PLAYBACK 24: Pioneer Elite SC-27 THX Ultra2 Plus-Certified A/V Receiver

Pioneer Elite’s SC-27 is a powerful (7 x 140 Wpc, with ICEpower Class D amplifier modules), full-featured, Ethernet-enabled, THX Ultra2 Plus-certified A/V receiver that stands as the number two model in Pioneer’s lineup—second only to the very impressive but also very costly flagship SC-09TX. Given the huge price differential between the SC-27 ($2000) vs. the SC-09TX ($7000—gulp!), we think the SC-27 will be the model that most performance-minded enthusiasts choose to look at first, especially in light of the fact that the SC-27 is a more recent design that in some respects provides an even broader mix of features than its big brother.

Because the SC-27, like most high-end AVRs of Japanese provenance, is chockfull of advanced features, it would be easy to assume the receiver focuses primarily on elaborate technical gongs and whistles, but frankly that is missing the central point. At heart, what the SC-27 is really all about is achieving the best possible sound quality at a sensible price—something it does very well. Perhaps a small anecdote will make this point clear.

At a recent presentation at CEDIA Expo 2009, I heard a talk given by THX representatives who pointed out that their THX Ultra2 Plus certification rating is difficult to earn. In fact, the THX people emphasized that while many manufacturers have tried and failed, Pioneer is to date the only firm to have its Class D amplifier systems (as used in the SC-27 and a small handful of other Pioneer receivers) achieve full THX Ultra2 Plus certification. But what is even more telling, the THX spokesman said, is the fact that Pioneer did not immediately go to market once its class D receivers earned Ultra2 Plus approval. The reason? Pioneer felt that, good though its newly certified designs were, they did not quite meet the stringent sound quality standards Pioneer hoped to achieve with its new, top-tier Elite models. So, Pioneer delayed release of its Class D-powered receivers over a year until it had tweaked and tuned their sound to even higher levels.

Helping Pioneer in the tweaking and tuning process were the good folks at AIR studios, who have awarded the SC-27 with official AIR Studios Monitor Sound Tuning Certification—tuning that has essentially become an integral element within Pioneer’s next-generation Advanced MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration and Control) automated room/speaker EQ/setup system. The result is a receiver whose sound is muscular and full-bodied, yet full of nuance, refinement, transparency and detail. 

OVERVIEW

Consider this AVR if: You want an A/V receiver whose up-to-the-minute technical features are not easily outgrown, yet whose primary emphasis is where it should be: on sound quality. Consider this model if you want most of the sound quality of a $5k-$7k receiver, but at a $2k price. Finally, consider the SC-27 if you’re a die-hard A/V enthusiast who enjoys tweaking and fine-tuning the performance of his/her system; the SC-27 provides far more extensive tuning and set-up options than most other AVRs we’ve tried.

Look further if: Technical complexity frightens or confuses you. The SC-27 is not particularly hard to use or understand, but neither is it a dirt-simple, set-it-and-forget-it receiver. Like many products targeted toward knowledgeable enthusiasts, it offers some very advanced set-up and operational modes that can and do take extra time and effort to master. This receiver is a killer performer, but to get the most out of it you must study its manual carefully.

Ratings (relative to comparably priced AVRs)

• User interface: 7
  
• Sound quality, music: 9
  
• Sound quality, movies: 10
  
• Value: 9

FEATURES

• 7 x 140 Watts per channel, rated from 20 Hz – 20kHz at less than .09% total harmonic distortion, with all channels driven.
  
• Uses advanced ICEpower Class D amplification modules.
  
• THX Ultra2 Plus-certified.
  
• Tuned for AIR Studios Monitor certification.
  
• Unused amplifier channels can be re-routed to bi-amp main loudspeakers.
  
• Provides full multichannel (7.1-channel) analog inputs and preamp outputs.
  
• Features Pioneer’s latest generation Advanced MCACC automated room/speaker EQ/setup system with a built-in 9-band equalizer and included calibration microphone. The system offers three levels of room EQ/speaker calibration: Full Auto MCACC (maximum simplicity and ease of use), Auto MCACC (offers some user-driven customization options), and Manual MCACC (offers extensive user-driven customization options). The system also incorporates “Full Band Phase Control” that “analyzes the frequency-phase characteristics of the speakers connected and corrects the phase distortion to the flattened frequency-phase characteristics,” said to yield better overall surround sound integration and a clearer, more focused sound. Note: the Phase Control can be turned on or off at the owner’s discretion.
  
• Provides Pioneer’s PQLS (Precision Quartz Lock System), which is a “digital audio signal transfer control technology using (Pioneer’s) KURO LINK function.” When used with PQLS-compatible digital disc players, the system is said to remove jitter that would otherwise have “a negative effect on the quality of the sound.”
  
• Supports Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Dolby Pro Logic IIx. DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS ES, DTS, DTS 96/24, Neural-THX Surround, WMA-9 Pro, HDMI SACD Transfer and HDMI DVD-Audio Transfer modes, plus 14 other proprietary Pioneer surround sound processing modes.
  
• Provides audiophile-oriented Stream Direct mode that disables all non-essential audio signal processing.
  
• The receiver also supports the following digital audio formats: LPCM, WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC.
  
• Features Burr Brown 192kHz/24-bit analog-to-digital converters and Wolfson WM8740 192kHz/24-bit DACs.
  
• Tuners: The receiver provides standard AM/FM reception and is Sirius/XM satellite radio-ready.
  
•  Built-in Ethernet connectivity supports streaming Internet radio, Rhapsody, Neural Music Direct, Sirius via Internet, and allows for periodic receiver firmware updates.
  
• Receiver is iPod/iPhone and USB-ready and is Works with iPhone certified. Features front-panel iPod/iPhone/USB connections (the iPod/USB cable is included) and requires no dock. The receiver is capable of looking up album art for iTunes material.
  
• Five HDMI inputs (one front panel mounted).
  
• Video processing: supports HDMI 48-bit Deep Color, HDMI x.v. Color, and HDMI 1080p Video Transfer, and incorporates a 1080p scaler for lower resolution/analog video sources plus a Pure Cinema I/P converter.
  
• Offers Pioneer’s latest and best full-color graphical user interface (GUI), complete with Graphic PC output to facilitate Advanced MCACC setup and adjustment.