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Official Pioneer Elite SC-65/SC-1527-K Owners Thread.

103K views 505 replies 155 participants last post by  DjLexXxus 
#1 ·
Figured it was time to open an official owners thread:


These are both comparable models. The SC-1527-K is a Future Shop Canada exclusive that is basically identical to the Elite SC-65 without the Elite badge.


Here are the links to the Pioneer Electronics Canada pages to start it off:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/POCEN/Home/AV-Receivers/Elite-Receivers/SC-65
http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/POCEN/Home/AV-Receivers/FutureShop/SC-1527-K


Here is the link to Pioneer Electronics page for the SC-65:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/AV-Receivers/Elite+Receivers/SC-65

SPECIFICATIONS:

9.2-Channel Network Ready AV Receiver


THX® Select 2 Plus certified 9.2 Channel Class D3 Amplification brings unprecedented power and fidelity to your home theater.

MHL® Connectivity brings HD Audio and Video from your Android smart device.

4k2K passthrough allows connectivity with future HDTV formats.

POWER

Amplifier Design Class D3

Channels 9.2

Power Output: Watts per Channel 130 x 9 (1kHz)

4 OHM Speaker

Estimated Power Consumption 330 Watts

HANDHELD AND INTERNET

AirPlay

Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad Certified iPod/iPhone/iPad

Supported Apple Devices 4th gen Nano and above / iPhone, 3G, 3GS, 4 / iPad, iPad2

iControlAV Application iControlAV2012(iPad, iPhone, Android)

Supplied iPad/iPhone/iPod A/V Cable

iTunes Movie / TV / Video Playback via cable

iTunes Album Art

YouTube Video Playback via Supplied A/V Cable

Internet Radio vTuner

Pandora Radio

Sirius Radio via Internet w/ subscription

DLNA 1.5 Certified Yes

USB Formats MP3, WMA, iPod Digital, WAV 192kHz, FLAC 192kHz, JPEG

Network Audio Formats LPCM, WAV 192kHz, MP3, ACC, WMA, FLAC 192kHz

DECODERS & FORMATS

Digital Core DSP Engine TI Aureus x 2

THX™ Certification Select 2 Plus

iPod Digital Audio

192K/24-Bit DACs 192kHz/32-Bit

Dolby True HD

Dolby Digital plus

Dolby Pro-Logic IIz

DTS-HD Master Audio

DTS Neo:X Yes

SOUNDFIELD CALIBRATION

Phase Control Auto / Plus

Auto MCACC Advanced

Manual MCACC

Standing Wave Control

EQ Bands 9

Symmetric EQ

MCACC Memory 6

X-Curve

Distance Adjustment 1/2 Inch

Polarity Check

Auto Subwoofer Crossover

LISTENING MODES

Auto Surround

Auto Level Control Multi-Channel

Optimum Surround

Stream Direct Direct / Pure Direct

Advanced Surround 15 + Headphone Surround

Wide Surround

Front Stage Surround Advance Yes (Focus/Wide)

Headphone Surround

Virtual Surround Back

Virtual Height

Virtual Depth

Virtual Wide

AUDIO FEATURES

High-bit. High sampling Hi-bit24

DSD to PCM Converter Multi-Channel

PQLS Jitter Reduction HDMI Bitstream/ Multi

Dialog Enhancement

Advanced Sound Retriever Multi-Channel / Auto with ARC

Sound Retriever AIR

Digital Noise Reduction

Tone Control Multi Channel

Sound Delay (Lip Sync) 10-Frames

Speaker A/B

Bi-Amp Front Channel

VIDEO PROCESSING

4k2k Video Passthrough

3-D Ready

Audio Return Channel

HDMI 36-bit Deep Color

HDMI x.v. Color

Video Converter to HDMI

Video Scaler Marvell Qdeo up to 1080p / 24fps

Stream Smoother

Pure Cinema

Video Parameter Adjustments Advanced Video Adjust - HD Sources Progressive Motion - YNR, CNR, BNR, MNR, Detail, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Chroma, Black level

