Pioneer Branded AV Receivers Amplified by Class D3 Technology

  Pioneer Branded AV Receivers Amplified by Class D3 Technology

Business Wire

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- June 06, 2012

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. integrates Class D^3 digital amplification into
two of its flagship Pioneer^® branded receivers, the SC-1222 (7.2-channel) and
SC-1522 (9.2-channel), bringing powerful audio and video performance with
increased customization capabilities to a wider audience of home theater
enthusiasts for the first time. The receivers are built with custom
installation features that offer users and installers multi-room setup
options, multiple HDMI^® inputs and PC Setup control, as well as the latest
technologies including Apple’s AirPlay^®, DLNA^® 1.5, Windows^® 7
compatibility, Internet radio and Advanced MCACC^® auto room calibration.

Pioneer SC-1522 AV Receiver (Photo: Business Wire)

Pioneer SC-1522 AV Receiver (Photo: Business Wire)

“Incorporating Class D^3 technology into the SC-1222 and SC-1522 further
expands the choices in Pioneer receivers for our customers,” said Chris
Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics
Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Both receivers also offer more
installation flexibility, ideal for advanced custom installations.”

The Class D^3 Advantage
Pioneer’s Class D^3 amplifier, built into the SC receivers, generates immense
power without sacrificing sound quality and performance. The exclusive class D
technology requires less energy than competitive models yet produces more
simultaneous power output, and is designed to maximize the audio potential of
uncompressed sources such as Blu-ray Disc™ titles and high-definition audio
content distributed on the Internet.

The amplifier section also uses a Direct Signal Path Design, configured with
all of its internal components to have the shortest audio signal path
possible, eliminating EMI filters, feedback loops, and current limiters that
were necessary on previous designs. This results in a reduction of ringing
distortion and noise, especially in the high frequency audio band. The
receivers can produce up to 140 Watts per channel of power with great detail
and high dynamic range.

Connectivity Options
Apple’s AirPlay^1, DLNA 1.5 and Bluetooth^® connectivity are built into both
models for wireless access and connection, with the ability to play high
resolution FLAC and WAV music files of up to 192kHz/24-Bits. Both receivers
offer endless music entertainment with vTuner^®, PANDORA^® Internet radio and
access to subscription-based SiriusXM^® Radio. Pioneer’s Air Jam App^2,
available at no charge from the Apple App Store on iPhone^®, iPad^®, and iPod
touch^® or the iTunes^® store, at www.apple.com/iTunes/, allows connection to
personal sources with its ability to pair up to four devices^simultaneously
via Bluetooth and create group playlists (optional AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter
required).

  * High Resolution Music Playback– The SC-1222 offers DSD (SACD DFF Files)
    music file playback via the front USB connection and the SC-1522 offers
    the 192kHz/32-bit asynchronous USB DAC for ultra-high quality music file
    playback from a USB^3-connected PC or Mac.
  * MHL-Compatibility Device Connectivity – The SC-1522 features a front
    Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connection for compatible smartphones as
    additional sources for audio and video entertainment. The front-panel
    HDMI/MHL terminal delivers content with up to 1080p video and 7.1-channel
    HD audio resolution.

Video Enhancement Capabilities
To enhance the video performance from connected sources, both receivers
convert all analog signals to digital HDMI and upscale both analog and digital
signals to 1080p resolution. The models also use Pioneer’s Advanced Video
Adjust to optimize video signals by the type of display connected and the
Stream Smoother feature to enhance the picture quality of any source
downloaded from the Internet via other devices. The incorporated Marvell^®
Qdeo^® processor produces true 1080p/24fps video. A 4K Pass Through built in
to the SC-1522 ensures consumers have the most up-to-date technology to take
advantage of advanced digital formats.

Customizable Benefits
Users have full customizable options for their home theater experience with as
many as ten different configurations (SC-1522) to create a full 5.1-channel
setup with the ability to use the remaining channels for additional zones.
Both models offer entertainment options for up to three zones, with Zone 2
providing composite video output and the ability to handle network and USB
content, and Zone 3 offering analog audio input sources. The SC-1522 gives
users the option of a dedicated Zone 2 subwoofer output in addition to the two
dedicated subwoofer outputs for the main zone.

