ICE king on the cake

摘要

Pioneer's flagship Susano amplifier arrived amidst an unseasonable summer tempest that lashed the south of England with high winds and heavy rain. An auspicious start for an amplifier that derives its name from the ancient Japanese god of storms. Sadly, divine intervention didn't go so far as helping me carry it to the listening room because it's the size and weight of a small stone temple. The SC-LX90 is Pioneer's statement of intent at the upper echelons of the AV amplifier market, sharing the same piano-black fascia and cosmetic cues as the company's top-end plasma screens. And there's no denying it's a bit of a looker. The fit and finish is exemplary, the styling subtly sophisticated for such a massive beast and the cabinet surpasses even Denon's battleship AVC-A1HD for sheer build quality.