Pioneer's original AX4AVi hit a price point hotter than Angelina Jolie on a barbecue and was packed with features, but its sound had an acerbic edge that could remove a layer of earwax at twenty paces.
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Pioneer took this onboard, shipped the AX4i to Air Studios for a tune-up, added a few connections and upgraded the MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) RoomEQ system to full Advanced status complete with reverb control. The result is the VSX-AX4ASi.
The core specifications and features remain pretty much unchanged, meaning the AX4ASi is absolutely loaded. It's THX Select2 certified and covers all the decoding formats, including both Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio over FireWire. Connectivity includes no fewer than four 1080p compatible HDMI inputs, but still only one output, albeit one capable of upconverting and displaying all analogue video inputs as well.
You also get a pair of iLink sockets, USB for direct connection to PC, RS232 control, a dedicated iPod input and enough AV outputs, IR extensions and 12V triggers to do justice to a decent two-zone multiroom setup. You even get a decent second remote control for use in the other room and, uniquely, an iPod docking cable is supplied.
The Advanced MCACC system is a whole article in itself such is its depth, breadth and complexity. In full-auto ‘don't make us read the manual' mode, it uses the supplied mic to set up the system, calculate speaker distance and levels, and automatically applies corrective EQ across a number of frequencies to best achieve a flatter response in your room. It takes about five minutes max – excellent.
