How to Play Music on a Pioneer VSXLX102 AV Receiver

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Play or Stream Audio

The Pioneer VSX-LX102 is a thrilling high-quality AV receiver. High current discrete power amplifiers on all 7 channels deliver astonishing power and clarity.

Pioneer VSX-LX102

This guide will walk you though the following:

  • How to connect, and stream audio over Bluetooth
  • Streaming audio with your Smart TV
  • Stream audio with HEOS or internet based radio
  • Play audio from connected USB media

2. Input and Navigation

All playback options involve setting the receiver to the correct input, navigating the TV screen if needed, and playing media appropriately for that medium.

To select the input source from the AV receiver itself

  1. Turn the dial Left and Right to select the input.
Input Selector
  1. The Display will show the currently selected input.

To select the input source using the remote control

  1. Press the Labeled buttons.
Input Buttons
  1. Common navigation controls for your AV receiver:
Basic Function Buttons

  1. AV Adjust - Press during play to adjust sound quality
  2. Status - Displays the status information on the TV screen
  3. Arrows â–²/â–¼/â–º/â—„ - Move the focus in the menu screen
  4. Enter - Selects the focused menu / item
  5. Home - Displays the home screen
  6. Back- Returns to the previous screen

To select the input source on your Television

  • Depending on what device you are electing to use with your AV receiver and how your equipment is connected, you may also need to adjust your Television's input settings as well. To adjust your television's input:
  • Ensure the TV is powered on (1).
  • Depending on your TV remote's button layout, press the button labeled AV, Input, or Source (2) on the remote to display the input selection menu.
Television remote control with labeled buttons. Diagram.
  • Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to highlight the desired input, then press the OK button to select said input.
Television input menu. Diagram.
  • This process can be repeated at any time to switch to a different video input on your television. For example, switching from watching Cable television to a DVD player and then back again.

The images above are only a general guide on changing your television's input settings. Your television remote's button layout will vary depending on the manufacturer and model television being used.

3. Play from External Device

An external device can be anything connected to this unit: TV, radio tuner, CD / DVD / Blu-ray Disc player, VCR, record player, video game console, etc.

External devices connected to AV Receiver.
  1. Turn on the external device connected to your AV receiver that you would like to use.
  2. Using the AV receiver's remote control, or the front panel controls indicated previously, set your AV receiver and Television to the correct input settings.
  3. You can then begin using your external device.

4. Listen to AM/FM Radio

  1. Press the Tuner button to pick either AM or FM radio.
Remote control with the Tuner button highlighted
  1. Press the Mode button to choose Auto Tuning or Manual Tuning.
Remote control with the Mode button highlighted
  1. Use the up/down arrows to scroll though different stations.
Remote control with the up and down arrows highlighted

5. Network Playback

  1. Switch the input on the TV to that assigned to the unit.
  2. Press the NET button on the remote to display a list of Network Functions on the TV.
Remote control with NET button highlighted
  1. You will be provided with a set of network apps.
List of apps on TV screen
  1. Select the network app with the arrow keys of the remote and press ENTER to confirm your selection.
Remote control with the arrow keys highlighted

6. Play audio from USB media

  1. Switch the input on the TV to that assigned to the unit.
  2. Plug your USB storage device with the music files into the USB port either on the front panel or rear panel of this unit.
Person plugging in USB media into USB port
  1. Press USB on the remote controller and select USB FRONT or USB REAR.
Remote control with USB button highlighted
  1. With the arrow keys on the remote controller, select the music file, and then press ENTER to start playback.
Remote control with the arrow keys highlighted

7. Music Playback Controls

The following buttons are used for standard playback. These are common between all the different playback modes.

Playback Function Buttons

ButtonFunction►Starts playback❚❚Pauses playback

❚◄◄
❚►►

Skip to the beginning or previous track and to the next track

8. Play from Network Device

Your AV receiver can connect to a DLNA compatible network device, so long as both are connected to the same home network. This could be music shared from a computer or mobile device acting as a "media server." This guide does not cover configuration of media servers. Please consult your device's documentation for further instructions on how to set up a media server in your home.

To access an available media server from your AV receiver

  1. Press the HEOS button on your AV receiver's remote control.
Network Button
  1. Use the â–²/â–¼ buttons to select Music Server and press Enter.
  2. Select the name of your networked PC/NAS server.
  3. Browse the music on your PC/NAS and select something to play.

9. Play over AirPlay

Your AV receiver can connect to an iOS or macOS device using Apple's AirPlay feature, so long as both are connected to the same home network.

  1. Launch iTunes on your macOS based computer or display the playback screen on your iOS device.
iTunes icon.
  1. If iTunes or the iOS device recognizes the receiver it will show the AirPlay symbol.
AirPlay symbol showing up in iTunes and iOS device.
  1. Click or tap the AirPlay icon then select the name of the receiver as the output device.

10. Play from Bluetooth Device

This unit can be used as a Bluetooth receiver.

  • When paired as a receiver, audio can be streamed to the unit from a transmitter.
Unit receiving data over Bluetooth.

11. Play from Bluetooth Device

Bluetooth technology allows you to stream content wirelessly between devices without having to connect a single cable. With your device connected to your Yamaha receiver via Bluetooth, your home theater system is where your device will output sound rather than its built-in speakers. Playback can take place normally. The following steps are examples of playback options for your devices.

Playing music via bluetooth to AV receiver. Illustration.

12. Apps for Streaming

There are multiple apps that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for the purpose of playing or streaming music and audio on your device.

