Pioneer 2017 AV Receivers: Advanced Features and Technologies

This document provides an overview of the technologies and features found in Pioneer's 2017 lineup of AV receivers, designed to deliver immersive audio and stunning video experiences for home entertainment. The receivers are built on Pioneer's Multi-Channel Stereophonic Philosophy, incorporating advanced object-based audio formats, next-generation video standards, and seamless wireless multi-room audio capabilities.

Audio Technologies

Multi-Channel Stereophonic Philosophy

Pioneer's core philosophy for reproducing master sound across multiple channels, ensuring faithful reproduction by equalizing the response of all speakers. This involves a 3-step process: construction for superior sound (Direct Energy Design, select parts), MCACC calibration, and expert sound tuning.

Direct Energy Design

Optimizes chassis design for sound quality, featuring shorter transmission paths, clean grounding, rigid structure, and improved wiring. Discrete amplifiers utilize high-quality DACs and support high-power simultaneous multi-channel drive.

Select Parts for Clear and Open Sound

High-grade components like polymer multi-layer MU capacitors (co-developed with Rubycon Corporation) and audio-grade power transformers are used to achieve clear, open high-range sound and noise-free signal transmission.

MCACC Auto Room Tuning

Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System, developed with professional studio expertise. Using a custom microphone, it automatically compensates for speaker size, level, and distance differences, and equalizes frequency response to create an optimal acoustic environment.

Phase Control

Eliminates phase lag caused by Low Pass Filters (LPF) for subwoofer output, which can cause bass to sound out of sync with the main channels. This technology ensures synchronized multi-channel sound without extra operation.

Subwoofer EQ

Allows manual adjustment of the LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) tone via the AV receiver's GUI.

Bass Management System for Dolby-Enabled Speakers

Optimizes signal distribution for Dolby-enabled speakers. It redirects directional low-frequency components to the floor speaker and lower frequencies to the subwoofer, creating superior sound localization and maximizing Dolby Atmos content advantages.

Reflex Optimizer

Optimizes the performance of up-firing elevation speakers used with Dolby Atmos. It aligns the phase of direct and indirect sound, matches tone, and optimizes upward-oriented frequencies to ensure seamless sound and ideal reproduction of three-dimensional surround sound.

Surround Enhancer

A virtual speaker technology (for VSX-832) that uses Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) and DSP to create virtual surround speakers, expanding 3.1.2ch to a 5.1.2ch soundscape for an enveloping audio experience, even without rear speakers.

384 kHz/32-bit DAC

Premium audio Digital-to-Analog Converters (AK4458/AK4438 from AKM) provide detailed and clear sound, ideal for Hi-Res Audio playback, with a 32-bit digital filter for natural sound.

Anti-Standing Wave Insulator

Features a special form with no parallel sides to prevent cavity resonance, resulting in clearer sound localization, tone, and scale, with enhanced seamless channel connection and quicker sound response.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Restores compressed audio (WMA, AAC, MP3) to near CD quality by creating new signals to restore lost details and music cadence.

Video Technologies

Video Scaler (1080p to 4K) with Super Resolution

Upscales 1080p video sources to 4K/60p high-resolution images (up to 4K/60p/4:4:4/24-bit). It enhances fine image textures for more detailed and natural pictures. Supports 18 Gbps bandwidth for 4:4:4 color format.

Ultra HD (4K/60p/4:4:4/24-bit) Pass-Through with HDCP 2.2

Allows 4K/60p signals to pass through to compatible displays, supporting HDCP 2.2 on all HDMI terminals for premium content with digital copy protection.

Next Generation Video Standard Ready (HDR/BT.2020)

Ready for HDR (High Dynamic Range) and BT.2020 standards. HDR expands brightness peaks for higher contrast and life-like images. BT.2020 offers a wider color gamut for vividly rich coloration. Supported via pass-through.

Dolby Vision Compatible

An advanced HDR video standard offering significantly wider color space and dynamic range, with enhanced brightness, deeper darks, and expanded contrast for a life-like viewing experience.

Deep Color

Supports 36-bit Deep Color for smooth gradation steps and accurate color precision, resulting in detailed, natural color reproduction.

"x.v.Color"

Supports "x.v.Color", which nearly doubles the color range (gamut) for more accurate color capture and reproduction on compatible displays, closely matching human eye perception.

Audio Formats & Licenses

DTS:X™

Next-generation object-based audio codec enabling immersive and interactive experiences. It adapts to existing speaker systems and is backward compatible with DTS-HD Master Audio. Includes Dialog Control for independent adjustment of dialog volume.

Dolby Atmos®

A unique technology for surround sound that uses object-oriented mixing and overhead speakers to create a three-dimensional sound space. Reproduces theater-quality sound at home with up to 64 separate speaker outputs.

DTS Neural:X™

Down/up-mixing and spatial remapping technology within DTS:X. It can up-mix DTS Neural:X encoded and non-encoded data to produce up to 11.x channels for a more realistic atmosphere.

Dolby Surround

Up-mixes legacy channel-based content for reproduction on a Dolby Atmos environment, expanding the original source to fill the system's speaker layout.

Dolby Audio®

Compatible with Dolby TrueHD (lossless, high-definition audio up to 18 Mbps) and Dolby Digital Plus (high-quality surround sound up to 7.1 channels with efficient compression).

