Completing the package, the SW-E10 subwoofer features a 10” long throw woofer with a 2" voice coil motivated by a 300W RMS amplifier in a compact sealed enclosure. Design of the Pioneer Elite N-50 Network Audio Player. Jones was kind enough to set up the speakers in my home with a Pioneer Elite SC-89 receiver while I noted how the procedure differed from a 5.1 installation. In other words, if you get a Pioneer amplifier that’s got Sonos included, it’s like getting a pricey Sonos speaker for free. However, both should dig deep enough to integrate properly with a subwoofer. When Andrew Jones arrived and hooked these up, I expected them to be good for Atmos movies at home. The player is a full-size audio component and it weighs just over 16 pounds. They are easy to setup, have good room correction for the price, and work well with Atmos. The Good The Pioneer Elite SP-EFS73 produces startling clarity, precision surround-sound imaging, high-contrast dynamics, and solid low bass extension. This receiver performs exceptionally. Like their budget speaker line before this, these Pioneer speakers are developed by Andrew Jones of TAD fame. In addition, Dolby has formulated a bit of DSP magic which they claim will allow an Atmos-enabled speaker to convincingly pull off the illusion of height. The Pioneer N-50 network audio player shows that, while the company has been watching carefully from the sidelines while rivals have launched their streamers, its engineers have clearly been taking note – the N-50 pulls no punches.. What do the specs say about Pioneer’s new line? Over a dozen companies were showcasing it in some manner with two distinct approaches. Across the rest of the frequency spectrum the Pioneer speakers are Elite with clear, detailed midrange and treble that never hurt your ears. All Rights Reserved. However, since Pioneer's announcement we've learned that there's more to Atmos-enabled speakers than meets the eye. Moving from Neil Young to Bob Dylan, Radiohead to Wilco, I sit back and listen to the music and enjoy it. everything else that is playing along with it stays at the same level. They are good speakers period. 5.1.4 Atmos system diagram using Pioneer's Atmos-enabled speakers. It is a competent 10” box, but is the weak point of the system. If you want to upgrade your home theater to Atmos but want nothing to do with installing four more speakers into the ceiling, the Elite line from Pioneer lets you do that. So I spent a lot of time listening to these as I would any other two channel speaker. They aren’t as well suited to early Metallica or Orbital as the DefTech’s, but at half the price you can add a subwoofer to render that criticism moot. For their reasonable price, the Pioneer Atmos speakers come with my highest recommendation. Elac Navis ARB-51 Powered Loudspeaker Review. The 5.1.4 channel Atmos system uses two towers, two bookshelves for surrounds, the matching SP-EC73 center channel, and the Elite SW-E10 subwoofer. This driver places a 1” tweeter in the center of the 4” midrange driver so the major frequencies all originate at the same location. These feature both high-tech drive-units and a novel (if not entirely new) method of minimizing enclosure vibrations. When an audio mix gets complex it never falls apart and pulls out all the details in the mix. I could only find 5.2.2/7.2.2 or 7.2.4 w/external amp. Suffice it to say that in spite of our initial skepticism, we walked away duly impressed with what Pioneer is offering. In terms of basic performance, Pioneer’s new Elite line looks to have quite a bit of potential. We used a Pioneer SC-85 Atmos receiver, which we will review soon. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Pioneer Elite SC-LX904-11.2-Ch Network AV Receiver with IMAX Enhanced/Works with SONOS/Dolby Atmos, Black (SCL-X904) at Amazon.com. If you just want a tremendous sounding two channel system, these do that with the ability to upgrade later to an Atmos home theater system. The amplifiers are each rated at 100W into eight ohms across the ful… The film itself is violent, but an enjoyable time and one your friends will want to watch when you show off Atmos. I refuse to describe the Pioneer with the numbing, sleep-inducing cliché “awesome.” Words like “exceptional” or “atypical” are far more expressive of its characteristics. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $399 on Amazon including Prime shipping. Steve Munz is a “different” addition to Audioholics’ stable of contributors in that he is neither an engineer like Gene, nor has he worked in the industry like Cliff. Another approach from companies like KEF, Definitive Technology and Pioneer was a reflective approach. … Leaving aside the impact bouncing off the ceiling might have, the midrange and tweeters are identical and should sound the same. The answer to that question is now upon us with the announcement of a Pioneer Elite branded line of speakers. Many companies were using in-ceiling speakers, which being a custom install show should not be a surprise. …I would love to see (sans price) a TAD Beryllium atmos speaker with a bigger, more directive upfiring unit (maybe a 10" concentric, ~60 degree pattern). I spent almost all my time listening to them in Pure Direct mode without a sub or room correction and find them to be superb. Fortunately, we were able to score some demo time with a full Pioneer Elite theater system at CEDIA, so we're able to answer that question. Pros: Very good two channel performance, Atmos effects are immersive when the content allows it, clear and detailed, compact size allows easy placement: Cons: We can understand this to some extent: Andrew Jones wanted to wring out as much performance as he could for your dollar. At $600 you can spend $100 less for the SVS PB-1000 ported sub and get deeper bass, or spend $200 more and get the SVS PB-2000 sub like I would. There is no slight delay from being different distances so your ears are time-aligned to both drivers. First is the finish; like Pioneer’s entry level line, the new Elite speakers feature a black vinyl finish. I know uninformed Babble is so much more fun. In terms of electrical specifications, it should be noted that both the bookshelf and center speakers are rated to be 4 ohm nominal, and they both feature a below average sensitivity of 85dB w/ 2.83V at 1m (or 82dB w/ 1W as they are 4 ohm speakers). was wondering what speaker layout you used during calibration? That may seem high for a bookshelf speaker but you are getting two speakers … However, given the form factor and price point, Pioneer’s Elite sub should be a capable, if not awe inspiring competitor. If you want to stick with a sealed box the $700 SVS SB-2000 will also provide a bit more kick than the Pioneer for only $100 more. I didn’t let the lack of Atmos titles take away from the experience, I just watch my other movies and listen to as much music as I can. Neither of these distracted from the sound quality, but there are always things to improve upon. The Elite Center Channel Speaker employs the very same CST and bass driver… $ 149.00. You can also add Bluetooth functionality too if you buy the required accessory. To use the reflective speakers like the Pioneer Elite models, you can’t have an angled ceiling or one covered with absorptive material. The system under review included five speakers on stands, four sets of height drivers incorporated into four of those speakers… SP-EFS73; SP-EBS73-LR; SP-EC73; View All > Featured from ELITE. If you have kids or pets around the speakers, you should still leave them on for protection. Like every speaker, this one is built to offer profound design and […] While the new Pioneer Elite lineup probably won't win any awards from interior decorators, for the home theater buff on a budget, they're worth a close look. As you might guess, there’s a lot to talk about, so let’s dig in. HTP-076 (Refurbished) Home Theater System Atmospheric effects, such as rain or the echoes of footsteps, provide even more immersion than without Atmos. Ever since Andrew Jones stunned the audiophile world with his budget speaker line, we’ve been waiting for the encore. They sound much better than they look, and the recent SVS Prime Towers that were reviewed have these beat on build quality for the price. 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