The "Official" Pioneer Elite SC-55/SC-57 Owners Thread - Page 9

^^
maybe too early?

I did the same thing with pandora on my receiver, and I could never get it worked out. Marc, have you entered passwords fine on this?

Which level of rhapsody service did you sign up for? Looking at their website, you need the "Premier Plus ($15)" to listen on a home audio system. Did you by chance just sign up for the $10 Premier?

EDIT- Looks like the $10 one is enough for an AVR...

Then I must've made a typo somewhere in the line. Fair enough.

Just a note, Pioneer has posted the IR and RS232 command file for the SC-55 and 57. Just a warning, it's in Excel, and is somewhat painful to move around in.

FYI

Not looking good? Huh?

The receiver just came out. It usually takes months to get professional reviews. Is your goal to passively disparage something for the hell out of it?

Do you write for Rupert Murdoch too?

I did read t his over on the 37 thread as I have a 37 and love it. Before the 37, I was into Audyssey and had the works, Audyssey everythinng from Pro Kit to the Integra DHC. Came back to Pioneer as Audyssey was too flat for me and I like to do my own subwoofer thing. I suppose now I'll have to upgrade to the 57 so I can play with more toys.

Bill

Just bought the 57 at a Dallas Magnolia, To be delivered on the 26th. Really excited.

I currently have an RX-Z7, but am interested in these new Pioneers. I run multiple subs using a Behringer DCX 2496 for EQ up to ~125 Hz, which works great (using Holm Impulse for measuring the in-room response). I like to leave the higher frequencies untouched (no auto EQ: YPAO/MCAAC/Audyssey) but find that it is quite useful to use multiple manual EQ filters in the 100-350 Hz range to smooth out the rest of the modal region. The problem with the Z7 is that it only has 7 manually adjustable PEQ filters, and only 3 of those can be used below 500 Hz. Furthermore, the frequency settings are adjustable only in pre-set octaves, not in 1 Hz increments, and the Q and level settings are also somewhat limited.

So, how many manually adjustable filters does the SC-55/57 have that can be set below 500 Hz, and how flexible are the available adjustments?

- Doug

Thanks

Thank you for posting the info regarding Rhapsody. Hopefully Pioneer will release a firmware update soon to fix the interoperability issue. It is extremely poor timing on Pioneer's part that Rhapsody updated their protocol, but it is something Pioneer does need to address sooner rather than later.

(SC-55)

Regarding MCACC: it is far better than I expected; the per-loudspeaker EQ is excellent, and the additional system-wide graphic EQ in iControlAV is a nice touch as well. I do not expect to use that feature often, but it is a "nice to have" I forsee using when connecting analog sources (such as VHS or audio cassette - which I haven't bothered with in ages).

Regarding TV control buttons: I am finding they do nothing, even though when I select TV input the source button does activate TV control on the power button. Do I need to use the learning feature for those buttons? I found I did have to teach the remote the "pause" code for my Samsung Blu-Ray player.

Regarding input method: the half-a##ed implementation of keyboard support is something which if addressed would be used more than "once in a blue moon" because Rhapsody and other services do have search features, and the same uber-painful input method is implemented for the search fields. If I do keep my Rhapsody subscription up again (I dropped it ages ago) then the search feature is something I would use on a very regular basis. I do realize I can search on my laptop and create ad-hoc playlists or just add the tracks to my library, but why should I have to go to a separate device? This bucks the whole convergence trend and underscores my point that Pioneer engineers are geeks who design for geeks, and not for normal users. I am on my computer far too much as it is; why should something so inherent to a streaming media service require such jumping through hoops? Pioneer's implementation makes Comcast's, Samsung's and Roku's search interfaces look downright user-friendly by comparison - and I have always regarded their GUIs as user-hostile.

