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VSX-LX50 AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER www.pioneer.co.uk Discover the benefits of registering your product online at http:// (or http://www.pioneer.eu). Operating Instructions...
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IMPORTANT The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
If the AC plug of this unit does not match the AC outlet you want to use, the plug must be removed and appropriate one fitted. Replacement and mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of this unit should be performed only by qualified service personnel.
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.
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The Other Setup menu ......57 SR+ Setup for Pioneer plasma displays..57 OSD Adjustment .
• Advanced Direct Energy design This receiver offers a new advancement in discrete design unique to Pioneer for high-power drivability, low distortion and stable imaging. Through symmetrical placement of power amplification units, this receiver generates equal amplifier power to all channels, eliminating the possibility of one channel dominating a particular sound field.
Before you start • Easy-to-use LCD remote control The remote control gives you not only complete control over every function of this receiver, but also over the main functions for other components in your home theater system. Using a system of preset codes, you can program the remote to operate a wide range of other equipment.
5 minute guide Chapter 2: 5 minute guide Introduction to home theater Home theater refers to the use of multiple audio tracks to create a surround sound effect, making you feel like you’re in the middle of the action or concert. The surround sound you get from a home theater system depends not only on your speaker setup, but also on the source and the sound settings of the receiver.
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5 minute guide SYSTEM OFF RECEIVER INPUT SOURCE DIALOG E SELECT D.ACCESS AV PARAMETER TOP MENU TUNE SETUP DVR 2 TUNE DVR 1 TV CTRL PTY SEARCH GUIDE TV CONTROL CD-R/TAPE HDMI 2 iPod HDMI 1 TUNER RECEIVER INPUT TV VOL SELECT Switch on the receiver and your TV.
5 minute guide Problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup If the room environment is not optimal for the Auto MCACC Setup (too much background noise, echo off the walls, obstacles blocking the speakers from the microphone) the final settings may be incorrect. Check for household appliances (air conditioner, fridge, fan, etc.), that may be affecting the environment and switch them off if necessary.
RROUND 1 1 3 1 DVR/VCR2 Control input/output Use to connect other Pioneer components so that you can control all your equipment from a single IR remote sensor. Operating other Pioneer components with this unit’s sensor on page 67.
Connecting your equipment 10 Multichannel pre-amplifier outputs Use to connect separate amplifiers for front, center, surround, surround back and subwoofer channels. Connecting additional amplifiers on page 54 (see also Installing your speaker system on page 17 for powered subwoofer connection). 11 Composite and S-video monitor outputs Use to connect monitors and TVs.
Connecting your equipment Connecting your TV and DVD player VIDEO VSX-LX50 ANTENNA OPTICAL IN 1 DIGITAL COMPONENT VIDEO IN 2 (DVR/ VCR1) IN 2 (TV/SAT) IN 3 ASSIGNABLE (CD) S-VIDEO ASSIG- NABLE HDMI CONTROL iPod VIDEO AUDIO IN 1 (DVD/LD)
Connecting a DVD/HDD recorder, VCR and other video sources This receiver has two sets of audio/video inputs and outputs suitable for connecting analog or digital video devices, including DVD/HDD recorders and VCRs. VSX-LX50 OPTICAL DIGITAL IN 1 COMPONENT VIDEO IN 2...
Connecting your equipment VSX-LX50 ANTENNA OPTICAL DIGITAL IN 1 COMPONENT VIDEO IN 2 (DVR/ VCR1) IN 2 (TV/SAT) IN 3 ASSIGNABLE (CD) ASSIG- S-VIDEO NABLE HDMI CONTROL iPod VIDEO AUDIO IN 1 (DVD/LD) IN 2 (DVR/VCR2) CD-R/TAPE/MD DVD/LD TV/SAT DVR/VCR1...
WOOFER ROUND MONITOR CENTER • Select these inputs by pressing VIDEO/GAME or TV/SAT DVR/VCR1 DVR/VCR2 FRONT WOOFER MULTI CH IN VSX-LX50 PLAY AUDIO IN/OUT front video connections. S- VIDEO VIDEO INPUT VIDEO AUDIO DIGITAL IN S - VIDEO VIDEO/GAME INPUT...
