The "Official" Pioneer Elite SC-55/SC-57 Owners Thread - Page 98

That's exciting!! :-) Is there somewhere we can see what the update does/problems it fixes?!!!! I'm hoping beyond hope that this might fix the HDMI handshake and Zone 2 shut down problems that I (and others) have been having!!?

Don't get your hopes up. I think the post was bogus. The Pioneer USA website shows no recent firmware updates, and the firmware the previous poster referenced isn't even in a format that tracks existing firmware for the SC series. For example, the last update was Ver 1-202-086-703-069.

^^^

whether or not the pio website lists one, if hkan says there is one, you can pretty much take that to the bank...

Good. I would really like to be wrong about this.

There's a firmware update for the VSX-1122-K on the Pioneer website that is supposed to improve HDMI and network stability, but nothing new about the SC-55/7 series.

check his website... it's possible he has posted it there...

clicky

I did. I didn't see anything relevant.

\\

It looks like a firmware site for BluRays, DVD and DVR players. Nothing about AVRs.

hmmm....

clicky

although he doesn't have anything listed for the sc-55...

ping him by pm... he's usually very helpful in terms of providing firmware and advice if he's got it...

You dug deeper than I did - I did a search for "SC-57" or "SC-55" and nothing came up. The AVR listing isn't obvious from the front page, though.

As for PMing, good advice for those that need....as well as "trust but verify" that the firmware would be remotely useful to the user (as opposed to a upgrade of esoteric bug fixes).

Version is: 1-203-086-703-069

Will set up a downloading link soon!

Awesome! Just got it today and there is already new FW!!

For 9.1 would you recommend going with high or wide?

Hkan keeps his AVR FW page "under wraps" from his home page. PM him and he'll supply a direct link to the page.

He has proved invaluable to many SC-09 (and other older models) owners with the dts-ma bomb in providing the relative-easy-to-install FW fix that Pioneer 1) doesn't bother to advertise unless you called and 2) forces owners to take to a service center & pay for the update

I think he doesn't like to make the AVR FW that visible because of his "connections" in getting them

it's the read mccoy - the RS232 FW package he has on site for the SC-09/LX90 is the same I obtained from a local friendly tech Plus he had the dts-ma bug fix that Pioneer wouldn't allow an owner to have.

Hkan is a good guy to Pioneer owners

This is not a new firmware update.

CHANGE HISTORY:

Ver 1-202-086-703-069
- Firmware Update for Rhapsody Subscribers

203 seems like it is indeed a firmware update

I wonder why it hasn't made it onto the website?

According to the number, it appears to be new. 1-202. . . was the old one. The new one is 1-203. . .

Thank you Hkan! Sorry to have doubted you but I have a deeply ingrained skepticism from a few years ago. This reminds me too much of the old Onkyo/Integra 8.8-9.9 days when we all had to sneak around to get firmware (often from sources that technically weren't supposed to have it) that Onkyo repeatedly refused to admit existed. Lots of bricked receivers and preamps from those days. . . . But lots of much improved units from those days, too.

Well, we've all been renedered obsolete. Pioneer just posted the remaining 2012 line up, including the flagship SC-68.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...eceivers/SC-68

The new Sc-68!!!!
Industry first 32-bit Asynchronous USB DAC allows for the highest quality music playback from a direct connection PC or laptop

Full-Color On-Screen Graphical User Interface and On-Screen Overlay
All of the SC-68's advanced control and connectivity options are made even better with a full-color user interface via HDMI on your connected TV. Effortlessly navigate through the SC-68's menu and enjoy iTunes album art from a connected Apple device. An on-screen overlay provides on-screen confirmation of sound adjustments without taking you away from what you're watching.

4K video support

Official 4Ohms Support!!!!

Anyone know if there is way to have a second zone wireless? I dont what to put holes on the wall to run cable to the second zone,

if anyone know pls help.