As an AV receiver, aside from the godawful implementation of convergence features; I'm referring simply to sound quality and DSP, it is absolutely incredible and thanks to the per-channel EQ (which for the Klipsch speakers is within 1dB of flat across the board, but for the JBL it's the typical smiley-face curve), it has made the JBL center channel speaker I wanted to either throw out the window or rebuild, usable until I get around to replacing it (it will be replaced by an RC-52).

Regarding the remote: the manual does not devote enough to configuring the remote control. See the TV control issue above. To be fair I skimmed that section looking for the specific info I needed but tonight I will read the whole section thoroughly to see if I missed the answer - if it's in there then it's clearly an RTFM issue. I do like it though.

Regarding iPhone integration: the iPhone/iPad does support HDMI, so why does the included cable utilize the HD (or even ED) video from the iPhone and iPad? Why does it use the NTSC (SD over composite) signal? Also, why did they implement such a poor interface for scrolling through thousands of tracks?

Regarding DLNA: why oh why can't I stream video? It is an AVR, not an AR, right?

Regarding AirPlay: why oh why can't I stream video? It is an AVR, not an AR, right?

Regarding Internet streaming: why oh why can't I stream Netflux, Vudu, Hulu, and so on? If the SC-57 were to offer those, with a decent UI, I'd pay a premium for the 57, because it would enable me to eliminate some wires and clutter.

SC-55 vs. SC-57: Do I regret choosing the SC-55 over the SC-57? Not at all; the differences are so minor that it made the decision easy. If the higher-end model came with the RF remote it would have tipped the scale and I would have gone with the SC-57, but minus that the differences are so minor (DSP supporting additional modes no available source media deliver, differences in biamping features which I don't bother with due to the lack of an active crossover, and other oh-so-minor issues) that I could not justify spending the extra $400. If Pioneer had included the better remote, it would have been a "nice to have" I would have sprung for. Instead, I saved the difference and will buy the RF remote separately. Also, interestingly enough, one article I've read indicated that the SC-55 lacked the high precision speaker distance that the SC-57 has; that the SC-55 was configurable down to 1', while the 57 was configurable down to .5" and yet I discovered that the SC-55 was accurate to .5" as well. So, even some of the trivial differences the press releases and articles indicated are nonexistent since the SC-55 includes some of the advanced features.

Phono input: many articles covering the release state these models lack phono inputs. They absolutely do, and the manual even indicates them, and also state that turntables which output line level (ceramic cartridge turntables generally) should be connected to a regular line-level input, not the phono input. So, disregard those inaccurate articles as these models absolutely do include phono-level inputs for turntables.

The premier subscription includes:

Online listening

(Rhapsody.com or with PC software) Unlimited
Home audio listening (Sonos, VIZIO or other home devices) Unlimited
Mobile app or MP3 player access checkmark 1 device
Subscription downloads for MP3 players (Philips, Sansa or other compatible players) Unlimited
Subscription downloads for mobile apps (iPhone®, iPod touch® or Android™) Unlimited

So under "Home audio listening" AVRs are covered. I only need one iPhone covered so the Premier subscription would be the correct one for me. I don't use dedicated MP3 players.

That was an RTFM issue. PEBCAK!

Pioneer tends to be secretive about upcoming releases. I was researching Elite receivers to replace my old VSX-26X which finally after many years developed the DSP problem (I sent the board out to be resoldered on a reflow bench). I previously researched previous problems but the DSP problem was very intermittent so I stuck with the VSX-26TX for a while until it finally died. It has been solid since reflowing but I started researching new models. I was about to order the SC-37 but I put it off a couple of weeks because of the MA sales tax holiday (hey if I can withold a few dollars which would be wasted on government hack jobs by delaying a purchase a couple of weeks, why not save the $90 or so?). I went away, and put aside that research and then a couple days before I checked Pioneer's site and was surprised to discover the announced SC-57 and SC-55. I had previously looked for info on upcoming models and info was speculative at best.

