Pioneer Launches Six 3D-Ready Elite AV Receivers

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced its new line of six Elite A/V receivers including the SC-37 ($2,200), VSX-32 ($800), VSX-30 ($550) and VSX-31 ($650).

According to the statement, key new features include enhanced iPhone and iPod touch control and functions, Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio, Internet connectivity for streaming Internet radio, HDMI 1.4a, making the receivers Blu-ray 3D and TV broadcast ready as well as comprehensive custom installation features.

For more information visit: www.pioneerelectronics.com


Unedited press release follows:

Pioneer’s Elite A/V Receivers Give Home Theater a Brain Transplant

New 3D-Ready Models Consolidate, Improve Content from Variety of Sources and Streamline Installation Process

LONG BEACH, Calif.–Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced its new line of six Elite A/V receivers that do the thinking for the home theater, by offering connectivity features to streamline entertainment and deliver top notch sound in the home. For the first time, Pioneer is adding two models, VSX-30 and VSX-31, to the line at more affordable $550 and $650 price points. Key new features include enhanced iPhone and iPod touch control and functionality, Bluetooth connectivity1 for streaming audio, Internet connectivity for streaming Internet radio, HDMI 1.4a, making the receivers Blu-ray 3D and TV broadcast ready as well as comprehensive custom installation features.

Digital Connectivity
For 25 years, the Elite line has showcased the most advanced technologies available from Pioneer, and this year is no exception. All models in the lineup are “Works with iPhone” certified offering iPod, iPod touch and iPhone users an integrated plug-and-play experience. In addition, iPhone and iPod touch users can adjust the receiver’s audio settings with Pioneer’s first home theater iControlAV App, available for free from Apple’s App Store.

The entire line also offers Bluetooth wireless connectivity via an optional plug-in adapter, AS-BT100 (MSRP: $99) for a multitude of Bluetooth-enabled iPhone, iPod touch, Android™ platform, other smart phones or personal computers. Users can stream digital music files directly from the portable device to the A/V receiver for wireless listening at home. The VSX-30 and higher models offer Sound Retriever AIR, a new feature that enhances quality to compressed audio files transmitted via Bluetooth to more closely mirror the original recordings and provide a more robust listening experience.

Additional connectivity options include a front USB input for viewing photos or listening to music files and an Ethernet connection to the home network, where users can experience sports, news and music from around the world through Internet radio.

The flagship SC-37 (MSRP: $2,200) features Home Media Gallery, which adds an easy way to access photos and music files from a networked host computer as well as SIRIUS internet radio and Rhapsody for on-demand access to more than seven million songs.

Video Processing
For experiencing 3D in the home, the 2010 Elite A/V receivers feature HDMI 1.4a, the latest version required to display mandatory formats of this exciting new entertainment medium. The receivers are poised to complete a Full HD 3D picture and sound experience when paired with a 3D television and Blu-ray 3D player to ensure high quality and “future-proof” HD connectivity.

Pioneer’s exclusive PureCinema video processing converts lower resolution analog and digital sources from interlace to progressive-scan images with noise reduction and chroma separation providing our internal Anchor Bay or the TV’s 1080p scalers enhanced video signals for further HD processing.

The VSX-32 and higher models feature Marvell Qdeo video processing technology allowing for high quality video switching for superb clarity and accuracy.

Sound
For the first time, all models in the new line are programmed to deliver a highly customizable surround sound experience with Pioneer “Wide Surround.” This Pioneer original technology creates surround sound with a front wide speaker arrangement for a smooth feeling of motion and a wider sound field. Additional configurations for height and width have also been added, as well as a new “virtual height” option that delivers a full 9.1 surround sound experience.

Also, this year the Advanced Multi-Channel AcoustiC Calibration (MCACC) technology has been updated to hold measured data in the USB memory and to display the results graph on a computer screen. The VSX-32 (MSRP: $800) offers HDMI jitter reduction for a more accurate sound image and natural sound field.

Several models in the Elite A/V receiver line have been developed in a partnership with THX and Air Studios, both experts in reference sound technology, to ensure that the receivers deliver the highest fidelity home entertainment experience to the consumer. To read more about how the Elite A/V receivers become THX and Air Studios certified, please see, THX/Air Studios release.

“Even with content coming at consumers from so many places and formats these days, we know that while at home, the home theater is still the entertainment hub,” said David Bales, manager of audio marketing and product planning for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “For this year’s Elite A/V receiver line, we added a number of new features to enhance the playback to be as true to the artists original intent as possible and simplify the connected home.”

Custom Installation

Elite receivers offer comprehensive custom features with certifications from industry-leading system control partners to ensure trouble-free custom integration. Features include:

* Second & third Zone A/V with second zone configurable amplifiers and component video
* RS-232C
* Two 12 volt triggers
* Dual HDMI outputs and front HDMI input
* Detachable power cords

Full product specifications on the new line of Elite A/V receivers can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Pioneer’s iControlAV App is currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

About Pioneer
It all began with a passion for music that Pioneer founder Nozomu Matsumoto hoped to share with the world. He started Pioneer in 1938 as a specialty speaker company, building products out of his garage. Today, Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group continues Matsumoto’s enthusiasm, developing award-winning audio and video home theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc® and DVD players, and speakers. Long-standing partnerships and collaborations with the creative community have provided Pioneer unique insight in its quest to capture the purity of a movie or musical artist’s original vision into its broad range of home entertainment products. The company’s brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.