Pioneer’s premium Super Audio CD player, the PD-70AE, features dual ESS DACs, fully balanced circuit XLR outputs, and discreet analog/digital power supply circuitry. This design ensures exceptional sound quality from your favorite SACD or CD albums and other audio components, enabling you to enjoy a deeply moving auditory experience.
In the Pioneer PD-70AE SACD player, the company has integrated unique technologies that set it apart from other models. Notably, it features specially engineered optical block control technologies and a “silent drive.” The player boasts a fully balanced architecture, which, according to Pioneer, minimizes distortion when connected to an amplifier via XLR for analog signal transmission. Additionally, the analog and digital circuits are powered by separate supplies, and the design incorporates custom-designed electrolytic capacitors that were selected after extensive listening evaluations.
The development team at Pioneer meticulously addressed every aspect of the PD-70AE, with a primary focus on achieving optimal playback of stereo CDs and SACDs. This commitment is evident from the moment you handle the player, which weighs 18 kg and features an aluminum retractable drive design. Its double-bottom construction, three internal blocks, and a shielded aluminum enclosure create an ideal mechanical foundation while protecting against vibrations. The separate power supplies for digital and analog circuits ensure a clean voltage supply. Every component, from Pioneer’s proprietary drive software to the robust output amplifiers, represents cutting-edge technology, all carefully refined through months of listening tests conducted by teams in Europe and Japan.
The Pioneer PD-70AE features a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that utilizes two ESS9026PRO chips, renowned for their exceptional quality in the industry. Its analog section is designed with complete symmetry, allowing audio playback through either balanced XLR inputs or RCA jacks. The robust construction of these connections ensures a secure hold, even with heavier cables. Additionally, for digital devices like satellite receivers or streamers, the PD-70AE is equipped with both optical and coaxial digital inputs, enhancing its capability to deliver superior sound quality for a wider range of music sources.
The unit operates as both a SACD/CD player, known as the PD-70AE, and a digital-to-analog converter, delivering exceptional audio quality. Its meticulously engineered design maximizes the capabilities of the high-performance ESS DAC, allowing you to fully appreciate the intricate details of sound from connected devices. Each digital and analog circuit is equipped with its own dedicated power supply. The PD-70AE features an optimized power supply and a streamlined signal path to guarantee clear and rich sound reproduction. The CD drive is housed in a shielded enclosure with a honeycomb-patterned top panel that is treated with anti-vibration paint. Additionally, the drive’s base is firmly secured to an aluminum alloy frame and is “damped” with cellulose material to significantly reduce vibrations both internally and externally.
The entire analog process, from DAC signal conversion to output, is designed with a fully balanced circuit and independent left and right channels, ensuring superior sound quality by minimizing interference from unwanted noise. When paired with an amplifier featuring a balanced output, signal distortion is significantly reduced, leading to enhanced channel separation. Additionally, the RCA output includes a switching function that improves the signal-to-noise ratio and further enhances separation for the XLR output.
A specially selected electrolytic capacitor, chosen after extensive listening tests with CDs and SACDs, has been identified as the optimal choice for high-quality audio playback. This capacitor excels with audio discs, providing consistent playback of powerful and dynamic sound. The Rigid Under Base design implemented in the PD-70AE represents Pioneer’s advanced sound technology for 2-channel components, effectively reducing external vibrations and ensuring stable bass performance.
The unit operates as both a SACD/CD player, known as the PD-70AE, and a digital-to-analog converter, delivering exceptional audio quality. Its meticulously engineered design maximizes the capabilities of the high-performance ESS DAC, allowing you to fully appreciate the intricate details of sound from connected devices. Each digital and analog circuit is equipped with its own dedicated power supply. The PD-70AE features an optimized power supply and a streamlined signal path to guarantee clear and rich sound reproduction. The CD drive is housed in a shielded enclosure with a honeycomb-patterned top panel that is treated with anti-vibration paint. Additionally, the drive’s base is firmly secured to an aluminum alloy frame and is “damped” with cellulose material to significantly reduce vibrations both internally and externally.
The entire analog process, from DAC signal conversion to output, is designed with a fully balanced circuit and independent left and right channels, ensuring superior sound quality by minimizing interference from unwanted noise. When paired with an amplifier that has a balanced output, signal distortion is significantly reduced, leading to enhanced channel separation. Additionally, the RCA output features a switching function that improves the signal-to-noise ratio and further enhances separation for the XLR output. A specially selected electrolytic capacitor, chosen after extensive listening tests with CDs and SACDs, has demonstrated its excellence for audio playback, providing consistent and dynamic sound reproduction. The Rigid Under Base design implemented in the PD-70AE exemplifies Pioneer’s commitment to high-quality sound technology for 2-channel components, effectively reducing external vibrations and ensuring stable bass performance.
Pioneer PD-70AE Specifications
- Analog output (1 pair gold-plated RCA, 1 pair gold-plated XLR)
- Digital coaxial output (gold-plated)
- Digital optical output
- Digital coaxial input (gold-plated)
- Digital optical input
- I/O control
- AC input (large type)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 116 dB or more
- THD: 0.0020% or less
- Frequency response: SACD 2 Hz-50 kHz (-3 dB), CD 2 Hz-20 kHz
- Power requirements: AC 220-230 V, 50/60 Hz
- Power consumption / standby: 46 W / 0.3 W
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435 x 142 x 413 mm
- Weight: 18.5 kg
