Common denominator with these models power failure issue.

The entire family in this line

seems to have the same problem: the power button is pushed - the unit comes on - the
unit powers itself off after about 5 seconds.

SOLUTION

Hi All,

I had the same problem (switching off after 5 seconds) with my VSX-822k . Took it to a repair shop,
they told me my left channel had died causing it to go into protection mode. They replaced the
following parts:

2SD2390 Transistor
2SB1560 Transistor
KTC3964 Transistor
2442043982 0.22 OHM 1W Resistor

Now its working fine. This is for those technically inclined, checked the cost of these parts in total is
like $40 tops.

Hope this helps someone.

I just wanted to post here saying that I've fixed TWO of these receivers (VSX-821-K and
VSX-921-K) that I bought cheap off eBay as not working, and this is almost exactly what I
had to replace (it's a similar set, but either the 822 failed in a different way than mine, or it's a
slightly different amp design). Either way, since I bought the parts in some bulk (no point in
paying shipping for just one set of parts, especially if this was going to happen again), it
probably only set me back about $15-$20 per fix. The hardest part was sourcing the
KTC3206 (probably performing the same task as the KTC3964 in the above post, since
they're very similar transistors), which is a hard-to-find Korean brand.

What was curious to see was that both amps failed in EXACTLY the same way. The output
transistors (2SD2390/2SB1560) were dead shorts, which made it easy to identify the dead
channel with an ohmmeter. One pair of resistors going from the output transistors to the
actual output (2x 0.47 ohm 2W in parallel, probably performing the same function as the 0.22
1W resistor above) had DETONATED. The KTC3206 (preamp transistor driving the output
transistors) had failed open. The two KSA992 transistors forming the differential amplifier on
the input had failed open, and the 47 ohm 1W resistor providing a load for said differential
amp had also detonated. Also, the capacitor on the feedback side of the differential amp had
burst because it was running continuously reverse-biased due to the other failures
(electrolytics form a great DC path to ground when you do that).

Took me the better part of three days to diagnose it, but it was worth it when the second
receiver had exactly the same failures and I had ordered extra parts. :-) My guess is that
there's inadequate short-circuit protection on the output, and if the outputs get shorted, the
output transistors fail shorted and destroy a lot of the rest of the amplifier chain. Fortunately,
it doesn't seem to feed back into the rest of the receiver, because any of the other boards are
basically unrepairable.

Also, it's probably worth noting that the failures here came up as "overload" when looking at
the diagnostic (if anyone wants a more detailed explanation of what that actually means, I can
try to explain, but the short answer is that it thinks the output is shorted).

For what it's worth, I'm an electrical engineer, so I have some experience to rely on when
diagnosing amplifier faults. I also had a copy of the 521/821/921 service manual (thanks,
Internet!). Don't go poking around there with little/no experience, because the power rails for
the amplifier are +/- 50v (that's 100v pole-pole), which can give you a NASTY shock. It's
also high current, so if you accidentally short something, you could cause a fire. Be careful,
and if you don't know what you're doing, find someone who does. Diagnosing amps can be a
fun learning experience, but it is less so if you hurt yourself!

But while I'm here, anyone know how to get service manuals from Pioneer? I have a VSX-51
coming in with similar symptoms, but I'm reasonably confident that the amp circuit is
probably different and I'd rather have the service manual in front of me (and I can't find it on
the Internet).

A friend asked me to look at his VSX-551. Apparently its the same as a VSX-50, and the same amp
chassy as the 1021. Initial findings were no power, but flashing blue MCAAC light. I was able to reset
the error with the -tune and Multizone on/off button. I found DC offset on the SBR Channel
(Surround back Right)

As most repairs go, you can count on the output drivers blown, and the emmiter resistors. (The very
low resistance, High power resistors you see just after the outputs.) You should always diode check
the predriver transistors and the biasing resists around it. I found a couple of low ohm resistors
blown also. The good news is most of the time you can see these are blown. The oddball find was
finding R493 and Q417 blown. (33Ohm/1W and a KSA992, same as a few of the predriver xistors in
the driver ch) This is a -B monitor line, so I'm guessing these were blown bringing it out of protect
mode.

Always desolder at least two of the legs of a transistor when trying to test in ckt, Sometimes you'll
bias on other transistors and it will give you a false reading if you don't. Also, the hard to find KSA
3206 is available through MCMelectronics. I hate paying $5 for shipping on a $0.50 part but I haven't
found it at any of the other spots yet.

And to wrap up, All of this was cause due to a remote IR repeater getting stuck and cracking the
volume all the way up until the amp blew up. Fun times.

Happy troubleshooting