Mantis Official Pioneer Elite SC-07 Review.

mantis · April 2009

Pedler wrote: »

My Name Is Pedler...GOT ICE:cool:

Can anyone join? or is their a special hand shake...I have to do first!

Join the ICE club?
Just own a Elite ICE receiver and your in.

Dan

Pedler · April 2009

mantis wrote: »

Join the ICE club?
Just own a Elite ICE receiver and your in.

Dan

I got the 07 last night... ( I was making a pun about "Got ICE"):D

Thanks for the help I was going to go for the -05 but for the differance in price, and the cheaper prices online than what i was seeing for the -05 in stores, I had to go for it.

Sound wise I understand now why you love the SC's.Everything sounds so clear clean and detailed.
I am Very happy...

leroyjr1 · April 2009

Pedler

Congrats and welcome to the Ice club.

dbaldus · April 2009

mantis wrote: »

dbaldus,
I get PCM 88.2 as well on the Ps3 using SACD over PCM via HDMI.Auto surround mode. MCACC is on and so is Phase control. Direct is the same PCM 88.2 .Pure Direct cuts out Phase control and MCACC. It's a Pure signal direct from source to amp with no kind of correction.
I will I have to compare using my Elite dv58av.

give me a minute here.......Let me drop the disc in there and see what it says.....

Ok in the Pioneer Elite dv58av it does the same exact thing. PCM 88.2. It seems to work correctly, the sound is coming from the correct speakers and sounds awesome. I could be mistaken but I think the Elite dv58av sounds better playing SACD's over the Ps3. I will have to conduct a VS to comfirm but right now just switching back and forth, the Dv58av sounds richer. It should sound exaclty the same, they are both streaming the audio over HDMI. There is no analog IC's. I can however try that way as well. I will when I got in for the VS battle just to compare the Wolfson DAC's in the SC-07 vs the Burr Brown's in the dv58av.

Dan

mantis,

Thanks for confirming this for me. I also get PCM 88.2 when playing SACDs over HDMI using the PS3. However, this wasn't really what I was after.

Aren't SACDs supposed to have higher sampling rates (like 176 kHz or so)? My understanding from the research that I did (and posted in my previous post) was that the only way to get the full sampling rate of SACDs is to use the PURE DIRECT mode on the SC-05. However, when I select "PURE DIRECT" on the 05, it doesn't tell me anything on the receivers screen other than "PCM DIRECT". How am I to know what audio signal is being received on the receiver?

I'm not saying that the SACDs don't sound fantastic using the receiver (they do!), but I'm just concerned that I may not be receiving the full signal...

Thanks again,
Derek

mantis · April 2009

dbaldus wrote: »

mantis,

Thanks for confirming this for me. I also get PCM 88.2 when playing SACDs over HDMI using the PS3. However, this wasn't really what I was after.

Aren't SACDs supposed to have higher sampling rates (like 176 kHz or so)? My understanding from the research that I did (and posted in my previous post) was that the only way to get the full sampling rate of SACDs is to use the PURE DIRECT mode on the SC-05. However, when I select "PURE DIRECT" on the 05, it doesn't tell me anything on the receivers screen other than "PCM DIRECT". How am I to know what audio signal is being received on the receiver?

I'm not saying that the SACDs don't sound fantastic using the receiver (they do!), but I'm just concerned that I may not be receiving the full signal...

Thanks again,
Derek

i will have to get back to yeah on that. But SACD sounds fantastic over HDMI. It should just **** the signal over and get processed in the SC just if you had a player process it inside of itself then pass it over analog 6 channel. Actually HDMI should sound even better then analog as there is no interference and no coloration from the ICs. All analog IC's color the sound one way or another. HDMI does not have the ability to color anything.

Dan

dbaldus · April 2009

mantis wrote: »

i will have to get back to yeah on that. But SACD sounds fantastic over HDMI. It should just **** the signal over and get processed in the SC just if you had a player process it inside of itself then pass it over analog 6 channel. Actually HDMI should sound even better then analog as there is no interference and no coloration from the ICs. All analog IC's color the sound one way or another. HDMI does not have the ability to color anything.