Both models are compatible with home automation systems from Control4^®,
Crestron^® and Savant^®.^Additionally, most home theater system needs can be
tailored with the ability to control the receivers directly from portable
devices running Pioneer’s iControlAV2012 App^4.

To help make custom installation more convenient, the Advanced PC Setupfeature
in the SC-1522 lets installers pre-configure connection settings on a
Windows-based personal computer before the actual installation process, as
well as perform read and rewrite functions to reset and adjust the receiver
from a remote location. Do-it-yourselfers can use Wiring Navifor Windows-based
PCs and the iPad, an interactive guide for wiring connections, and the
Interactive Manualapplication that provides a linked two-way manual to
dynamically learn about the receiver’s features.

AV Processing
Pioneer SC receiver models offer the best audio and video performance
utilizing Pioneer’s unmatched proprietary technologies that include Advanced
MCACC for the most accurate automatic room calibration, Auto Phase Control
Plus for real time phase matching to analyze the audio input every 30 seconds,
PQLS Bit-Streamto help eliminate distortion caused by digital bit-stream
timing errors, and Virtual Speaker Modesfor simulating sound coming from
various areas in a room without actual additional speakers connected. The
SC-1522 has been certified with THX^® Select 2 Plus to ensure it delivers the
highest fidelity home entertainment experience.

Portable Device Control
Pioneer’s iControlAV2012 App, available at no charge from the App Store on
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch or www.apple.com/itunes/, enables control of
power on and off, volume and sound mode settings, and the ability for users to
choose and control content from Pandora internet radio, other Internet radio
stations, and music files from network-attached storage (NAS) devices on a
home network.

The app also includes Sound Explorer, which gives users the ability to set and
adjust numerous sound enhancements such as PQLS Jitter reduction, equalizer,
standing wave compensation, phase control and auto phase control plus, tone
controls, Advanced Sound Retriever^® (ASR), digital noise reduction, dialog
enhancement, X-curve, Hi-Bit 24 and Virtual Modes.

The Pioneer branded SC receivers have suggested retail prices of $1,099
(SC-1222) and $1,599 (SC-1522).

About Pioneer
Pioneer’s Home Electronics Division develops award-winning audio and video
home theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD players,
and speakers. The company’s brands include Pioneer^® and Elite^®. More details
can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

^1Airplay requires iTunes 10.1 or later and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with
iOS 4.2 or later.
^2 Noise and interruption may be caused when the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is
connected to other Bluetooth devices. This app is developed and checked for
operation under iOS 4.2 or later. The number of connectable devices or
compatibility may differ when other software versions are installed.
^3 The USB driver file is found in AVNAvigator for installation on the
computer (Requires Windows 10 or 11 for PC and iTunes 10.4 for Mac).
^4 A/V receiver needs to be connected to a wired LAN in a wireless LAN
network. This application is developed and checked for operation.

PIONEER, the Pioneer logo, MCACC and Advanced Sound Retrieverare registered
trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.
Apple, AirPlay, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch and iTunes are trademarks of
Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Control4 is a registered trademark of Control4 Corporation.
Crestron is a registered trademark of Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Savant is a trademark of Savant Systems LLC.
The Bluetooth® word mark is registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
and any use of such marks by Pioneer is under license.
DLNA®, the DLNA Logo and DLNA Certified® are trademarks, service marks, or
certification marks of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
Marvell, Qdeo and the M logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its
affiliates.
HDMI is trademark or registered trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United
States and other countries.
MHL, the MHL Logo, and Mobile High-Definition Link are trademarks or
registered trademarks of MHL LLC in the United States and other countries.
Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
PANDORA is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.
vTuner is a registered trademark of Nothing Else Matters Software, Ltd.
SiriusXM is a registered trademark of Sirius XM Satellite Radio Inc.
THX is a registered trademark of THX Ltd.

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Contact:

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
Jaed Arzadon, 310-952-2451
Jaed.arzadon@pioneer-usa.com
or
Katherine Manning, 310-952-2388
katherine.manning@pioneer-usa.com