Pioneer Elite SC-68 (USA version)

Overview

Pioneer Elite SC-68 was introduced in 2012 and represented a flagship model of the manufacturer. It is equipped with 9 channel amplifier and is capable of 9.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 85 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and video signal passthrough and upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

Pros and Cons

In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer Elite SC-68.

Amplifier

Pioneer Elite SC-68 has 9 channel Class D³ amplifier and delivers 140 W (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven) and also has a stable performance at 4 Ω load. This receiver even supports front wide channels which is found only in a very few high-end receivers these days.

Video Features

The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 30p and 1080p upscaling.

Class D³ Amplifier

Pioneer Class D³ amplifiers contain advanced integrated circuitry technology creating unmatched power without sacrificing sound quality or performance. Class D³ amplifiers use a Direct Signal Path Design to provide the shortest audio signal path possible. By eliminating EMI filters, feedback loops, and current limiters of previous designs, Class D³ reduces ringing distortion and noise, especially in the high frequency audio band.

The power consumption of the Digital Class D³ Amplifier is significantly lower than traditional A/B amplifiers - letting you save energy and generate less heat without compromising performance. The Digital Class D³ Amplifier uses a simple structure employing a straight signal path, resulting in improved sound quality requiring less energy than competitive models yet producing more simultaneous power output. This direct signal path means no EMI filters, feedback loops or current limiting - a true engineering art. Unlike traditional designs, these amps deliver the strength to handle multiple low-impedance speakers without dramatic power loss. The efficiency of Class D³ means cooler operation while drawing just a fraction of the power consumed by conventional amplifiers, enhancing and extending component life and reliability.

THX™ Certification

Pioneer Elite SC-68 is THX™ certified which offers optimal performance, superior quality and seamless integration. THX works with partners from the ground up, so that certified products deliver professional quality audio-visual experiences right out of the box. They only certify the very best products with uncompromised quality, performance and consistency. They ensure that THX certified devices play well with lower performing devices and components. THX listening modes make the receiver to have one speaker set up for movies, music and games. They are tested for power output, bass management, signal-to-noise ratio and feature RE-EQ, timbre matching, boundary gain compensation and THX Loudness Plus. The current model has Ultra2 Plus class performance. This means that it brings the cinematic experience to larg home theaters, 3,000 cubic feet (85 cubic meters) in size, with a viewing distance of 12 feet (4 meters) or greater from the screen.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer Elite SC-68 is done by Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever. Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3 and WMA files stored on USB, Smartphone and portable media players. By restoring data that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneers Advanced Sound Retriever Technology enhances audio reproduction all the way upto 20 Khz frequencies.

Room Correction

Pioneer Elite SC-68 comes with Advanced MCACC room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

Connectivity

Pioneer Elite SC-68 can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or wirelessly via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately). It can also connect to bluetooth devices via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately). The Receiver supports AirPlay. It has 8 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.2 copy protection. There is a phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the cartridge output of the turntable directly to the Receiver. There are 7.1 multi-channel analog inputs and 11.2 channel analog pre-outs for external amplification.

Front panel has HDMI, USB and Composite Video inputs.

Specifications

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer Elite SC-68.

BASICS
Brand	Pioneer
Series	Elite
Model	SC-68
Type	A/V Receiver
Country	USA
Release Year	2012

AMPLIFIER
Channels	9.2
Front Wide Channel Support
Amplifier Design	Class D3
THX™ Certification	Ultra2 Plus
Continuous 6 Ω Rated
Certified 4 Ω Performance
Bi-amp Capability	Front / Center / Surround / B-Speaker

AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	TI Aureus x 2
Maximum Channel Processing	9.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby Surround Upmixer
Dolby Pro Logic	PLIIz
Dolby Digital EX
Surround EX
DTS:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neo	Neo:X
DTS-HD Master Audio
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
DTS 96/24
DTS Express
DTS-ES	Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
IMAX Enhanced
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
PCM	2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USB	WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	WAV/FLAC/DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB
Gapless Playback
DSD via HDMI	2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB	2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter
USB DAC	(Rear Panel B-Type)
Jitter Reduction	plus PQLS (HDMI Bitstream/ Multi)
Auto Level Control	Multi-Channel
Dialog Enhancement
Dialogue Lift	via Dialog Enhancement
Sound Retriever	Advanced (Multi-Channel / Auto with ARC)
Sound Retriever AIR
Digital Noise Reduction
Tone Control	All Channels
Compressed Music Enhancer	Advanced Sound Retriever
High-resolution Music Enhancer	Hi-bit32 (96 kHz) Audio Processing
Digital Filter Slow Mode	192 kHz
Audyssey Dynamic EQ
Audyssey Dynamic Volume
Audyssey LFC
Audyssey Sub EQ HT
Audyssey DSX
Direct Mode
Pure Direct Mode
Auto Surround
Optimum Surround
Advanced Surround	15 + Headphone Surround
Wide Surround
Front Stage Surround Advance	(Focus/Wide)
Headphone Surround
Virtual Speakers	Surround Back / Height / Depth / Wide
Virtual Depth
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output

CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	Advanced MCACC
Manual MCACC
MCACC Memory	6
Full Band Phase Control
Standing Wave Control
EQ Bands	9
Symmetric EQ
X-Curve
Distance Adjustment	1/2 Inch
Precision Distance
Polarity Check
Auto Subwoofer Crossover

