Mantis Official Pioneer Elite SC-07 Review.

What's up everyone?
Well last night was the first night of using the internal ICE amps. I sold my Rotel RMB1095 and I was nervous as hell trying to run my 4 ohm load 86db Dynaudio Speakers off a receiver. This receiver is rated from 6 to 16 ohm speakers only so I was not ready to go against the grain.

I can go into the spec's but any of you can go read all about it, I'll answer any question anyone may have. The purpose of this review is to give some insights of actual use and demo. I have had over 2 weeks with it now, mostly as a preamp and last night and today as a full blown receiver. I maybe writing this alittle soon as I don't have my new speaker package which is 8 ohm load and 93 db which is a fantastic match for this receiver in up to a large room. So bare with me and I'll give you all of my impressions.

So when I first brought it home, I unpacked it and started to unwire my entire system. The system was wired in Component switching in the preamp and all Digital outs plus analog. I had a Rotel Rsp1068 running as my pre for the last almost 4 years. Probably the longest I have ever owned a piece of gear except my Pioneer Elite dv47a. Which I just sold only because I wanted to go full digital this time. I will explain.

The system now consists of
Pioneer Elite SC-07 used as a receiver
Pioneer Elite Dv58av SACD, DVD AUDIO , CD and DVD.
Ps3 for Blu ray and rarely a game system, also a Media server
Xbox360 for games mainly but I spin HD DVD , and watch Netflix movies
Xbox 360 HD DVD drive
WII for the kids
Comcast HD HDMI DVR
Ipod
Panamax M5500ex with a Kimber kable PK10 powercord.
Dynaudio speaker package 4 ohm load and 86db.
Sony 46 rptv HD 1080i

The system is now wired as the following
Comcast Binary HDMI to SC-07
WII composite and analog audio to Sc-07
DVD Binary HDMI to SC-07, Audioquest NRG2 to power center.
Ps3 Binary to Sc-07
Xbox360/HD DVD Drive Binary HDMI to SC-07
SC-07 to Tv Binary HDMI
Ipod Apple USB to Ipod front input
Audioquest speaker wire for everything but I switch out the front wires a lot. I have Analysis Plus Theater 2's, Kimber 4 tc, Audioquest 14-2 , Liberity 14-2 , and a Pair of Silver Sonic's which I really like.

So after I removed the Rotel preamp and Installed the receiver as a pre, I calibrated with MCACC which I did 3 times to make sure it was working correctly. The measurements where dead on. I measured out eveything with a tape and they came in within a inch. nice and acurate. I found I liked the way the system sound with MCACC then without better. I few systems I have Installed I found that MCACC sounded worse. Not the case in my house.

As a music lover , I listened to many SACD's , CD's and DVD AUDIO disc's with the DV58av. This is all done over HDMI so I have no coloration with cables. As most of you know , single ended cables change the sound from one cable to the next. In my opinion this is very true. No arguments about cables making a difference or not as this is my opinion. So I decided to go all HDMI as under 4 meters I can't tell the difference in good quality HDMI cables. I have found no proof they make a difference only difference is if the cable is constructed correctly or not. Binary makes nice cables and we use them at work so I purchased a boat load of them to wire up my system. No review on them except they work exaclty the same as my Audioquest cables with no differences I can tell audio or video so we will skip the wire debate here. Sound quality from my new system is very close to my old system. The Rotel preamp had a uncanny musical ability that I loved and still do. But the SC-07 is not letting me down as I did honestly expect to lose a bit here. Not the case, it sounds awesome. I listened my **** off to find missing sounds or coloration that I was expecting. I listened for over a week to tracks I know very very well and have used for demo's for years. Nothing missing and if anything it might be slightly not as warm. The Rotel could make you get comfortable in your chair and forget you where demoing. Kinda messed up the demo as you got into the music more. Not saying the SC-07 didn't do this to me a few times as it did, but I tried to stay focused so I could find some flaws. Up until last night, I can't sit here and tell you it's not as good as the Rotel in every way for sound quality. In my opinion I didn't downgrade but side graded if that makes sense. I don't think I lost anything but also didn't gain anything. It's at best slighty different. So I'm cool with that. I can still sit and listen without feeling like I made a mistake.

