New Reference Quality Audio Components From Pioneer Get The Stage 4 Treatment

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduced two reference quality in-vehicle audio components, the DEH-80PRS CD receiver and PRS-D800 Class D 2-Channel Full-range amplifier. Both models inherit several of the design elements and superior componentry from Pioneer’s Stage 4 ultra high-end car listening system, bringing superior sound quality to a broader range of consumers and vehicles.

“Our Stage 4 products are designed and built for a singular purpose, to obtain a level of music reproduction in the car that is rarely achieved by even the finest home audio systems,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our goal when designing these two products was to produce the same level of musicality and listening enjoyment with products that are more accessible with regard to both pricing and installation flexibility. To achieve this, we combined trickle-down engineering from the Stage 4 products with innovative new solutions and technology.”

Pioneer DEH-80PRS

DEH-80PRS

The DEH-80PRS CD receiver offers many of the most popular convenience and connectivity features such as Customizable Illumination; Dual USB ports for iPhone, iPod and other USB devices; Built-in Bluetooth; large 3-line LCD display; Flip-down face and more. From a pure performance perspective, the DEH-80PRS utilizes audiophile grade design and components throughout its design and features:

• Independent left and right 16-band digital equalization, providing up to 12 dB of boost or cut, allowing pin-point adjustment within the audible frequency range.
• Digital crossover network for the three sets of 5-Volt RCA outputs. The crossover network can be configured as a front stage only (3-way), providing high-pass, band-pass midrange and low-pass subwoofer frequency filtering or as a more conventional high-pass front, high-pass rear and low-pass subwoofer filter with front to rear fading capability.
• Digital time alignment that allows each speaker’s output to be synchronized to that of the furthest speaker in the system. In the automotive environment where the listener is always seated closer to either the left or right speakers, this technology is critical to achieve a more realistic staging and stereo imaging effect.
• Three 24-bit digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, each responsible for each pair of RCA pre-amplifier outputs.

Advanced users can make all adjustments manually or simply let the automatic EQ/time alignment feature and included calibrated microphone create optimized settings with the touch of a button.

The DEH-80PRS will be available in April with a suggested price of $350.

PRS-D800

The PRS-D800 is a Full-range Class D, bridgeable 2-channel amplifier. The product is unique due to its high power, high sound quality, compact size, and the fact its chassis has been optimized for use as a part of a modular or building block amplifier system. The PRS-D800 is only 10-inches long by 4-1/8 inches wide by 2-inches tall, and has been designed to fit side by side or even stacked with other PRS-D800 amplifiers. Producing a substantial 125 watts per channel into 4 ohms stereo or 300 watts into 4 ohms bridged mono, the applications for this amplifier can be by itself or with multiple units.

High power output and small size aren’t the only special features of the PRS-D800. To complement the reference level sound quality of the DEH-80PRS receiver, the PRS-D800 amplifier employs high performance internal components:

• A high-slew rate operational amp is used to reduce the high-frequency distortion inherent to many Class D full range designs.
• Handpicked, matched electrolytic capacitors to obtain consistent frequency response and high dynamic range.
• Oxygen-free copper wire inductors for low direct current resistance and low loss that results in strong, tight bass response and clean mid and high frequency output.
• Chassis construction that features Pioneer’s Total Vibration Control (TVC) concept that utilizes anti-vibration materials and advanced structural engineering to eliminate audible distortion caused by microscopic component resonances.

The PRS-D800 has a rated frequency response from 10 Hz to 30 kHz with total harmonic distortion (THD) of.004% (1 kHz) and a signal-to-noise ratio of greater than 105 dB.

The PRS-D800 will be available in April with at suggested price of $300.