Video Asylum

Posted by Vic D (A) on November 20, 2008 at 08:47:48

In Reply to: RE: Pioneer SC-07 posted by 4season on November 19, 2008 at 14:25:55

These latest upgrades to our HT (display, AVR, BR player, BDI cabinet) were a gift from my wife who researched and picked the components. Our space is not only small but somewhat irregular. I added two more Triangle Comete es speakers for the 7.1 and at first it seemed like overkill but it's not . Since we both enjoy the NuForce 9SE's driving our Eidolons and along with the efficiency benefits with class D amplification it seemed a logical choice.

Most switching amplifiers are incredibly dependent on the quality of their AC power, your homes wiring. IMO many switching amplifiers thrive on inexpensive large gauge copper speaker cable. Generally, I have found that switching amplifiers can be ruthlessly reveling of some speaker systems shortcomings.

In a recent TAS article Wayne Garcia is quoted as saying a switcher sounded "cold and clinical with that kind of false 'clarity' that makes us think it's transparent when it really isn't." I'm not going to criticize the critic other than to say I think Mr. Garcia would make one hell of a political speech writer. The point is, if you like the sound of tubes use tubes. If the sound of a venerable solid state design is to your liking well there you are. Switching amplifiers are not for everyone and they are not always a simple plug and play component.

We replaced a good sounding Integra 5.3 receiver with the Pioneer mainly for the modern codes, HDMI, and room correction. Even before I ran the room correction the Pioneer proved to be a substantial improvement and it hadn't even run in. Like most of the higher quality switching amplifiers we've used, they're so less fatiguing we simply get carried away with the volume and the SC-07 is no exception. The use of transient attack in a soundtrack can be very demanding and the Pioneer is simply more capable than the Integra in this situation.

The biggest surprise was the effect of room correction in this unusual space and the steering logic when playing back 5.1 material via the 7.1 system.