The Pioneer Elite SC-97 has lots of modern built-in decoders (DTS:X, Dolby True HD, etc.) and support most popular audio formats. Its operational power consumption rate is 370W, while the standby power consumption reaches 0.1W.
The Pioneer device has a classic brushed aluminum front panel, 4 legs, 2 basic selectors (volume and input), and a Standby/On button with a backlight. The box itself has enough holes for constant ventilation. The device doesn’t overheat and it also doesn’t collect the dust. All the knobs and selectors look good, but there are some cosmetic blemishes on the front side of the receiver.
The receiver has an inbuilt Wi-Fi, which supports 2.4 and 5GHz frequencies. Due to Apple’s AirPlay I can easily stream the music. I also can easily connect my iPhone 5S to the Pioneer with the help of the Bluetooth. A three-zone capability allows sending signals to different locations and such a feature works perfectly.
The receiver needs nearly 5 seconds to turn on. It annoys, but after that, the device has a quick response to all the commands. The iControlAV5 app is a great remote controller replacement. I can use the SC-97’s functions with its help and switch between surround modes. The picture quality is really amazing and the colors look natural, without artificial shades.
The Pioneer Elite SC-97 review demonstrates that the device converts the entire stereo audio signals to Atmos. To get a better sound quality, it is better to switch the receiver to Dolby Surround, while watching the movie. The bass has a lot of punches and the high notes are very clear.
The HDMI switching is rapid. Moreover, the manual says that only first 3 HDMI support HDCP 2.2, but in reality, all the HDMI inputs have this function. The HDMI inputs are labeled confusingly. Among the Pioneer Elite SC-97 specs, the model can boast with an MM phono input.
The MCACC Pro using is easy, but the system doesn’t equalize my Dolby Atmos speakers. I have to perform all the settings manually. The auto-calibration takes a few minutes and doesn’t need human intervention. The on-screen guide appears to be very informative and good-looking. Due to that, I perform all the installation procedures quick and without problems.
The Pioneer Elite SC-97 contains a lot of modern features, which can make a user’s entertainment much better. Great sound and the streaming services presence make the device one of the best on a today’s market!
IEEE 802.3u
IEEE 802.3
WI-FI
Bluetooth
HDMI Inputs
8
Coaxial Digital Inputs
2
Optical Digital Inputs
2
Phones
1
AV Inputs
1
USB
1
Subwoofer Outputs
2
Coaxial Digital Outputs
has not
Optical Digital Outputs
1
HDMI Outputs
3
Network
Bluetooth
USB-host
Apple Air-play Support
Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) Technology
Three-zone Capability
Smartphone Remote Control
A-B Speaker Switch
Dual-zone Capability
Pure Direct Mode
Auto Power Off
Bi-amplifying
Audio Return Channel (ARC)
Frequency Response
1 kHz
Output Impedance Per Channel
4 Ohm, 6 Ohm, 8 Ohm
Output Power Per Channel
140 W, 190 W, 240 W
Total Output Power
810 W
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
97 dB
Number Of Channels
9
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.08 %
Surround Sound Effects
Front Stage Surround Advance. Headphone Surround (V.S.S.)
Audio D/A Converter
32bit / 192kHz
Digital Content Protection
HDCP 2.2
Surround System Class
9.2 channel
AIFF
AAC
WMA
WAV
MP3
FLAC
Apple Lossless
Weight
33 pounds
Dimensions
17.1 x 17.4 x 7.3 inches
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby Atmos
DTS:X
Dolby True HD
Dolby Surround
Network Audio Player
Internet Radio
Digital Player
Standby Power Consumption
0.1 W
Operational Power Consumption
370 W
Colour
black
Type
fluorescent
Upscaling Via HDMI
up to 4K
3D Pass-through
Video Conversion/scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling, analog to HDMI up conversion
HDMI Pass-through
up to 4K
Preset Station
63
Tuner Bands
AM/FM
Tuner Type
digital
Sleep Timer
Built-in Clock
Brand
Pioneer