Broad subject I know but I'm in need of a new receiver and was hoping someone
might have a recommendation. My only requirements are direct volume control to preset levels, not stepping thru levels, direct input control and of course power.

I haven't been using this system for Indigo announcements primarily because of it's
lack of direct volume control. No way of knowing where it is.

Been controlling the one I have using IR, no Ethernet cabling around, but it could be wifi.
It's not a serious listening setup, mostly provides better audio for whatever I may
be showing on TV.

Any ideas greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Carl

Hi Carl.

I have a Pioneer VSX-1021K that I control with Indigo over Ethernet. I think the latest version of it is the VSX-1022K, but that model should have the same command set, which is pretty close to identical to Pioneer's Elite receiver command set. You can view the complete command set in this Excel file. (You can also view all the custom install docs for their products at http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Support/Home-Entertainment-Custom-Install). You can set the volume directly rather than incrementally via the "VOL###" command (where ### is a number between 000 and 185, 000 being -80.5 dB cut, 161 being 0.0 dB, and 185 being +12.0 dB gain... i.e. f'in' loud). I've been happy with it so far, and the AirPlay feature is handy.

Denon has long had an ethernet connection on their equipment. Don't know about the direct volume control.

I'm in the same camp as nsheldon. I have 3 of the Pioneer VSX-1021K and they work very well with Indigo.

Terry

Hey you two - how about a plugin for them then? That would be KILLER.

I have a Pioneer Elite VSX-53 and I have been able to send it commands from my MacBook Air with no problems. I can start to write a plug-in if I get some suggestions of what people would be interested in. There are lots of commands, are there some commands that are more desired than others (initially)?

jay (support) wrote:Hey you two - how about a plugin for them then? That would be KILLER.

I've toyed with it - we're right in the middle of buying/selling/moving at the moment so most everything has been disconnected. Be happy to once I get past this stuff - prob. late July.

I'm also looking at HTD's whole home audio systems so I'll definitely churn out a plugin for that.

The new house will have a dedicated theater so I plan on a ground-up re-do of all my automation stuff with liberal write-ups along the way.

Terry

I'm considering writing a plugin for the VSX-1021K as well. I need to familiarize myself with the Twisted Telnet example plugin and how to connect to and monitor responses from the receiver. I'm still getting used to OO design too.

Thanks a bunch for the recommendations. I don't have a wired Ethernet connection nearby
but I'm liking the Denon gear so I suppose I'll need to get that wired.

Have to get into writing plugins!

Carl

I'm sure the Denons have this option too, but the 1021 is compatible with Pioneer's Wi-Fi adapter. I've never used it (at $130, it's not worth the cost to me) but it is an option.

Any Receiver / Preamp with a RS232 connection can be used in combination with the simple serial plugin, or via Perry's Cynical Caché plugin.

You should be able to call any function you require.

I am currently using the simple serial plugin to control my Anthem D1. I am planing one day to develop a proper plugin when time permits, but for now it is working just fine.

jay (support) wrote:Hey you two - how about a plugin for them then? That would be KILLER.

I've begun active work on a plugin for the Pioneer VSX-1021K. I think I've now got a decent handle on how to go about it now. Feel free to put me on the list of folks working on it Jay.

Added.

Just an update:

The plugin is coming along. I've got it querying just about every setting on the receiver and storing the results in either a device state or property, and have a number of actions configured to send commands to the receiver that work well. Overall though, I'd say I'm about 40% done. Still lots of actions to configure and testing to do, plus documentation.