- Bluetooth Ready
- 110 Watts x 5 Direct Energy Amplification
- Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Decoders
- HDMI 1.4a 3-D Ready with Audio Return Channel
- Made for iPad / iPhone Certified with supplied cable
Product Features |
Frequently Bought Together
Product Specifications
Brand NamePioneer
Color NameGlossyBlack
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com
Popular Receiver Options
Pioneer VSX-821 | Yamaha RX-V471 | Denon AVR-1612 | Onkyo TX-NR509 | Sony STR-DH720 | |
| Watts/Channel | 110 x 5 | 105 x 5 | 75 x 5 | 80 x 5 | 105 x 7 |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| 3D Pass-through Ready? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Subwoofer Pre-Out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radio Antenna (FM/AM) Input | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GUI/Onscreen Display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Calibration Microphone | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video Upconversion | No | No | No | No | No |
| Smartphone App Control | No | No | No | iPod/iPhone | No |
| Network Connected | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Zone Control | No | No | No | No | No |
| Advanced Audio Formats: |
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| HDMI Inputs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Composite AV Inputs | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Analog Audio Inputs | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Digital Optical Audio Inputs | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Digital Coaxial Audio Inputs | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Stereo Mini Jack Input | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USB Inputs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Headphone Jack Output | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Product Description
The Pioneer VSX-821 features a Bluetooth wireless audio option with 550 watts of high powered 5.1 home theater audio playback. Other features include 4 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, hi-resolution Dolby and dts multi-channel audio playback from Blu-Ray discs, iPad / iPhone AV playback with battery charger.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By JAMES BARTON
Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought the VSX821 as a budget way to get HDMI switching for my system(AppleTV.Bluray,cable box).Performs this function well.However, when you first activate the receiver you must perform some setup functions.Unfortunately you cannot do the setup thru a HDMI connection. It can only do the setup over a composite connection to see the onscreen menus.So I had to dig out a old cable to do this .Moderately irritating.The picture quality is outstanding over HDMI to my Panasonic plasma.Easy to plug a Ipod Nano into the front of the receiver with the supplied cable.Sound was very goog thru my Monitor Audio speakers.Overall, I'm satisfied with the unit.Just don't expect too much as this is a low/mid level product.
80 of 93 people found the following review helpful
By Angel_Pen
The sound is excellent, slightly better than my old Yamaha receiver. Let's call it "more realistic" but the menu interface is miserable.
Pioneer flat out distorts information on their advertisements. For instance, they claim the VSX-821 is compatible with iPod's Audio AND Video. This is not entirely true. For starters you need to be a geek to figure out the connections and which iPod is compatible with what. It is not a plug and play thing they are selling you here. I finally got it to play video but if I had to explain it here, I wouldn't know where to start. Furthermore, the iPod video and images are presented as analogue video through the RCA connector on the front, both, photos and video look mediocre at such low resolution. Black bars all around. I blame "Apple" for most of these quality issues, but it is Pioneer's fault too for hidding these facts in their ads and manuals.
The most offending advertised "feature" is the so called "on-screen" menu which it is just a pixelated text only retro menu and get this, it does not work via HDMI. Yes, that is right, to see the menu you need to hook up a second cable and even then you get very limited on-screen menu choices.
The remote is a mess but I think all the new receivers have similar issues. The most frustrating thing is that the remote did not accept any of the Sony TV codes included in the instructions, and inputing the code is a complex task, more than it should be. As of now I cannot control any other devices with this remote and I resent the excessive steps compared to other remotes..
On the remote you have to keep pressing certain buttons over and over again to stay on a certain modes that time out after a couple of seconds for no reason. If you don't know what I mean, don't worry, is because no one else has built a remote that times out.
Good news, the "sync-mode" works with some Sony Bravia TVs.
The blue LED display on the front does not tell you much, and some of the icons are too small to be read by human eyes. So, I never know if I am listening to a Dolby source, or DTS.
There is no real HDMI pass-through despite what they advertise. The receiver needs to be turned on to pass the signal.
So, what is the advantage of owning this receiver? Well, if you manage to decipher the remote and the hidden menus, you will get pretty decent realistic sound for a reasonable price. Better than what you would get from a Sony receiver for sure.
My opinion? It is a good deal if you are very familiar with electronics and it works better if you never use the HDMI ports.
