Pioneer Elite VSX-42

    67
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    USA

    Highlights

    • 7.1 Channels
    • 7.1 Channel Processing
    • 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
    • Bluetooth
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    Overview

    Pioneer Elite VSX-42 was introduced in 2012. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier with 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing. It passes 1080/60p and upscales Anchor Bay up to 1080p video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 67 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.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. 2012 Lineup
    4. Successor
    5. Audio Section
    6. Video Section
    7. Multi-zone Playback
    8. Inputs and Outputs
    9. Evaluation
    10. Specifications  

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer Elite VSX-42.

    PROs

    •   DSD via HDMI
    •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
    •   New HDCP Version
    •   Analog To HDMI Upconversion
    •   Bluetooth
    •   USB Input
    •   Composite Video Inputs
    •   Component Video Inputs
    •   Analog Tuner
    •   Pandora

    CONs

    •   Low Power Output - 80 W
    •   No Front Wide Channel Support
    •   No Dolby Atmos
    •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
    •   No DTS:X
    •   No IMAX Enhanced
    •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
    •   No HDR10
    •   No HDR10+
    •   No Dolby Vision
    •   No eARC
    •   No 8K Passthrough
    •   No Wi-Fi
    •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
    •   1 HDMI Outputs
    •   0 8K Input
    •   Few RCA Line Inputs
    •   No Phono Input
    •   No RCA Pre-Outs
    •   No Ethernet
    •   No Digital Radio
    •   No Spotify
    •   No Tidal

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   7.1 Channels
    •   7.1 Channel Processing
    •   6 HDMI Inputs
    •   2 Zones

    Pioneer 2012 Lineup

    In 2012 Pioneer released 13 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Pioneer 2012 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Video Pass.Zones Price
    SC-68 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2140 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K4
    SC-67 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2140 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K4
    SC-65 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2130 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K3
    SC-63 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2125 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    SC-61 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2125 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-60 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.1 Advanced MCACC1080p2
    VSX-42 Image cannot be found 7.180 W7.11080p2
    SC-1522-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2130 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    SC-1222-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2120 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-1122-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.1 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-1022-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.180 W7.1 MCACC Auto1080p1
    VSX-822-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.180 W7.12.1 MCACC Auto1080p1
    VSX-522-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.180 W7.12.1 MCACC Auto1080p1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Pioneer SC-68 vs SC-67 vs SC-65 vs SC-63 vs SC-61 vs VSX-60.

    Successor

    In 2013 Pioneer Elite VSX-42 was replaced by Pioneer VSX-43. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pioneer Elite VSX-42 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Pioneer VSX-43 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-42
    Bi-amp capability Front vs
    Music Playback via USB MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, 192kHz / 24-Bit WAV, FLAC, AIFF vs WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC,
    High Resolution Audio Formats via USB Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF vs WAV/FLAC
    Gapless Playback vs
    Wide Surround vs
    Video Signal Passthrough up to 4K/30p vs up to 1080p
    MHL Input 1 (Front) vs
    More Component Video Outputs 1 vs
    Ethernet vs
    Front A/V Inputs HDMI, USB, Composite Video vs USB, Composite Video
    Spotify vs
    DOWNGRADES Pioneer VSX-43 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-42
    Headphone Surround vs
    Video Signal Upscaling vs Anchor Bay up to 1080p
    Analog To HDMI Upconversion vs Component****, Composite

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite VSX-42 vs VSX-43.

    Audio Section

    7 channel Direct Energy Amplifier

    Pioneer Elite VSX-42 features 7 channel power amplifier with Direct Energy design. It is rated at 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven).

      AMPLIFIER
      Channels7.1
      Power Output80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
      Front Wide Channel Support
      Amplifier DesignDirect Energy
      THX™ Certification
      Continuous 6 Ω Rated
      Certified 4 Ω Performance
      Bi-amp Capability

      Speaker Configurations

      Pioneer Elite VSX-42's 7 channel amplifier can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

      • Configurations: Available configurations are:
      • 5.1, 7.1 with internal amplifier.
      Pioneer Elite VSX-42
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      DECODING
      Dolby Atmos
      Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      Dolby Atmos Music
      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:6
      DTS-HD Master Audio
      DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
      DTS 96/24
      DTS Express
      DTS-ES
      IMAX Enhanced
      Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer

      Sound Processing

      • Advanced Sound Retriever: Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer Elite VSX-42 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 Calibration

      Pioneer Elite VSX-42 comes with room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

        Video Section

        HDMI

        Pioneer Elite VSX-42 features 6 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