VIDEO
HDR10
HDR10+
BT.2020 color space
Dolby Vision
HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
QMS (Quick Media Switching)
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
QFT (Quick Frame transport)
3-D Ready
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 4K/30p
Video Signal Upscaling	up to 1080/24p (Marvell Qdeo)
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	Component****, Composite
Component Video Upscaling
Analog to Analog Video conversion
Component Video Maximum Resolution	1080p (1125p)
Stream Smoother
Pure Cinema
Video Parameter Adjustments	Advanced Video Adjust - HD Sources Progressive Motion - YNR, CNR, BNR, MNR, Detail, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Chroma, Black level
Triple HD Noise Reduction
Super Resolution
isf Certified Calibration Control

CONNECTIVITY
MHL Input	Front
DLNA 1.5
FireConnect
FlareConnect
Chromecast Built-In
DTS Play-Fi
Works with Amazon Alexa
Works with SONOS
AirPlay	AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	iPod/iPhone/iPad
Remote App	iControlAV2012(iPad, iPhone, Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue
Ethernet
Ethernet Switch
Wi-Fi	via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately)
Bluetooth	via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately)
HDBaseT Compatible
Enhanced ARC
HDCP Version	2.2
HDMI Input	8 (1 front)
HDMI Output	3 (2 for MAIN, 1 for Sub/Zone4)
USB Input	1 Front
USB DC Out Port	1 Rear for AS-WL300 (5 V, 0.6 A)
Analog Audio Line Input	5
Analog Audio Line Output	1
Phono Input
Optical In	2
Optical Out	1
Coaxial In/Out	2 /
Composite Video Input	5 (1 front)
Composite Video Output	2
S-Video Input
S-Video Output
Component Video Input	3
Component Video Output	1
PC In
Multi-Channel Input	7.1
Analog Pre-Outs	11.2
XLR Inputs
XLR Pre-outs
Front A/V Inputs	HDMI, USB, Composite Video
Speaker A/B
Headphone Out	6.3 mm

ZONES
Zones	4
Powered Zones	2 and 3
Zone 2	Component Video, Composite Video, RCA Pre/Line Out + Subwoofer
Zone 3 Outs	Composite Video, RCA Pre/Line Out + Sub
Zone 4 Outs	HDMI
RS-232
+12V Trigger Output	2 (Main, Zone2, Zone 3, Zone 4)
Remote (IR) Input/Output	2 / 1

MISC
On-Screen Display	GUI with Album Art
Multi-Zone On-Screen Display	(Z2 & Z3)
HDMI Speaker B Link
AVNavigator
PC Set-Up	With Remote Maintenance
IP Control for CI
PreAmp Mode	(Front Off, Front & Center Off)
Versatile Speaker Configuration	10 Mode (Bi-Amp / Zone 2 / B-Speaker / Surround Back / Front Height / Dront Width
FL Dimmer
Function Rename
Remote Controller	Learning
Detachable Power Cord
adapterport

RADIO
Analog Tuner	FM/AM
Presets	63
Digital Radio
Internet Radio	vTuner
Pandora
Spotify
Tidal
Deezer
Napster
SiriusXM Internet Radio

CONSTRUCTION
Chassis	Insulated Dual Chassis
Front Panel	Aluminum (Hairline)
Solid Aluminum Front
Advanced Direct Construction	Advanced Direct Construction
Speaker Terminals	11
Large Speaker Terminals	11
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals
Ceramic Speaker Terminals
3D Space Frame Construction
Gold plated RCA terminals

POWER
Power Supply	AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer
Transformer Stabilizer
Power Consumption	370 W
Standby Power	0.1 W

GENERAL
ECO Mode / Hybrid Standby Function
Auto Power Standby
Dimensions (W x H x D)	435 mm x 185 mm x 441 mm 17-1/8" x 7-1/4" x 17-3/8"
Weight	17.8 kg (39.2 lbs)
Warranty	2 Years

SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2	140 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 2	190 W (1.0% THD)
Power Output (4 Ω, 1 kHz, 2	250 W (1.0% THD)
Multi Channel Simultaneous Drive (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1.0%)	810 W
THD	0.04% (1 kHz, 130 W + 130 W, 8 Ω)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	400 mV/47 kΩ (Line)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Phono MM)	5 mV/47 kΩ
Rated Lineout Level and Impedance	400 mV/2.2 kΩ (REC OUT)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	103 dB
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI	2.8 MHz
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	2.8 MHz
USB DAC Terminal	USB2.0 (Type B)
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component Y) 0.7 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component PB/CB, PR/CR) 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard	10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
HDMI Terminal	19-pin (not DVI)
HDMI Output Type	5 V, 55 mA
HDMI Input/MHL Terminal	5 V, 1 A
USB Terminal	USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 2.1 A
adapterport Terminal	5 V, 100 mA
Extension Terminal	5 V, 150 mA
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
AM Frequency	530 kHz - 1700 kHz

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted

Successor

In 2013 Pioneer Elite SC-68 was replaced by SC-79. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.

UPGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-79	vs	Pioneer Elite SC-68
Gapless Playback		vs
Video Signal Upscaling	up to 4K/30p	vs	up to 1080/24p (Marvell Qdeo)
More HDMI Inputs	9 (1 front)	vs	8 (1 front)
More HDMI Outputs	3 (2 for MAIN, 1 for MAIN/HDZONE)	vs	3 (2 for MAIN, 1 for Sub/Zone4)
Spotify		vs
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer		vs
Higher DSD Sampling Rate via USB	2.8 MHz	vs	2.8 MHz

DOWNGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-79	vs	Pioneer Elite SC-68
Multi-Channel Input		vs	7.1
SiriusXM Internet Radio		vs

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite SC-79 vs Pioneer Elite SC-68.