Pioneer SC-68 MSRP $2500

Class D3
AmplificAtion
› Channels: 9.2
› 140 W/ch (1kHz, THD .08% @ 8 ohm)
› 810 W All Channel Driven Power Output (1kHz, THD 1% @8 ohms)
› 4 Ohm Speaker Compatible (no Current Limiting)
AUDio fEAtURES
› AIR Studios Monitor Certification
› THX®
Ultra 2 Plus
› Dolby®
TrueHD/Dolby®
Pro Logic®
IIz/Dolby Digital Plus
› DTS-HD®
Master Audio / DTS®
Neo:X - 9.1 Channel Surround /
DTS　Neural Surround / DTS-ES
› Digital Core Engine with Texas Instruments Aureus™ DSP
› Hi-bit32 (96kHz) Audio and Jitter reduction
› 192 kHz/32-bit DAC’s
› Digital Filter Slow Mode (192kHz)
› HDMI Audio Return Channel
› Pioneer Advanced MCACC®
Room Calibration
• 3D Time Axis Measurement
• Polarity Check
• Automatic Crossover Detection
• Reverb Before and After Calibration Results (OSD, AVNavigator,
and iControlAV2012)
• Standing Wave Control
› Pioneer Sound Enhancements
• Full Band Phase Control with Front Align
• Auto Phase Control Plus/Phase Control Plus
• PQLS Bit-stream/Multi-Surround/2ch
• Sound Retriever Link
• Advanced Auto Sound Retriever (Multi-ch, ARC, AIR)
• Advanced Surround (15 + 1 Modes)
• Wide Surround Movie & Music
• Front Stage Surround Advance (Wide/Focus)
• Headphones Surround
• Virtual Speaker (Wide/Height/Depth/Surround Back)
ViDEo fEAtURES
› HDMI 8 In / 3 Out (Inc. Front)
› 4k2k Passthrough
› 3D Ready (Blu-ray Disc
TM
, Broadcast, and Games)
› Deep Color (36-bit), x.v. Color
› 1080p/24fps Scaler with Qdeo™
› 1080p Transferring
› Video Conversion to HDMI
› Triple HD Noise Reduction
› Advanced Video Adjust
› Stream Smoother
› Stream Smoother LinK

HomE nEtWoRK fEAtURES
› AirPlay Compatible
› DLNA Certified®
(1.5)
› Front MHL®
Connect
› DSD (SACD) Playback via Front USB ( A-Type)
› USB DAC via Rear USB (B-Type)
› Compatible with Windows®
7
› Music File Playback via LAN/USB (WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC)
• 192 kHz/24-Bit Audio playback (WAV, FLAC)
› SiriusXM™ Internet Radio*
› Pandora®
INTERNET Radio**
› Internet Radio with vTuner®
conVEniEncE fEAtURES
› iPod Digital Transmission via Front USB Terminal
› Charges iPod/iPhone/iPad, USB & Video Cable Supplied
› iControlAV2012 Remote Control App Ready
• AV receiver and Blu-ray Disc player control from smartphone
• Sound Explorer
› Air Jam App*** Ready (iOS/Android) (optional AS-BT200 adapter required)
• Share music and create playlists via Bluetooth connection
› Wireless LAN Converter Ready (optional AS-WL300 required)
› Aluminum Chassis
› Gold Plated Inputs
› Ceramic Speaker Terminals
› Auto Power Down
› Power Save for HDMI Standby Through
› AM/FM Tuner 63 Presets
› Sleep Timer
› Learning Remote Control (Luminous)
cUStom
› Zone 2 AV and Zone 3 Analog Audio Out
› Zone 4 HDMI Output
› Firmware Update via Internet or USB
› Advanced PC Setup for CI Integrator
› AVNavigator for easy wiring and setup with PC or iPad
› Graphic User Interface (GUI) with Album Artwork (HDMI only)
› Detachable Power Cord
› RS232
› IR In x 2, IR Out x 1
› 12v Trigger x 2
› 11.2 Channel Preouts + 7.1 Ch Main Inputs
› Preout Mode
› Zone Volume, Tone, and Balance
REAR tERminAlS
› HDMI 7 In / 3 Out
› Ethernet 1 in
› AV (Composite) 4 In/1 Out
› Audio 1 in (assignable)
› Digital Coaxial 2 In (assignable)
› Digital Optical 2 In (assignable)
› Component Video 3 In (assignable)
› Monitor Component 1 Out
› Monitor Composite 1 Out
› Zone 2 Analog Out with Zone 2
Subwoofer Out
› Zone 3 Preouts
› Dual Subwoofer Out
› Speaker 11 ch Out (FRONT, CENTER,
SURROUND, SURROUND BACK/ZONE 2,
FH/FW/Speaker B)
› Bluetooth Adapter Port for AS-BT200
› USB Charge Port for AS-WL300 Wireless
Converter
› IR In x 2, IR Out x 1
› 12v Trigger x 2, RS232
fRont tERminAlS
› HDMI 1 In (assignable/MHL)
› USB/iPod Video In
› MCACC Setup MIC In
› Headphone Out
poWER SpEcificAtionS
› Power Requirements: AC 120 V/60 Hz
› Estimated Power Consumption: 370 W
› Standby Power Consumption: 0.1 W Standby
pRoDUct SpEcificAtionS
› W x H x D: 17.13 x 7.28 x 17.36 (inches)
› Weight: 39.2 lbs
Upc
› 884938177689

i use this dongle kit from audioengine...

clicky

works well for me...