(DVR/VCR2) CD-R/TAPE/MD DVD/LD TV/SAT DVR/VCR1 COAXIAL ASSIGNABLE VSX-LX50 Surround left Connecting the speakers Each speaker connection on the receiver comprises a positive (+) and negative (–) terminal. Make sure to match these up with the terminals on the speakers themselves.
Connecting your equipment Bare wire connections Make sure that the speaker cable you’re going to use is properly prepared with about 10 mm of insulator stripped from each wire, and the exposed wire strands twisted together (fig. A). To connect a terminal, unscrew the terminal a few turns until there is enough space to insert the exposed wire (fig.
Connecting your equipment The diagrams below show suggested surround and surround back speaker orientation. The first diagram (fig. A) shows orientation with one surround back speaker (or none) connected. The second (fig. B) shows orientation with two surround back speakers connected. º...
Check the power cord once in a while. If you find it damaged, ask your nearest Pioneer authorized independent service company for a replacement. • The receiver should be disconnected by removing the mains plug from the wall socket when not in regular use, e.g., when on vacation.
Controls and displays Chapter 4: Controls and displays Front panel STANDBY / ON PHASE CONTROL LISTENING DVD/LD TV/ SAT MODE SEARCH MODE MULTI JOG ENTER PHONES SYSTEM SETUP SYSTEM TUNING/ RETURN TONE SETUP STATION MULTI JOG MULTI JOG dial Use the MULTI JOG dial to select various settings and menu options.
Controls and displays 14 PHONES jack Use to connect headphones. When the headphones are connected, there is no sound output from the speakers. 15 Input source buttons Press to select an input source. 16 VIDEO/GAME INPUT See Connecting a component to the front panel inputs on page 16.
Controls and displays Display AUTO HDMI SBL SB DIGITAL ANALOG STREAM DIRECT PRO LOGIC ADV.SURROUND STEREO STANDARD SLEEP SIGNAL indicators Light to indicate the currently selected input signal. AUTO lights when the receiver is set to select the input signal automatically (page 29). Program format indicators These change according to which channels are active in digital sources.
Controls and displays Remote control RECEIVER INPUT SELECT CD-R/TAPE HDMI 2 iPod HDMI 1 SLEEP DIALOG E D.ACCESS AV PARAMETER TOP MENU TUNE SETUP TUNE PTY SEARCH GUIDE TV CONTROL INPUT TV VOL SELECT AUDIO SUBTITLE DISP STATUS SIGNAL SEL MULTI OPE SHIFT PHASE...
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Controls and displays TV CONTROL buttons These buttons are dedicated to control the TV assigned to the TV CTRL button. Thus if you only have one TV to hook up to this system assign it to the TV CTRL input source button.
Listening to your system Chapter 5: Listening to your system Important • The listening modes and many features described in this section may not be available depending on the current source, settings and status of the receiver. See Listening modes with different input signal formats on page 77 for more on this.
Listening to your system • 2 Pro Logic IIx MOVIE – See above (only available when you’re using two surround back speakers) • 2 Pro Logic IIx MUSIC – See above • Dolby Digital EX – Creates surround back channel sound for 5.1 channel sources and provides pure decoding for 6.1 channel sources (like Dolby Digital Surround EX)
Listening to your system • PhonesSurround – When listening through headphones, you can still get the effect of overall surround. • When an Advanced Surround listening mode is selected, the effect level can be adjusted using the EFFECT parameter in Setting the AV options on page 58.
Listening to your system Selecting MCACC presets • Default setting: MEMORY 1 If you have calibrated your system for different listening positions , you can switch between settings to suit the kind of source you’re listening to and where you’re sitting (for example, watching movies from a sofa, or playing a video game close to the TV).
Listening to your system Using the Virtual Surround Back mode When you’re not using surround back speakers, selecting this mode allows you to hear a virtual surround back channel through your surround speakers. You can choose to listen to sources with no surround back channel information, or if the material sounds better in the format (for example, 5.1) for which it was originally encoded, you can have the receiver only apply this effect...
Listening to your system Using Midnight and Loudness The Midnight listening feature allows you to hear effective surround sound of movies at low volume levels. The effect automatically adjusts according to the volume at which you’re listening. The Loudness listening feature can be used to get good bass and treble from music sources at low volume levels.
FAT16/32. It is not possible to connect this unit to a personal computer for USB playback. • Pioneer cannot guarantee compatibility (operation and/or bus power) with all USB mass storage devices and assumes no responsibility for any loss of data that may occur when connected to this receiver.