Dan

I think the problem is that the PS3 does the DSD decoding on its side and passes PCM over HDMI. It would be nice if it would just pass the pure DSD for the 05 to do the decoding - I bet it would sound even better then

Good point on the HDMI versus analog cable, though - I never thought of that before!

Bob Dunlop · April 2009

Hi Mantis,thanks for all the info

How is the video upconverting on the 07
I currently have an old VSX1015 THX (non HDMI) and am looking to upgrade but I need a reciever that does a decent upconverting job for all my old Laserdisks
Thanks,Bob

VSX1015
Elite LD 90 player
Toshiba HD DVD
LS 90's Rosewood
2 sets LS/FX surrounds for 7.1
2 CS350 centers
73" Mitsubishi DLP

mantis · April 2009

Bob Dunlop wrote: »

Hi Mantis,thanks for all the info
How is the video upconverting on the 07
I currently have an old VSX1015 THX (non HDMI) and am looking to upgrade but I need a reciever that does a decent upconverting job for all my old Laserdisks
Thanks,Bob

VSX1015
Elite LD 90 player
Toshiba HD DVD
LS 90's Rosewood
2 sets LS/FX surrounds for 7.1
2 CS350 centers
73" Mitsubishi DLP

I have not tested the video upconverting on the SC-07. Maybe someone else has played with it. I use all HDMI video IC's so I do no upconverting. I could care less about our WII video performance.

Dn

barbadosmd · May 2009

HI all. I'm new to the forum and could really use some help. Just purchased the sc-05 and want to use zone 2 for stereo (am/fm and cds) with vintage Dahlquist DQ20i speakers. I have been able to set am/fm radio presets while in the main zone but if I power down zone 1 with zone 2 power on, I get no response from any of the controls on the receiver or the remote. For example, I can select "Tuner" as the input source but can't switch from radio bands, move up and down radio stations, etc. Everything seems locked up. Works fine in zone 1. Any help would be most appreciated. I assume I screwed something up on initial setup.

Great review of the sc-07.

Thanks in advance. Mark

vijayl · May 2009

Mark,
Welcome to CP!! u hav started a new thread and u'll get response, if folks have tried out. No need to ask the same qns in different threads..

Vijay

doggie750 · May 2009

Finally HD is in the house.....:cool: but like the elite president's review he missed his old monster when non hd formats is played. I give so much credit to my SONY strdb 1070 especially in low freq playing, SVS is so much solid/ fuller.

I AM A HAPPY CAMPER.......i guess

mantis · May 2009

doggie750 wrote: »

Finally HD is in the house.....:cool: but like the elite president's review he missed his old monster when non hd formats is played. I give so much credit to my SONY strdb 1070 especially in low freq playing, SVS is so much solid/ fuller.

I AM A HAPPY CAMPER.......i guess

I have a Sony str-db1070 sitting right next to me in my basement for my house system amp. I also use it for a local source and Tuner to have the ability to play 2 different stations around the house. It was a good receiver. I have always liked Sony receivers.

Dan

renowilliams · May 2009

Dan, maybe we should start a pioneer club, since I can't be an ICE member....lol

Tim

mantis · May 2009

renowilliams wrote: »

Dan, maybe we should start a pioneer club, since I can't be an ICE member....lol

Tim

Not a bad idea. I'm a huge Pioneer of all things fan. I think I will.

Dan

mantis · May 2009

xcapri79 wrote: »

Great idea, there are a lot of Polk Audio users that love Pioneer as well.

