May 7, 2008 6:00 AM PDT

Pioneer launches new Elite AV receivers

Posted by John P. Falcone

The $2,200 Pioneer Elite SC-07 tops today's announcements.

(Credit: Pioneer)

Pioneer has unveiled four new AV receivers in its high-end Elite line for 2008. The VSX-01TXH ($750) and VSX-03TXH ($1,000) will be first out the door in June, followed by the SC-05 ($1,800) and SC-07 ($2,200) in August. (A 2007 model, the VSX-94TXH, remains in the lineup as well and is widely available for 25 percent off its $1,600 MSRP.) In addition to all of the cutting-edge features (HDMI 1.3; upscaling of analog video sources to 1080p HDMI output; on-board decoding for the Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution, and lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks found on Blu-ray Discs; multi-source output for up to three zones; Pioneer's top-notch MCACC auto-calibration), the SC-05 and SC-07 boast network connections for streaming digital media from DLNA-compatible network sources, including PC hard drives. The 05 and 07 also offer some super-tweaky features that will potentially appeal to audiophiles, including the Precision Quartz Locking System (PQLS) that's said to offer optimal CD playback from Pioneer's new Blu-ray players by eliminating audio jitter.

The SC-07's rear panel is bristling with jacks, including 4 HDMI inputs.

(Credit: Pioneer)

If the Elite price tags are too rich for your blood, remember that Pioneer also offers a more affordable line of entry-level AV receivers. Those are in addition to new models recently announced by Onkyo, Yamaha, and Sony. Denon, meanwhile, should be announcing a refresh of its 2007 lineup within the next few months.