 5 years minimum, 2 years is totally unsat. The cost of repair is uneconomical based on the purchase price, so it's to the scrap heap for me. Since this receiver started acting up I had bought an Onkyo TX-SR 805, cost much more than the Pioneer, but it's the way I should had gone in the first place. I'll never settle for a Pioneer again

This was trouble free for 2 years, now the Sound is cutting out of the Center Channel like so many have reported. Double checked all the wiring - subbed in a different center channel, it cuts out intermittantly still.

Many have noted that they had to crank the volume or turn it off/on to fix. I have found that if you simply turn off the "MCACC Auto Sound" and switch it back on, the sound will come back.

But then the Sound will cut out again later. Happens daily at this point.

This will be my last Pioneer I purchase.

Now I'm looking at the Onkyo TX-SR607 - it seems to get a lot of good press at an affordable price.

PIONEER HAD A DESIGN FLAW with this product!!

I've had this unit for a couple of weeks now and I find it to be very impressive. Great bang for the buck. Set up, if you wish to use some of the great features, can be a little tricky. The manual could use some help (small print on rather low quality newsprint paper). It would have been nice if the selections would be displayed on the TV screen (e.g. volume) instead of having to look at the LED display on the receiver itself. It has lots of options, and if you're a technophile (such as I am), you can really enjoy some of its benefits. However, just out of the box it provides great sound. The microphone used for setting up the surround speaker environment is really convenient and I am very satisfied with its results.

This was fairly tedious to set up, but the sound quality is great. I don't use the XM rsdio, PBS in the car is enough radio for me. The mic that balances the sound for the room works well; for some reasom I had trouble getting the unit to talk to my TV for on-scren help. The reomote has more options than I can remember to set. For the money this is a really good unit; I replaced a Sony 555ES and the sound is as good, though different in ways I can't define.

I am troubled by a hum thst comes when a CD or DVD is starting up, but goes away when play begins.

Does everything it says it does. Lots of connections for all you could want. Cool way to set up the room sound. Fairly easy operation and manual, provided you know what you're doing to begin with. Best value for all these features. I haven't used XM so I can't comment on that, but I've used all the other features. Shipment arrived very quickly and was in good/new condition.

This was a great, affordable and versatile receiver. I bought this to replace a GREAT Sony receiver I had owned for 8 years before the center channel started going out intermittently.

Much to my dismay, after only 15 months owning this Pioneer, the front left channel on it starts going out intermittently. I checked and cleaned all hookups and it's something internal. When the channel cuts out you can tap the receiver with your finger and it comes back on for a period. Annoying! I know it's not worth fixing, so I will avoid Pioneer now. I expected this to last at least 5 years or longer.

READ THE REVIEWS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM!

Had this for 2 years before speakers started cutting out. Based on other reviews, there seems to be a design flaw. Pioneer won't admit to it, so in the trash it goes.
Goodbye Pioneer

I purchased this receiver at circuit city about 2 years ago. It was a great receiver when I first got it. Just like a brand new car, it sounded great and looked great. Recently my front left and right speakers have been cutting out randomly, I thought it was my speaker wire or my audio connection so I had all that replaced with brand new ones. To my dismay, my sound was still being cut out at random times. The only way to fix this was to turn off and turn back on the receiver or crank the volume up and back down again. This is really unacceptable as my 10 year old Sony receiver has never once broken down on me. I would stay away from this AVR if I were you, if you own this and don't have any problems lucky you. But if your like many of us with sound that cuts out, you just want to chuck this piece of crap out the window.

After almost 2 years, I've developed a big problem with the center channel cutting out intermittently. Sometimes I can crank the volume up to a LOUD level (briefly and then turn back down) and the problem is fixed. If not, turning the receiver power on and off usually fixes it. Sometimes I have to unplug the RCA cables from the back of the receiver or jiggle them and that fixes it - sometimes.

it's hard to connect the speakers on the back due to the configuration.

the remote is confusing, even for a techie.

And the sound just isn't that great.

Don't buy this.