Home > Consumer Reviews > Pioneer Elite SC-05 - AV network receiver - 7.1 channel

Good: fabulous sound, cool-running amps, surround-sound internet radio, easy speaker set-up, home-computer media access, loads of power, phono input, multiple HDMI in/outs, classy front panel.

Bad: horrible remote, no monaural mode, can't optimize simultaneously across multiple listening positions, and did I mention about the terrible remote?

I've had the sc05 for 10 months now, and while I think it's a fantastic receiver, I'm going to focus here on the remote. If you're planning to have a third-party multicomponent remote, then you can skip all this and just run out and get the sc05. If you're thinking about trying to live with the remote, read on.

The remote is infrared line-of-sight and overly sensitive to off-frontal aspect angles, compared to the other components I'm using. Only some of the buttons light up. The remote's display conveys no information at all about the sc05 - rather it only gives the status of the remote, which makes it difficult to tell whether the button press was successful when you can't read the sc05 display from where you are. Almost all buttons are programmable, but there is no way to cue you to how they've been programmed, and their functions change with the mode selector anyway. You can only do certain controls in each mode, and if you forget to switch back and forth to the correct modes, you wind up commanding functions you didn't mean to. The remote is also a power hog, and it has no recharger cradle, so you'll be changing batteries frequently with regular use. Lastly, it's almost twice as thick as every other remote I have - very clunky.

Seems like pioneer assigned all their geniuses to the sc05, but left the remote to a bickering gaggle of mentally disadvantaged preschoolers.

Ice power under 1500 bucks. Upconverting sucks but come on if your spending this kind of money what are you upconverting. Sound quality is plain and simple. NO other reciever will sound better than this one under 2500 dollars. Its big, its heavy and Home media gallery rocks. When company comes over I let them listen to Iraq or Iran Rock radio in an awsome bitrate. Iam not a fan of their music but at least you can listen to it and its an awsome experience. This is a reciever you will be happy with for next 10 years and I owned this for 7 months and loving it everyday.

A very nice receiver and I am not even using half of its capabilities. The only bad thing is that now, I need to get much better home theater speakers to go with this outstanding receiver.

I can't say enough good things about this receiver. I hooked up my cable/dvr box, DVD player, VHS player, XBox 360, Nintendo WII, and sometimes have my ipod 5th gen plugged in. All inputs can be named so instead of seeing "HDMI 1", you see "Xbox 360" or whatever. The IPod interface is excellent and fully supports all categorized music in genres and playlists. The sound quality is fantastic. Love this receiver !

"I was waiting for this receiver for a long time. Amazon has the best price on this receiver that I have seen. As far as performance goes, it is simply terrific. It has the ability to connect to a home network which is really easy and the feature really works and is just great. I listen to Internet Radio all the time on the weekends. It has plenty of power to handle anything you throw at it. It also makes anything you throw at it sound just wonderful. It's MCACC auto setup works so much easier than Audessey. This receiver replaces a Denon AVR2309ci which is no slump receiver, however the Pioneer Elite just simply outclassed the Denon. Again sound quality is where it is at with this beast. 130 watts of pure joy power per channel. My speakers, B&W M1's never sounded better. This receiver is a really simple to set up vs. Denon's. The OSD and GUI are far easier to use and look so much better than the Denon. Not to mention, the SC-05 looks just fantastic. It is in a class all its own. I have my receiver on every time I watch TV which was not the case with the Denon. It sounds too good not to have on. Just as simple as that. I have the SC-05 hooked up to a Kuro TV (PDP-5020FD). BD movies are a SIGHT and SOUND to behold. I replaced my Sub just recently and purchased a Polk PSW505. This receiver allows my Sub to literally shake my floor and walls. We recently watched Hulk BD version, and I really thought my neighbors would knock on my door. I did not have the pioneer anywhere near reference level, -15db, and it was awesome. The SC-05 never broke a sweat. It has so much more in her. It was the first time in my life I was nervous about turning it up any louder.

All in all, I could not be more pleased with the SC-05. It is easy to set up. The sound it produces is crisp, clear, warm and totally engrossing. Many different options to play with to get the most out of what you are trying to accomplish. And you will no doubt be able to accomplish anything you want with this receiver. I have had many receivers over the years, and this by far, without a doubt, is the best I have ever owned. What a joy it is to have such a fine product."