AV Receiver Reviews

Pioneer Elite SC-89 AV Receiver Review Test Bench

Test Bench

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 165.8 watts
1% distortion at 191.6 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 138.0 watts
1% distortion at 158.2 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 114.6 watts
1% distortion at 129.9 watts

Analog frequency response in Analog Direct mode:
–0.07 dB at 10 Hz
–0.02 dB at 20 Hz
+0.97 dB at 20 kHz
–1.76 dB at 50 kHz.

Analog frequency response with signal processing:
–0.77 dB at 10 Hz
–0.24 dB at 20 Hz
+0.76 dB at 20 kHz
–68.02 dB at 50 kHz.

This graph shows that the SC-89’s left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1% distortion at 165.8 watts and 1% distortion at 191.6 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1% distortion at 214.6 watts and 1% distortion at 268.1 watts.

There was no multichannel input to measure. THD+N from the CD input to the speaker output was less than 0.007% at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –81.36 dB left to right and –80.94 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –102.91 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.01 dB at 20 Hz and +0.68 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.01 dB at 20 Hz and +0.79 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures –0.01 dB at 20 Hz and +0.90 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is +0.03 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 117 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 120 Hz.—MJP

COMPANY INFO
Pioneer Electronics USA
(800) 421-1404
pioneerelectronics.com
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COMMENTS
Jonasandezekiel's picture
Submitted by Jonasandezekiel on February 15, 2015 - 8:19pm

Mark, is it safe to say that this receiver sounds identical to the previous generation sc-79? Any differences?

jh20001's picture
Submitted by jh20001 on April 12, 2015 - 5:46pm

I had first read about this on Poc (http://bit.ly/1FomJY5) when I realized this was the receiver I had been looking for to use in my setup throughout the house. I could care less about Atmos for the most part, although I may dabble with it later on as it becomes more available in movies. Poc's review wasn't much better, as it was pretty simple. It just caught me at the right time lol. I wouldn't mind seeing additional demonstrations of how such an AVR performs in various situations. I guess I will find out for myself when it comes in the mail. My hopes are pretty high at the moment.

hk2000's picture
Submitted by hk2000 on April 25, 2015 - 7:04am

I don't know what everyone is complaining about! who cares what an individual's subjective opinion of sound quality of a receiver is. Give me comprehensive measurements and feature list, and I consider it a great review- which this review does and is.

Thanks.

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