SC-57
OK, I know I know, spend more on speakers then the Amp. I bought Aperion Verus Grand line of speakers for all 7 points of speaker interest. (Sub-woofer coming shortly from another vendor.) These may not have been the most expensive speakers I could get but for a Dollar + Value + Sound + Quality it all equaled up to the right purchase for me.
Amp time came around and I dragged my feet while tolling forums and Pro reviews and consumer reviews and on and on and on. I must have changed my mind a dozen times. Then just when I thought I was settled on what I was getting Pioneer released the SC-57. I was just blown away by the feature set but it has a class D Amp. This gave me pause… more reading… OK Last years SC version with the class D amp garnered high reviews. I had to buy it from Best Buy as that was Pioneers approved vender in my area and I read a few stories where Pioneer doesn’t like to honor it warranty if the unit is not purchased from an approved vendor. Besides, I get 30 days to return it to bust buy if I don’t like it.
Got the bad boy home and spent the better part of two hours getting the damn thing hooked up. Once it was and I ran through the MACACC configuration. The sound is just over whelming. With this and my speakers I cannot turn it full volume due to it just being too damn loud. In other words it can fill a much larger room with ease. I also purchased the extra Bluetooth adapter for it. I loaded the Apps Pioneer offers onto m iPad and the fun began, sitting on the couch surfing music and playing it on the stereo. Controlling the volume, surround mode and EQ from the iPad as well.
This thing is near perfect. Only complaints are Rhapsody doesn’t work. It won’t let me enter my password and ID, claims I did it wrong. After calling Pioneer and Rhapsody it turn out a firm ware update is required however Pioneer has yet to provide it. This is not a big deal as I can stream Rhapsody to the iPad that will in turn play it through the Bluetooth adaptor.
Also the Air Jam application just doesn’t work. Tried several times and it keeps trying to tell me I am not connected to the Amp. Close that App, open Rhapsody on the iPad and low and behold it plays… So its not the connection that is the issue it’s the Amp.
Internet radio is the best I have ever seen deployed. No more long typing of URL.s to add stations. Just go to a Pioneer provided web site, enter the code from your Amp and you have access. Brows the stations adding them to favorites categories your create and low and behold it shows up on the Amp.
Yes all these neat features require an Internet connection which I did via Cat6 cable. You can buy a wireless device for it but I didn’t want to add the lag.
Sound Sound Sound how does this thing sound. Well first off it wasn’t easy fine tuning it. As a matter of fact till I get the new Sub I will not be able to complete the process. That being said this thing is crisp, clean, provides amply volume (140 wats ALL CHANNELS) but apart from that it sounds awesome. I am sitting listening to music for hours now just having eargasiums. I know many professional reviews are forth coming but I know it was well worth every penny put forth.
If anyone else is lucky enouff to own one post your thoughts please.