DTS-HD Master Audio/DTS-HD High Resolution Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio provides bit-for-bit identical sound to the studio master (up to 192 kHz/24-bit for 5.1ch, 96 kHz/24-bit for 7.1ch) at high variable bit rates. DTS-HD High Resolution Audio offers up to 7.1 channels of 96 kHz/24-bit high-resolution sound.

Hi-Res Audio File Playback via USB/Network

Supports playback of 5.6/2.8 MHz DSD files via USB and network streaming. Also supports up to 192 kHz/24-bit WAV, FLAC, AIFF, and Apple Lossless files via USB and network. Dolby TrueHD playback is available via USB.

Sophisticated Surround System

7ch Speaker Configurations

Models offer various speaker terminal configurations (e.g., 9/7/5 channels) and ZONE 2 pre/line out, supporting diverse layouts for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or multi-zone audio.

Advanced Surround Modes

Includes modes like Classical, Unplugged, Entertainment Show, Drama, Advanced Game, Action, Rock/Pop, Sports, Extended Stereo, Extended Mono, Front Stage Surround, Auto Surround, Phones Surround, and ECO Modes to optimize sound for different content.

Front Stage Surround Advance

Enables surround sound from front speakers and subwoofer only, reducing room dependency. Creates an excellent sound image and natural sound without using wall reflections.

Connectivity

HDMI® (4K/60p, 3D, ARC)

Supports 3D, 4K/60p video signals, and Audio Return Channel (ARC) for sending audio back from a TV to the receiver via a single HDMI cable.

Front USB Input

Allows straightforward connection for playing music files from a USB memory stick.

Phono (MM) Input

Enables connection of a turntable (MM type) for playing vinyl records.

Network Features

Whole Home Audio with FireConnect™

Mirrors network audio and external analog sources to compatible speakers in other rooms, managed via the Pioneer Remote App.

Chromecast built-in

Allows streaming music, radio, and podcasts from mobile devices using Chromecast-enabled apps. Control is available from anywhere in the house.

DTS Play-Fi®

Wirelessly streams audio content from compatible mobile devices to the receiver and other DTS Play-Fi speakers, enabling multi-room audio systems. Different sources can be streamed to different speakers simultaneously.

Apple AirPlay® Certified

Provides access and control of iTunes music libraries through the AV receiver, displaying song information and album art.

Music Streaming Services

Ready for services like Pandora®, Spotify®, TIDAL, and Deezer, offering access to millions of songs and personalized radio stations.

Internet Radio (TuneIn)

Comes preset with TuneIn for accessing over 100,000 internet radio stations worldwide.

Built-in Dual Band Wi-Fi®

Supports both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands for steady and uninterrupted wireless audio streaming.

Built-in Bluetooth® Wireless Technology

Enables easy streaming of songs from compatible devices, supporting A2DP and AVRCP profiles with SBC and AAC codecs.

Advanced Control

Multi-Zone (Powered ZONE 2)

Allows playback of different sources in two zones simultaneously.

GUI with System/Network Setup Menu

Graphical User Interface for smooth operation, step-by-step setup guidance, and easy access to network and MCACC menus.

Ready for Pioneer Remote App

Integrated control for all zones, including music cueing, listening mode switching, and AV source selection, controllable from iOS and Android devices.

Firmware Update/Network Setup via Web Control

Access receiver settings, perform firmware updates, and manage network configurations via a web browser by entering the receiver's IP address.

Standby Pass-Through with CEC

Transmits audio and video signals from HDMI-connected components to the TV even when the receiver is in standby mode, if Control with HDMI is enabled.

Standby Pass-Through without CEC

Allows passing audio and video signals via HDMI during standby without needing to turn on the receiver. Input sources can be switched remotely.

Auto Power Off in HDMI Standby Through

Automatically turns off the AV receiver after a user-defined period of inactivity, also applicable in HDMI Standby Through mode.

Model Overview and Features

Pioneer's 2017 AV receivers offer a range of options, from high-end to entry-level, all featuring advanced audio and video processing.

VSX-LX302

VSX-LX302: A 7.2-channel receiver, offering the most comprehensive feature set, including 9-channel speaker output, 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, and the AK4458 DAC. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with Reflex Optimizer.

VSX-LX102 / VSX-932

VSX-LX102 / VSX-932: Both are 7-channel receivers. The VSX-LX102 features the AK4438 DAC and supports 5.2.2ch configurations. The VSX-932 also supports advanced audio formats and offers similar connectivity, with 4 HDMI inputs.

VSX-832

VSX-832: A 5.1-channel receiver that uniquely supports Dolby Atmos for 3.1.2ch configurations with Surround Enhancer, virtually expanding to 5.1.2ch. It includes the AK4438 DAC and supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

VSX-532 / VSX-531D

VSX-532 / VSX-531D: Entry-level 5.1-channel receivers. They support 4K/60p/4:4:4 pass-through with HDCP 2.2 and HDR10. Features include built-in Bluetooth, MCACC, and Phase Control. The VSX-532 uses a 192 kHz/24-bit DAC, while the VSX-531D also features DAB/DAB+ radio.

Trademarks and Copyright

This document references numerous trademarks including Pioneer, Dolby, DTS, AKM, Rubycon Corporation, Texas Instruments, Apple, Google, Sony, and others. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Copyright © 2017 Onkyo & Pioneer Corporation. All rights reserved.