Choosing an AV receiver is not an easy task and the Marantz CINEMA 50 versus Pioneer VSA-LX805 comparison is meant to help you with this. According to the results of our review, Marantz CINEMA 50 received 8.6 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer VSA-LX805 was rated 9.5 points. The release date of CINEMA 50 is 2022, and VSA-LX805 is 2023. As a result, it becomes clear that VSA-LX805 is a better option for home theater than CINEMA 50.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 8 and 10, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz CINEMA 50 supports 9.4-channels sound, but Pioneer VSA-LX805 supports a 11.4-channels configuration.
RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the VSA-LX805 this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the CINEMA 50 it is 110/8 W/Ohm.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.4 | 11.4 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 110/8, 150/6 | 150/8 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8 |
Frequency response | 5Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the CINEMA 50 7 out of 10, and the VSA-LX805 - 9.
Most receivers now come with a microphone included. It is with the help of this microphone that the auto-calibration system functions, which adjusts the sound of the receiver to the room.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/24-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT | MCACC |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic LFC, Dirac Live Suppot, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio | Advanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio, Dirac Live Room Correction |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 9 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Marantz CINEMA 50.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz | 2.4/5GHz |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 2 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 | 1 |
DLNA | ✔ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix |
The presence of many connectors makes the receiver more versatile. But there are also narrowly targeted models, the number of connectors which are limited to a certain area of use. And when choosing their own receiver, users need to consider exactly your goals for using the receiver. For extensive connection, Marantz CINEMA 50 got 8 points, but Pioneer VSA-LX805 received 9 points.
Marantz CINEMA 50 is equipped with 6/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer VSA-LX805 has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 6/3 | 7/3 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.3 | HDCP 2.3 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 4 | 4 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 3 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 2 |
Composite input | 0 | 0 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, phones, setup mic | phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✔ | ✔ |
The AV receiver is the heart of the home theater. And in this case, support for all current video formats ensures the best user experience, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a device. Video features of the CINEMA 50 were rated 8 out of 10 against the 10 for the VSA-LX805.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10+ | HDR10+ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/120Hz | 4K/120Hz |
8K signal pass-through | 8K/60Hz | 8K/60Hz |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✖ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | ✖ | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | HLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDR | Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | port hole OLED | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ | ✔ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | network, USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | IP Control, Web Control, App Control, RS232 Control | IP Control, Web Control, App Control |
As the center of a home media system, each multichannel receiver has an additional set of terminals for connecting the second set of speakers to create additional audio space in Zone 2 or even Zone 3 where audio can have the separate source.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 3 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS App | Pioneer Control App |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 | 1/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 1 | 2 |
Marantz CINEMA 50 got 10 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer VSA-LX805 got 9.
Auro 3D gives a bit more versatility than Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and provides a hemispherical sound and enables a receiver to produce 3D sound stages. Only the Marantz CINEMA 50 has Auro-3D on its feature list.
Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.
CINEMA 50 | VSA-LX805 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | DSD, LPCM |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✔ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✔ |