Published: August 04, 2011
State-of-the-Art Elite SC Series Receivers, The Most Powerful Home Theater Amplifiers Pioneer Has Ever Produced
LONG BEACH, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced its new flagship SC-57
($2000) and SC-55 ($1600) Elite
receivers that bring state-of-the-art audio and visual content
performance into any room. Designed to deliver the audio performance
necessary for Blu-ray Disc and other high fidelity audio formats, both
Elite models incorporate Pioneer's new Class D3 digital
amplifier technology that can produce massive power output with much
less electrical power consumption than traditional designs. The
integrated Class D3 amplifier can deliver Pioneer's
highest-ever continuous power simultaneously to all dedicated channels
with extremely high efficiency, significantly less heat production and
ultra-low distortion. Both receivers are enhanced with advanced network
features including Apple's AirPlay, DLNA Certified®
(1.5) networking, Internet radio and Pioneer's proprietary iPad, iPhone,
iPod apps including iControlAV2¹ and Air Jam².
Elite SC-57 AV Receiver (Photo: Business Wire)
"The new Class D3 amplifier technology built into the SC
receivers illustrates Pioneer's engineering capabilities and further
proves our expertise in the home theater space," said Chris Walker,
director AV marketing and product planning for the home entertainment
division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "These receivers can truly
reproduce the dynamics of uncompressed audio soundtracks from sources
such as Blu-ray."
Class-D3 Power Statement
In a class by itself, the Class D3 amplifier delivers the
true audio potential of any uncompressed source such as Blu-ray Disc
titles. The amplifier section of the SC receivers can deliver extremely
fast response (speed) rate, provide exceptionally detailed midrange
frequencies, and generate high dynamic range with all channels driven.
Pioneer's Class D3 amplifier features include:
-
Power Efficiency - The Class D3 requires much
less energy to produce more continuous power output per channel. The
design of the amplifier assures high dynamic range from any source,
lower impedance capability, and exceptional high fidelity sound, even
in multi-zone mode.
-
Improved Thermal Dissipation - Redesigned from previous
generations, the large aluminum heatsink is top mounted to achieve 360
degrees of heat dissipation. The technique enables heat generated
during use to radiate from the top and bottom of the unit to increase
reliability and high performance at any volume level.
-
Direct-Thru Signal Path - The amplifier section was
reconfigured to achieve a much shorter audio signal path. A third
shorter than last year's design, audio signals are directed one-way
from the audio input side to the power supply, eliminating any looping
through the circuit board or the need for a loop circuit which can
cause feedback, noise, and ringing, especially in the high frequency
audio band.
-
THD Improvement - The Direct-Thru Signal Path design
combined with a less circuitry design resulted in improved switching
characteristics. The amplifier produces virtually no noise with a
total harmonic distortion (THD) rating of .003 percent (rated at 100W).
-
Pre-Amp Mode - The SC receivers feature advanced preamp
processors supporting the latest surround formats such as DTS NeoX,
sound enhancements, network content and network control. Users can
take advantage of its full multi-zone capabilities assigning the
preamp and speakers outputs independently. When channels are set to
the off position, the power supply and associated components are shut
down for efficiency and to reduce heat production.
-
Certifications - The SC-57 and SC-55 are both certified
by THX and AIR Studios to ensure that the receivers
deliver the highest fidelity home entertainment experience to the
consumer. THX and AIR Studios are experts in reference sound
technology and have strict standards in their certification processes.
Custom Benefits
Both SC receivers enable users to configure their home theater in
multiple customized configurations. The 9.1-channel SC-57 provides 10
different configurations while the 7.1-channel SC-55 offers up to seven.
Users can create a full 5.1 system and use the remaining channels for
additional zones, all controllable directly from the receivers. Plus,
both models are certified by the most popular control companies
including Control4, Crestron® and Savant®,
enabling users to tailor their home theater system to fit their needs.
The Power of Connectivity
The Elite SC-57 and SC-55 offer a multitude of network connectivity
options. Each model enables users to select from a wide range of content
from a variety of sources, as well as conveniently set up and control
their home theater systems using powerful new tools. These include:
-
AirPlay - Enthusiasts have complete access, control and
playback of their entire iTunes music libraries wirelessly through
their home theater system3. Users can quickly and easily
enjoy all their music with song information and album art
simultaneously displayed on a connected monitor/TV. AirPlay requires
iTunes 10.1 or later and iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or iPod
touch (2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation)
with iOS 4.2 or later.