DD True HD and DTS HD is unbelievable. Man it's so damn clear and true. This is where I have gained in sound quality. As good as the Rotel was, It simply can't decode the audio formats, I could have got a Blu ray player with internal decoding, which I would have and this review would not exist, but I could simply not find the right Blu ray player stand alone that met all my needs. So I had to get a preamp or a receivers as one. I watched so many clips with my jaw on the Floor. I'm so happy to be current and have the latest sound formats. It's a simple pleasure to listen. And this is being decoded by the Ps3 not the SC-07. It comes over PCM. But I am however taking advantage of the badass Wolson DAC's. Sweet sounding and very dynamic.

Now removing my Rotel rmb1095 was scary. I didn't want to scratch up my cabinet as this beast weighs in at 75lbs. lucky for me Rotel was kind enough to install rear wheels which make a huge difference when moving this bad boy. Then I rewired the speakers and connected directly to the SC-07 holding my breath the entire time thinking( this is a mistake ). Every fiber of my body was screaming, go by a Rotel Digital amp if you want to hear ICE power, eff the internal amps , they will fail you and you will want it out tonight.... It's how I felt people , I thought I was going to connect up my Dynaudio speakers, listen for 3 seconds, hate it and want it out. Not the case again.

Well I was expecting nothing of the SC-07 to power my speakers so like a chicken I manually setup the speakers, removed MCACC . I calibrated everything in small and at 80hz. I'm sure my 82's are like "dude are you kidding me" yeah I know 82, I'm not using you the way you should be , I took away your fire and now blowing smoke at you...damn me.. So after calibration I reached for a cd as usual. I don't understand why but I do. i put in Lorenna Mckinnett and crossed my fingers almost to the point of wanting to just shut if off until I got my new speaker package. By the way upgrading sucks sometimes when you don't have the money to just buy everything at one. So I listened and then some more with one eye covered by my hands peaking out through my fingers and something is curious. My system sounds the same. Same sonic signature, exactly the same. So I turned it up notch by notch waiting for the protection light to come on and it got louder. I still had dynamics, not exaclty the earth moving amount I'm used to but enough to please me to the point I started to feel comfortable and wanted a glass of wine. I listened for about 45 minutes and figured ok, I can listen to music, no hate on it and actually enjoy a nice track.

On to movies. Ok I have some reference DVD's I love to test a system with Gladiator is one of my all time favorites. If you have not seen this movie, stop reading right now, go buy it and watch it. I turned the volume up to -10 figuring it would clip and I would just watch movies in 2 channel for now. Not the case again, this SC-07 has some good power. This is my first by the way experience with the SC-07 and 4 ohm load speakers, I have in the past ran 8 ohm load speakers only off it with stellar results. I ran it a full scene and actually 3/4's of the way I noticed myself watching the movie and not demoing anymore. This is a very good sign of a fantastic piece of gear. It's damn good I'll tell yeah. The only thing I noticed is the receiver is missing the very last amount of detail and dynamic range. My Rotel RMB1095 really pulled out the very fine details in the soundtrack. You could hear everything. i didn't feel I was missing anything but the chain sound when Maximus was fighting the unbeaten warrior, I didn't feel the chain was a loud in the mix, but what was strange is the wind noise and crowd noise seemed louder or more clear. Weird. I'll take it up as a very detailed preamp section and maybe better then my Rotel. It transferred audio to the Rotel digital so I can't blame that on a analog connection sounding different.

Ipod is very cool, on screen is fine, nothing special but I don't now like the front jack, I was cool with this in every single job I have Installed it on but in my house I now think it sucks. I wish Pioneer would have also included a rear jack so I could Install a dock and leave it in the system. I now have to remove the damn cable every-time I use the Ipod. Picky maybe but this is a design flaw for me. Sound quality is however fantastic and much better then i expected. Again I have only used 8 ohm load speakers and had no expectations for my speaker package to even work right. It does and it's cool. Also you access Ipod now from the Home Media gallery. I just setup the network and streamed Internet radio. Sound quality is poor and sounds like **** but it's cool it can do it. If I wanted to I could stream music over the network but I don't know how much I'm gonna use this feature. I played with it twice now and don't have much desire to further experience it.