Pioneer VSX-822-K Review and Specs

Pioneer VSX-822-K (USA version)

SCORE:
24
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Highlights

  • 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
  • 1080p Passthrough
  • AirPlay, DLNA
  • Ethernet, Bluetooth
  • USB input

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Pioneer VSX-822-K Overview

Pioneer VSX-822-K was introduced in 2012. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 24 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

AMPLIFIER
35
VIDEO FEATURES
5
AUDIO FEATURES
21
CONNECTIVITY
30
MULTIZONE
20
MISCELLANEOUS
17
RADIO
46
OVERALL
24

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and video signal passthrough and upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

Pros and Cons

In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer VSX-822-K.

PROS
DSD via HDMI πŸ‘
DTS Dialog Control πŸ‘
DLNA 1.5 πŸ‘
Ethernet πŸ‘
Bluetooth πŸ‘
New HDCP Version πŸ‘
USB Input πŸ‘
Composite Video Inputs πŸ‘
Analog Pre-Outs πŸ‘
Zones πŸ‘
Analog Tuner πŸ‘
Internet Radio πŸ‘
Pandora πŸ‘
CONS
No Dolby Atmos πŸ‘Ž
No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization πŸ‘Ž
No DTS:X πŸ‘Ž
No DTS Neural:X πŸ‘Ž
No DTS Virtual:X πŸ‘Ž
No IMAX Enhanced πŸ‘Ž
No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer πŸ‘Ž
No Audyssey Dynamic EQ πŸ‘Ž
No Audyssey Dynamic Volume πŸ‘Ž
No Audyssey LFC πŸ‘Ž
No Audyssey Sub EQ HT πŸ‘Ž
No HDR10 πŸ‘Ž
No HDR10+ πŸ‘Ž
No Dynamic HDR πŸ‘Ž
No Dolby Vision πŸ‘Ž
No Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through πŸ‘Ž
No VRR πŸ‘Ž
No QFT πŸ‘Ž
No 4K or 8K Video Passthrough πŸ‘Ž
No 4K or 8K Video Upscaling πŸ‘Ž
No MHL Input πŸ‘Ž
No FireConnect πŸ‘Ž
No FlareConnect πŸ‘Ž
No Chromecast Built-In πŸ‘Ž
No DTS Play-Fi πŸ‘Ž
Does not Work with Amazon Alexa πŸ‘Ž
Does Not Work with SONOS πŸ‘Ž
No Wi-Fi πŸ‘Ž
No eARC πŸ‘Ž
Few HDMI Outputs πŸ‘Ž
Few Analog Audio Line Inputs πŸ‘Ž
No Phono Input πŸ‘Ž
No Component Video Inputs πŸ‘Ž
No Multi-Channel Input πŸ‘Ž
No Spotify πŸ‘Ž
No Tidal πŸ‘Ž
No Deezer πŸ‘Ž
No Napster πŸ‘Ž
No SiriusXM Internet Radio πŸ‘Ž

Selected Features

Amplifier

Pioneer VSX-822-K has 5 channel amplifier and delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven).


Video Features

The Receiver has 1080p passthrough.


Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-822-K is done by Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever. Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3 and WMA files stored on USB, Smartphone and portable media players. By restoring data that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneers Advanced Sound Retriever Technology enhances audio reproduction all the way upto 20 Khz frequencies.


Room Correction

Pioneer VSX-822-K comes with MCACC Auto room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.


Connectivity

Pioneer VSX-822-K can be connected to internet using ethernet cable. It can also connect to bluetooth devices via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately). The Receiver supports AirPlay. It has 6 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.2 copy protection. There are 2.1 (Surr Back/Front Height) channel analog pre-outs for external amplification.

Front panel has USB and Composite Video inputs.

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Detailed Specifications

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer VSX-822-K.