Main system:
Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
DVD/SACD: Pioneer DV-49AV DVD/SACD
TV Monitor: Pioneer KURO KRP-500M Plasma
TV: Hitachi 32" Ultravision
Amps: 2 X Emotiva XPA-5
Speaker A system: Polk Surroundbar50
Speaker B system: Polk 2 X LSi25, 2 X LSiC, 4 X LSi15

Master Bedroom System:
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-1018AH
DVD/SACD: Pioneer DV-49AV DVD/SACD
Amps: Emotiva XPA-3, LPA-1
Speaker A system: Polk Surroundbar42
Speaker B system: Polk 4 X LSi15, CSi6, 2 X LSiFX

Kitchen System:
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-1014TX
Speakers: Polk 2 X LSi7

Diningroom System:
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-515K
Speaker A system: Polk 2 X M70, CS2, 2 X M60
Speaker B system : Polk 4 x RTi8, CSi3

Nice Bro but we gotta talk about building a whole house system and ditch all those receivers.

shahpan · November 2009

where can i buy a reasonably priced sc-05

Sherardp · November 2009

shahpan wrote: »

where can i buy a reasonably priced sc-05

www.valueelectronics.com and ask for Rob.

Sherardp · November 2009

xcapri79 wrote: »

They have some great deals, but the ValueElectronics website says "No Elite Internet sales".

Talk to Rob, he will work it out.

KingPrawn · April 2010

Hi Mantis, I am new to this forum.

I have read your first post with great excitement but I am also breaking out in grey hair stress!

Are you still with the SC07 + Dynaudio setup? Which dynas are these?

I currently own a SC07 with LeftRight B@W 601s3 and LCR60 as centre. My rear speakers are just Definitive bipolars - BP 1.2x. I think they at 8ohm speakers.

I have been looking to upgrade my LR+C because although the SC07 has made the B&Ws sing, it also shows its weaknesses.

I recently heard the Dynaudio 140s+200C centre and thought it really sounded great for its size and $$. I plan to use the sc07 to drive the 140s + 200C + surrounds. I don;t have any plans to upgrade at the moment to pre/power separates because of $$ and small living room (cabinet space)

My biggest worry is the ICE amp and the Dynas are 4ohm. Is the sc07 powerful enough to drive these speakers or is it going to blow up my AVR? The dealer said it is fine and that Dynaudios are not really 4 ohm although it is stated as 4 ohm speakers. (Not sure if she is trying to pull a quick one on me..)

My usage is 75% HT and 25% Music.

Thanks.

mantis · April 2010

KingPrawn wrote: »

Hi Mantis, I am new to this forum.

I have read your first post with great excitement but I am also breaking out in grey hair stress!

Are you still with the SC07 + Dynaudio setup? Which dynas are these?

I currently own a SC07 with LeftRight B@W 601s3 and LCR60 as centre. My rear speakers are just Definitive bipolars - BP 1.2x. I think they at 8ohm speakers.

I have been looking to upgrade my LR+C because although the SC07 has made the B&Ws sing, it also shows its weaknesses.

I recently heard the Dynaudio 140s+200C centre and thought it really sounded great for its size and $$. I plan to use the sc07 to drive the 140s + 200C + surrounds. I don;t have any plans to upgrade at the moment to pre/power separates because of $$ and small living room (cabinet space)

My biggest worry is the ICE amp and the Dynas are 4ohm. Is the sc07 powerful enough to drive these speakers or is it going to blow up my AVR? The dealer said it is fine and that Dynaudios are not really 4 ohm although it is stated as 4 ohm speakers. (Not sure if she is trying to pull a quick one on me..)

My usage is 75% HT and 25% Music.

Thanks.

Hello,
No I don't Have the Dynaudio speakers anymore but the SC-07 did drive them well. I also had a Rotel RMB 1095 running them along with a Rotel RSP1068 preamp. When I switched to the SC-07 , I was at first going to just use it as a preamp ,then I got brave and tried the internal amps. They are powerful. I didn't use MCACC as I tuned everything in small and manually calibrated VIA SPL. I used a Sub500 subwoofer.

what your dealer is saying is the Dynaudio speakers are not as hard to drive as they appear. They do however sound better with high current amps. The SC-07 will power them but I suggest running them all in small crossed over at 80hz and let the sub do everything else.

B&W speakers are much easier to drive as they are 8ohms and more efficient. I think B&W DM series and Pioneer ELite sound fantastic together. For theater it's a great combo. I have Installed this combo over the years many times with excellent results.

