Pioneer SC-71 AV-receiver
Put in a feature, lose a characteristic typically, that is the way the storyline goes for a fresh AV receiver. But attributes are not the section of the narrative, or the entire narrative most readers need to learn. We found that out when we ran a survey at our web site SoundandVision.com inquiring, "what is your AVR dealbreaker?" The very best two criticisms were "not enough electricity" at 35 percent and "unsuccessful room correction" at 21 percent. "Overly few attributes" and "too many attributes" got only seven points each, and fashionable attributes such as AirPlay, Bluetooth, and WiFi scored in even lower single digits.
Pioneer's ongoing attempt to transfer its receivers into Class D amplifier land really has the capacity to enhance operation by directly addressing the "not enough electricity" criticism. Critically, in our measurements, D3 versions typically meet their rated power specs, and often demonstrate less dropoff in output signal in our requiring "all channels driven" evaluations. At 120 watts x $1,000 and 2, D3 moves down in rated cost and power point, making it the version that is most affordable yet. (Those selling for three amounts are still Class AB.) How will the new man do? Jump to the measurements when the suspense is killing you.
The Elite SC-71 is comparable to the SC-1223 in pricing and characteristics of the standard Pioneer line.
The common amber screen of elite sits above a throw-down door with all the typical suspects. One nicety is the iPod/iPhone/iPad button, which changes functioning of these devices between their particular controls as well as the interface of the receiver.
This is designated a 7.2-station receiver, though it's actually a 7.1-station, meaning it's seven amp channels and two subwoofer line output signals that supply the same sign to a pair of subs. However, there are nine sets. With eight HDMI input signals--including a smartphone-friendly MHL-empowered one to the front plus two output signals, along with enough component video switching for a computer screen as well as 2 sources, the receiver adapt plenty of high definition source parts and can feed three high definition screens.
That still leaves right hand parts of the rear panel and vast tracts of unused land at the center.
To incorporate Bluetooth, you will need the AS-BT200 adapter ($99), a cigarette lighter-sized fella who plugs right into an interface that is rear. For WiFi, you will need the AS-WL300 adapter ($129). HTC Connect enables streaming from that brand of cellphone. Spotify Plug In improves access to the music streaming service by allowing you to listen through the receiver and decide tunes on a cellular device. Other network sound attractions include vTuner Internet radio and Pandora, the Windows 7 and 8 Play To attribute, not to mention DLNA to access media from various apparatus.
One haven't said much about GUI or Pioneer's remote control in a long time and maybe I should. The remote has not changed substantially. It gives lots of additional functionality: There are dedicated buttons to choose each zone, use the dimmer, cycle correction presets, and change the phase control off and on. Nevertheless, the old fashioned lotsa-buttons layout may turn off the noobs. Also, the GUI, upgraded in a long time or though adequate, has not been reorganized. Pioneer should make parts (excluding the complex color diagrams) clear so that settings that are altering on the fly will not consistently obliterate onscreen content. The truth is, the Audio Parameters button of the remote does get several settings in another interface with onscreen images that is minimal. IOS program and the iControlAV2013 Android is among the greatest of its own kind and that is why I am still giving four stars. Pioneer throws in a AirJam program, which lets up to share playlists.
Dynamic is the primary word smoothand clean will be the third and second, and power is the secret to any or all that. This receiver has more than many in its budget. While much less brawny as, say, the SC-68 one reviewed a few years back, the equivalent of that version costs twice as much. The SC kept its top end sweet's bass significant it, and its soundfield complete during high-decibel picture apocalypses. The one criticism within my laptop was opacity and a little blandness . This was more noticeable than with pictures and turned out to be a side effect of the proprietary MCACC room correction of Pioneer, especially as it interacted with system and my room () may change.
The Bundle (Bluray, Dolby TrueHD) compares activity guy Steve Austin against actions guy Dolph Lundgren. Result: action. An orgiastic and notably balletic gunfight in the film created the receiver's dynamic credentials. Unsurprisingly, bass additionally gained, giving great weight with no clear bloat and clean tone to the occasional low synth tones of the soundtrack.
The sonorous opening theme, using its solitary trumpet soaring over the proud District of Columbia cityscape, seems magnificent and strong even through my small Audioengine 2 TV loudspeakers but played through this brilliant amp and my reference loudspeakers, its reverberant attractiveness took on a life of its own, strangely complementing the skeptical play having an expression of wonder.
The 2013 DTS Demo Disc (Bluray) is a DTS-HD Master Audio fete. The picture section kicks off with all the flaming-forest scene. The soundfield readily filled with all-station upper- and roar that was midbass. Scenes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, The Cave, and Prometheus showed off the capability to handle sophisticated directional advice of the receiver. Singin' in the Rain, with Gene Kelly had the Pioneer shifting gears to get a classic analogue that is warm feel--not just what you'd anticipate from a switching amp. The music section of the DTS disc leans heavily on live records.
Symphonic music is obviously the canary. Here's where opacity and the blandness one referred to earlier eventually became noticeable. After I turned off the space correction, the existence area obtained the midbass as well as detail thickened and these enhancements were helpful enough to counter a tiny decline. After I turned off the individually arm phase control (a Pioneer exclusive), there was a vague coarsening but it was not an important change. By The Way, it was not impossible to turn off the phase control as well as MCACC while keeping bass direction using dedicated remote buttons. With the majority of receivers, the most easy way to get the better of room correction would be to use the direct mode that is pure, but that normally shuts down the subwoofer. Using a Pioneer receiver, the EQ can be killed by you and keep the sub.
Having ascertained the D3 amp sounded amazing without room correction, I made the decision to allow it to fly alone -rez download demos using FLAC files. Into a luminous, almost physical existence without exploitation (96/24), the recognizable deep, breathy voice imaged in Nick Drake's Bryter Layter. It is the sole Drake record where the acoustic guitar is occasionally in danger of drowning amid other parts as well as active piano. Not this time: The guitar was rhythmically tight and nicely pronounced, and as constantly the perfect counterpoint, it kept its head over the top.
Within my report on the SC68 my first chance at a D3 receiver I believed that the bottom was not less refined than the top end. But having spent more time and having accessibility to high-rez downloads, I am letting go of the uncertainties. That is a fantastic-sounding receiver by any standard.
While Pioneer is not the only AVR maker to replace Class AB amps it is the only one doing so with all plus versions using the new technology. As well as the results are outstanding. The better I like their certain dynamics and what I perceive as their top to bottom clarity, the more of those products one hear.
