VSX-1018AH-S 7 Channel AV Receiver with HDMI, HD Audio Decoding and KURO LINK (Silver)

The current surround sound quality decoding standard, Dolby Digital means movie theatre sound performance for a home cinema. The listener will be wrapped in surround sound by 5.1-channel audio sound compression technology.

Depending on the speakers, the front left and right, centre, rear left and right speakers can span frequencies from 20 Hz - 20 kHz and there is a dedicated subwoofer channel for additional low frequency sound effects. Extra features mean not only stunning soundtracks but also additional language tracks on one disc.

THX Surround EX/Dolby Digital EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and the THX division of Lucasfilm Ltd. This phenomenal technology was first heard in George Lucas' 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace'. Now applied to home cinema, EX technologie creates an extra 'Surround Back' channel, which may have been added when the programme was mixed.

By decoding the surround back channel from the left and right surround channels of 5.1 soundtracks, this additional surround back channel allows more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more depth and better sound localisation than ever before, to give you the feel of 6.1 channels.

THX Surround EX/Dolby Digital EX is compatible with Dolby Digital 5.1, so that regular Dolby Digital decorder can decode EX signals as a normal 5.1 signal.

Dolby Pro Logic II is an improved version of Dolby Pro Logic technology with extended matrix decoding technology that can create 5.1 channel sound from two channel sources. Dolby Pro Logic II creates basic 5 channel sound by using the innovative "steering logic" circuit.

Therefore when listening to typical two-channel sources like CD, the listener can enjoy a richer spatial effect. When using software encoded with Dolby Surround, this decoding system affords the listener an improved surround experience with greater sound detail.

Dolby Pro Logic IIx expands upon the popular Dolby Pro Logic II technology. With Dolby Pro Logic IIx, these receivers have the ability to process 2- or 5-channel sources into 5.1 or 6.1- or 7.1- channel output according to the model and speaker configuration. Dolby Pro Logic IIx creates a seamless, natural wraparound sound field that does not require specifically encoded programme content.
Users can also enjoy the following enhancements: improved surround envelopment, enhanced spatial depth, improved directionality and a larger 'sweet spot'.
Movie and Music modes can be used to match the sound experience even more closely to the source. Three additional Music parameters are also available: Dolby Center Width (focuses the vocal balance to the centre and front), Dolby Panorama (creates a seamless surround effect) and Dolby Dimension (creates a deeper or shallower surround field).

DTS 5.1-channel playback decoding technology has rapidly gained popularity thanks to its dynamic sound impact that flies at the listener from left, right and centre surround speakers.
Open up the doors of digital home cinema and super surround sound with any Pioneer DVD-Video player and A/V amplifier/receiver which can handle DTS and DTS ES encoded digital audio data streams.

DTS NEO:6 modes apply conventional 2-channel signals to the high-precision digital matrix decorder and achieves 6.1-channel surround playback. High-precision input signal detection and matrix processing enable a full band reproduction for all 6.1 channels.

It also improves the separation between the different channels to almost the same level as that of a digital discrete system.

DTS NEO:6 Cinema Mode
decodes with an emphasis on separation performance to achieve the same atmosphere with 2-channel sources recorded in conventional surround formats as it does with 6.1-channel sources. The original 2-channel signal is distributed into 6 channels thanks to the sophisticated DTS matrix technology. Meanwhile, the effect of the surround signal output from the centre and surround channels adds a natural sense of expansion to the sound field.

DTS NEO:6 Music Mode
the front channel signals bypass the decorder and are played directly, so there is no loss of sound quality.

The latest audio format by DTS, the multi-platform DTS 96/24, was first compressed surround format technology to support 96 kHz and 24-bit sound resolution and multi-channel capabilities - the best multi-channel audio format for DVD-Video.

With its super low audio compression rate compatibility, both DTS 96/24 and traditional DTS-encoded audio discs will sound rich and sophisticated, with sound quality almost as high as on 96 kHz, 24-bit master tapes in the studio.

Backwards compatible with existing DTS decorders, the listener is also able to enjoy DTS 96/24 discs with receivers incorporating a standard DTS decorder.

