Pioneer has announced four new AV receivers: the VSX-519V, VSX-819H, VSX-919AH and VSX-1019AH (pictured), all set to retail at £700 or less.
Three of the models are some of the first to be certified for iPhone and iPod compatibility, with the amplifiers also promising to enhance the sound quality of compressed MP3 files while they're at it.
The top three models – the '819, '919 and '1019 – can decode all the HD audio codecs, while the '919 and '1019 allow upconversion to HDMI. The top of the range '1019 also provides upscaling of all video signals to 1080p.
Focusing again on the top three models, you'll find a 'multi-format USB port' for connecting MP3 players. Direct digital signal transfer from the iPod to the receiver 'guarantees' the purest sound possible, we're told.
Pioneer's new receivers also incorporate multizone sound, and some come with the company's own calibration system. See the spec table below for more details.
VSX-1019 VSX-919 VSX-819 VSX-519
Power (6 Ohm, 1K, 1% THD) 140W 140W 130W 130W
Channels 7 7 5 5
HD Audio yes yes yes no
MCACC Advanced Advanced yes no
Advanced Sound Retriever Multi Multi 2ch 2ch
HDMI Terminal (in/out) 4/1 3/1 3/1 2/1
Deep Colour yes yes yes yes
x.v.Colour yes yes yes yes
KURO Link yes yes no no
Analogue-to-HDMI conversion yes yes no no
Scaler (up to 1080p) yes no no no
iPod Digital yes yes yes no
Jacket pictures from iPod yes yes no no
Works with iPhone yes yes yes no
New GUI yes yes no no
Multi-zone Zone2 Zone2 Zone2 Zone2
The VSX-519V and the VSX-819H will be available from May, while the VSX-919AH and VSX-1019AH will follow in June.
We're waiting on a price for the VSX-519, but the '819 is set to retail at around £400, the '919 at around £500 and '1019 at around £700, and all are available in black or silver.