TORRANCE, CA, January 7, 2019 — The first AVR to feature Apple’s AirPlay® 2*1, the VSX-934 7.2-Channel Network AV Receiver, will be on display during CES 2019 at the Venetian, Bassano Room #2602-2603. The Apple AirPlay® 2 protocol greatly enhances the listening experience for Apple fans by adding multi-room playback; multi-device control as well as enhanced buffering for AirPlay 2 compatible speakers. The receiver also supports a host of innovative Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X® technologies that produce captivating audio, even without dedicated speakers. The VSX-934 will be available next month for $579.99 US / $799.99 CAD.
Apple AirPlay 2
Integration of Apple AirPlay 2 into Pioneer’s newest AVR allows Apple fans the ability to send and sync audio to different devices throughout the house. It also enables owners to control audio from multiple AirPlay 2 compatible devices and improves buffering for AirPlay 2 compatible speakers to eliminate drops.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Support
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback is supported, via a 5.2.2-channel speaker layout. With the addition of Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, movie lovers can experience 3D sound without installing speakers in the ceiling. Similarly, DTS:X allows for the flexible placement of speakers to enable optimized playback in a variety of layouts. Even without Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, the VSX-934’s support for Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer*2 and DTS Virtual:X*2, means you can enjoy object-based audio despite the absence of dedicated additional speakers.
Dolby Surround and DTS Neural:X® Up-Mixing Solutions
By exploiting the 5.2.2-ch environment, DTS Neural:X and Dolby Surround technologies up-mix legacy “2D” soundtrack formats to reproduce surround-sound with a “wrap-around” feeling. Both solutions are designed to create immersive 3D sound for movie soundtracks encoded on DVD, Blu-ray Disc™, or selected video streaming services.
Premium High-Class Amplification Design
The VSX-934 delivers 165 W/Ch (6 ohms, 1 kHz, THD 10%, 1-ch driven) for convincing and responsive surround-sound, and can easily support 4 ohm speakers. The company’s Direct Energy Amplification delivers wide-band frequency reproduction with excellent spatial organization with multichannel and stereo sources. With a deep reservoir of power smoothly delivered through all channels and a selection of inputs for High-Res Audio and pure analog sources, the VSX-934 vastly improves the audio playback quality of music, movies, TV programs, and games.
HDMI Support for HDR, 4K/60p, and BT.2020 Video Formats
Dedicated ZONE 2 Speaker Outputs and Zone 2 Line Output/Zone B Pre-Output
Connect stereo speakers to dedicated ZONE 2 speaker outputs to distribute sources via analog inputs, network, USB, and Bluetooth® to another room. Play audio in Zone 1 (Main) or Zone 2 only; synchronized pre-out as Zone B which is good for connecting wireless headphones; or play a unique source in each zone simultaneously. Users can enjoy a 5.2-ch setup in Zone 1 with powered ZONE 2 distribution enabled, or retain a 5.2.2-ch layout and use Zone 2 line-output to share audio to an existing hi-fi system, powered speakers, or power amp and stereo speakers featuring a line input.
Advanced Streaming Options
The VSX-934 ships with easy-to-use. multi-room audio platforms that sync with supported audio systems and speakers of any brand over 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi®*5, creating a seamless house-wide entertainment environment managed from smartphone and tablet. These include Bluetooth, DTS Play-Fi® technology, FlareConnect™ and Works with SONOS for wireless audio distribution.
MCACC with Phase Control Technology*6
The MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) automatically compensates for differences in speaker size, level, and distance, and equalizes response. Simultaneously, Phase Control technology eliminates phase-lag caused by the low-pass filter between main channels and subwoofer to create clearer mid- and high-range sound while adding dynamic impact to LFEs.
Reflex Optimizer
When using Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, high-directivity sound reflects off the ceiling, while low-directivity sound reaches the ears directly. This subtle difference causes a phase shift, making sound feel uncomfortable. Reflex Optimizer technology resolves this phase-lag and optimizes the performance of Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers for clear sound imaging at the viewing position.
Online Music and Internet Radio
Online music services including Amazon Music*7, Pandora®*7, Spotify*7, TIDAL*7, and Deezer*7 are all available to explore. Furthermore, users can enjoy a near limitless flow of music, sports, podcasts, and news entertainment courtesy of onboard TuneIn*7 internet radio.
Dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
High-fidelity sound sources can be played wirelessly over a Wi-Fi connection offering 5 GHz (11a/n) and 2.4 GHz (11b/g/n) bands. In busy households with many devices contributing to congestion on the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz channel offers smoother transmission of audio files without radio-wave interference.
Intuitive Graphical User Interface with Easy Initial Setup
Pioneer’s intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) over HDMI makes for stress-free operation. The on-screen GUI displays System Setup, MCACC, and Network/Bluetooth, with quick access to each menu. A simple graphical display detailing receiver functions improves ease of use as do the Personal Presets, while Setup Guidance makes initial network setup a snap. Pioneer’s new On-Screen Display (OSD) shows detailed audio and video information during playback.
*1 AirPlay 2 will be available via firmware update in the spring of 2019.
*2 Function available with future firmware update.
*3 HDR is a technology that expands the maximum brightness of video. HDR technology is used with Ultra HD Blu-ray™ to expand the maximum brightness.
*4 BT.2020 is a video format standard that covers a wide color space more than twice that of the BT.709 standard currently used for Blu-ray Disc and other formats.
*5 Requires a wireless LAN network environment compatible with Wi-Fi standards and a Wi-Fi-based connection.
*6 MCACC: Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System. MCACC is a proprietary acoustic compensation technology from Pioneer that can perform sound-field adjustment at the same level as monitoring techniques employed in sound studios.
*7 Please confirm availability of services before purchase. Some services may require a paid subscription.
PIONEER, MCACC, Phase Control, and the logos are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation, and are used under license.
The terms HDMI and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Vision are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
For DTS patents, see http://patents.dts.com. Manufactured under license from DTS, Inc. DTS, the Symbol, DTS and the Symbol together, DTS:X, Virtual:X, Play-Fi, the DTS:X logo, the DTS Play-Fi logo, and the DTS Virtual:X logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. © DTS, Inc. All RightsReserved.
Apple, AirPlay, iPhone, iTunes and Siri are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. AirPlay works with iPhone and iPad with iOS 4.3.3 or later, Mac with OS X Mountain Lion, and Mac and PC with iTunes 10.2.2 or later.
Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Android, Google Play, Chromebook and Chromecast built-in are trademarks of Google LLC.
Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Blu-ray Disc™, Blu-ray™,Ultra HD Blu-ray™ and the logos are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
Spotify and the Spotify logo are trademarks of the Spotify Group, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Amazon, Amazon Music, and all related logos and motion marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
PANDORA, the PANDORA logo, and the Pandora trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. Used with permission.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.