The first digital surround sound coding technology for the Web, developed by Microsoft. When connected to a multi-channel-equipped PC, you are able to enjoy high resolution stereo or 5.1-channel surround audio at 128 k - 768 Kbps compression rates. At any given bit rate, 5-channel WMA9 Pro will bring you higher fidelity than other sound compression algorithms thanks to the latest audio codec technology.

• Advanced Music: Dubplicates the acoustics of a large concert hall.


• Advanced Movie: Reproduces a mid-size movie theatre environment.


• Expanded Theater: Adds more depth to Dolby Surround sources, while allowing faithful reproduction of 5-channel speaker sound.


• Game mode: Enhances video game sound.


• TV Surround Mode: Produces surround sound from mono or stereo TV sources.


• Sports mode: Gives the impression of being in the middle of a sports stadium.


• Virtual surround back: Surround sound becomes even more impressive. You can now experience 6.1 surround sound with a 5.1 speaker set-up. Just switch to Virtual Sourround Back mode, and the left and right rear satellite speakers will create a phantom sound source behind you. So it sounds as if there were speakers there, involving you in the surround experience even more than before.


• Phones Surround: Phones Surround reproduces overall surround sound for headphone listening.


• Real Phantom: For people who don't want to set a centre speaker in their room, this mode generates a distinct centre sound image by adopting the latest HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function). The resulting sound is extremely close to that of when a centre speaker is used.


•  Advanced Cinema: The Advanced Cinema mode is a newly designed system for enhancing movie soundtracks and other audio-visual sources that optimizes its effects in accordance with your source, Listening ch Select and speaker configuration. There are six Advanced Cinema settings that use DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to create different types of sound environments.

- Action:
This mode is designed for action movies, which generally use lots of sound effects. The mode enriches the sound to make it more realistic and extends the parameters to pick up high and low sound effects.

- Musical:
This mode is primarily for music and adds a spacious feeling to the sound. A long delay time of reflected sounds provides resonant tones which emulate a concert hall.

- Drama:
This mode is designed for movies with a lot of dialog. The elements of dialog are enhanced, making the characters seem more real. The mode also compresses the dynamic range somewhat so loud sounds do not overpower softer ones.

- SCI-FI:
This mode is designed for science fiction movies. It creates a broad sound space, separating dialog from sound effects to heighten the overall impact of the soundtrack.

- Monofim:
This mode is designed for older movies which are recorded with mono soundtracks. The special sound processing of this mode will allow you to experience these movies in surround sound even though they were not recorded that way originally.

- 5-D/7-D Theatre:
(The display changes to 5-D or 7-D depending on the sources, Listening ch Select and speaker configurations.) This mode is especially designed to give sound depth to stereo sources. The overall effect builds a dynamic and broad sound space, allowing two-channel (stereo) signals to faithfully imitate a five speaker sound. The mode should be used in conjunction with Dolby Pro Logic for sources bearing the Dolby Surround mark.


•  Advanced Concert: The Advanced Concert (Digital Signal Processing) modes allow you to transform your living room into a variety of different sonic environments when playing either two-channel or multichannel sources. It optimizes its effects in accordance with your speaker configuration, source and Listening ch Select choice.

- Classical:
Simulates the acoustic effects of a large concert hall. Suitable for classical music. A long delay time of reflected sounds, coupled with reverb effects, let the listener experience the dynamic and rich sounds characteristic of concert halls and powerful orchestral performances.

- Chamber:
Simulates the acoustic environment of a very resonant concert hall. Rich reverberation and a full sound create the impression of a lively performance space.

- Jazz:
Simulates the acoustic effects of a jazz club. Reflected sound is virtually below 100 msec so that the listener can experience a live band effect.

- Rock:
Simulates the acoustic effects of a mid-sized concert hall. The listener can experience a live band effect with good separation of the instruments, a strong bass and the vivid feeling of a live performance.

- Dance:
Simulates the acoustic effects of a dance club. Features a strong bass sound. Reflected sound delay time is virtually below 50 msec, for the listener to experience the visceral power of dance music.

- 5/7 Channel Stereo:
Simulates the acoustic environment of a regular stereo while using all the speakers in the system to induce a rich, all-around sound.


