Pioneer VSX-818V 5.1-Channel AV Receiver

I really love this receiver; my father originally had a Pioneer from the 1970s he bought for 400 dollars. It had the turntable, receiver, speakers and tape deck. Its still preforming great. This convinced me to buy a Pioneer. Another reason, they are one of the only manufactures that are out there who actually outputs 120 watts per channel. When powering a Bose Acoustimas system the speakers can take 150 watts per channel. This receiver also has my favorite feature; an iPod input via USB in the front which allows you to pretty much control your iPod entirely with the remote which will display on your TV as well as the small pannel on the receiver. The only way to get true 5.1 channel audio out of this baby though is Optical Audio; which it has two inputs. One for my TV and one for PS3; I honestly think thats all I really need too. Great purchase! Only wish it had HDMI audio pass through as well as the video it has. Fantastic beginners audio receiver. Make sure your speakers are at least 120 watts per channel though; its one powerful receiver. PS If you want the audio pass through you'll have to go the 918 not the 518 or 818, I would have but I dont want to pay over 250 dollars for my first receiver.

This is an excellent receiver for the price. Takes some time to adjust settings to get the exact desirable sound, but well worth the education.

The 1-star rating is for the great combination of false advertising and outright belligerent customer service.

Short version:
If you have an iPod that is pre-5th-generation (like my iPod Photo), or an iPod Mini, or presumably an iPod Touch - this receiver will NOT work with your iPod and you're paying for a feature that doesn't exist.

Long version:
I bought this unit specifically because I was looking for a receiver with integrated iPod support (including on-screen display for menus). According to Pioneer's product literature, the VSX-818V-K has just that. From the product brochure*: "iPod® Player Digital Direct via USB". From the specification sheet: "iPod: Digital USB". And from Pioneer's press release**: "...provide[s] immediate "plug and play" enjoyment of iPod® music content via a front panel digital USB port. With iPod Digital, the receivers are compatible with the iPod's connector cable eliminating the need for a separate dock while maintaining functionality. The iPod can be fully controlled with the unit's remote control and OSD capability allowing users to navigate and share their playlists."

Great! I go and purchase the receiver. Come home, wire it up, plug in my iPod. The receiver's display flashes: "ERROR I3". I open the manual and look up the error: "The iPod that is not supported is connected." Hmm. I have an iPod photo - not brand new, but not exactly a dinosaur (less than 3 years old). But sure enough: a little footnote in fine print on page 55 of the user manual -- which, of course, you can only read after you've bought the unit and opened the box -- it says, the following (verbatim):

"This system is compatible with the audio of an iPod an iPod nano portable device (fifth generation and above). However, that some of the functions may be restricted for some models. Note, however, compatibility may vary depending on the software version of your iPod. Please be sure to use the latest available software version."

So I call Pioneer technical support. Between long hold times and short bits of conversation, I was on the phone for 31 minutes. The first rep, after much research, informed me that I need "what's called a U-S-B cable. You'd have to buy that from Apple Corporation." Really?? No kidding! How about I speak to your supervisor?

Next representative, ~10 minutes later: "You'd have to talk to the place where you bought the product. You didn't buy it from us, we can't take responsibility for it." I'm not making that up. Further: "It says right there in the manual that only certain iPod versions are supported." I tell her, "Yes, but it doesn't say it ANYWHERE in the product literature, and you can't read the manual until you've already paid for the unit and opened the box!"

Anyway, long story short I asked them to just send me an iPod dock that Pioneer makes so that the product I bought from them can just work as advertised. No go - "You can buy it, but we're not gonna send it to you free of charge." In the end, the woman - Masumi, I didn't get her last name - insisted that although the product literature clearly states that this receiver universally supports iPods, it was up to me to talk to the sales representative and ask whether there was some chance that my particular iPod is an exception. She really did think that this is a reasonable thing for a customer to have to do. At that point I got the name and number of HER supervisor, currently debating whether I should even bother or just take this POS back to the store and never buy anything from Pioneer again. Total disappointment and a tremendous waste of time.

*Product brochure: [...]

**Press release: [...]