AV Receiver Reviews

Just before we went to press with this issue, Pioneer announced a new version of the Elite VSX-49TX receiver, the Elite VSX-49TXi. The new model is identical to the current one except that it provides an i.Link connection for multichannel DVD-Audio and SACD, thus replacing with a single digital link the six analog interconnects those formats currently require to connect the receiver to the DVD player. A similarly equipped DVD player is required to make use of this feature. The first such player on the market will be Pioneer's Elite DV-47Ai. The follow-on to the current DV-47A, the DV-47Ai retains the all-format capability of the current player but adds the i.Link output, full bass management for SACD and DVD-Audio, and other refinements. The DV-47Ai ($1200) and VSX-49TXi ($4500) will be available in the fall. An upgrade will be made available for the current VSX-49TX, but not for the DV-47A.—TJN