  1. Open the Google Play Store.
Play Store.
  1. Within the Google Play Store, tap Categories then Music & Audio.
Google Play store with path to music apps highlighted.
  1. Browse through the listed music apps and select the one you prefer. You can even check the most popular ones by tapping Top Charts.
Music apps in Google Play store.

Some popular Apps for streaming or playing music are:

Spotify.

Spotify allows you to search for any track, artist or album and listen for free. Make and share playlists. Build your biggest, best ever music collection. Get inspired with personal recommendations, and readymade playlists for just about everything. Listen absolutely free with ads, or get Spotify Premium.

 

Google Play music.

Google Play Music gives you millions of songs and thousands of playlists for any situation. Powered by Google, we serve up music based on where you are and why you’re listening, getting smarter and more assistive as we get to know your tastes. Subscribe to create playlists, listen offline, and get ad-free YouTube with YouTube Red (where available).

 

Soundcloud.

SoundCloud is the world's largest music and audio streaming platform – 150 million tracks and growing. With a buzzing community of artists and musicians constantly uploading new music, SoundCloud is where you can find the next big artists alongside chart-topping albums, live sets, and mixes for every occasion.

Pandora.

Pandora gives you a personalized music experience that continually evolves with your tastes. Create stations from your favorite songs, artists or genres. Or search browse to find recommended stations for your mood or activity.

13. Apps for Streaming

There are multiple apps that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for the purpose of playing or streaming music and audio on your device.

  1. Open the App Store.
iOS app store icon.
  1. Within the App Store, tap Apps.
iOS App store menu showing Apps highlighted.
  1. Scroll down to Categories and tap See All.
iOS app store top categories menu highlighting see all.
  1. Tap Music.
iOS app categories menu showing music highlighted.
  1. Select the App you want or tap See All to see more.
iOS music category highlightning apps and see all.

Some popular Apps for streaming or playing music are:

Spotify.

Spotify allows you to search for any track, artist or album and listen for free. Make and share playlists. Build your biggest, best ever music collection. Get inspired with personal recommendations, and readymade playlists for just about everything. Listen absolutely free with ads, or get Spotify Premium.

Apple music.

Apple Music gives unlimited access to millions of songs and your entire music library—totally ad-free. Apple Music works seamlessly with your iTunes library to give your personal music collection a major upgrade. Start your trial today, cancel anytime.

 

Google Play music.

Google Play Music gives you millions of songs and thousands of playlists for any situation. Powered by Google, we serve up music based on where you are and why you’re listening, getting smarter and more assistive as we get to know your tastes. Subscribe to create playlists, listen offline, and get ad-free YouTube with YouTube Red (where available).

 

Soundcloud.

SoundCloud is the world's largest music and audio streaming platform – 150 million tracks and growing. With a buzzing community of artists and musicians constantly uploading new music, SoundCloud is where you can find the next big artists alongside chart-topping albums, live sets, and mixes for every occasion.

 

Pandora.

Pandora gives you a personalized music experience that continually evolves with your tastes. Create stations from your favorite songs, artists or genres. Or search browse to find recommended stations for your mood or activity.

14. Bluetooth Playback Options

Now that your device is outputting its audio via Bluetooth, media playback can take place normally. All audio that is played will now be played through the connected Bluetooth device instead of the built-in speakers. Common playback options can be found below.

  • Groove Music is a music player app that was introduced by Windows 10 and its primary role is playing music stored locally on our devices. The Groove Music app is useful for many: it is one of the best universal Windows apps, and with it, you can play your locally stored mp3 library, or even listen to the songs you have stored in your OneDrive.
Windows 10 Groove Music app.
  • Windows Media Player 12 is a common media player option built into Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 for playing music and video files. Windows Media Player has the ability to play music, rip music from and copy music to compact discs, burn discs in audio CD format, or as data discs with playlists such as an MP3 CD.
Windows Media Player.
  • Spotify is like a jukebox you only need to feed once, or a radio that plays what you want in between ads. Spotify’s music library contains everything from mainstream pop hits to obscure death metal classics.
Spotify windows application interface.
  • iTunes is a media player made by Apple that is used for playing digital music or video files. iTunes is also used to purchase digital music files or subscribe to podcasts through Apple's iTunes Music Store.
iTunes windows application interface.
  • VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player. VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
VLC Media Player windows application interface.

15. Bluetooth Playback Options

Now that your device is outputting its audio via Bluetooth, media playback can take place normally. All audio that is played will now be played through the connected Bluetooth device instead of the built-in speakers. Common playback options can be found below.

  • iTunes is the default music playback software built into the Apple operating system and is standard on all Apple Mac computers used for playing digital music or video files. iTunes is also used to purchase digital music files or subscribe to podcasts through Apple's iTunes Music Store.
Apple iTunes for Mac.
  • Spotify is like a jukebox you only need to feed once, or a radio that plays what you want in between ads. Spotify’s music library contains everything from mainstream pop hits to obscure death metal classics.
Spotify application.
  • VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player. VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
VLC Media Player for Mac.
  • Amazon offers free music streaming with Prime, a paid music service for an additional monthly fee, direct MP3 sales, a way to get MP3s when you purchase audio CDs, and a music locker you can upload your own songs to.
Amazon Music application.

16. Play or Stream

For other types of devices, please refer to their respective documentation for more information on available software and apps for music and audio playback.

17. Pair Bluetooth Devices to Your Pioneer VSXLX102 Home Theater System

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