Four New LX AV Receivers for Studio-Quality Sound

Revolutionary Amplifier technology brings studio-quality sound to the Home Theatre

Pioneer introduces four new A/V receivers - the SC LX81, SC-LX71, VSX-LX51 and VSX-1018AH - delivering a high-definition audiovisual experience that transcends the ordinary. The new A/V receivers work seamlessly with Pioneer's 2008 KURO TVs and Blu-ray Disc players to deliver the ultimate picture and sound performance.

In the slipstream of Pioneer's recently announced flagship A/V amplifier, "Susano SC-LX90," the SC-LX81 and SC-LX71, continue to incorporate ICEpower direct energy HD amplification and the company's legacy sound-tuning in collaboration with AIR Studios in London to produce a sound quality that is truly unique.

"Our Susano A/V amplifier represents the pinnacle of high-end design and engineering in home theatre equipment. Building upon the Susano's success, our new line of LX A/V receivers provides the full impact of new uncompressed, multi-channel audio soundtracks available on Blu-ray Discs," says Jim Catcheside, Product Manager at Pioneer GB. "Listeners can get the impression of being at the front row of their favourite concert."

Studio-Quality Sound at Home
The SC-LX71 and SC-LX81 deliver robust, realistic sound quality as a result of the exclusive Direct Energy HD Amplifier with ICEpower technology. Pioneer combines its industry-leading sound tuning technology and digital signal processing (DSP) to produce HD surround sound at unprecedented efficiency levels. Entertainment enthusiasts can take advantage of internal decoding of advanced audio formats - DTS-HD™ Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus - to finally enjoy a full HD viewing experience with rich sound that complements on-screen imagery. Both A/V receivers feature Advanced MCACC tuning to ensure accurate, studio-quality surround sound regardless of the room configuration, while Full Band Phase Control eliminates bass 'phase lag' often caused by low-frequency levels in 5.1 surround sound systems. The A/V receivers include Neural-THX allowing for content produced in two-channel stereo formats to be dispersed among 7.1 channel surround sound, as well as a sampling rate converter (SC-LX81), guaranteeing that full body of sound and picture arrives as intended by the sound engineer/director.

HD Digital Connectivity
In this new range of A/V receivers Pioneer brings HDMI 1.3a with support of 12-Bit Deep Colour to deliver a stellar picture from connected sources with a wide variety of hues and shades. The A/V receivers are engineered for 1080p video processing and feature a Faroudja video scaler chip that ensures full 1080p 24 Hz performance. An incorporated audio enhancement feature with anti-jitter technology converts the HDMI signal to maintain the integrity of the sound conversion.

Pioneer Audio Synergy
Pioneer created jitter-free playback and dynamic sound quality for music CDs. When connected to a new Blu-ray Disc player via HDMI, the SC LX71 and SC-LX81 receivers perfect CD playback with the proprietary Precision Quartz Locking System (PQLS). The advanced feature synchronizes data coming from the Blu-ray Disc player to the receiver, providing listeners with a very accurate and faithful reproduction of their favourite music.

Networking and Consumer Convenience Features
The SC-LX71 and SC-LX81 enhance the home theatre experience with the exclusive Home Media Gallery. Through the receiver, users can easily access and stream digital media files directly from a connected home PC or laptop computer with media server IP networking capability. The function is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Windows Vista or Windows Media Connect, as well as Microsoft audio DRM technology. Users can freely navigate and select content from their iPods thanks to Advanced iPod Connectivity, the receiver's remote control and on-screen display. Pioneer further implements its proprietary Sound Retriever DSP technology, which works by "filling in" and compensating for the audio data removed from the compressed files (WMA, MP3, MPEG-4 AAC) for music playback that is near CD quality.

Full Custom-Installation Ready
Pioneer's LX A/V Receivers are ready for custom installation thanks to the following features:

• Multi-Zone, Multi-Source Capabilities allow Pioneer's LX A/V Receivers to serve as the entertainment centrepiece of multiple rooms
• The SC-LX81 has dual HDMI video output and second zone component video output for zone 2 HD video capabilities
• RS-232C Port for PC and Control Connectivity
• New product cosmetics compliment and harmonise with the design of the KURO displays and Blu-ray Disc players

Also in the line-up, the VSX-LX51 and VSX-1018AH models join Pioneer's 2007 receiver - the VSX LX70 - to complete the entire 2008 offering. These models flawlessly pass a 1080p picture with full reproduction capabilities of all high-resolution audio formats.

The VSX-1018AH and VSX-LX51 will be available in June, whereas the SC-LX71 and SC-LX81 will be available later this year. The VSX-LX70 is currently already available.

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