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Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 11.2CH AV Receiver – Poor Man’s Integra?
Pioneer’s
premium VSX
series of Elite AV
receivers was first launched in 2021, introducing new features like Dirac Live
room correction, HDMI 2.1 with support for 8K video, and IMAX Enhanced Mode. It
was also in 2021 that Premium Audio Company,
a subsidiary of Voxx International, bought the rights to Pioneer’s home
entertainment division. (Premium Audio Company
also owns Klipsch,
Onkyo, Integra,
Jamo, and the German loudspeaker companies HECO
and Magnat.) Now Pioneer has announced its first product developed under the Premium Audio
Company umbrella, a new flagship AVR called
the Elite VSX-LX805, which will
sell for $2,999 when it becomes available from authorized Elite retailers (and
at pioneerhomeusa.com) later this spring. The folks at
Pioneer Elite say that the VSX-LX805 will deliver “exceptional audio
performance and studio-level processing for the discerning AV enthusiast.”
The
Elite VSX-LX805 is an 11.2-channel receiver rated at
150 watts per
channel (with 2 channels driven at 0.08%
THD). It offers many of the same features as the recently-announced Integra DRX-8.4
AVR, but for $200 less. These similarities
include the use of premium 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips, said to provide
“unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion.” It’s worth noting that
Denon fans would need to shell out $6,500 for the Denon AVR-A1H in order to get a 2023 receiver with ESS Sabre DACs, and Marantz fans would need to pony
up for the $7,000 AV 10
processor. The Elite VSX-LX805
boasts a new symmetrical class-AB amplifier section featuring fan-shaped, anti-resonant
extruded aluminum heat sinks for improved heat dissipation, and custom hi-grade
capacitors rated at 18,000uF
for impressively dynamic performance. Pioneer seems to have abandoned its Class D ambitions at a time when other manufacturers, such as NAD and Marantz, are embracing Class D more than ever before. Interestingly, the company’s website still has a page devoted to explaining what makes Pioneer Class D amplification so impressive. We tested the Pioneer SC-07 featuring ICE amplification and found it fell short when driving 4 ohm loads. We are hoping this is NOT the case with their latest flagship VSX-LX805 AVR. This AVR looks like its able to pack a serious punch. Pioneer says this amp can “perfectly
balance consumption and output requirements for optimal performance.” We are guessing they must be employing a multi-rail design like the Denon and Marantz counterparts to make them more efficient at lower power levels (think Class G). The beefy
power transformer is housed in a shielded case to reduce noise, and the
newly-designed chassis is designed to suppress vibration.
The
receiver’s 6 HDMI inputs and two outputs can all handle 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz
video with 40GPS bandwidth.
(The third Zone 2 output is limited to 4K.) Unlike the latest Denon and Marantz
receivers, which offer Dirac Live room correction as an add-on extra, the Elite VSX-LX805 includes a full-bandwidth Dirac Live
license. And Dirac Live Bass Control, which is still missing in action over at
team Denon/Marantz, will be available at launch for the Pioneer. (Bass Control
for a single sub runs $349, while a multi-sub license costs $499.) If you don’t
want to pay for Dirac Live Bass Control, the latest version of Pioneer’s
Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) promises to analyze phase
differences and make real-time adjustments to compensate for the gap between
the main speakers and the LFE signal sent to the subwoofer(s). Immersive audio
support covers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro3D, though the latter
will arrive via a firmware update expected for June 2023. Another firmware
update, slated for September, will make the VSX-LX805 certified Roon Ready.
We
took extra time and care to make sure the 805 features the latest and best
audio performance possible, including upgrades in digital audio processing,
room tuning, high-res streaming capability, as well as the inputs and outputs,
to ensure the Elite customer has the best experience with their connected gear.
We also spent time meticulously listening with our engineers, making
adjustments to the circuit path to ensure the most dynamic and expressive
performance, honoring the brand’s promise to bring the listener as close as
possible to the artist’s intent.
—
Rob Standley, Senior Vice President of Global Brands for Premium Audio Company
Pioneer – The Poor Man’s Integra?
The
Elite VSX-LX805 AVR includes “audiophile-quality stereo balanced
connections,” but these are limited to one stereo input and one output for the
front Left/Right channels. For $200 more, the Integra DRX-8.4
AVR has five XLR outputs, covering the
front LCR channels plus two independent subs. The Pioneer’s subwoofer outputs
are RCA only. Like the Integra,
the VSX-LX805 has outputs for just two independent subs (and another two wired
in parallel). This is one area in which the latest Denon and Marantz models
have a significant advantage. Starting at the $1,500 price point (the Denon
AVR-X3800H is currently $1,499 at Audio Advice), the higher-end Denon and Marantz receivers for 2023
offer four independent subwoofer outputs and advanced LFE bass routing nobody else has. Whether this matters to you will
depend on the size and layout of your home theater. This limitation aside, the VSX-LX805
looks like an exciting new flagship from Pioneer Elite. Are you ponying up for this new flagship from Pioneer or splurging for the slightly more feature laden Integra DRX-8.4 counterpart for $200 more? Share your thoughts in the related forum thread below.