        • 1080/60p Passthrough: All inputs pass up to 1080p video signal.
        • 1080p Upscaling: Pioneer Elite VSX-42 can upscale Anchor Bay up to 1080p from HDMI and analog sources.
        • Analog To HDMI Upconversion: The a/v receiver supports video upconversion, so you can connect your analog Component and Composite video sources and Pioneer Elite VSX-42 will output them via HDMI. This means that you will need only one HDMI cable to connect to your TV.
        • HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection: All inputs and outputs are HDCP 2.2 compliant which is a requirement for 4K/HDR copy-protected content transmission.
        • 3D Ready: Pioneer Elite VSX-42 is able to pass 3D video through HDMI.
        Pioneer Elite VSX-42
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        VIDEO FEATURES
        HDR10
        HDR10+
        Dynamic HDR
        BT.2020 color space
        Dolby Vision
        HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
        HDBaseT Compatible
        Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
        HDCP Version2.2
        QMS (Quick Media Switching)
        ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
        VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
        QFT (Quick Frame transport)
        3-D Ready
        Video Signal Passthroughup to 1080p
        Video Signal UpscalingAnchor Bay up to 1080p

        Multi-zone Playback

        Pioneer Elite VSX-42 offers multi-zone playback which allows you to play different input sources in 2 different rooms.


        Zone 2

        • Powered Zone 2: You can use the unit's 2 amplifier channels by connecting Zone 2 speakers directly to the speaker terminals. The remaining 5 channels will be left for main zone amplification.
        • Audio Pre/Line Output: If you have a dedicated amplifier for Zone 2 you can connect it to the a/v receiver via pre/line outs and use "pre out" option to control volume from the a/v receiver or use "line out" option - send fixed signal and then control volume on the Zone 2 amplifier.
        ZONES
        Number of Zones2
        Powered Zones 2
        Zone 2 OutsRCA Pre/Line Out
        RS-232C Interface
        +12V Trigger Output1
        Remote (IR) Input/Output1 / 1
        >

        Inputs and Outputs

        Audio

        • Analog Line Inputs: There are 3 line inputs for analog audio connection.
        • Digital Inputs: 1 optical input and 1 coaxial input are available for digital audio connection.
        • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel.

        Video

        • HDMI:
        • Inputs: 6   Outputs: 1
          8K Inputs: 0
        • Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
        • Inputs: 3   Outputs: 1
        • Component Video: Component video connection gives you the higher quality video compared to the composite video connection. So in case your old DVD player and other equipment do not have an HDMI output but have Component video output use this connection over the composite one. Pioneer Elite VSX-42 supports up to 1080p (1125p) resolution on Component video connectors.
        • Inputs: 1   Outputs: 0

        Front A/V Inputs

        • USB, Composite Video
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        TERMINALS
        HDMI Inputs6
        HDMI Outputs1
        8K Inputs
        USB Input1 Front
        USB DC Out Port
        Optical Inputs1
        Optical Outputs
        Coaxial Inputs1
        RCA Line Inputs3
        RCA Line Outputs
        XLR Line Inputs
        Phono Input
        Multi-Channel Input
        RCA Pre-Outs0.1
        XLR Pre-outs
        Composite Video Inputs3 (1 front)
        Composite Video Outputs1
        S-Video Inputs
        S-Video Outputs
        Component Video Inputs1
        Component Video Outputs

        Pioneer Elite VSX-42 Evaluation

        We evaluate Pioneer Elite VSX-42 and give score of 67 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 6 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new receiver is added to the database.


        OVERALL
        67

        Amplifier

        GOOD
        70

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 70 for Amplifier features.

        •   7.1 Channels
        •   Low Power Output - 80 W

        Audio Features

        AVERAGE
        67

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 67 for Audio Features features.

        •   7.1 Channels
        •   No Front Wide Channel Support
        •   7.1 Channel Processing
        •   No Dolby Atmos
        •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
        •   No DTS:X
        •   No IMAX Enhanced
        •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
        •   DSD via HDMI

        Video Features

        POOR
        54

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 54 for Video Features features.

        •   No HDR10
        •   No HDR10+
        •   No Dolby Vision
        •   No 8K Passthrough
        •   Analog To HDMI Upconversion

        Connectivity

        AVERAGE
        67

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 67 for Connectivity features.

        •   No eARC
        •   New HDCP Version
        •   No Wi-Fi
        •   Bluetooth
        •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
        •   6 HDMI Inputs
        •   1 HDMI Outputs
        •   0 8K Input
        •   USB Input
        •   Few RCA Line Inputs
        •   No Phono Input
        •   No RCA Pre-Outs
        •   Composite Video Inputs
        •   Component Video Inputs
        •   No Ethernet

        Zones

        GOOD
        79

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 79 for Zones features.

        •   2 Zones

        Radio

        GOOD
        79

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-42 a score of 79 for Radio features.

        •   Analog Tuner
        •   Pandora
        •   No Spotify
        •   No Tidal


        For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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