Pioneer Extends Elite AV Receiver Warranty by a Year, Adds 2 Models for 2016

Beginning April 1, Pioneer Elite 2016 AV receivers will come with a three-year warranty, adding 12 months to the warranty period for previous Elite models, the company said Thursday. Pioneer also announced pricing for two new Elite AV receivers and a pair of Hi-Res headphones. The LX301 ($700) and LX101 ($500) Elite network AV receivers pack Pioneer’s multichannel acoustic calibration system that tailors the sound to the room by compensating for differences in speaker size, level and distance. Both receivers include Dolby Atmos and are DTS:X-ready for a firmware scheduled for fall release. The receivers' reflex optimizer allows for Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound without the need for overhead speakers, Pioneer said. Both receivers support 4K/60p/4:4:4 24-bit video signal transmission with HDCP 2.2 technology, said the company. Wireless connectivity includes AirPlay, Bluetooth, GoogleCast, Wi-Fi and FireConnect, a wireless protocol that mirrors any audio source connected to the receiver on optional FireConnect-compatible speakers in another room, Pioneer said. Streaming music sources include Pandora, Spotify and TuneIn, and Tidal will be available via a future firmware update, it said. The company will demo the $299 SE-MHR5 Hi-Res headphones at the SoCal CanJam in Costa Mesa, California, March 19-20. The headphones have a dual-baffle back chamber that is said to (1) control the balance between the mid and low frequencies to improve the overall soundstage and eliminate resonance and (2) isolate noise. The SE-MHR5 headphones come with a standard 3.5mm unbalanced cable for standard headphone jacks and a 2.5mm, four-pole cable for a balanced output, said the company.