Entered CNET Catalog: 06/23/2005
SKU: VSX-915K
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
Manufacturer description
This next-generation A/V receiver provides customized audio performance for your home. Yes, yours. With the use of an included setup microphone, Auto MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) actually measures the acoustic characteristics of your media room and automatically calibrates your speakers and components accordingly. It works in any room, regardless of shape or size, and the result is professional-level sonic performance. The powerful VSX-915-K sends a blistering 110 watts of equal power to all seven channels (even a dual surround back speaker). With Pioneer's Thermal Compensation Transistor Amplification design, the amplifiers main components are built onto a single integrated circuit designed to automatically compensate for temperature variations for precision output and mimimal distortion even when presented with high levels of current. The VSX-915-K also features Advanced Multi-Channel Digital Processing, with DTS-ES Discrete, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital EX, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoders. It employs a double-precision Motorola 48-bit DSP engine that's used in top theaters worldwide. A Windows Media Audio 9 (WMA-9) Professional Decoder allows you to listen to two-channel and multi-channel WMA compressed audio files directly from your PC. The VSX-915-K is also ready for both hi-resolution multi-channel DVD-Audio and SACD discs. All this performance and the conveniences of Advanced Quick Setup, a full complement of digital audio and hi-definition video inputs and outputs, Video Conversion (up-converts composite video signals into S-Video), and a new pre-programmed/learning LCD remote are what make the VSX-915-K a "Next-Generation" A/V Receiver.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4
User Rating: 
8/10
Excellent overall, but one advertised function is missing.
Pros: Very clean and easy set up
Cons: Advertised Composite up conversion to S-video not there.
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This is my first multichannel receiver, an upgrade from a 25 year old Onkyo Stereo System.
I'm running mixed speakers, no sub-woofer. The main front speakers are the big 6 ohm Onkyo's, the back speakers are small Bose 161's, and the center speaker is a pair of Altec Lansing 641's. Automatic setup and calibration seemed to work well, except that the end result was a bit bright. Changing to "F-align" so that the large Onkyo speakers were not leveled to match the small bookcase speakers restored base and depth.
Overall I'm very pleased, the one problem I've found so far is that I've not been able to get the Composite to S-video up conversion to work. This is not a major concern, but I still hope to resolve this and have sent an e-mail to Pioneer about the issue.
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Since then I received a response from Pioneer:
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Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 13:20:02 -0800
From: customer.support@pioneerservice.com
Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.
Pioneer: No, the VSX-915 will not up convert the video.
The s-video board is seperate board and never mixes with any other video boards.
Thank You,
Phil
Customer Service Representative
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However, the Pioneer web page says differently:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_209691824,00.html
"... Video Conversion (up-converts composite video signals into S-Video), ..."
User Rating: 
6/10
great entry-level surround sound
Pros: plenty of power, nice remote, decent setup
Cons: no up-conversion
User Rating: 
9/10
smooth operator
Pros: Great remote, easy to set up,
Cons: manual could be better
User Rating: 8/10
Best bang for the buck receiver in its price range bar none . $ 300.00
Pros: price , power, MCACC,video conversion, ease of setup
Cons: no on screen display, remote not user friendly