USB playback Press RETURN to display the folder/file list for the USB device connected. U SB USB We a re al l o ne Play M P 3/V BR R e l a x Yo u r B o d y [ T h e C o l o r o f L i f e R e l a x Yo u r B o d y [ A i n ' t T h a n g W r o n g...
Using the tuner Chapter 7: Using the tuner Listening to the radio The following steps show you how to tune in to FM and AM radio broadcasts using the automatic (search) and manual (step) tuning functions. If you already know the frequency of the station you want, see Tuning directly to a station below.
Using the tuner Naming station presets For easier identification, you can name your station presets. Choose the station preset you want to name. See Listening to station presets below for how to do this. Press T.EDIT (TUNER EDIT). The display shows STATION NAME, then a blinking cursor at the first character position.
Using the tuner Press ENTER to search for the program type. The system starts searching through the station presets for a match. When it finds one, the search stops and the station plays for five seconds. If you want to keep listening to the station, press ENTER within the five seconds.
The System Setup menu Chapter 8: The System Setup menu Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu The following section shows you how to make detailed settings to specify how you’re using the receiver (for example, if you want to set up two speaker systems in separate rooms), and also explains how to fine-tune individual speaker system settings to your liking.
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The System Setup menu Select ‘Auto MCACC’ from the System Setup menu then press ENTER. If the System Setup screen is not displayed, refer to Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu above. System Setup 1.Auto MCACC 2.Surr Back System 3.Manual MCACC 4.Data Management 5.Manual SP Setup...
The System Setup menu • Do not adjust the volume during the test tones. This may result in incorrect speaker settings. • With error messages (such as Ambient Noise or Microphone Check) select RETRY after checking for ambient noise (see Problems when using the Auto MCACC Setup on page 10) and verifying the mic connection.
The System Setup menu Select ‘Surr Back System’ from the System Setup menu. See Making receiver settings from the System Setup menu above if you’re not already at this screen. System Setup 1.Auto MCACC 2.Surr Back System 3.Manual MCACC 4.Data Management 5.Manual SP Setup 6.Input Setup 7.Other Setup...
The System Setup menu Select ‘Fine Ch Level’ from the Manual MCACC setup menu. The volume increases to the 0 dB reference level. 3.Manual MCACC 3a.Fine Channel Level a.Fine Ch Level b.Fine SP Distance c.Standing Wave Please Wait... d.EQ Adjust e.EQ Professional Caution! Loud test tones...
The System Setup menu Standing Wave • Default setting: ON Acoustic standing waves occur when, under certain conditions, sound waves from your speaker system resonate mutually with sound waves reflected off the walls in your listening area. This can have a negative effect on the overall sound, especially at certain lower frequencies.
The System Setup menu Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ This setup minimizes the unwanted effects of room reverberation by allowing you to calibrate your system based on the direct sound coming from the speakers. It can also provide you with a graphical output of the frequency response of your room.
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The System Setup menu Note that changing the room (for example, moving furniture or paintings) will affect the calibration results. In such cases, you should recalibrate your system. Using Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ Select ‘EQ Professional’ then press ENTER. 3.Manual MCACC a.Fine Ch Level b.Fine SP Distance c.Standing Wave...
The System Setup menu Data Management This system allows you to store up to six MCACC presets, allowing you to calibrate your system for different listening positions (or frequency adjustments for the same listening position). This is useful for alternate settings to match the kind of source you’re listening to and where you’re sitting (for example, watching movies from a sofa, or playing a video game close to the TV).
The System Setup menu Renaming MCACC presets If you have several different MCACC presets that you’re using, you may want to rename them for easier identification. Select ‘Memory Rename’ from the Data Management setup menu. 4.Data Management a.MCACC Data Check b.MCACC Data Copy c.Memory Rename d.Memory Clear...
The System Setup menu Choose the set of speakers that you want to set then select a speaker size. Use / to select the size (and number) of each of the following speakers: • Front – Select LARGE if your front speakers reproduce bass frequencies effectively, or if you didn’t connect a subwoofer.
The System Setup menu When you’re finished, press RETURN. You will return to the Manual SP Setup menu. • You can change the channel levels at any time by pressing CH LEVEL then using / on the remote control. Speaker Distance For good sound depth and separation from your system, you need to specify the distance of your speakers from the listening position.