-
Air Jam - Encouraging social connectivity via
entertainment devices, Pioneer's free Air Jam App is available from
the Apple App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.apple.com/appstore/.
Compatible with both SC models, the app allows pairing of up to four
devices via Bluetooth (optional AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter required).
Once linked, each individual can cue songs from their own music
library to create a shared playlist to play back on the AV Receivers.
Each connected device also displays the list of songs added by all the
users and which device a song is playing from. The Air Jam App
conveniently stores the lists of songs created for each session for
future purchases at the iTunes Store.
-
DLNA Certified (1.5) – The new SC receivers are
also DLNA Certified (1.5), allowing music content to be streamed from
a PC to the receiver via the consumers' home network. Through Ethernet
or the optional AS-WL300 wireless LAN converter (sold separately),
each receiver can access and play high resolution music (up to
192kHz/24-Bit). Audio can also be streamed and controlled through the
receivers using a device that supports UPnP / DLNA media servers and
renderers, enabling an entirely new way for consumers to share and
play their music collection.
-
Bluetooth Audio Streaming - With
the optional Bluetooth adapter, the entire lineup of receivers
features wireless Bluetooth transfer of audio content from any A2DP
Bluetooth wireless enabled mobile device or personal computer.
Pioneer's AS-BT200 ($99) Bluetooth adapter allows listeners to keep
their compatible phone close to them while they play music from it
through their home theater system. And, with Pioneer's exclusive Sound
Retriever AIR technology specifically designed to enhance Bluetooth
audio transmissions, music playback delivered through Bluetooth
approaches CD sound quality.
-
Internet Radio (vTuner ) - Both models also bring
thousands of high quality Internet radio stations into the living room
with vTuner for endless music entertainment. The feature is further
enhanced with the addition of other Internet radio based music
services such as PANDORA, Rhapsody® and SiriusXM
Internet Radio.
Portable Device Control
Portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, including iPad, iPhone
and iPod touch are becoming exciting and ever-expanding components of
home entertainment systems. The Elite SC receivers are designed to
utilize the wealth of content from these devices as well as provide a
larger emotional experience of high definition multi-channel home
theater from sources such as Blu-ray.
-
Each receiver in the lineup is "Made for iPad, iPhone and iPod" and
comes with a USB/video cable to provide an "out of the box
plug-and-play" convenience. Consumers can enjoy audio, video and
photos stored on their Apple mobile device without having to buy an
optional dock, as well as charge it while plugged into the receivers.
-
iControlAV2 - Pioneer's iControlAV2 App enables an iPad, iPhone
or iPod touch to control the SC series receivers. Available free from
the App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or www.apple.com/itunes/,
the iControlAV2 App controls volume, bass, balance and room settings
as well as the ability for the user to choose Internet radio stations
and music files from network-attached storage (NAS) on a home network.
For iPad users, the iControlAV2 integrates all four app controls into
an intuitive single screen. The app also includes control for Pioneer
Blu-ray Disc players. Additional features include sound adjustments
that enable users to create their own equalizer settings by simply
drawing their desired equalizer curve on the screen, and for iPad
users, detailed graphic representations of before and after Pioneer's
MCACC room calibration feature.
Enhanced Television Performance
The new Elite SC series receivers utilize proprietary enhancing
technologies to maximize the user's television performance with video
conversion and scaling, image enhancement, and video adjustment for
detail, sharpness, brightness, contrast, chroma level and black level
for individual video sources. To enhance the video performance from any
connected source, both receivers convert all analog signals to HDMI and
scale both analog and digital signals to 1080p resolution for a
significantly improved visual experience. Additional technologies
include Marvell Qdeo processing, Advanced Video Adjust and Stream
Smoother to enhance the picture quality of any source.
