My test scenario:
Player: Sony Bluray / SACD player, Sony MD players, HD cable box, Xbox 360, network hard drive, Sonos player
Speaker: T & A Criterion T70 tower speaker, Nubert Nuline Center, Devil T110Dipol rear speakers, Reckhorn H-100 subwoofer (with Reckhorn A408 subwoofer amplifier)
also a 2.Zone with speakers in the bathroom
Panasonic Plasma TV
1. processing, haptics
The Pioneer is already a decent Trumm, you could tell the weight and the dimensions of which comes a concentrated piece of home theater equipment here. The finish is clean and a quality image even though the Frotblende and the flap are made of plastic ... that really can only be sensing because ausschauen doing the whole thing like brushed aluminum, however. Me personally disturbs because the receiver is always in no way hifi rack and is only remotely. We particularly like the large and very well-read display that provides information on all the important settings and also in 3Stufen is dimmable.
Even the Anschussterminal is meticulously crafted and clearly structured and are connecting to the playback devices no riddles. Only the remote control looks a bit cheap and a bit fiddly compared to my old Marantz FB, but it takes only half as much space on the coffee table a. With me she wandered eh relatively quickly back into the package because of the Pioneer is via iPad or iPhone much more convenient and easier to use ... but more on that later.
A detailed operating instructions there is no paper but on CD or download what does not bother me personally, in Gegenteil..ich find it timely.
2. Connection, set up, operate
The connection of the components and the establishment of the receiver turned out for me as a perfectly straightforward. The wiring for the modern home theater receiver is thanks to the numerous HDMI ports much less complicated and faster done than I was used to from my old Marantz as audio and video do not have to be wired individually.
The decor is both by Onscreen- menu on the TV and the remote control as well as via a browser on the computer via the network. Both are easy to accomplish and goes relatively quickly by hand. Per browser it is certainly a little more convenient and foolproof because even shown here extensively illustrated where each cable is connected, the setter will advance already queried and the receiver as already quasi preconfigured. You can also rename all inputs and thus vote on its existing playback devices (going even later in the app). The calibration via the included microphone is also quickly (unlike Denon where you have to scour up to 8 listening positions). The speakers have been correctly identified in size and distance (have it measured it), only my subwoofer imagined the Pioneer 2m further away than it actually is. That could be correct but easily by hand. In general I think it's good that everything can still be adjusted manually (distances, crossover frequency, level, EQ settings, etc ..), the setting options are almost limitless, if all this is too much of a good thing but can also peace of mind to leave the fully automatic calibration! Like the concept because it served both the inexperienced user and the home theater professional ... very exemplary!
Network Integration went smoothly (with me by Lankabel).
Now the operation, I'll be here a priority operation via App Review as this for me was one of the reasons for purchase. Since I am a Sonos player for several years already avid user and heard its exemplary simple and intuitive control via App for me the best in the market, I was spoiled in this point and my claims high. On the other hand, my expectations were greatly scaled back to a network-based control via app through the brief interlude with the Denon but who Denonapp acts carelessly, bit old-fashioned and has very little set-up and control. Unlike the Pioneer, here the developers have done a great job and you feel has really thought the topic Network Receiver to an end and an associated (for me) app was viewed not only as a half-hearted addition developed. Especially a lot of fun making the iPad app since due to the display size is not as much need to scroll through sub-menus such as the iPhone and everything very clear and also very attractively designed at hand is. What can be controlled here everything is set and analyzed is really awesome and would in itself already a multiple pages make filling review. Some one like the app might seem a bit too playful, I as a technophile man find them very successful because it acts thoughtful, intuitive, provides many settings equal to a statement with which one because there really adjusted and it is stable and can be great use! The iPhone version is as mentioned a little bit more complicated to use, but this is solely due to the much smaller screen and in view of the fact that the functions still the same would be whining at a high level. Especially useful I find the status viewer with which you have quick access to the level for each channel, which is extremely helpful in the home theater operation wants to eg increase the center level for speech intelligibility or lower the subwoofer level for the purpose of nocturnal neighborhood charity.
To operate the Spotify- and Internet Radio feature I can not I sagen..da as mentioned earlier called a Sonos my own I use these functions on about the extent of the implemented online music services and the exemplary control speak here simply to the Sonos system.
The remote acts as already mentioned a little cheap, the buttons are small, also often used twice and it is a bit fiddly operation ... for me results but no reason for a point deduction for a real network receiver makes, in my view the operation via App here anyway and was more fun of me from the outset favored (also to limit the jumble of remotes on the coffee table).
3. sound
Now we come to the supreme discipline, the sound. There are two reasons I was here particularly excited, for the first yes tonal qualities brought the audiophile Heimkinoenthusiast in recent years more with names like Denon, Marantz or Onkyo connected, the second is Pioneer with its Class-D amplifiers own way and I see the word "digital amplifier" the Hifi Group already formally the nose, and I must admit I was not entirely unbiased. In addition, my getting on in years Marantz was not sound on the scrap heap and did not have a warm and natural sound still to convince. Even the short trip to the Denon was at least sound quite positive (especially given the very reasonable price). Since the voltage on the twice as expensive and digital fired Pioneer was greater. Would he justify his price also Aurally? After the first 3 weeks in the film and music industry I can answer yes, this only. The Pioneer given its 200W per channel dynamic plays in a different league was indeed to be expected anyway, yet I am again and again amazed at how effortlessly and seemingly endless power reserves are its dynamic jumps or high listening levels. Because where my old Marantz and Denon also sounded already clearly strained, the Pioneer still completely unexcited several shovels drauflegen without losing its tone. And who knows really convince. A digital amplifier phobia is absolutely inappropriate here, first and best example of the voice reproduction. Voices sound absolutely natural and are transparent in the room. In general, the resolution and speech intelligibility is both in music and in film mode a great strength of Pioneer. So it was a real pleasure Diana Krall's album "Girl in the Other Room" (as 5Kanal SACD) to rediscover. Her voice floats almost detached in space and knows how to convince with naturalness and warmth. Also allows all instruments wonderfully places and are resolved very delicate. What for me as a drummer (I do it professionally) was a particular pleasure, as precisely the Pioneer brings across all drums. Each basin whether Ride, Crash, HiHat kicked or stick or broom, everything can be assigned immediately, and dynamic outbursts on toms, snare and bass drum coming loose flaky and well articulated over and one imagines Jeff Hamilton formally in your living room to sit, the really makes you feel good !! Also piano, guitar and bass sound very nice, of course, transparent and fit harmoniously into the sound picture.
