Comments about Pioneer Pioneer Elite Black 7.1 Channel AV Home Theater Receiver:

First let me say that I was skeptical about the ICEPower Amps which are Class D amplifiers. My first experience with a Class D amplifier (a few years ago) was not good. Bass and midrange were ok but the high end was suppressed (my first experience with Class D amplifiers).

However, based on my research and the favorable reviews for the SC-35, I decided to take the plunge. Wow, I am impressed. The initial set-up was straight forward and running the MCACC was easy. Being tech savy I did some tweaking after running the MCACC which resulted in further improvements in the sound quality.

My set-up is 7.1 utilizing the "Height" channels. My first test was with movies (which is 80% of my usage). The sound is crystal clear with great definition over the entire audio range. Bass is substantial with great punch. Midrange is clear and properly defined. Highs are crisp and defined (no smearing).

Now, to fully achieve the high performance output of this Receiver, you need good quality Speakers (I'm using MKs and Definitives).

As I said in the beginning, I was skeptical about the performance of the ICE Amps, however Pioneer has totally won me over. This receiver is one of the very best for value and performance. So, if you are in the market for an excellent AV Receiver, put this one on your list and at least give it a listen, you may be surprized by what you hear. This is an Audiofile Receiver.

Best application for the Receiver is Home Theater and multi-zone applications.