Pioneer's SC-79 uses HDBaseT to feed HDMI video throughout the home (hands-on video)

In addition to showcasing its new speaker bar, Pioneer is talking up three audio-video receivers here at CE Week, including one that offers a pretty nifty industry first feature. Though the trio of home theater components are fairly similar, the SC-79 is the most notable, as it's the first such device to feature embedded HDBaseT support. That means it can deliver uncompressed HD video -- even 4K -- at distances of up to 300 feet using an Ethernet cable rather than HDMI. It's not yet a widely adopted spec, but it's especially useful for a multi-room setup, since it requires only one wired connection. That leads us to the other standout feature: the SC-79 can output audio and video to four zones simultaneously, and you can control media across multiple rooms via an Android or iOS app. All that functionality will cost you a pretty penny when the receiver launches in July: the MSRP is $3,000. See it in action right after the break.

Gallery: Pioneer SC-79 Receiver hands-on

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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