The Pioneer VSX-LX505 ELITE 9.2 Channel AV Receiver stands as a notable contender in the home theater market, promising a rich audio experience with features like Dirac Room EQ. This review delves into a detailed analysis of the LX505, exploring its performance metrics and capabilities to determine if it lives up to the ELITE moniker. Sourced as a refurbished unit for this evaluation, the standard retail price hovers around US $1699, positioning it in a competitive segment of the AVR landscape.
Upon initial inspection, the Pioneer Lx505 presents a familiar front panel interface, a design language that echoes Pioneer’s legacy in AV receivers. While the exterior might seem dated, the on-screen menus operate with commendable speed, suggesting an updated internal processing engine. However, a look at the back panel reveals a mix of modern and legacy connectivity options, including component and composite video inputs, a nod to broader compatibility but perhaps less relevant for contemporary setups focusing on HDMI.
A key selling point for the Pioneer VSX-LX505 is the inclusion of Dirac Live Room EQ, a feature that distinguishes it in its class. Dirac Live is renowned for its advanced room correction capabilities, aiming to optimize audio output for the specific acoustics of your listening environment. Beyond this, the baseline feature set of the LX505 is perceived as somewhat standard, making Dirac a crucial element in its value proposition. During testing, some instability was noted with the unit’s menus on a computer monitor, although this didn’t appear to affect audio performance. The focus of the performance evaluation centered on the Front Right and Left channels, assessing both DAC performance via pre-outs and amplifier performance through speaker terminals.
Pioneer LX505 DAC Performance Evaluation
To evaluate the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) section of the Pioneer LX505, digital inputs via HDMI and Toslink were used, with measurements taken from the “PRE OUT” RCA terminals. Efforts were made to minimize internal processing influence, and the volume was adjusted to achieve a 2-volt nominal output, which was attained at a +2 dB volume setting.
The DAC performance of the Pioneer LX505 can be characterized as reasonable for an AV receiver in its category. Measurements indicated a competent level of audio fidelity, aligning with typical expectations for AVR DAC implementations. Toslink input testing mirrored HDMI performance, exhibiting a similar profile but with a reduction in spurious tones. Testing at varying output levels revealed a positive attribute: the LX505 DAC avoids clipping, a common issue in AVRs lacking amplifier bypass options. However, this characteristic is linked to a significant limitation in another crucial area, as revealed in the amplifier performance tests.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements were within acceptable limits for an AVR DAC, while Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) tests showed good control of distortion, though falling short of dedicated two-channel stereo DAC standards in terms of noise floor. Multitone tests further confirmed low distortion levels, and linearity performance was also considered good for an AV receiver. However, Jitter performance was identified as suboptimal across both digital inputs, albeit for different underlying reasons. The DAC reconstruction filter showed less than ideal attenuation of out-of-band noise, although frequency response remained sufficiently flat. Overall, the DAC section of the Pioneer VSX-LX505 presents an adequate performance profile for its class, without particularly excelling or disappointing.
Pioneer LX505 Amplifier Performance Analysis
The amplifier section of the Pioneer LX505 was subjected to rigorous testing, starting with a comparison between analog and digital inputs to ascertain performance consistency. The results indicated similar performance between both input types, suggesting the DAC quality wasn’t overshadowing the amplifier’s capabilities. This allowed for direct comparisons with other external amplifiers previously evaluated. However, when benchmarked against other AVR amplifiers, the Pioneer LX505’s SINAD measurements revealed a weaker performance, consistent with previous Pioneer AVR models tested.
Frequency response in Pure Direct mode was commendably wide and flat, preserving audio bandwidth. A notable drawback emerged when Pure Direct mode was deactivated, revealing a drop in audio levels due to digitization within the signal path. Crosstalk measurements also indicated less than ideal channel separation. Multitone performance mirrored the SINAD results, placing the amplifier in a similar performance tier. Dynamic range measurements initially appeared understated, but further investigation unveiled a significant issue.
Power sweep tests at 4 ohms exposed a major limitation: the Pioneer LX505 exhibited severely restricted power output. Despite a 120-watt power rating, the unit delivered a mere 20 watts in sustained output. Extensive manual review and troubleshooting found no user-adjustable “eco mode” or setting to account for this drastic power reduction. Recalling similar behavior in other Pioneer AVRs like the VSX-LX303, a time-based power limiting mechanism was suspected. Subsequent testing confirmed this: the LX505 limits its power output after approximately 35 seconds of operation at moderate levels. This power limiting is time-dependent, not thermally triggered, as the unit remained cool during testing. This critical flaw means the amplifier operates at its full rated power for only a brief initial period, thereafter significantly reducing output until a power cycle reset. This power limiting explains why DAC performance measurements weren’t negatively impacted at higher output voltages, as the amplifier would have entered its power-limited state during extended DAC testing at higher volumes.
Conclusion: Pioneer VSX-LX505 – Average DAC, Severely Limited Amplifier
The Pioneer VSX-LX505 presents a mixed bag of performance characteristics. Its DAC section delivers average performance for an AV receiver in its class – competent but not exceptional. However, the amplifier section is fundamentally flawed due to an undisclosed and aggressive power limiting implementation. This power limiting, which drastically reduces output after a short period, is a critical deficiency that severely undermines the amplifier’s usability and rated specifications.
This behavior is not explicitly disclosed in product materials or user manuals, making it a potentially misleading aspect for consumers. Having observed this power-limiting issue in multiple Pioneer AVRs, it raises concerns about a systemic design choice. While this power management strategy might contribute to thermal efficiency and long-term reliability, it comes at the unacceptable cost of severely compromised amplifier performance.
Therefore, a straightforward recommendation for the Pioneer VSX-LX505 is challenging. Unless the intended use case is strictly as a processor, leveraging external amplification and circumventing the internal amplifier’s limitations, the VSX-LX505 cannot be recommended. For users relying on the AVR’s integrated amplification, the power limiting issue represents a significant and unacceptable performance bottleneck.
