Pioneer lowers prices on Elite A/V receivers again, the well-heeled respond with derision
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 24th 2010 4:32PM
posted June 24th 2010 4:32PM
Pioneer is introducing a new batch of Elite A/V receivers aimed at making the line more affordable (if less, well, elite). The VSX-30 and VSX-31 feature iPhone and iPod control via Pioneer's iControl AV app, HDMI 1.4a with 3D support, THX Select2 Plus audio, and an Ethernet port for accessing Sirius XM, Rhapsody, and files off of your home network. If that weren't enough, they've even thrown in an composite video cable for your iPod / iPhone so you can enjoy your portable audio and video on the big screen. The VSX-30 will run you $550, while the VSX-31 (with a second A/V zone) is going for a cool $650. It's not exactly a Swarovski-bejewled HTPC, but we guess it'll do in a pinch.
Great Looking Receiver and work with your iphone !
@techlord
man i was just getting happy from the flood of non-iphone/apple tech news. just dont bring it up man, im sick of it, really.
@caprice I'm even more sick of people who complain about news having some connection to Apple. No one makes you read it.
Go read The My Little Pony Blog if you are tired of Apple coverage.
*Composite* cable?! Welcome to 1993. Yea, I really want to watch a crappy 480i video routed through my new high end HT receiver to my 65" plasma.
Bleeech.
@Spiny Norman Most of us like to have the ability to play an old system like VHS, or an old console without having to move the TV and plug into the back. Even more so for those of us with front projection. Upscaling old content is an important feature...
@c4v3man
I somewhat understand wanting to watch an old analog tape. However, the article specifically mentions "your iPod / iPhone". Media on these devices is in a digital format. Why on earth would you want to convert them to analog and display them on a large monitor?
@Spiny Norman I want my PS2, Dreamcast, Wii, N64 and PSX going through my av. Composite is still useful for that :)
@Spiny Norman
Lol, high end home theater receiver for under $700... Obviously you're not familiar with what 'high end' really means;)
@Spiny Norman How great do you think your ipod output would look even with the component cables outputting 480p? Sometimes softening the image a bit through component can actually help things. Not often, but occasionally using an older tech and then having a decent upscaler perform doubling or quadrupling to uprez the content looks better.
Irregardless, no intelligent person is going to hook up their ipod up to their 65" plasma and expect anything better than dvd quality at best.
The 30 and 31 don't even have 7.1 pre-outs. Looks like you have to go to the 32 or 33 to get that.
I wonder if they continued the trend to step down the amps like they did last year? Though I suppose it doesn't matter if you are going to use it for just a pre-amp.
Hopefully Pioneer overhauled their Iphone interface. When i was selling elite products their 3k receivers iphone interface looked like it was MS-DOS
they are also notoriously unnecessarily complicated to install/calibrate.
Yamaha all the way. a much warmer sound and when you plug it in (hdmi etc) it works not crazy input assign
Oh Pioneer, what has happened to you? I remember the good old days of Pioneer Kuro displays, Pioneer Elite receivers with massive transformers weighing over 50 pounds and copper chassis with beautiful wood accents. I still have the Pioneer PRO-730HDi display which still blows away almost any screen I have seen. Now they have stopped making the Elite displays and their Elite receivers are becoming more average receivers instead of "Elite" class.
soooo when are HDMI 1.5 and 1.6 coming out?
I just want to know when I should buy into it ;)
How is the VSX-30 any different than the $500 VSX-1020?
@thinkthis
I was wondering the same thing. Anyone?
@Gorgula It has the Elite colors (amber display), but more importantly RS-232 serial control for custom installers, 12V triggers for external amps and other devices (drop down screens, projectors, etc...), and a 2 year warranty instead of a 1 year warranty. If none of those matter, then get the non-Elite version.
@smackrabbit
Thanks.
@thinkthis The Elite products carry a two year warranty and sound much better. Both of these seem to stem from better power supplies and parts.
@jhamill1
If true, they should think about mentioning these things on their website. It looks like the same write-up from the 1020 to me.
Now that the new Anthem receivers are out and affordable I don't see why I would ever buy a different receiver! Look up Anthemav.com to see!!! And no, I don't work for the company, I'm just a audiophile!
raise the price! make it audiophile $$$ level damnit. This doesnt leave my VSX-21TXH in shame unless it costs 5x more.
Onkyo ftw
do receivers really need to be so huge?
@uncola Receivers have amps for 5-9 channels these days, and amps generate a whole lot of heat. The top models from Pioneer use Class D amps that run much more efficiently, and take up less space, though the bottom of the case will still burn your hand if you're been running them hard, as I found out. If you want lots of power, and lots of channels, physics prevents them from being that much smaller.
Anyone know if these receivers can play videos connected to a network drive? That will be when I finally jump in to get one.
@schowtyme No, they can't. Only the top model (SC-35 or 37) can do music over DLNA. Some receivers and preamps can so music over the network, such at the Marantz AV8003 (soon to be replaced by the AV7007), so you can find them out there, you'll just need to research it.
I really start to hate USA :D.
$650, i got that in change.
GOOGLE
I can't even get the OLD OUTDATED, 10 times worse than any ELITE model. For a price a lot higher than $1400.
It would be cheaper for me to go to USA and grab it. Then fly home with it.
Way too expensive, you can get a 3D ready VSX 820K for 400 at futureshop lol
@hero785
I hope you're kidding...
the 820, is just above entry level.. not saying its not a bad regular reciever by any means.. but these elites are in a class of their own..
I've owned a pio 1018, then elite sc-05, and also as of a few months ago a SC-27...
If I required 3D at the moment.. the SC-35 or 37 would be mine when released...
The ice amps, DACs, etc on the elite SC series are fantastic.. miles above the sound from the regular series like an 820
@hero785 Anyone shopping the internet for low-ball pricing shouldn't consider this kind of a/v line anyway.
god...the videophile community here misses SO VERY MUCH the Pioneer Kuro screens...the BEST HDTV ever made...still...after 2+ years Pioneer was ahead of it's time...take that you crappy banding LEDs
*Cancels VSX-1120 preorder* The VSX-32 looks like I might prefer it with the browser-based access. It at least warrants a comparison before I commit.