Now had moderate music still one of my personal reference DVDs herhalten..Till Brönner "A Night in Berlin", the DTS 96/24 audio track is for me the best I know when it comes to a meticulous and clean abgemischtes concert. Here, too, great joy and enthusiasm, although I almost inside out know the DVD I have discovered details that I have never heard before. Especially when BlueEyedSoul Medley could be discovered especially of the turntables and Roland Peils percussion sounds and details that I did not know before from this disc. Also, the entire sound in terms of resolution, clarity and dynamic plays in a much higher league than I knew that all of my previous home theater receivers. David Haynes drum solo in "Little Sunflower", for example, just awesome ... just as an acoustic set must sound. Or Kim Sanders' wonderful voice in "Nature Boy", goosebumps guarantee !!
In stereo mode, the Pioneer knows how to convince, with me the material comes as lossless ALAC file from the home server. I was surprised also by the successful Extended stereo mode of sound from stereo surround stereo does what but never contrived. If you still use the practical surround balance controls in the app and the Focus shifts slightly towards the front speakers so that the rear speakers fill only a little that is a real added gain in the space does not sound unnatural. The Surround Stereo mode from my old Marantz sounded as significantly worse.
What not to go unmentioned is the Auto Sound Retriever of lossy MP3 material (especially high compression rate) is again significantly spice able. The sonic result is very compelling. Whoever hears much Internet radio or music services like Deezer and Spotify uses this will be appreciated.
After the extensive music tests was actually already clear that the Pioneer in the film operation could be no disappointment. About his resolution and his good voice reproduction, I've already written, of course, it also benefits the cinema operation of these qualities. The intelligibility is simply outstanding and its spatial sound in all surround brings real cinema flair into the living room. In addition, its gross dynamic capabilities that are absolutely beyond reproach. What the Pioneer shakes loose here, the sleeve is in no way more suitable neighborhood and to put in the position of each full-sized living room in ruins. What should be mentioned that even with soft and moderate listening levels, the cinema feeling does not fall by the wayside but very authentic comes along.
4.Video
The video section of the Pioneer convinced fortunately because the Denon was indeed mainly due to poor image quality back (if that is a general problem or Cyber Monday had made a genuine "Monday device" from the Denon, I can not judge). Not only is the image quality excellent and the Pioneer of course dominated by upscaling to 4K, it also offers many settings here, even presets for output to plasma or LCD TV or a projector. This is truly exemplary, because the Denon to let adjust simply nothing (for the sake of fairness, it should be mentioned once that the Denon is of course only half the price, however, you should at least agree that picture quality!). I look from Bluray, DVD, HD-Kabelreciever and also the online streaming services Netflix and Amazon Prime. There is nowhere in the picture quality which complain about (good source material provided). Especially surprised me the online streams come as good on the TV screen. It should be mentioned also that the Pioneer is a second HDMI output has which offers the possibility for a second high pressure zone or a beamer output. The latter in particular I find useful because if I sometimes still make a Beamer including screen then eliminates the hassle of swapping cables HDMI cable. More I do not want to lose the image quality because here simply gibs nothing to complain about!
I want to leave unmentioned that there was a brief software-outs once the expression in the fact that at all connected via HDMI connections no signal present war..weder image yet Ton..das seemed but to a running background firmware update related . stand I also disabled the ARC Rückkanalfuntion of HDMI inputs that a mind of its own the Pioneer provoked (independent switching of playback devices). Since this may be attributed but the different makes (Panasonic TV, Sony BluRay Player, Pioneer receiver) that can not really be regarded as criticism. As I said after turning off the ARC function and the last firmware update funzt everything perfectly !!
Conclusion:
The Pioneer is in my view a home theater receiver that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Sonically he knows in every respect more than convincing, in terms of performance it is thanks to its Class-D amplifiers beyond doubt and is expected to play against the wall so many competitors. Unique makes him especially his excellent operability on iControlAV5 app which shows that one has the theme Network Receiver really thought at Pioneer to end! In the point the assembled competition looks here mighty pale. All this taken together makes the Pioneer SC-1224 with a current street price of around 630 a real insider tip !!!
Finally, I can not help but still a review of one of the "Vorrezensenten" to write (because if one ever can call it so). If someone had a device obviously never in the hands, let has since tested through its paces and tested extensively and is still the audacity to write about a (one at that unqualified and derogatory) review I think that's simply unabashedly !! If me a particular item feature is particularly important then I find out kindly before it and meet on the basis of which my personal preselection and do not write down a device just because it does not have a single characteristic which would have made it according to my personal desires without ever even made close to have seen! This is simply unqualified and an insult to all those who really make the effort to test a device thoroughly and to write an objective and thorough review !!