CONNECTIVITY

HDMI Input / Output 8 In / 2 Out

Wireless Adapter Port AS-BT200 / Air Jam App

Component Video Input / Output 2 In / 1 Out

iPhone / iPod Front USB / Composite Video

USB Memory Input Yes (MP3 / WMA / WAV 192kHz / FLAC 192kHz, JPEG)

Ethernet Input

Composite A/V Input / Output 4 In / 1 Out

Analog Audio Inputs / Output 1 In

Digital Inputs / Output 4 In / 1 Out

Pre-Amp Outputs 9.1 Channel (11.2 Terminals)

Headphone Output

Front A/V Inputs HDMI or MHL / USB / Composite Video

AM/FM Presets 63

INSTALLATION

On-Screen Display GUI with Album Art

Multi-Room and Source Output 2 Zone AV / 3 Zone Audio

Zone 2 Sources DVD, Sat/CBL, DVR/BDR, Internet radio, SiriusXM, Pandora, Media Server, Favorites, iPod/USB, TV, CD, Tuner, Adapter Port

Zone 3 Sources Analog Audio

12 Volt Trigger (Assignable) Yes

RS-232C

IR Serial Remote In/Out 2 In / 1 Out

Multi-Zone On-Screen Display Yes (Zone 2)

Network Firmware Update Ethernet / USB

AVNavigator

PC Set-Up With Remote Maintenance

IP Control for CI

PreAmp Mode Yes

Versatile Speaker Configuration 7 Mode (Bi-Amp / Zone 2 / B-Speaker / Surround Back / Front Height / Front Width)

FL Dimmer

Function Rename

Remote Learning

Sleep Timer

Detachable Power Cord

CONSTRUCTION

Front Panel Aluminum (Hairline)

Transformer Stabilizer

Advanced Direct Construction

Large Speaker Terminals All

WARRANTY

Warranty 3 Years

DIMENSIONS

W x H x D (inches) 17.13 x 7.28 x 17.36

Weight 33.29 lbs
 
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#352 ·
I need help.


Last night a bought an Open Box SC-65 at Best Buy (for under $400.)


Got it home, hooked up my speakers, ran MCAAC and the speakers are essentially silent.


At "0" in a quiet room the speakers do not produce a loud enough sound to hear 5 feet away.


Increasing the volume to +12 has them sound like a very very quiet whisper. Much to quiet at full volume to understand dialog.


MCAAC will not complete because it doesn't detect any sounds.


I have another receiver and I can verify the speakers/wires are in perfect working order.


I performed a factory reset on the SC-65 and tried again with no luck. I ensured that zones 2 and 3 are off, that speakers are 10 feet a part in the distance setting, made sure MUTE was no on/etc.


Could there be an easy trick to getting this thing to produce volume?


Or is this just a dud? I'd really like it to work.


EDIT: All video sources work, and switching between inputs works as expected.. I have HDMI, component hooked up. The component video source is using the Toslink optical in for sound. Very little sound can be head on any of them even at full volume level.


Thanks for any help.
 
#354 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxbat121  /t/1448081/official-pioneer-elite-sc-65-sc-1527-k-owners-thread/330#post_24453713


What is your other receiver and what are your speakers?
I have Paradigm 60s V3 L-R, 370-CC C, 20s SL-SR and a subwoofer.

I have a Pioneer SC-1523-K (the SC-75 equivalent) that I used to test.


It's not my speakers, they're run of the mill normal speakers. No crazy 2 Ohm load or anything like that.


It's the receiver, just trying to figure out if there's some switch or setting that's causing it.
 
#357 ·
What comes out of the optical digital output on the back panel? I see a footnote in the manual for my SC-1522 that says "You can’t hear HDMI audio through this receiver’s digital out jack." Does that mean audio from an hdmi input to the receiver will just produce silence on this output? Would DD 5.1 from one of the receiver's optical inputs appear on this optical output?
 
#358 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by GregLee  /t/1448081/official-pioneer-elite-sc-65-sc-1527-k-owners-thread/300_100#post_24501496


What comes out of the optical digital output on the back panel?

what goes in on a digital coax/opt input.


no receiver has conversion from HDMI to standard digital coax/opt. violates the encrypted handshake protocol. plus, digital opt/coax cannot handle the bandwidth of multichannel, lossless, hi-rez audio formats. but there are external HDMI switchers that can remove the handshake and convert to std analog or digital output. companies like HDTV Supply have them. the receiver also doesn't convert analog inputs to digital outputs. it does convert 2 ch analog input internally to digital for processing, adding surround processing, MCACC, bass mgmt but doesn't output it as digital, only converts it to digital so internal DSP's can be used.
 