BASICS
BrandPioneer
ModelVSX-822-K
TypeA/V Receiver
CountryUSA
Release Year2012
AMPLIFIER
Channels5.1
Amplifier DesignDirect Energy
THXβ„’ Certificationβœ–
Continuous 6 Ω Ratedβœ”
Certified 4 Ω Performanceβœ–
Bi-amp Capabilityβœ–
AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) EngineTexas Instruments Aureus
Maximum Channel Processing7.1
Air Studios Monitor Certificationβœ–
Dolby Atmosβœ–
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizationβœ–
Dolby TrueHDβœ”
Dolby Digital Plusβœ”
Dolby Surround Upmixerβœ–
Dolby Pro Logicβœ” PLIIz
Dolby Digital EXβœ”
Surround EXβœ–
DTS:Xβœ–
DTS Neural:Xβœ–
DTS Virtual:Xβœ–
DTS Neoβœ” Neo:6
DTS-HD Master Audioβœ”
DTS-HD High Resolution Audioβœ–
DTS 96/24βœ”
DTS Expressβœ”
DTS-ESβœ”
IMAX Enhancedβœ–
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixerβœ–
PCMβœ” 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USBWAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Networkβœ” 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USBWAV/FLAC
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USBβœ–
Gapless Playbackβœ–
DSD via HDMIβœ” 2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converterβœ–
USB DACβœ–
Jitter Reductionβœ–
Auto Level Control2 Channel
Dialog Enhancementβœ–
Dialogue Liftβœ–
Sound Retrieverβœ” Advanced (2-Channel)
Sound Retriever AIRβœ”
Digital Noise Reductionβœ–
Tone Controlβœ” Front L/R Channels
Compressed Music Enhancerβœ” Advanced Sound Retriever
High-resolution Music Enhancerβœ–
Digital Filter Slow Modeβœ–
Audyssey Dynamic EQβœ–
Audyssey Dynamic Volumeβœ–
Audyssey LFCβœ–
Audyssey Sub EQ HTβœ–
Audyssey DSXβœ–
Direct Modeβœ”
Pure Direct Modeβœ”
Auto Surroundβœ”
Optimum Surroundβœ–
Advanced Surround9+1 Mode DSP
Wide Surroundβœ–
Front Stage Surround Advanceβœ”
Headphone Surroundβœ”
Virtual Speakersβœ–
Virtual Depthβœ–
Independent Dual Subwoofer Outputβœ–
CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.βœ” MCACC Auto
Manual MCACCβœ–
MCACC Memory1
Phase Controlβœ”
Full Band Phase Controlβœ–
Standing Wave Controlβœ–
EQ Bands5-Band
Symmetric EQβœ”
X-Curveβœ–
Distance Adjustment0.1 Feet
Precision Distanceβœ–
Polarity Checkβœ–
Auto Subwoofer Crossoverβœ–
PC Displayβœ–
VIDEO
HDR10βœ–
HDR10+βœ–
Dynamic HDRβœ–
BT.2020 color spaceβœ–
Dolby Visionβœ–
Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)βœ–
Quick Media Switching (QMS)βœ–
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)βœ–
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)βœ–
Quick Frame Transport (QFT)βœ–
3-D Readyβœ”
Video Signal Passthroughup to 1080p
Video Signal Upscalingβœ–
Analog To HDMI Upconversionβœ–
Component Video Upscalingβœ–
Analog to Analog Video conversionβœ–
Stream Smootherβœ–
Pure Cinemaβœ–
Video Parameter Adjustmentsβœ–
Triple HD Noise Reductionβœ–
Super Resolutionβœ–
isf Certified Calibration Controlβœ–
CONNECTIVITY
MHL Inputβœ–
DLNA 1.5βœ”
FireConnectβœ–
FlareConnectβœ–
Chromecast Built-Inβœ–
DTS Play-Fiβœ–
Works with Amazon Alexaβœ–
Works with SONOSβœ–
AirPlayβœ” AirPlay
Apple Product Connectionβœ” iPod, iPhone and iPad via front USB
Remote Appβœ–