I currently own a full Definitive Technology Mythos ST and 10 center and rear system. It's excellent with the SC-07.

If you need any tuning help or anything I know Dynaudio and the SC-07 extremely well.

Welcome to the forum and welcome to club ICE.

KingPrawn · April 2010

Hi Mantis,

Great to hear that the sc07 had no issues. Thats a big phew for me!

Have you installed the sc07 with focus140s and 200C? I would appreciate your experience in this

Just going overboard a bit, how is the Contour 1.4s for HT too? The music ppl here must be balking and shouting for my neck. Is the sc07 up to powering them too?

cheers

Rwillz04 · September 2010

New to the post but looks like a bunch of great info and different experiences with similar equipment

I feel like I have nice equipment but I feel like I am lacking something. My first thought is I need a nice 200 x 7 external Amp but I have never had seperates and really don't know what to expect so looking for some feedback

I have a 5.1 setup
Pioneer SC-07
Deftech 2002 ctr
Deftech BP 10's main
Deftech BP2x as surrounds
Deftech Supercube 1
All Audioquest speaker cables with the platinum ends
MC Power sebter 3600mkii
Panasonic Blu Ray player with a 58" Panasonic Plasma

I am waiting for an Oppo 83 player to arrive

What would be the best investment for me and this system?

mantis · September 2010

Rwillz04 wrote: »

New to the post but looks like a bunch of great info and different experiences with similar equipment

I feel like I have nice equipment but I feel like I am lacking something. My first thought is I need a nice 200 x 7 external Amp but I have never had seperates and really don't know what to expect so looking for some feedback

I have a 5.1 setup
Pioneer SC-07
Deftech 2002 ctr
Deftech BP 10's main
Deftech BP2x as surrounds
Deftech Supercube 1
All Audioquest speaker cables with the platinum ends
MC Power sebter 3600mkii
Panasonic Blu Ray player with a 58" Panasonic Plasma

I am waiting for an Oppo 83 player to arrive

What would be the best investment for me and this system?

I'm wondering what is lacking in the system? You have a well balanced system and the SC-07 should drive the hell out of the BP series. Maybe you need to calibrate , room treatments and placement maybe the problem here.

98Badger · September 2010

Rwillz04 wrote: »

New to the post but looks like a bunch of great info and different experiences with similar equipment

I feel like I have nice equipment but I feel like I am lacking something. My first thought is I need a nice 200 x 7 external Amp but I have never had seperates and really don't know what to expect so looking for some feedback

I have a 5.1 setup
Pioneer SC-07
Deftech 2002 ctr
Deftech BP 10's main
Deftech BP2x as surrounds
Deftech Supercube 1
All Audioquest speaker cables with the platinum ends
MC Power sebter 3600mkii
Panasonic Blu Ray player with a 58" Panasonic Plasma

I am waiting for an Oppo 83 player to arrive

What would be the best investment for me and this system?

That system should sound very nice. It is my understanding after talking with some Deftech owners that proper placement can be a big issue in terms of how they sound. I can believe it after demoing some of the ST's. Sounded horrible the way the dealer had them placed. I'm definately no expert with these speakers but if you can, move them away from any side walls and maybe out into the room a bit. Play around with toe in and placement until you find a location you are happy with. Good luck!

Rwillz04 · September 2010

Yeah, I am no expert in calibration. I did the auto calibration with the set up mic and ran 3 cycles but that's about it. Any tips about some calibration features people may overlook if they are not that technical? This is the most complicated receiver I have owned so I may be missing out on some calibration features. Don't get me wrong, it sounds very nice and most people that come over are impressed with it. I guess it might just be me having the bug and wondering what an external AMP would do to my system? I have been looking at AMPs running 200x5 or 200x7 and bi-amping the mains with the remaining 2 channels. Would that take me to another level with the system I have? Thinking about either adding another SC 1 or selling my SC 1 and getting Dual Epik Empires? So at this point I feel something lacking with my sub and I'd like to get more out of my speakers. Thanks again for any input

Mantis Official Pioneer Elite SC-07 Review.

Comments