Pioneer Electronics is packing some power into a pair of its AV receivers. The company is putting Class D3 amplification into its newly announced SC-71 and SC-72.
That’s sort of a big deal. After all, the company first introduced Class D3 amplification in a $7,000 Elite AV receiver. These two can be had for a little over a grand each. That kind of power allows users to operate the receiver at high-output levels with practically no distortion or loss in performance.
Both of these 7.2-channel receivers offer multi-zone and multi-source options, as well as 4K Ultra HD upscaling, Apple AirPlay wireless music streaming, and control via Pioneer’s iControlAV2013 App.
Because each one can accommodate multiple zones, that means that you can have a true 7.2-channel speaker setup or a full 5.1-channel setup with those extra outputs filling another room with stereo sound. Each receiver can do simultaneous entertainment from different sources in up to three zones. The SC-72 offers adjustable tone (treble and bass), volume and balance (left and right), and the option to incorporate a subwoofer for Zone 2, as well as the possibility for a fourth zone (Zone 3) with two-channel audio.
Both receivers can tap into additional music on the network, on a USB drive, or through services like Pandora and vTuner. WiFi is also a possibility via the optional AS-WL300 wireless adapter. Other features include Mobile High Definition (MHL), Crestron and Control4 support, and two-way RS-232C-over-IP control.
“Enthusiasts and custom installers demand high power and excellent performance combined with installation flexibility from their home theater systems,” said Chris Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our new SC models are built with our most powerful Class D3 amplifier to deliver massive power output that exceeds what these types of users will ever need. Best of all, the amp technology is now available on a receiver with a suggested price under a thousand dollars.”
Pioneer will start selling the Elite SC-71 and SC-72 sometime this June, with suggested retail prices of $1,100 and $1,400, respectively.