Update: This deal is still available.
Adorama has
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 9.2-Channel 8K A/V Receiver on sale for
$649.
Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Editor
iconian for finding this deal.
Note: You may need to add to cart to see deal price.
Key Features:- Dirac Live Room Correction
- HDMI 2.1
- Ultimate 4K Gaming Experience
- 9 Channels of onboard amplification with 11.2-Channel Processing
- 120-watts/per channel
- Imax Enhanced
- Powered Zone 2/Zone 3 Audio
- Bi-directional Bluetooth with aptX HD
Includes:- Pioneer Home Audio Elite VSX-LX505 120W 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver
- RC-974R Remote Controller with 2x AAA Batteries
- Speaker Setup Microphone
- DAB/FM Antenna
- Indoor FM Antenna
- AM Loop Antenna
- Power Cord
- User Manual
- Pioneer Home Audio 3 Year limited Warranty
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Top Comments
I even bought the higher end tuning mic for Dirac and the special mic stand. I got deep into all of the tuning curves, laptop software, and all that jazz well before actually getting the receiver. For months I combed AV forums to get tips and expert advice.
In the end, in spite of days of tuning and tweaks, I returned the Pioneer. The Pioneer's sound was just flat compared to my older Denon. The 3 dimensions of sound were just 2D and too crisp. I thought for sure I got a defective Pioneer and after returning it, continued searching obsessively for any one of these three extremely similar models.
I was on the Crutchfield waitlist for a few months and finally got the Onkyo. I hooked it up. Did all the initial, standard calibration but got the exact same result. I did the curves and tweaked and tweaked. Things changed but never got close to my older Denon. Just flat sound that made me sad. I ended up returning the Onkyo too. It killed my soul.
So now I have the Denon x4700. It sounds amazing like my x4100 but a little better. The new Denon has some features my old Denon did not and that were critical at my house - having volume control on-screen and being able to turn everything on and off with a simple remote.
I'm not arguing with all the people who love these receivers. On paper they look awesome. My experience was less than awesome, but what pleases people's ears is ultimately a very personal experience and wanted to share mine.
That being said. This Pioneer is still a quality receiver and at this price definitely a slick deal. But I'll warn you not to invest as much time as I did trying to tweak it if you aren't impressed after your first calibration. Tweaking helped but in my case did not work out.
269 Comments
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Now, if you had dynamic EQ "on", and had its "reference level offset" set to -10, it's effect would essentially be "off" if listening at -10 or louder because you've altered what the avr now recognizes as reference level?
He runs SB4000s, is there a $560 15" sub that would be an upgrade imo not even close.
Did DLBC integrate those subs better than before worth $560, to us yes!
Technically he only paid $340 for DLBC because of the 30% discount.
I'll get another chance with it in my system, with Dirac this time, very intrigued!
He runs SB4000s, is there a $560 15" sub that would be an upgrade imo not even close.
Did DLBC integrate those subs better than before worth $560, to us yes!
Technically he only paid $340 for DLBC because of the 30% discount.
I'll get another chance with it in my system, with Dirac this time, very intrigued!
And it'll ignore the preset crossover points?
And it'll set each speaker independently?
If so, I'll stop waiting for the Onkyo TX-RZ50 to come down!
To my knowledge, when the DIRAC EQ is applied to all of your speakers, it uses the configuration that you selected for your speaker configuration. I used 5.1.2 so when DIRAC runs the EQ, it presumably sets the Atmos speakers for the proper frequency cut-off. I watched this youthman video and followed his suggestions on how to establish DIRAC filter curtains from the app to prevent Dirac from adjusting any frequencies above 500 Hz: https://youtu.be/yspMuw_PX0s?si=
Basically you will run the DIRAC live with your mic hooked up just like all other room EQs and then it will allow you to do some editing in the app. This video does a great job explaining it and I probably should have shared it originally in my earlier post.
And it'll ignore the preset crossover points?
And it'll set each speaker independently?
If so, I'll stop waiting for the Onkyo TX-RZ50 to come down!
And it'll ignore the preset crossover points?
And it'll set each speaker independently?
If so, I'll stop waiting for the Onkyo TX-RZ50 to come down!
https://www.avsforum.co
Nutdotnet said:
Out of curiosity - how are you all managing the single crossover? That's the only thing holding me back - with a 5.1.4 setup, I'm having a hard time understanding why Pioneer would only allow one crossover when your atmos and surround speakers are typically smaller and would usually have a higher crossover point than your fronts.
Response:
I have mine set at the 80hz THX standard. DIRAC calibration sets them at 100hz for me, and MCCAC sets them at 150hz for me as well. According to my Pioneer add on module manual Atmos modules are have a preset internal crossover and allegedly most receivers that have the option for up firing modules account for that in the processing for that and aren't sending them anything a "Atmos enabled speaker" can't handle. I know my mine are 180hz and on my Yamaha I set their crossover to 200hz since you had at least some sort of superficial control over it. I also have a pair of the Klipsch modules that for whatever reason give you no frequency response spec other than they meet Dolby Atmos specifications. Which when I looked that up is down to 80hz. So I guess those are technically full spectrum speakers, but can also be used as up firing modules since when you tell the receiver what type of speaker they are it take account for that. I THINK.
