Pioneer G clef: Back to basics

Darius Chang | Apr 25, 2007

After 70 years in the home entertainment business and moving from sound to video devices, Pioneer is returning to its roots with a trio of audio products.

When most home theater setups are hooked up with seven or more channel sound, the Japanese company is going back to basics with its two-channel G clef series. This system is definitely not for immersive movie viewing, but its real strength lies in reproducing crystal-clear sound from music CDs.

The G clef Series consists of the PD-D6-S Super Audio CD (SACD) player and two integrated amplifiers, the A-A6-S and A-A9-S. The new line features AIR Studios Sound Tuning with a quick-response power supply circuit, allowing music to be reproduced as close to the original as possible. According to Pioneer, the G clef Series is also the first two-channel product to be granted approval by AIR Studios.

The PD-D6-S features the proprietary Legato Link Conversion PRO and Twin Bur Brown D/A Converters. It is compatible with CD, SACD, CD-R and CD-RW formats, with support for MP3 and WMA codecs. It is available now for S$999 (US$719.48).

The A-A6-S and A-A9-S are equipped with Twin Toroidal Transformers to deliver powerful, clean sound. Besides the usual inputs, both are able to accept digital signals via USB and, using the Sound Retriever feature, add more punch to your MP3 files. The A-A9-S amplifier also includes a MM/MC phono-equalizer amp for those who love vinyls. It has a rigid base with a stabilizing plate and aluminum front and side panels. The A-A6-S costs S$999 (US$719.48) while the high-end A-A9-S goes for S$1,000 (US$720.20) more.

PD-D6-S | PD-A6-S | PD-A9-S