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Pioneer Launches 2 ELITE AVRs

Secrets

Pioneer Home Entertainment USA today unveiled two new 7.2-channel network AV receivers: Elite VSX-LX302 (MSRP $799 USD / $949.99 CAD) and the Elite VSX-LX102 (MSRP $599 USD / $749.99 CAD). Both AV receivers boast supremely clear and accurate Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™ playback in home theater environments and come with a host of networking and streaming features, including Chromecast built-in...

Press

Pioneer VSX-1124-K 7.2 A/V Receiver Review

Francisco Licon

The Pioneer VSX-1124-K is a current technology A/V receiver featuring 7.2 audio, HDMI inputs compatible with Ultra HD upscaling and advanced DAC technology. The VSX-1124-K features high power for a complete 7.2 channel system along with compatibility with current steaming sources.

Receivers

Pioneer SC-79 9.1 A/V Receiver

Chris Heinonen

The SC-79 marks the fourth revision of the Pioneer SC-line that I have reviewed. From the beginning I've been impressed with the amount of features they fit inside and the performance they offer. The SC-79 announcement is as excited for a new receiver as I have been. Far from a marginal upgrade, Pioneer went all-out and packed in new features galore. The biggest is a pair of ESS SABRE32 9016 DACs. A single-step below the 9018 used in top-flight two channel audio products, the 9016 is the highest end DAC in a receiver today.

Receivers

Pioneer VSX-43 7.1 Elite A/V Receiver

Jim Milton

Back in my college days, I had a roommate that had a nice stereo Pioneer receiver. It cost him a few hundred bucks. Since it was pre-digital, the inputs were pretty basic. Simply hook up to a cassette deck and turntable and we reveled in the audiophile sounds that its 30 watts/channel produced. Ah, the 70's were the "golden era" of audio. Point being, everybody has to start somewhere in their journey to musical nirvana. Fast forward to 2013 and now for around $500 you can get a 7.1 surround, network capable, DSP loaded, phone/Android integrated, Bluetooth, 80 watt/channel Elite receiver from Pioneer. True, the VSX-43 is their entry level Elite receiver, but it is packed with features that would have cost you a lot of money, even just a few years ago. But does the VSX-43 have what it takes to be the brain and brawn you are looking for in a modern home entertainment system?

Receivers

Pioneer Elite N-50 Network Audio Player

Robert Kozel

Pioneer currently offers two network audio players in their Elite product line. Both models are best described as media streamers since they do not store music within the player's chassis but rather acquire music from external music servers or devices. The first model is the N-30, which offers the ability to stream high-resolution digital music via Apple's AirPlay or from DLNA-compatible servers. The second model and subject of this review is the N-50 that builds upon the functionality of the N-30 by adding an asynchronous USB DAC as well as optical and coaxial digital inputs so the N-50 can be used as an outboard D/A converter.

Media Streamer

Pioneer BDP-62FD Universal Blu-ray Player

Chris Heinonen

Every year Pioneer updates their Blu-ray players, and every year I wind up happy yet disappointed with them. Each year performance and features seem to improve only to have a flaw, like edge enhancement or poor colorspace support, derail the Pioneer from being really top notch. This year Pioneer is offering the BDP-62FD, a $400 universal Blu-ray player that carries the Elite badge and features dual HDMI outputs among other features.

Blu-ray Players

Pioneer SC68 9.1 A/V Receiver

Chris Heinonen

Pioneer has been revising and refining their Class D amplifier technology inside of their Elite receivers for a few years now. The performance has kept improving, as it is one of the few receivers out there that actually delivers its rated power output into all channels at once. Pioneer's SC68 is a 9.1 receiver, and yes, there are nine power amplifiers in there, rated at 140 watts each. It weighs only 39 pounds. How do they get that much power in a 39 pound package? The Class D amplifiers.

Receivers