• Dialogue Enhancement: Enhances centre channel reproduction during action sequences so that the dialogue stands out from other background sounds. This mode also positions dialogues and vocals, usually located in the centre channel, between the two front speakers even if the actual centre speaker is above or below the TV.
This happens by applying EQ to the centre channel, taking out the middle frequencies with a band pass filter, and distributing them to the speakers on either side. When the front speakers are at the same level as the TV, the enhanced dialogue will appear to be coming from the TV.

Unlike regular Bi-Polar transistors, Pioneer's exclusive Advanced Direct Energy (A.D.E.) MOSFET produces an amazingly efficient, high-end sound quality with equally amplified power for each channel, to ensure consistent sound quality for multi-channel applications.

This highly advanced circuitry is designed to offer high stability combined with low energy loss and ultra linear amplification. A new AC/DC isolated amplifier module - designed especially to optimise the A.D.E MOSFET performance under any condition - combined with the built-in temperature adjustment of the bias circuitry, regulates the drift of the bias point and minimises power imbalances that can cause distorion in the sound stage.

This convenient function of RDS with EON can switch the tuner automatically to a station on a network the moment it starts broadcasting your specified type of programming - even while you are listening to another source such as LD, radio, CD or cassette, etc.

These input terminals are ready for the superb quality sounds of multi-channel DVD-Audio. The multi-channel audio signal passes directly to the volume section. Since there is nothing between input and output except master volume, pre-amp and power amp, interference is minimised and the path maintains the utmost quality. Even trims (channel levels) are not available; but trim can be adjusted for all channels in the set-up mode.

MCACC stands for Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System.

It's an automatic sound field adjustment system that enables you to precision-tune your system to your living room, just like a sound professional, but with minimum effort.

A microphone monitors the sound environment and an equaliser (either 5 or 9-band, depending on which model of amplifier you have) optimally adjusts the sound parameters.

The result sounds like a professional recording engineer has fine-tuned your amplifier or home cinema system.

MCACC was created as a joint effort between ourselves and professional sound engineers at AIR Studios; it's unique to Pioneer, so you won't find it on any other products.

See how MCACC works

"Standing Waves" are an unwanted phenomenon that occur in most rooms.

These acoustic waves create peaks in the low frequencies, resulting in a booming sound. Our Standing Wave Control neutralises this effect, by causing a flatter frequency response, while respecting the phase differences between each channel.

Since more filters are utilised in the lower bandwidths, up to 3 standing waves can be more precisely identified and reduced.

The result is a far better reproduction of lower frequencies.

Standing Wave Control is a feature of our MCACC system.

The Phase Control feature corrects the phase distortion as well as group delay for LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) audio signals during multi-channel playback.

The Advanced Sound Retriever function enhances compressed music formats, such as MP3, WMA or AAC and restores the music dynamics and harmonics to CD-sound quality.

The benefit is that you can enjoy your digital music without loss of audio quality; the system automatically enhances and restores rich sound.

By simply placing your speakers directly beside your TV screen and activating the unique Front Stage Surround Advance feature, you can experience a virtual surround sound environment.

The benefit here is that you don’t have to worry about routing
speaker cables around your room; your speakers can be placed up front.

The Virtual Surround Back feature enables you to experience 6.1 or 7.1 surround sound with a 5.1 speaker set-up.

Once activated, the left and right rear satellite speakers will create a phantom sound source behind you. It will sound as if there are actual speakers behind you.

New noise reduction technology keeps sound pristine as it comes from each source. Digital filtering analyses signal output from each separate frequency band, then attenuates noise in each band to an optimal level. In this way, only signal band noise that detracts from overall sound is suppressed, without degrading any dynamic characteristics of the original sound.

If others are sleeping or studying, trying to enjoy a program quietly shouldn't compromise such sound qualities as surround effects or dialogue clarity. Midnight Listening Mode is the solution. It adjusts subwoofer, rear and centre speaker levels, while enhancing delay and compressing dynamic range, for greater enjoyment of cinema-like sound at low volume.

The Loudness mode boosts the bass and treble in a signal. It is useful for listening to music at low volumes.