-
Marvell Qdeo video processors - The Elite SC receivers offer
high quality video processing for maximum performance and flexibility
powered by Marvell's award-winning Qdeo technology. Marvell Qdeo
offers a truly immersive viewing experience by capturing, processing
and rendering a wider variety of video signals ranging from high
definition Blu-ray Disc to portable video sources such as smartphones.
-
Advanced Video Adjust - Pioneer's new Advanced Video Adjust
technology automatically optimizes video signals by the type of
display (selected manually) connected to the receivers, such as
plasma, LCD and front projector. For example, the receivers can
reproduce a detailed and virtually noiseless image on plasma panels,
enhance the black level of LCD displays, and produce sharper, more
vivid image matching for front projectors. The receivers can further
adjust and enhance images based on the user's viewing distance from
their display by utilizing the distance information established during
MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) calibration to
determine how much adjustment is necessary.
-
Stream Smoother - Pioneer enhances compressed video files with
its proprietary technology Stream Smoother. The feature automatically
enhances images coming from the Internet via other devices such as
Blu-ray Disc players by reducing compression noise and establishing
more detailed, finer images. The technology is especially helpful with
low bit-rate video sources originally intended for viewing on small
screens.
Proprietary AVNavigator (Interactive Assistance)
-
Wiring Navi – Pioneer is making the installation process for
each receiver simpler by providing consumers an interactive guide
application called Wiring Navi with the use of a Windows-based PC.
Users simply answer a series of questions about the hardware connected
to the home theater system and the application will automatically
update the receiver with the correct settings.
-
Interactive Manual – Once the receiver is connected using the
Wiring Navi application, the Interactive Manual application provides a
linked two-way interactive manual that gives users a way to
dynamically learn about all of the new features of each AV receiver.
For example, a push of the ALC button on the front of the receiver
will take the user directly to the portion of the manual that explains
the Automatic Level Control feature. Alternately, users can click on a
section of the owner's manual and the feature of the receiver will
automatically activate (e.g., when the user clicks on the FL Dimmer
section of the owner's manual, the Front Panel Display of the receiver
will dim).
The new Elite SC-57 and SC-55 receivers are available at authorized
Pioneer Elite retailers.
About Pioneer
It all began with a passion for music that Pioneer founder Nozomu
Matsumoto hoped to share with the world. He started Pioneer in 1938 as a
specialty speaker company, building products out of his garage. Today,
Pioneer's Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group continues
Matsumoto's enthusiasm, developing award-winning audio and video home
theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc and DVD players,
and speakers. Long-standing partnerships and collaborations with the
creative community have provided Pioneer unique insight in its quest to
capture the purity of a movie or musical artist's original vision into
its broad range of home entertainment products. The company's brands
include Pioneer and Elite. More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.
1 A/V receiver needs to be connected to a wired LAN in a
wireless LAN network. This application is developed and checked for
operation.
2 Noise and interruption may be caused when the iPod
touch/iPhone/iPad is connected to other Bluetooth devices. This
application is developed and checked for operation under iOS 4.2 or
later. The number of connectable devices or compatibility may differ
when other software versions are installed.
3 Requires Pioneer AS-WL300 optional wireless LAN converter
(sold separately).
PIONEER, the PIONEER logo and the ELITE logo are registered trademarks
of Pioneer Corporation.
Apple, AirPlay, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch and iTunes are trademarks
of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Blu-ray Disc is a trademark owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association.
The Bluetooth word mark is registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG,
Inc. And any use of such marks by of PIONEER is under license.
Control4 is a registered trademark of Control4 Corporation.
Crestron is a registered trademark of Crestron Electronics, Inc.
DLNA, the DLNA Logo and DLNA Certified are trademarks, service marks,
or certification marks of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
HDMI is trademark or registered trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC in the
United States and other countries.
Marvell, Qdeo and the M logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or
its affiliates.
PANDORA is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.
Rhapsody is a trademark of RI
Savant is a trademark of Savant Systems LLC.
SiriusXM Radio and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius
XM Radio Inc.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6820404&lang=en
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
Jaed Arzadon, 310-952-2451
Jaed.arzadon@pioneer-usa.com
or
Katherine
Manning, 310-952-2388
katherine.manning@pioneer-usa.com
or
Formula
PR for Pioneer Electronics
Katie Casey, 310-578-7050
casey@formulapr.com
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