Pioneer Elite EX500

jswallac · « **on:** 26 Apr 2004, 02:54 am »

Has anybody seen this new Pioneer? http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_2047431_2046358,00.html It looks like it may be a new digital amp-based product. It even includes Pioneer's version of room correction (MCACC). The street price is under $400 for both the receiver and the universal player. The specs look a lot like the Panasonic xr45 (same power and distortion levels). Good to see more competition in this area.

Jay S · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Apr 2004, 08:42 am »

Thanks for posting. From what I understand, the universal player is similar to the Pioneer 563A (I am getting a modded 563A from Alex Peychev). I think the digital receiver is VERY interesting, particularly if room correction (plus a mic) is standard. I hope someone mods this receiver. I would be open to possibly getting rid of my tube preamp and my digital amp if this receiver, when modded, proves to provide similar performance.

foggy · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Apr 2004, 10:03 pm »

Jay S: Considering that you feel the receiver requires modification, are you familiar with its internal construction and/or sound? I'd like to learn more about this unit.

armstrg3 · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Apr 2004, 10:15 pm »

I'm not so sure the Pioneer EX 500 is digital?

foggy · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Apr 2004, 10:19 pm »

I'm wondering that myself. With the claimed output power in such a slim chasis I think it's a good possibility.

Jay S · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Apr 2004, 12:01 am »

I don't have any details or insights on the EX500. I am guessing it is digital. What I would be curious to find out is what digital technology it uses. The Panasonic XR45 used new technology developed by TI, which helps explain why it is said to sound so good.

One thing I did notice in the specs of the EX-500 receiver is that its dac is "only" 24/96... It would be great to keep the signal in the digital domain until the final amplification stage but that would require using the dac of the EX-500 rather than feeding it an analog signal from a dvd/cd player.

Hopefully there will be more info coming out about this receiver.

jswallac · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Apr 2004, 04:49 am »

My reason behind thinking it is a digital amp is twofold. First, as foggy noted, it is pretty slim for its claimed power output. Second, the THD is stated at 1% Only the digital amps seem to spec out that high. Unfortunately the information on this thing is close to zero. It is available on the internet, however, so it should be in B&M stores that carry the Elites. I will try to find one this weekend and report back.

jswallac · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Apr 2004, 10:28 pm »

My local Goodguys has an EX500 on display. It was being used to show off an Elite Plasma with Discovery HD playing. I could not really tell much regarding sonics, but did take a look at the unit. It certainly seems to be a digital amp. It had been running all day with the DVD player directly sitting on the amp, and the amp was very cool to the touch. The unit does look pretty cheap. It has spring clips for all speakers, worse than even the Panny XR45 that at least allowed banannas for the mains. Not sure why it is badged as an Elite, looks more like it should carry the regular Pioneer label.

foggy · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Apr 2004, 12:42 am »

Aarghh, that's what I was afraid of (spring clips). Thanks for tracking one down, jswallac.