Pioneer Elite VSX-43

    71
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    USA

    Highlights

    • 7.1 Channels
    • 7.1 Channel Processing
    • 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
    • 4K/30Hz Passthrough
    • Bluetooth, Ethernet
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Pioneer Elite VSX-43 was introduced in 2013. 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 4K/30Hz video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 71 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. 2013 Lineup
    4. Predecessor
    5. Successor
    6. Audio Section
    7. Video Section
    8. Multi-zone Playback
    9. Inputs and Outputs
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer Elite VSX-43.

    PROs

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

    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 Digital Radio
    •   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 2013 Lineup

    In 2013 Pioneer released 14 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Pioneer 2013 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Zones Price
    SC-79 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2150 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-77 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2140 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-75 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2135 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-72 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2130 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-71 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2120 W7.12.2 Advanced MCACC3
    VSX-70 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.12.2 Advanced MCACC3
    VSX-43 Image cannot be found 7.180 W7.12
    SC-1523-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2135 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-1323-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2125 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC4
    SC-1223-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2120 W7.12.2 Advanced MCACC3
    VSX-1123-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.12.2 Advanced MCACC3
    VSX-1023-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.180 W7.1 MCACC Auto2
    VSX-823-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.180 W5.1 MCACC Auto1
    VSX-523-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.180 W5.1 MCACC Auto1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Pioneer SC-79 vs SC-77 vs SC-75 vs SC-72 vs SC-71 vs VSX-70.

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Pioneer Elite VSX-43 to its predecessor VSX-42 and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Pioneer Elite VSX-43 vs Pioneer 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 Elite VSX-43 vs Pioneer 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-43 vs VSX-42.

    Successor

    In 2014 Pioneer Elite VSX-43 was replaced by Pioneer VSX-44. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pioneer Elite VSX-43 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Pioneer VSX-44 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-43
    More Channels 7.2 vs 7.1
    Surround EX vs
    Headphone Surround vs
    Video Signal Passthrough up to 4K/60p (4:4:4 24-bit)
    4K/60p (4:2:2 36-bit)
    4K/24p (4:4:4 36-bit)    		 vs up to 4K/30p
    Wi-Fi via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately) vs
    USB DC Out Port 1 Rear for AS-WL300 (5 V, 0.6 A) vs
    DOWNGRADES Pioneer VSX-44 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-43
    Wide Surround vs
    Less Composite Video Inputs 2 vs 3 (1 front)
    Front A/V Inputs HDMI, USB vs HDMI, USB, Composite Video

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite VSX-43 vs VSX-44.

    Audio Section

    7 channel Direct Energy Amplifier

    Pioneer Elite VSX-43 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 Front

      Speaker Configurations

      Pioneer Elite VSX-43's 7 channel amplifier can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

      • Configurations: Available configurations are:
      • 5.1, 7.1 with internal amplifier.
      • 2-ch Bi-Amp: Pioneer Elite VSX-43 allows you to bi-amp up to 2 main channels simultaneously. During bi-amplification two amplifiers are used for one speaker. One amplifier powers the midrange and tweeter section of the speaker and another amplifier powers the low frequency woofers. Each amplifier is less loaded and performs better. In order to use this feature speakers must have 2 pairs of connectors.
      Pioneer Elite VSX-43
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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-43 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-43 comes with room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

        Video Section

        HDMI

        Pioneer Elite VSX-43 features 6 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

        • 4K/30Hz Passthrough: All inputs pass up to 4K/30p video signal.
        • 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-43 is able to pass 3D video through HDMI.
        Pioneer Elite VSX-43
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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 4K/30p
        Video Signal Upscaling

        Multi-zone Playback

        Pioneer Elite VSX-43 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.
        ZONES
        Number of Zones2
        Powered Zones 2
        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 (1 front)   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-43 supports up to 1080p (1125p) resolution on Component video connectors.
        • Inputs: 1   Outputs: 1

        Front A/V Inputs

        • HDMI, USB, Composite Video
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        TERMINALS
        HDMI Inputs6 (1 front)
        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 Outputs1

        Pioneer Elite VSX-43 Evaluation

        We evaluate Pioneer Elite VSX-43 and give score of 71 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
        71

        Amplifier

        GOOD
        72

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 72 for Amplifier features.

        •   7.1 Channels
        •   Low Power Output - 80 W

        Audio Features

        AVERAGE
        68

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 68 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

        AVERAGE
        60

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 60 for Video Features features.

        •   No HDR10
        •   No HDR10+
        •   No Dolby Vision
        •   No 8K Passthrough

        Connectivity

        GOOD
        75

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 75 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
        •   Ethernet

        Zones

        GOOD
        80

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 80 for Zones features.

        •   2 Zones

        Radio

        EXCELLENT
        85

        We give Pioneer Elite VSX-43 a score of 85 for Radio features.

        •   Analog Tuner
        •   Pandora
        •   Spotify
        •   No Tidal


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

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