More
information: Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805
MandM posts on April 09, 2023 16:41
PENG, post: 1597406, member: 6097
a made in USA product such as one of those power amps reviewed on Audioholics.com last year (or the year before?) could be bad, or couldn’t even meet their own advertised specs (by a wide margin).
Do tell!
AcuDefTechGuy posts on April 08, 2023 21:06
PENG, post: 1597420, member: 6097
I don’t know how many, but I think they will sell more. For someone considering a $6,000 flagship AVR (you did it once right??), he/she is not going to be turned away by $200 (if that, more likely just $150) from going from a New japan Radio (currently used by D+M) volume control IC to a flagship Cirrus Logic volume IC and from the ES9018K2M to ES9038Pro (yes the price jump on this one is over $100 but may be less for D+M).It would be a huge psychological boost for the high end/audiophile oriented groups who would pay more for ownership pride regardless of audibility. I have been paying for the 4 wheel, or all wheel drive features that I never needed or used, and you have been paying a lot more for the Lexus vs Toyota thing too iirc.
Same for the upper middle models, but for those, the cost increase would be just incremental. For example, Yamaha has been using better DAC, volume, and opamp chips for years. They didn’t even measure better, but they had the bragging right, even partially contributed to the myth that ESS Sabre DCA chips means better, than Onkyo, Denon, Marantz’s that use the AKM, TI chips, when in fact ESS DAC has been making chips that are inferior to AKM and TI’s, depending of which models are used.
All D+M has to do is to update their marketing material if and when they upgrade those chips, the professional reviewers, youtubers and many forum regulars will do the rest to spread and create the new hype.
Yeah. True. At this level, its pretty much about measurements and hype. Get the best parts, get the best measurements, get all the hype, sell more.
PENG posts on April 08, 2023 10:23
AcuDefTechGuy, post: 1597284, member: 26997
So its easy to beat the system to get the best SINAD.But how many more AVR will they sell by getting the best measurements after increasing the cost of production?
I don’t know how many, but I think they will sell more. For someone considering a $6,000 flagship AVR (you did it once right??), he/she is not going to be turned away by $200 (if that, more likely just $150) from going from a New japan Radio (currently used by D+M) volume control IC to a flagship Cirrus Logic volume IC and from the ES9018K2M to ES9038Pro (yes the price jump on this one is over $100 but may be less for D+M).
It would be a huge psychological boost for the high end/audiophile oriented groups who would pay more for ownership pride regardless of audibility. I have been paying for the 4 wheel, or all wheel drive features that I never needed or used, and you have been paying a lot more for the Lexus vs Toyota thing too iirc.
Same for the upper middle models, but for those, the cost increase would be just incremental. For example, Yamaha has been using better DAC, volume, and opamp chips for years. They didn’t even measure better, but they had the bragging right, even partially contributed to the myth that ESS Sabre DCA chips means better, than Onkyo, Denon, Marantz’s that use the AKM, TI chips, when in fact ESS DAC has been making chips that are inferior to AKM and TI’s, depending of which models are used.
All D+M has to do is to update their marketing material if and when they upgrade those chips, the professional reviewers, youtubers and many forum regulars will do the rest to spread and create the new hype.
PENG posts on April 08, 2023 08:40
lovinthehd, post: 1597383, member: 61636
I think I’m maybe thinking of primary area for Yamaha now that I think about it. Not a particularly important point in any case. You can have crappy factories anwhere, even in the US.
Many years ago it was anything “made in Japan” that made people think of those tiny tin can like Toyotas, in recent years it’s “made in China” (might have been Korean/e.g. Hyundai before that…), probably soon enough it might be “made in Vietnam”. Talk about misconception! The fact is, nowadays, made in where wouldn’t really matter because of technological advance, and quality programs associated with the same. It boils down to the manufacturer’s quality policy/system, they can make it just about anywhere and still maintain the same quality standards.
A made in Vietnam or China Marantz could be of the best quality and a made in USA product such as one of those power amps reviewed on Audioholics.com last year (or the year before?) could be bad, or couldn’t even meet their own advertised specs (by a wide margin).
lovinthehd posts on April 07, 2023 21:45
I think I’m maybe thinking of primary area for Yamaha now that I think about it. Not a particularly important point in any case. You can have crappy factories anwhere, even in the US.
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