Gapless playback, Apple Lossless and AIFF support added to Pioneer Network Audio Players for expanded digital music.

March 1, 2013

Melsele, Belgium (March 1, 2013) – Pioneer Europe has released a free firmware update for its EISA Award winning N-50 and the N-30 Network Audio Players. The firmware update contains important performance improvements relating to gapless playback and music file support expansion, adding support for Apple Lossless and AIFF files. In addition, the Network Audio Players benefit from the release of a functionally enhanced version of the freely downloadable Pioneer ControlApp for iPod touch or iPhone. There’s also an equally enhanced version of Pioneer ControlApp dedicated for Android smartphones.

"Many of our customers are Apple users, so adding support for both AIFF and Apple Lossless was high on the wishlist. Offering support for these popular high-resolution digital file formats provides audio enthusiasts the flexibility they’ve been looking for to source and listen to their favourite music as it was originally intended," comments Philippe Coppens, Technology and Product Information Manager at Pioneer Europe. “Using the free ControlApp has become more enjoyable as it now uses the full screen to search and scroll through a music library. The reaction speed for displaying track information when scrolling has improved as well.”

There’s an increasing growth in the consumption of high-definition media and an increase in the availability and access to high-resolution uncompressed and lossless compressed digital music file formats that deliver more accurate and detail audio reproduction for a greatly improved listening experience. Apple Lossless (also known as ALAC) and AIFF format are both popular in this domain.

Gapless playback is available for all supported lossless audio formats - WAV, FLAC, and the newly added AIFF, and Apple Lossless. It improves the listening experience by providing the user with uninterrupted playback of consecutive audio tracks, and is particularly useful with music tracks that are meant to play continuously, without a break, such as classical music performances, concept albums or live recordings.

Read all about Pioneer’s complete stereo component line-up, including these network audio players, amplifiers, Super Audio CD players and a stereo receiver here.

Availability
The Network Audio Player firmware update is available for download on the Pioneer website for N-50 and N-30.

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