#360 ·
^^

I didn't answer that part of your question



what I meant was only audio signals from the digital inputs are sent to the outputs, not signals converted from analog or HDMI inputs which is typically what people ask about in these forums for a zone 2 use.


as far as 5.1 in = 5.1 out, I've never personally used the outputs, just didn't have an application. I had planned for it in my connection setup but never had the need to implement it. so can't say from personal experience.


I'd have to look at the block diagram in a service manual I have for the SC-57 & do give you my interpretation of the circuit paths. the 57 has similar design topology. when I get a chance today or tonight, I'll take a look.


are you not getting 5.1 out and checking or asking before you try it?
 
#361 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss9001  /t/1448081/official-pioneer-elite-sc-65-sc-1527-k-owners-thread/300_60#post_24502521


I'd have to look at the block diagram in a service manual I have for the SC-57 & do give you my interpretation of the circuit paths. the 57 has similar design topology. when I get a chance today or tonight, I'll take a look.


are you not getting 5.1 out and checking or asking before you try it?
Oh, don't bother trying to figure that out. I don't think it would work for me, anyhow, to restrict inputs to just the optical inputs. I was just curious.


I was thinking about ordering Turtle Beach XP400 Dolby surround headphones which take a 5.1 digital optical input, and it would have been convenient for me to just take that from the AVR's digital output. I guess I'll have to either get a toslink switch (since my output devices have unused toslink outputs) or an hdmi audio extractor to get a toslink signal out of one of the AVR's hdmi outputs.


Thanks.


Added: Since the AVR doesn't ordinarily pass audio to its hdmi outputs, I'm going to get a toslink switch to feed the headphones.
 
#362 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by GregLee  /t/1448081/official-pioneer-elite-sc-65-sc-1527-k-owners-thread/360_60#post_24503174


Added: Since the AVR doesn't ordinarily pass audio to its hdmi outputs, I'm going to get a toslink switch to feed the headphones.
I did buy XP400 Turtle Beach headphones -- they were on sale at Amazon for $130. I gave up on the idea of using my Pioneer to supply them with optical digital input, as advised above, and I did instead buy a toslink switch, on Amazon it's "ViewHD SPDIF | TOSLINK Digital Optical Audio Connector (Matrix 4x2)", for $50.

Since I'm bypassing the Pioneer AVR entirely for the headphones, this is off-topic, and I'm keeping it short.

It all seems to be working, basically, except that the base unit for the headphones won't accept some DD ("Master Audio") from my blu-ray player, and the headphones sound rather muffled, compared to the AVR with my speakers. Not so good with music. The headphones do a nice job with surround effects in TV movies, though. The wireless feature works fine.
 
#363 ·
Hi guys, I just snagged a SC 65 for a great price. I have an SC-05 as well that I will retire to my secondary system (still love that receiver).


I was wondering, can you set it to upscale everything to 1080P *unless* it's already 1080P, and in that case, just pass it through?


Or is my only option if I want 1080P passthrough to set everything to passthrough?


Thanks!
 
#364 ·
Hello,


I've just got a new sc-65 on the week-end to replace my old vsx-1018,

everything hooked up, runs fine so far,

connected 7.1 speakers, again all runs fine.


On the back of the receiver it says: "caution speaker impedance 4 ohms" on front height and wide


my question is: can i hook up some older JBL 50 watts 8ohms speaker for front height?

are they going to hold up or blow up?


The rest of the set-up has 125-150 watts speakers connected, i just wanted to re-use these older speakers.

btw I'm running my fronts Polk rti10's on a pre-out NAD amp to alleviate the load on the sc-65.


Also i was wondering if i connect another set to front wide as well as having front height will they all play ?

receiver is 9.2 but connections for 11.2, i'm a bit confused here.