Pioneer flat out distorts information on their advertisements. For instance, they claim the VSX-821 is compatible with iPod's Audio AND Video. This is not entirely true. For starters you need to be a geek to figure out the connections and which iPod is compatible with what. It is not a plug and play thing they are selling you here. I finally got it to play video but if I had to explain it here, I wouldn't know where to start. Furthermore, the iPod video and images are presented as analogue video through the RCA connector on the front, both, photos and video look mediocre at such low resolution. Black bars all around. I blame "Apple" for most of these quality issues, but it is Pioneer's fault too for hidding these facts in their ads and manuals.
The most offending advertised "feature" is the so called "on-screen" menu which it is just a pixelated text only retro menu and get this, it does not work via HDMI. Yes, that is right, to see the menu you need to hook up a second cable and even then you get very limited on-screen menu choices.
The remote is a mess but I think all the new receivers have similar issues. The most frustrating thing is that the remote did not accept any of the Sony TV codes included in the instructions, and inputing the code is a complex task, more than it should be. As of now I cannot control any other devices with this remote and I resent the excessive steps compared to other remotes..
On the remote you have to keep pressing certain buttons over and over again to stay on a certain modes that time out after a couple of seconds for no reason. If you don't know what I mean, don't worry, is because no one else has built a remote that times out.
Good news, the "sync-mode" works with some Sony Bravia TVs.
The blue LED display on the front does not tell you much, and some of the icons are too small to be read by human eyes. So, I never know if I am listening to a Dolby source, or DTS.
There is no real HDMI pass-through despite what they advertise. The receiver needs to be turned on to pass the signal.
So, what is the advantage of owning this receiver? Well, if you manage to decipher the remote and the hidden menus, you will get pretty decent realistic sound for a reasonable price. Better than what you would get from a Sony receiver for sure.
My opinion? It is a good deal if you are very familiar with electronics and it works better if you never use the HDMI ports.
43 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By Shawn Browne
Amazon Verified Purchase
I was looking for a midrange receiver with features and functions that are useful but not so many that I don't know what to do with them all. At the price this unit has enough HDMI ports for me to connect my PS3, Xbox, and cable box. The onscreen setup is easy enough and the instruction booklet is actually very helpful. It is nice to be able to connect my iPod and use an onscreen interface to select songs and playlists; however, it is not very nice to look at and I expected a bit more from the interface - it looks like an old MSDOS screen. I also wish the little cover for the iPod connects in the front didnt pop-off, I wish it slid so I don't have to worry about losing it. The banana connectors in the back seem quite sturdy and were easy to connect with the speaker wire. Over all I am very happy with the purchase and it is up to date enough that I will be using it for many years to come.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Just fryed itself today after one year....
Had it for a year and a few weeks, and it just decided to die today. $180 for one years worth of great surround sound? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Scotty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just right
This was a replacement after a lightening strike, works perfectly, easy install and received faster than anticipated. I would reorder from again.
Published 2 months ago by Julie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good sound-- Instructions are a bear for a dummy like me
Nice looking piece of equipment, but takes a magnifying glass and some effort when looking over the set-up instructions (think about what the guy said in the movie... Read more
Published 3 months ago by tbob
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overall Awesome Unit
We bought this as an open box from a local stereo dealer. We already had built-in speakers and wanted to hook our TV and PS3 to it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tony
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love It despite the learning curve
I purchased this receiver to enhance the sound of the movies I watch and it performs admirably. I'm a fifty-eight year-old divorcee who lives in a 700 foot apartment and wanted a... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Old School
1.0 out of 5 stars
read and beware
All speakers polks, 3 1600 surrounds with 515 towers with 400w kick. At first after recieving this product, easy like all to hook up, run auto speakers, then adjusted them they way... Read more
Published 5 months ago by goriders
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
Had for one year. Works very well, no regrets. The auto calibration seemed to work well too. Well built and very happy with it.
Published 5 months ago by HoustonTroy
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Worst Seller - Beware
Bought this receiver from BestDeal Tech. They are not an authorized Pioneer dealer. The receiver did not work right out of the box. Read more
Published 7 months ago by barbiemom
1.0 out of 5 stars
Lost confidence in pioneer and amazon
I decided to updgrade to an HDMI compatible reciever and replace a pioneer reciever that worked flawless for twenty years. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Roxgman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Product
This is an awesome receiver. I hooked up my kenwood surround system to this and its Bangin! The sound that the receiver pushes out is amazing. Movies and music sounds incredible. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ravi Sukhram