• The connected iPod should be updated with iPod updater software higher than version 2004-10-20. 3 The controls of your iPod will be inoperable when connected to this receiver (Pioneer shows in the iPod display). Features such as the equalizer cannot be controlled using this receiver, and we recommend switching the equalizer off before connecting.
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Other connections Use the / buttons to browse the selected category (e.g., albums). • Use / to move to previous/next levels. Continue browsing until you arrive at what you want to play, then press to start playback. Navigation through categories on your iPod looks like this: Playlists ...
DVR/ both video and audio on a single digital connection for use with DVD players, DTV, set-top boxes, and other AV VSX-LX50 devices. HDMI was developed to provide the technologies of High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) as well as Digital Visual Interface (DVI) in one specification.
Other connections HDMI, the logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI licensing LLC. Connecting the multichannel analog inputs For DVD Audio and SACD playback, your DVD player may have 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channel analog outputs (depending on whether your player supports surround back channels).
Other connections • SPB – Sound is output from the two speakers connected to speaker system B. Multichannel sources will not be heard. The same signal is output from the surround back channel pre-out terminals. • SPAB – Sound is output from speaker system A (up to 5 channels, depending on the source), the two speakers in speaker system B, and the subwoofer.
Note 1 The 3-ringed SR+ cable from Pioneer is commercially available under the part number ADE7095. Contact the Pioneer Customer Support division for more information on obtaining an SR+ cable (you can also use a commercially available 3-ringed mini phone plug for the connection).
• On-screen display of listening mode. • Automatic video input switching on the plasma display. • Automatic volume muting on the plasma display. See also SR+ Setup for Pioneer plasma displays on page 57 for more on setting up the receiver. TV/SAT AUDIO IN...
2 You will have to make an SR+ cable connection from a CONTROL OUT jack on the display to the CONTROL IN jack on this receiver (opposite from the setup in Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display on page 54 plasma display’s remote sensor after making this connection.
See also Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display on page 54 and Using the SR+ mode with a Pioneer plasma display on page 55. Select ‘SR+ Setup’ from the Other Setup menu.
Using other functions Chapter 11: Using other functions Setting the AV options There are a number of additional sound and picture settings you can make using the AV Parameter menu. The defaults, if not stated, are listed in bold. Important •...
Using other functions Setting What it does V. CONV Converts analog video signals for (Digital Video output from the MONITOR OUT Conversion) jacks for all video types. BRIGHT Adjusts the overall brightness. (Brightness) CONTRAST Adjusts the contrast between light and dark. Adjusts the red/green balance.
Using other functions Reducing the level of an analog signal The input attenuator lowers the input level of an analog signal when it’s too strong. You can use this if you find the that the OVER indicator is lights often, or you can hear distortion in the sound.
Using other functions Resetting the system Use this procedure to reset all the receiver’s settings to the factory default. Use the front panel controls to do this. Switch the receiver into standby. While holding down the front panel TONE button, press and hold ...
2 • When using a Pioneer HDD recorder, please select PIONEER DVR 487, 488, 489 or 493. • When using a Pioneer plasma display released prior to summer 2005, please select preset codes 600 or 231. 3 The remote can store about 200 preset codes (this has been tested with codes of Pioneer format only).
Controlling the rest of your system • The remote controls should be 3 cm to 5 cm apart. 3 cm to 5 cm Press the corresponding button on the other remote control that is sending (teaching) the signal to this receiver’s remote control. For example, if you want to learn the playback control signal, press and hold ...
Controlling the rest of your system Press the button of the component for which you want to check the preset code, then press ENTER. The brand name and preset code appears in the display for three seconds. Renaming input source names You can customize the names that appear on the remote LCD when you select an input source (for example, you could change the name of DVR 1 to HDD/DVR).
(except DVD recorders); • program the power to switch on if it’s the source component selected in step 3; • program a Pioneer TV or monitor to switch on if the input function (selected in step 2) has video input terminals;...
Controlling the rest of your system Controls for TVs This remote control can control components after entering the proper codes or teaching the receiver the commands (see Setting the remote to control other components on page 62 for more on this). Use the input source buttons to select the component.
If you have connected a remote control to the CONTROL IN jack (using a mini-plug cable), you won’t be able to control this unit using the remote sensor. • See Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display on page 54 if you are connecting a Pioneer plasma display.