Any help here would be greatly appreciated.


thank you
 
#367 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by harleybla  /t/1448081/official-pioneer-elite-sc-65-sc-1527-k-owners-thread/360_60#post_24553570


Also i was wondering if i connect another set to front wide as well as having front height will they all play ?

receiver is 9.2 but connections for 11.2, i'm a bit confused here.
No, the receiver won't do front wides and front heights at the same time (at least if you have all 11 connected up and enabled). Having 11 speakers connected just gives you some choice about which 9 speakers to use. It can't be more than 9 and may well be only 7, depending on what sound mode you've set the receiver to. I think it's true that the Dolby Digital modes only do 7. Neo:X can do 9.
 
#368 ·
I hope someone can help. My SC-65 is having remote/network issues. I hit the NET button and can cycle through the network functions but cannot go up/down on the remote to select anything. In addition I get server error messages on internet radio/sirius/pandora. This happens on the stock remote and a universal. If I reset to factory settings will I have to re-program my remote/hdmi settings/network settings all over again?


Anyone else have this issue?
 
#369 ·
Hi again, when I power off the receiver the message zone 2 on appears. How do I remove this? Also, just added a Martin Logan sub whose manual says I should customize the subs frequency range through the receiver but I can't seem to find the page to set the subs range.hanks
 
#371 ·
Two problems I'm currently having with my sc-65, cbl-sat hdmi output quit working ( now using bdr-dvr). I get a pop in my speakers when I hit ff along with a super high pitch sound , like it's some type of ground fault, if I unplug the unit it goes away. Now when I turn the unit on sometimes I get no sound, I change the channel & sometimes in get sound & sometimes I don't, unplugging will usually reset but sometimes I have to do it a couple of times. Any ideas ?? I'm in California & never had these problems with the oink yo I had before.
 
#372 ·

I'm new to AVS Forum - great resource and I look forward to helping out in some way.  I'm ripping my small (~150) CD collection to a lossless format.  I haven't decided between FLAC and ALAC, though I do use iTunes on my iPhone. I have WiFi, but thought I'd just buy a 128GB USB stick and plug it directly into my receiver to minimize connectivity and speed issues.  As I see it, the pros/cons to this setup are as follows:

 

Pros

* Great quality sound (not audiophile quality, but my 50 year old ears can't tell the difference)

* Inexpensive ($55 for a 128GB stick)

* No network headaches

* No quality hits due to streaming hiccups

* Simple, convenient 

* Quiet, low power 

 

Cons:

* limited storage/expansion for the future

* Need to dedicate usb stick or plug/unplug everytimg we want to enjoy music

* No easy way to make/use playlists (I think this is true...maybe the iControl AV helps?)

 

A bit about me and my needs:

* I'd be an audiophile, but prefer to keep my retirement plan funded ;-)

* Much of my equipment was purchased open box to save money.  I tried to hit the "sweet spot" with my modest budget

* Simple is preferred though I can handle most things technically (networking, tweaking settings, etc.)

* My music library grows very slowly...maybe 1 or 2 CDs each year

 

Any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks!

 

TV: Panasonic 60GT50

Receiver: Pioneer SC-65

Blu-Ray: Oppo BDP-93

Turntable: Project Audio Carbon

5.1 Speaker system: Polk Invisible in walls + SuperCube 2000 sub (sounds great and wife friendly!)

Content: Lots of 3D blu-rays
 
#374 ·

Thanks for the input.  Is your dislike user interface specifically or are there quality improvements with your Rasberry Pi solution?  With 1000+ artists, I can see why navigation is important.  I have a much smaller collection that includes about 25 artists or so.  Mostly, I need good sound quality and a few playlists and I'm good to go.  
 
#375 ·
I'm sure you'll be fine then.

What I really needed was a way to build playlists on the fly, like if I'm having a party or something, and be able to search for songs and artists in an easy way.

The sound quality was fine when listening to the music directly from the SC-65, but the interface was lacking I though.

You should try it and see if you like it. You've got nothing to lose.

Also, you could try it with a USB stick you already have lying around and put one or two albums on it to see if you like it.
 
#376 ·

Exactly...thanks and I will report back my findings in the next few weeks!
 
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