Pioneer has confirmed that it will be releasing four new high-end 3D-ready AV receivers over the next month.
The VSX-LX53 (£1,200) and VSX-2020 (under £1,000) will go on sale in July, while the SC-LX83 and SC-LX73 will be available from August.
Both the VSX-LX53 and VSX-2020 use Pioneer's Direct Energy HD Amplifier design, built on ICEpower analogue Class D technology, which promises to improve the sound of compressed audio.
The SC-LX83 (pictured) and SC-LX73 use Advanced Direct Energy HD amplifiers, also built on ICEpower analogue Class D technology which promises consistent high quality sound for multi-channel amplifications. Both devices have been tuned at London's Air Studios and are THX certified (Ultra2 Plus for the '83, Select2 Plus for the '73). The 150-watt VSX-LX53 and VSX-2020 are also THX Select2 Plus certified, but weren't tuned at Air Studios.
The SC-LX83 delivers 190 watts of power, while the VSX-2020 offers 180 watts though both support full hi-def audio format decoding as well as Deep Colour and x.v. colour video.
The SC-LX83 also comes with full DLNA network capability, while all the new models come with six HDMI 1.4a inputs, internet radio, iPod playback via USB, Bluetooth capability and video upscaling to 1080p.
Pioneer's new iControl AV iPhone/iPod remote control app is available as a free download from Apple's App Store. It includes touch-sensitive controls for volume, inputs, zones and output balance. The receivers can also accept streamed content from mobile phones and even Apple's iPad via Bluetooth.
An Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) is designed to improve the sound quality of compressed MP3, AAC and WMA files as well as standard multichannel Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks.
Pioneer's own Advanced Multichannel Acoustic Calibration (MCACC) auto set-up system and Phase Control Technology comes as standard on all the models.
pioneer.co.uk