• Something is obstructing the fan. Remove the obstruction and try switching the receiver back on. If the fan is still not working, or you can’t remove the object, unplug the receiver from the wall and call a Pioneer authorized independent service company.
Additional information Symptom Remedy • Check that the surround back speakers are set to LARGE or SMALL (see Speaker Setting on page 46). No sound from surround back speakers. • Make sure surround back processing is set to SBch ON (see Using surround back channel processing on page 29).
Additional information Symptom Can’t record audio. Subwoofer output is very low. Everything seems to be set up correctly, but the playback sound is odd. The PHASE CONTROL feature doesn’t seem to have an audible effect. Noise or hum can be heard even when there is no sound being input.
Additional information Symptom Remedy Can’t adjust the Fine Speaker • Check that the speakers are all in phase (make sure the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals are Distance setting (page 41) matched up properly). properly. Most recent settings have been •...
• If the battery ran down, the preset codes may have been cleared. Re-enter the preset codes. • The preset code may be incorrect. Redo the procedure for entering preset codes. • Reinsert the SR cable, making sure it’s connected to the right jack (see Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display on page 54).
Additional information Symptom Remedy Noisy or distorted picture. • Sometimes a video deck may output a noisy video signal (during scanning, for example), or the video quality may just be poor (with some video game units, for example). The picture quality may also depend on the settings, etc.
Additional information Surround sound formats Below is a brief description of the main surround sound formats you’ll find on DVDs, satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasts, and video cassettes. Dolby The Dolby technologies are explained below. See www.dolby.com for more detailed information. Dolby Digital Dolby Digital is a multichannel digital audio coding system widely used in cinemas, and in the home for DVD and digital...
Additional information The DTS technologies are explained below. See www.dtstech.com for more detailed information. DTS Digital Surround DTS Digital Surround is a 5.1-channel audio coding system from DTS Inc. now widely used for DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, 5.1 music discs, digital broadcasts, and video games. It can deliver up to six discrete audio channels, comprising five full range channels, including an LFE channel.
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Additional information • Re-Equalization The tonal balance of a film soundtrack will be excessively bright and harsh when played back over audio equipment in the home because film soundtracks were designed to be played back in large movie theaters using very different professional equipment. Re-Equalization restores the correct tonal balance for watching a movie soundtrack in a small home environment.
Additional information Listening modes with different input signal formats The following charts outline the listening modes available with different input signal formats, depending on the surround back channel processing and decoding method you have selected. Stereo (2 channel) signal formats SBch Processing Input signal format SBch...
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Additional information Multichannel signal formats SBch Processing Input signal format SBch Dolby Digital Plus Processing Dolby TrueHD DTS-HD (7.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio decoding used for WMA9 Pro (44.1 kHz/48 kHz) all sources) (6.1/7.1 channel) Dolby Digital Plus Dolby TrueHD (except for 176.4 kHz/ 192 kHz) (5.1 channel)
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Additional information SBch Processing Input signal format SBch Dolby Digital Plus Processing Dolby TrueHD AUTO DTS-HD (Automatically DTS-HD Master Audio selects 6.1/7.1 WMA9 Pro channel decoding) (6.1/7.1 channel) Dolby TrueHD (176.4 kHz/192 kHz) (5.1 channel) Dolby Digital EX (6.1 channel flagged) DTS-ES (6.1 channel sources/6.1 channel flagged)
Additional information Stream direct with different input signal formats The following charts show what you will hear with different input signal formats, depending on the Stream Direct mode (see Using Stream Direct on page 28) you have selected. Stereo (2 channel) signal formats Surround Back speaker(s) Connected (Maximum 7.1 channel...
Additional information Specifications Amplifier section Continuous Power Output (Stereo) Front..150 W + 150 W (DIN 1 kHz, THD 1 %, 6 Ω) 120 W + 120 W (DIN 1 kHz, THD 1 %, 8 Ω) Continuous Power Output (Multichannel) Front.
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253 Alexandra Road, #04-01, Singapore 159936 TEL: 65-6472-7555 PIONEER ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. 178-184 Boundary Road, Braeside, Victoria 3195, Australia, TEL: (03) 9586-6300 PIONEER ELECTRONICS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. Blvd.Manuel Avila Camacho 138 10 piso Col.Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico,D.F. 11000 TEL: 55-9178-4270 <07D00001>...