Pioneer DCS-360 review

Features
The Pioneer DCS-360 is an all-in-one solution that conveniently integrates a DVD player, home-cinema amplifier and AM/FM tuner within a single unit. It may not offer the same performance as a separates system, but as an affordable and easy-to-use alternative it's ideal.

You can play a variety of discs including standard DVDs and CDs as well as encoded + or -R/RW formats carrying MP3, WMA, JPEG and DivX files. An integrated image processor allows you to upscale standard definition DVDs to 720p and 1080i high-definition standards -- great if you have an HD Ready display with digital connectivity.

The surround amplifier is a digital design that offers greater efficiency, lower power consumption and less signal deterioration than conventional analogue models. Each of the six speakers claim an impressive 60W of amplification, which is enough to satisfy most normal-sized living rooms and, at high levels, really annoy your neighbours.

The DCS-360 offers a supporting cast of standard processing and decoding algorithms used for surround sound. Vanilla Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS formats will automatically decode soundtracks used in practically all DVD films, and you can add surround effects to stereo sources using Dolby Pro Logic II processing. There are also several preset sound modes such as Action or Rock, which can be used according to what you're listening to.

The radio tuner will receive both AM and FM stations and lets you save up to 30 station presets. Most FM broadcasts also carry RDS (Radio Data System) information that provides details such as station name and allows you to search for stations playing a particular genre of music.

Setting up surround systems can be a laborious and time-consuming task, but the Pioneer's basic functionality, allied with a clear menu system and a thoughtful remote, makes the ordeal relatively painless. You need only manually adjust speaker levels using a test tone and input speaker distances to calculate delay settings before the system is ready to use.

Performance
If you have a digitally compatible display then the Pioneer DCS-360's image quality outperforms practically any other system available at this price. Using the HDMI output to deliver upscaled 720p images produces impeccably clean pictures with meticulous detail and superb contrast. Colours are beautifully balanced between natural and vibrant shades, while movement glides across the screen without stuttering or streaming.

As expected, standard-definition images using the alternative RGB Scart connection are less stirring. Detail is softer and movement occasionally struggles with slow pans, but decent black levels and unbiased colours ensure images are still commendable.

While the picture can be considered class-leading, however, the system is less impressive sonically. The sound is composed with plenty of detailed expression from the midrange and doesn't falter when faced with high volumes. But the cohesion between speakers during challenging scenes can become confused, with the ambient effects from the rear channels too conspicuous. Nonetheless, it still compares favourably with equivalent systems and with picture performance this good, it's a system to be reckoned with.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide