My Pioneer VSX-816 cuts sound out of my front speakers randomly. Help please!

[Adam]

One of the posters mentioned there being an ohm switch on the receiver somewhere on this model. I can't seem to find it. can help out here?

Hi. The speaker impedance is switched electronically. According to page 63 of the owner's manual:

With the receiver in standby, press STANDBY/ON while holding down the SPEAKERS button.

Doing this will toggle it between the 8 Ohm and 6 Ohm settings.

 

[tsantsa]

I don't know but I THINK that changing from 8 ohms to 6 may have worked for the time being. Been watching various different things, playing different games and haven't noticed the drop off...I'm going to give it a little more time before deciding, but you gents may have bought my old POS Pioneer a little life! And my budget can go to some speakers instead! I don't have alot of money, but I imagine I can get some decent stuff for the same budget I was going to spend to get a new avr.

Now I'm off to a speaker section in these here forums to start reading!

Thanks.

 

[Adam]

Excellent! Hopefully that'll keep everything running smoothly for you until you decide to get something new.

 

[Youg]

Looks like i finally found peoples with the same problem as me. (I've been running this unit for 2-3 years now but notice the problem in the past 6 months.

On my side it's mostly center channel, so when i watch TV i can't hear what people say (annoying). It goes on or off, random channel.

But when i push the backplate (where the speakers are plug in the receiver) i get it back but sometime only for 2 minutes and i have to do it again. But sometime i'm good for a week.

At first i thought it was a connection problem, i did change the banana plug, tried different speaker, check the wire, etc.

I have the Fluance 5.1 kit: SXHTB +

I might get the receiver to a technician to see if something can be done (running on a low budget for now) but i think i'll start shopping for a reliable one.

 

[TLS Guy]

Looks like i finally found peoples with the same problem as me. (I've been running this unit for 2-3 years now but notice the problem in the past 6 months.

On my side it's mostly center channel, so when i watch TV i can't hear what people say (annoying). It goes on or off, random channel.

But when i push the backplate (where the speakers are plug in the receiver) i get it back but sometime only for 2 minutes and i have to do it again. But sometime i'm good for a week.

At first i thought it was a connection problem, i did change the banana plug, tried different speaker, check the wire, etc.

I have the Fluance 5.1 kit: SXHTB +

I might get the receiver to a technician to see if something can be done (running on a low budget for now) but i think i'll start shopping for a reliable one.

That is a useful observation and gives a pointer to what is the likely issue here.

I would bet the speaker terminals are soldered directly to the output circuit board. This you should never do. It is cheap jack manufacture. With the weight and manipulation, I bet hair line cracks develop in the circuit board near where the speaker terminal attach. When you press on the back you temporarily remake the connection for a variable length of time.

If that is the case you can get a separate power amp and solve the problem, if the unit has pre outs which I think it does.

 

[Youg]

Found this in avsforum:

My VSX-816 is about two years old also and both surround speakers started cutting in and out. I could wiggle the speaker posts, or slap the side of the unit and they would come on again for awhile.
Like DNCB, I tried resoldering the speaker terminal posts with no luck.
One day, I opened it up again and connected a couple speakers and a dvd player to it. I started poking around with a wooden stick.
I found there are four little black relays located right under the CVS input module. When I wiggled one of them, I could reproduce the problem.
I had to remove about 35 screws in order to access the bottom of the main board, and touch up the solder joints on all of these relays (6 joints on each relay).
I didn't disconnect any ribbon cables, I just carefully laid all the boards over and out of the way.
After reassembly, the unit has been working perfectly ever since.


I'll start checking a separate amp, but since my receiver does not have HDMI and new sound format support (DTS HD, True HD) i might shop for a new one. This would be useful for future.

 

[TLS Guy]

Found this in avsforum:

My VSX-816 is about two years old also and both surround speakers started cutting in and out. I could wiggle the speaker posts, or slap the side of the unit and they would come on again for awhile.
Like DNCB, I tried resoldering the speaker terminal posts with no luck.
One day, I opened it up again and connected a couple speakers and a dvd player to it. I started poking around with a wooden stick.
I found there are four little black relays located right under the CVS input module. When I wiggled one of them, I could reproduce the problem.
I had to remove about 35 screws in order to access the bottom of the main board, and touch up the solder joints on all of these relays (6 joints on each relay).
I didn't disconnect any ribbon cables, I just carefully laid all the boards over and out of the way.
After reassembly, the unit has been working perfectly ever since.

Now we know for sure what the problem with these units is. I bet it is not actually the solder, but circuit boards cracks, and when you apply the solder it runs over the cracked connection and fixes it.

 

[Youg]

So i'll open mine during the weekend, try to see if i can find those relays, check them, and probably bring it to a technician. (don't have a solder iron)

Looks like you are right.

 

[mtrycrafts]

So i'll open mine during the weekend, try to see if i can find those relays, check them, and probably bring it to a technician. (don't have a solder iron)

Looks like you are right.

You may need a magnifying glass to find it. Soldering irons may be less costly than a tech, if you know how, otherwise it may be more expensive

 

[MarkTbone]

Pioneer crap

Sorry for brining this one back to life but, i just found this post after putting up with a long - 6 months of intermittent operation. changing to 6 ohm seems to solve the problem for now on my Bose AM-10 surround speaker system.
For the longest time, I thought there was a short. Pulling up slightly on the input terminals for speakers brings them back to life. Apparently, I was just bumping the relays that prevent cut-out.

Amazing that a detail like 6 ohm impedence is not mentioned in the manual under speaker setup. There is only a short note on the last page. No index in the owners manual either.

The two "SDK" modules that are the power amps are huge and able to drive seven channels. The size of the heat sink is tiny for a 300+Watt system.

I'm not buying a Pioneer again! They may have quality equipment in their upper end units but the lack of info in their manual is very disturbing.

 

[Botz1973]

I had a problem with a vsx-01 and now the vsx-23 replacement

My vsx-01 would loose all volume within the first year I had it. My vsx-23 ( the replacement unit has also been giving my trouble. Throughout the first year I had it, the comfortable listening volume kept getting gradually higher. I was fed up since my problems with the vsx-01 and dealing with Pioneer service centers, so I let it slide until I started getting into positive territory. I called Pioneer support and they did a system reset with me, but I was still getting varying sound output. After about two months with their service center they sent it back saying the unit is working properly. I don't think so. I'm going to push them for a new unit. Warranty on the receiver is two years. Not so sure I'd buy another Pioneer. Check out my post for more detail on the issues with the VSX-23. If anyone can tell me what exactly is wrong with the receiver I would appreciate it.

Try calling Pioneer see if they will send you a replacement.

 

[chesbak]

Saw this Denon AVR 589 for $169 at Costco today....only 75 watts/channel, but solid 24lb unit that may perform as well with your efficient horn speakers.....

This looks good...