^^^

I have been waiting on this. The one in your link has been discontinued and it's replacement was supposed to be available in April. That changed to May and here it is still unavailable...

^^^

yea, i saw awhile ago they were coming out with a new one, but wasn't sure what the timeframe is...

ime, it works rather well... my house isn't exactly wireless friendly, between the metal screened plaster and the gazillion sources of rf floating around, but i've never had an issue...

i use it to ship the zone 2 pre-outs from my main room to my wife's kingdom, basically so she can stream sirius (since i'm too cheap to buy a second receiver/subscription for at home)...

Pioneer Came out with lots of SC Elites
SC-61 - 68
The SC61 @ MSRP $1100!!! That's the first time a Class D amp is at that price.

It looks like they also Updated MCACC, GUI, etc. Anyone knows when they'll be instore? I cant wait to see it in action....

Thanks for the information, but I am looking for is something that I could connect my Polk Monitor 70 in Zone 2.

I have the Mythos ST in Zone 1, would like to have a wireless Zone 2 for parties.

Thanks.

^^^

well, since it's not feasible to transmit a speaker level signal wirelessly, you are going to require some type of amplification in zone 2...

you could use what i linked to (when they hit the streets again) plus a cheap craigslist avr...

or there are also kits that come with both the wireless transmitters and the amplification for the speaker end... i know bb sells one under their rocketfish brand... i would imagine there are several other options as well...

I would question whether the Advanced MCACC has been updated. For example, the 3D Time Axis Measurement was also a feature on the 55 and 57specs sheet:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ep...le%20Sheet.pdf

The other MCACC features are familiar ones for Reverb, Standing Wave, Automatic Crossover and the like; and other features like the 'digital filter slow mode' and Sound Retriever were already on the last SC 5x (at least the 57). Likewise dual subwoofer outs.

From a quick look, the improvements vs. the 55/7 line seem to be more along the lines of 2K4K passthrough, the color GUI/OSD over HDMI, DSD over USB, and the higher resolution DAC for PC/laptop connection. They might have added a zone (Zone 4?), though.

Unless you really want the latest Pioneer SC flagship, it's questionable the SC-68 is worth over $500 more than the SC57 at $2500 MSRP, even with gold plated input connections and ceramic terminals. They could have done much of the same thing with a good firmware upgrade to the 55/7.

The Good
Looks like good news for those that care about GUI using HDMI & more zones.
USB DAC
8 HDMI ins, 3 HDMI outs

The Bad
Looks like even fewer analog I/O for legacy devices (2 analog in but zero out )
Yet to be confirmed whether MCACC/DSP can be applied to MC analog in's. If not, then it's a negative-o.

The Ugly
The same old 9 band MCACC with single crossover

The Ho-Hum
4K pass-thru (no scaling even though technically the Qdeo supports it)

I guess the SC-57 is really obsolete now
I guess I've been made too cynical about this company

Open that checkbook and time to upgrade, everyone!
Those 55's & 57's are really behind the tech curve at least how Pioneer looks at it

If I were a current 55/57 owner, I'd also consider the Audyssey options before plunking down the credit card to swap to a 68.

Pioneer still isn't listening to what enthusiasts are saying about MCACC's limitations (sigh)

Especially if the Denon 4520 is within a few hundered dollars of the same price range and also has 4K upscaling, for what's worth, to go with XT32 and Pro capability. It's even less competitive relative to the new Onkyos like the 818, except for extreme power needs. Of course, there's QC to contend with for Onkyo.....

So what's the bet about when Walkamo makes his first post to the new SC thread:-)?

Couldn't agree with you more, Stu, unfortunately.

My adrenaline was up, hoping to read some really exciting news about a major upgrade considering someone thinks the 57 is obsolete now

Dare I hope for a new MCACC with independent crossovers? A new Susano replacement (which would mean picking me up off the floor )?

Something to make me excited & interested in swapping my SC-09 susano and stay in the Pioneer fold?

No....just another zone (don't need), better gui (don't care), & usb dac (mildly interesting), and 1 more hdmi i/o (also don't need or care) - 2 outputs are 1 more than I can use. Even if I get a PJ, 2 is all I (and most of us) need.

what can I say...sorry guys

the latest from Pioneer still misses the mark for me on what I'm looking for in the way of a true upgrade coming from an SC-09.

Until MCACC gets independent X-overs and built-in sub EQ - no sale.