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PIONEER | ASTELL&KERN
Pioneer has released three new high-powered, 9.2-channel AV receiv-
ers that support both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.
All three offer nine channels of Class-D amplification, with the
SC-LX89 rated at 260-watts per channel into 4Ω, the SC-LX5 rated at
250-watts per channel into 4Ω, and the SC-LX rated at 240-watts per
channel (all figures with only a single channel driven).
‘The three models produce the ideal surround-sound environment that
lines up and simultaneously drives the playback conditions of all speakers
based on Pioneer’s multi-channel stereophonic philosophy, which achieves
stereophonics between all adjacent speakers,’ saysShelden Walker,
audio product manager at Powermove Distribution, which distributes
Pioneer in Australia. ‘Through Direct Energy HD amplifiers that enable
high-power output on all channels simultaneously and MCACC Pro 4,
which corrects temporal reverb characteristics and the phase characteristics
of the speaker system to perform sound acoustic correction to an extremely
high level of precision, an ideal object-based audio playback environment
has been produced that faithfully reproduces audio works in the form they
were originally intended.’
Pioneer says that it has built these AV receivers using the same
high-quality components one would expect to find in a high-end two-
channel amplifier, using low ESR capacitors, NJM4585 op-amps, ESS
Sabre32 ES9016S Ultra DACs, and low leakage flux power transformers.
‘Particularly significant is that these new receivers feature full-band phase
control circuitry that measures and corrects for the temporal lag between
low-pitched and high-pitched sounds and differing phase characteristics
between channels which occur in a speaker system, so listeners can enjoy a
superior expanded sound field with clear sound localisation,’ said Walker.
In addition to high-resolution sound sources (192/24) in FLAC,
WAV, AIFF and Apple lossless file formats, direct playback of multi-
channel content WAV (192kHz/24-bit for USB input), FLAC (96kHz/24-
bit) and DSD (5.6MHz) files is supported. The receivers also have Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth wireless technologies built in. The Wi-Fi supports dual
band 5GHz (11a/n) and 2.4GHz (11b/g/n) and also supports Wireless
Direct, allowing control in iControlAV5 and the wireless playback of
music from smartphones and tablet devices even when a wireless LAN
environment is not available. Available now, the SC-LX89 retails for
$4,999, the SC-LX79 for $3,999 and the SC-LX59 for $3,299.
A full in-depth review of the SC-LX89 can be found at
http://www.tinyurl.com/lx89-review.For further information, please contact Powermove Distribution
on (08) 8338 5540 or visit http://www.powermove.com.auPIONEER LX SERIES AV RECEIVERS
ASTELL&KERN PARTNERS BEYERDYNAMIC
Astell&Kern’s newest pair of headphones, the
AK T1p (pictured right) as well as its newest pair
of in-ear monitors, not only use ‘Tesla’ trans-
ducer technology that was developed by Ger-
man headphone manufacturer Beyerdynamic,
they’re also manufactured in Germany. ‘Both
the AKT8iE and AK T1p have been handcrafted in
Germany by the fi nest engineers and designed with
their signature Tesla technology,’ said George
Poutakidis of BusiSoft. ‘These ‘phones are the
result of a collaboration between Astell&Kern and
Beyerdynamic, and the result has been the creation
of the ultimate audio listening devices to hit the
market, distinguished by strong magnetic drive
and transparent sound. The Tesla transducer is a
milestone in Beyerdynamic’s history of innovation
that started when the company was founded back
in 1924 by Eugen Beyer.’
The Astell&Kern AK T1p has a new and
improved Tesla driver which exhibits lower im-
pedance for improved compatibility and louder
sound that enables it to be paired equally well
with mobile players, smartphones and tablets.
Two different cable types are provided, a bal-
anced cable for use with Astell&Kern players
plus a standard unbalanced cable for use with
all other players. The headphones are fi nished
in a stainless steel fi nish.
Astell&Kern says the new AK T8iE is the fi rst
in-ear monitor in the world to use Beyerdy-
namic’s Tesla magnet technology, which it
claims enables a superior listening experience
over in-ears that use ordinary magnets. ‘Rather
than separating the bass, midrange and treble tones
your audio will sound complete and whole thanks
to the innovative Tesla transducer,’ says Poutak-
idis. ‘The dynamic moving-coil transducer provides
an extremely wide frequency range with crisp bass,
well-balanced mids and crystal-clear highs.’
Because the Tesla driver is larger (11mm)
than those used in most in-ear monitors, the
AK T8iE has a larger housing than usual, but
it’s still comfortably wearable thanks to
its oval-shaped ‘concha’ exterior mould-
ing, which is designed to sit in the ear
without any pressure. ‘They’re very easy to
insert because there’s no need to press
them forcefully into the ear canal,’
Poutakidis told Australian Hi-Fi
Magazine. ‘And because the
cable doesn’t pull, they can’t
fall out.’ Comfort and fi t are
aided by the provision of
fi ve different tip sizes made
from silicone and three dif-
ferent sizes made from foam.
Available now, the Astell&Kern
AK T1p headphones (pictured
right) sell for $1,899 (RRP) and the
AK T8iE in-ears for $1,599 (RRP).For further information, please contact
Busisoft on 1300 888 602 or visit the website
at http://www.busisoft.com.au