Pioneer adds Anchor Bay VRS scaling to VSX-23TXH, VSX-21TXH and VSX-1019AH-K receivers
By Steven Kim 
posted Sep 28th 2009 3:54PM
posted Sep 28th 2009 3:54PM
UPDATE: We have sent questions to Pioneer about whether this is a mid-production spec bump, or ABT VRS has been in these models all along. We'll report back with any answers we get.
UPDATE: We got official word back from Pioneer -- the VSX-1019, 21, 23, 25, and 27 models have all had Anchor Bay VRS scaling from the initial production, so there's no need to go throwing your AVR out. We can't imagine why both Pioneer and Anchor Bay haven't touted this feature from day one, but if your eyes told you the new Pioneer receivers had great scaling, give yourself a point.
Sept. 28 -- Anchor Bay, a leading supplier of video-processing semiconductors (ASICs) and systems, announced today that Pioneer Electronics has selected an Anchor Bay video processing chip as the scaling engine for five new Audio/Video Receivers (AVRs). The ABT1015 chip, featuring the latest proprietary Video Reference Series™ (VRS™) technologies, including Precision Video Scaling™, is used in each of the five AVRs. These Pioneer products, the first ever to use Anchor Bay processing, are available now – three in the U.S. and two in Japan.
The versatile ABT1015 chip powers the video processing in the $899 VSX-23TXH, the $699 VSX-21TXH, and the $499 VSX-1019AH-K receivers, all of which are currently on sale in the U.S. market. The chip is also found in the VSA-LX52 (150,000 Yen) and VSA-1019AH (105,000 Yen) receivers, on sale in Japan.
"Pioneer is recognized as one of the world's preeminent home theater equipment manufacturers, with an especially strong and consistent history of video excellence. We're proud to announce that Pioneer has chosen our VRS technologies to provide the video processing functions in these receivers," said C.H. Chee, V.P. of Technology Marketing at Anchor Bay. "We are pleased that Pioneer has recognized Anchor Bay's industry leadership as a producer of state of the art video processing semiconductors, and reassured by their confirmation of our ability to meet Pioneer's stringent quality and performance requirements."
ABT1015 Chip
The ABT1015 is Anchor Bay Technologies' third generation standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) single-chip video scaling solution targeted at HDMI 1.3 DVD player/recorders, Blu-ray and AVR applications. The ABT1015 features Anchor Bay's proprietary 10-bit Precision Video Scaling™ engine that can independently scale an image horizontally and vertically to achieve an outstanding picture quality for Deep Color video displays up to 1080p resolutions. In addition to supporting HDMI 1.3 Deep Color (36-bit input and output), the ABT1015 also supports xvYCC colorimetry, two fully programmable 12-bit 3x3 color correction matrices, and allows all formats to be passed-through for maximum system design flexibility.
New Pioneer Receivers
The VSX-21TXH and VSX-23TXH are part of Pioneer's Elite product line (Elite Brand), and the VSX-21TXH has earned THX Select Plus certification. These 7.1 channel receivers have 7 channels of 110 watt amplification and feature Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD® Master decoding. Pioneer's proprietary MCACC room calibration and Auto Level Control-Multi (that maintains broadcast playback at a consistent volume so commercials won't suddenly blast at a louder volume) are also included. Certified for 'Works with iPhone', they are also both XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready. The VSX-21TXH has four HDMI 1.3 inputs and accommodates two zones of A/V distribution, while the VSX-23TXH has five HDMI 1.3 inputs, two outputs, and provides distribution for three rooms.
The VSX-1019AH-K is the flagship of the Pioneer receiver line (Pioneer Brand) with 7.1 channels and 120 watts per channel of power. It provides 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs and the ability to upscale analog video signals to 1080p over HDMI. Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD® Master decoding is provided. This iPhone® certified receiver also features a brand new color Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the ability for 2nd zone A/V distribution.
Uh, weren't these receivers already released and I heard nothing about an ABT chip inside?
Yup -- those links in the post show the receivers came out about 2 months ago. It's either a late "official" announcement of the VRS, or a mid-production spec bump.
Wow, that would suck if the first ones had a Faroudja and then they bump them to these. Screw over the people that bought em already.
Denon 1910 has the best value receiver out there, for around $500 or less you can 7.1 good brand name receiver, archos bay upscale to 1080p, and even dolby iiz which is not found in pioneer yet.
Is the Pionner and Denon Archos bay chip same one as find in Oppo? But I aleady got Oppo blu-ray player.
Not that it really makes a difference for me, but I was an early adopter (1019). I am curious if this is a spec bump, or if it is just a press release after the fact. Might have to go digging for the box/manual to find out.
Why not open yours up and look around on the PCB?
I just checked the Pioneer website and they do not even mention a word about Anchor Bay in any of the Elite model descriptions. Are they just late with their webmaster to have it included in the description to potential buyers? I was just about to buy the 23TXH model, but am now wondering if I should wait to make sure I get one with Anchor Bay included. I suppose stock on hand at BB and other on-line retailers will not have this new feature included as hey might have ben built months ago.
What would I look for on the box or how can I tell if the receiver now has Anchor Bay added to it?
Thanks
We've got a question in to Pioneer to see if this is a mid-production spec change, or if Anchor Bay has been in the units all along.
I will be exceedingly annoyed if this was a mid-production spec bump and not something that's been there all along. My 1019 is just outside of the return period, but I'd like to think this is something Pioneer should resolve for customers who already put down their money for this unit...
According to the review at Home Theater Mag, the Pioneer VSX-1019 AH-K receiver has a Faroudja video chip, thus Pioneer must be retrofitting the production line to now use Anchor Bay video chips.
http://www.hometheatermag.com/receivers/pioneer_vsx-1019ah_av_receiver/index3.html
This year's Pineer receivers have been using ABT 1015 from the get go (including SC-25 and SC-27), how HT Mag claimed the 1019 to be using Faroudja is beyond me.
Just got the VSX-1019 AH-K a couple of weeks ago... not sure if it has ABT 1015 scaler, but the video upscaling is pretty damn good.
I sent an email to pioneer and here was their reply
"Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.
Yes, the VSX-1019AH has always had the Anchor Bay chip."
I just checked Pioneer USA site. Under tab 1080P, it states "These receivers (VSX Series) are also equipped with industry-leading video processors from Marvell® and Faroudja® that allow for lower resolution analog video signals to be converted up to 1080p digital resolutions to best match the HDTV’s performance.". Here is the link: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/AV-Receivers/Enhanced+Content/Receivers. It seems Pioneer sending out conflicting information. I think Pioneer needs to clarify on this matter.
Brosef -- That's consistent with the info we got from Pioneer's Audio Marketing Manager.
Tw88 -- I think it's just stale info on the Pioneer website.
It seems odd to me. Marketing info on official Pioneer website should be based on the actual specifications of VSX-1019AH-K. I believe it had been 4 months since VSX-1019AH-K was available to consumer and Pioneer did not attempt to correct the error and made an announcement. For marketing stand point, it does not make any sense for Pioneer not to announce using better chip… Maybe there is other reason…
How can we confirm we actually have the mentioned chipset? Without opening the actual case