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevueβœ–
Ethernetβœ”
Ethernet Switchβœ–
Wi-Fiβœ–
Bluetoothβœ” via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately)
HDBaseT Compatibleβœ–
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)βœ–
HDCP Version2.2
HDMI Inputs6
HDMI Outputs1
USB Input1 Front
USB DC Out Portβœ–
Analog Audio Line Inputs3
Analog Audio Line Outputsβœ–
Phono Inputβœ–
Optical Inputs1
Optical Outputsβœ–
Coaxial Inputs/Outputs1 / No
Composite Video Inputs3 (1 front)
Composite Video Outputs1
S-Video Inputsβœ–
S-Video Outputsβœ–
Component Video Inputsβœ–
Component Video Outputsβœ–
PC Inβœ–
Multi-Channel Inputβœ–
Analog Pre-Outs2.1 (Surr Back/Front Height)
XLR Inputsβœ–
XLR Pre-outsβœ–
Front A/V InputsUSB, Composite Video
Speaker A/Bβœ–
Headphone Outβœ” 6.3 mm
ZONES
Zones1
RS-232 Interfaceβœ–
+12V Trigger Outputβœ–
Remote (IR) Input/Output0 / 0
MISC
On-Screen DisplayNetwork GUI / Set-Up Text - HDMI Only
AVNavigatorβœ–
IP Controlβœ–
PreAmp Modeβœ–
Versatile Speaker Configurationβœ–
FL Dimmerβœ”
Function Renameβœ–
Remote ControllerPreset Remote Control
Detachable Power Cordβœ–
adapterportβœ”
RADIO
Analog Tunerβœ” FM/AM
Presets30
Digital Radioβœ–
Internet Radioβœ” vTuner
Pandoraβœ”
Spotifyβœ–
Tidalβœ–
Deezerβœ–
Napsterβœ–
SiriusXM Internet Radioβœ–
CONSTRUCTION
Front PanelBrushed
Solid Aluminum Frontβœ–
Speaker Terminals5
Large Speaker Terminals5
Color-Coded Speaker Terminalsβœ–
Ceramic Speaker Terminalsβœ–
3D Space Frame Constructionβœ–
Gold plated RCA terminalsβœ–
POWER
Power SupplyAC 120 V, 60 Hz
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformerβœ–
Transformer Stabilizerβœ–
Power Consumption450 W
Standby Power0.4 W
GENERAL
Auto Power Standbyβœ”
Dimensions (W x H x D)435 mm x 168 mm x 342.5 mm
17-3/16" x 6-5/8" x 13-1/2"
Weight8.9 kg (19 lb 10 oz)
Warranty1 Year
SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)80 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC)140 W (1% THD)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)200 mV/47 kΩ (Line)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)98 dB
S/N Ratio (Line, EIA, at 1 W (1 kHz))79 dB
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
HDMI TerminalType A (19-pin)
HDMI Output Type5 V, 100 mA
USB TerminalUSB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 2.1 A
adapterport Terminal5 V, 100 mA
Extension Terminalβœ–
FM Frequency87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
AM Frequency530 kHz - 1700 kHz

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted

Successor

In 2013 Pioneer VSX-822-K was replaced by VSX-823-K. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.


UPGRADES Pioneer VSX-823-K Pioneer VSX-822-K
Gapless Playback βœ” βœ–
Video Signal Passthrough up to 4K/30p up to 1080p
MHL Input βœ” 1 Front (Version 2.0) βœ–
Spotify βœ” βœ–

DOWNGRADES Pioneer VSX-823-K Pioneer VSX-822-K
Less Channel Processing 5.1 7.1
Less Analog Pre-Outs 0.1 2.1 (Surr Back/Front Height)

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-823-K vs Pioneer VSX-822-K.

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