The Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 comparison makes sense because it shows what devices in their segments can offer. According to the results of our review, Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 received 9.2 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 was rated 8.7 points. The release date of Elite SC-LX904 is 2019, and Elite VSX-LX505 is 2021. Elite SC-LX904 is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - Elite VSX-LX505.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 10 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 supports 11.2-channels sound, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 supports a 9.2-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 Elite SC-LX904 this value is 140/8 W/Ohm, and for the Elite VSX-LX505 it is 120/8 W/Ohm.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 11.2 | 9.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 140/8 | 120/8, 230/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 20Hz-20KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the Elite SC-LX904 10 out of 10, and the Elite VSX-LX505 - 9.
Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 has Pure Direct mode.
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.
Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | ES9026PRO 384 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/24-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✖ |
Auto speaker calibration | MCACC | MCACC |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Advanced Sound Retriever, 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 8 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
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.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud |
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, Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 got 9 points, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 received 7 points.
Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 is equipped with 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 has 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
HDMI-CEC helps gadgets attached to your TV to link back and forth with your TV via HDMI ports. It is become possible to control all linked devices with one remote. The Elite SC-LX904 features HDMI CEC.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/3 | 7/2 |
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) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 3 | 1 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 1 |
Composite input | 2 | 2 |
Component input/output | 2/0 | 1 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic | HDMI, USB, 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 Elite SC-LX904 were rated 10 out of 10 against the 8 for the Elite VSX-LX505.
With the 4K pass-through feature, the AV receiver sends "native" 4K signals to a 4K TV from a video source without any processing. The Elite SC-LX904 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the Elite VSX-LX505 has the 4K/120Hz.
The AV receiver passes "native" 8K signals from a video source to 8K TV without any encoding, with the 8k pass-through features. The 8K path-through is available on Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 | HDR10+ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/120Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | 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 | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 9 out of 10.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | 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 | has not | App Control, Sonos Connect 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.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Pioneer Control App, FlareConnect | Pioneer Control App |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 1/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 2 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 8 points out of 10.
Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.
Elite SC-LX904 | Elite VSX-LX505 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization |
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-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✖ |