Sooo, it's not surprising there are no reviews on the unit. It took the dealer 8 days to get the new SC models in (I told them I was likely going to order the SC-55 and would confirm saturday, and on Saturday I ordered but he had already ordered some to get into the shop after I told him I was going to purchase one). Very likely, reviewers are going t


Likewise, the iPhone 5 is not looking good, nor is the iPad 3, nor is the Canon EOS 1DS4 nor the 5D mk III based on your reasoning. The units exist and are being field tested right now, but those companies keep a very tight wrap on upcoming product and you generally do not see any real specs and certainly not any reviews until after the products are actually announced and shipping to distributors.

The reason? Loose lips sink ships; they do not want announcements to kill sales of existing stock. If it weren't for the tax holiday, I'd have ordered the SC-37 about two weeks prior to buying the SC-55, and I would have been pretty disappointed.

Have you ever heard of the Osborne effect? Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect

I'm sure reviewers have product in their hands now, and I'd expect reviews to be forthcoming soon. However you claim to have one now, right? What is stopping you from writing up a review? (I mean, aside from the fact that based on your posts up to now, your credibility is shaky at best)

Sorry for the off-topic post, but the Canon 1DS4 really isn't looking so good. The 5DII cannibalized the 1Ds3 sales so badly that most rumors are pointing towards and amalgamation of the 1 bodies into a 1D5, and that Canon's flagship MP camera will go by a new name and be VERY studio-oriented.

I'm still playing with my SC-57 but am liking it so far.

Set up Internet Radio favorites online, which was a breeze. Setting up XM Internet and Pandora was a pain because of the character entry. This was a time I wish I had a Bluetooth keyboard.

I do have a question about the speaker output. I have 6.1 configuration and my old Denon 4308i only used the surround back speakers based on the surround field I chose. It was also easy to identify on the front panel as to what speakers were being used.

From what I can tell, the SC-57 uses the back surround for what appears to be all surround modes, even Dolby Digital. I'm determining this by using the iPhone app since the Pioneer doesn't indicate on the front panel which speakers are being driven.

What do you write at all
I did not ask your life story

The 55 and 57 are reportedly the first AVRs ever to offer selectable digital filters. A little bit of research reveals that the 55 and 57 retain the AKM AK4480 32 bit stereo DACs utilized in the 37 in the previous model year.

The selectable digital filters are built in to the AK4480 DACs. The three options include a sharp roll off filter, slow roll off filter, and minimum delay filter. Pioneer calls these three filters "Sharp," "Slow," and "Short," respectively.

Default setting on the AK4480 DACs appears to be the sharp roll off filter. So, this may have been the filter setting used in the 37. But the default for the 55 and 57 is the slow roll off filter.

http://www.akm.com/prodfolder-dac.asp?p=AK4480
http://www.akm.com/datasheets/ak4480_f01e.pdf

AJ

You should ask yourself the same question.

AJ

The Wolfson 8741 & 8740 DAC's Pioneer used in the SC-09, BDP-09, and others had up to 6 built-in digital filters. I know I was really excited when I first got the SC-09 hoping Pioneer had implemented making them selectable. Then disappointed when I realized they didn't.

So this is a nice feature upgrade from them that no other AVR mfg has done.

It seems to me that the strategy that AVR manufacturers have taken is to put streaming video services in the blu-ray player

I am all for focus on keeping feature creep down and reliability up.

and as far as I can tell, jpeg playing back from an external drive is a complete mess - wrong aspect ratio and compression artifacts (and you can't stream jpegs?)

However, there are still a couple of issues that I think Pioneer could have improved on.

1) there is no support for FLAC on USB but it is supported (very nicely) through streaming from a DLNA server

2) while there is a rear USB connector, it is only for power

I mention this because I think the external hard disk is just as an important input as the blu-ray player in this day and age

personally I would say get rid of the jpeg capability altogether and implement the two features above.

While a functioning rear USB is probably not likely as it may not be wired as such, FLAC playback from USB should be

oh, and it seems the pause key in HMG does not work with streaming sources

thanks, that helps explain what the filters do

That is pretty cool provided it's implemented well.