Response #249:
@Nutdotnet, I think people have blown the global crossover out of proportion. Sure, it's nice to be able to set each speakers crossover. There is another mindset that the standard crossover for all speakers at the industry standard of 80Hz might result in the best sound. All speakers set at 80Hz will result in all of them playing the same response more even sound panning around your room.
Anyways, back before these new AVRs released, there was more discussion on the subject, and I posted a reply back then: New AVR from Pioneer and Onkyo | Page 44 | AVS Forum
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As much as people praise Dirac as being vastly better/superior, BOTH are very good.
I would disagree, XT32 + Editor App can be very comparable especially when DLBC is excluded.
As a matter of fact if you use MultiEQ-X that gives you all the capabilities of Dirac and much cheaper.
The BIG caveat is proper implementing them.
Not knowing your setup and expectations(wouldn't help anyways).
Imo two properly implemented Mono 12s should offer very good performance in the average home environment.
I run two SB3000 in a dedicated room and people often are shocked!
Often they say wow I thought you had to have ported subs for HT! 🙄
If you're comfortable using REW/miniDSP you might consider getting MultiEQ-X, gives you what Dirac offers.
It will only cost you $199, much cheaper than two 15/18" subs.
As much as people praise Dirac as being vastly better/superior, BOTH are very good.
I would disagree, XT32 + Editor App can be very comparable especially when DLBC is excluded.
As a matter of fact if you use MultiEQ-X that gives you all the capabilities of Dirac and much cheaper.
The BIG caveat is proper implementing them.
Not knowing your setup and expectations(wouldn't help anyways).
Imo two properly implemented Mono 12s should offer very good performance in the average home environment.
I run two SB3000 in a dedicated room and people often are shocked!
Often they say wow I thought you had to have ported subs for HT! 🙄
If you're comfortable using REW/miniDSP you might consider getting MultiEQ-X, gives you what Dirac offers.
It will only cost you $199, much cheaper than two 15/18" subs.
XT32 Editor App = $20
​REW = Free
MiniDSP 2x4 HD (for Bass control) = $225
MiniDSP UMIK-1 Calibration Mic = $80
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$325 (plus tax) - not bad if you have a XT32 and want awesome calibration. I'm considering going this route on my Denon 3400 if the XT32 Editor is compatible!
Dirac Live for Denon or Marantz -
Bundle Offer Multi
The bundle includes
Room Correction Full Bandwidth
Bass Control Multi Subwoofer = $799
MiniDSP UMIK-1 Calibration Mic = $80
---------------------------------------------------
$880 (plus tax) - It's not terrible, and I know they go on sale, but this is Slick deals and not AVSFourm after all
Keep in mind these above prices do not include the price of the AVR so these above costs are in addition of buying a receiver.
You most likely can get 85%-90% of the results of these more professional options form the Pioneer VSX-505 Dirac Live, and if your use case is a secondary system, you will probably be happy enough. If you want a professional level system you are going to have to buy the better equipment, software and hardware. In the law of diminishing returns, is that 10%-15% better worth it. I think for me the XT32 Editor/MiniDSP route will be worth it, because it's a hobby for me and I am interested in this fine tuning. I want to be blown away and I think that I can improve on the standard XT32 in my basement system.
If you can't justify the spend of a higher end Denon/Marantz + these extra upgrades, then Pioneer might do the trick. If you have the money and don't want to compromise, I think Denon and Marantz are the way to go. I have two Denon and one Pioneer, honestly I'm happy with all three.
Currently I have 7 channel receiver, I came to this thread to buy this receiver to setup 5.1.4. Now I am wondering whether I will be able to use my current 7 channel receiver to accomplish 5.1.4 setup. 5 channels for the usual L/R/C/SL & SR.
For the 6th channel I wanted to connect my 2 left Atmos in the ceiling and
For the 7th channel I wanted to connect my 2 right Atmos in the ceiling.
Will I be able to do that (I know physically it is possible), will it damage my ceiling speakers or the AVR? TIA
Enjoy this receiver.
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XT32 Editor App = $20
​REW = Free
MiniDSP 2x4 HD (for Bass control) = $225
MiniDSP UMIK-1 Calibration Mic = $80
---------------------------------------------------
$325 (plus tax) - not bad if you have a XT32 and want awesome calibration. I'm considering going this route on my Denon 3400 if the XT32 Editor is compatible!
Dirac Live for Denon or Marantz -
Bundle Offer Multi
The bundle includes
Room Correction Full Bandwidth
Bass Control Multi Subwoofer = $799
MiniDSP UMIK-1 Calibration Mic = $80
---------------------------------------------------
$880 (plus tax) - It's not terrible, and I know they go on sale, but this is Slick deals and not AVSFourm after all
Keep in mind these above prices do not include the price of the AVR so these above costs are in addition of buying a receiver.
You most likely can get 85%-90% of the results of these more professional options form the Pioneer VSX-505 Dirac Live, and if your use case is a secondary system, you will probably be happy enough. If you want a professional level system you are going to have to buy the better equipment, software and hardware. In the law of diminishing returns, is that 10%-15% better worth it. I think for me the XT32 Editor/MiniDSP route will be worth it, because it's a hobby for me and I am interested in this fine tuning. I want to be blown away and I think that I can improve on the standard XT32 in my basement system.
If you can't justify the spend of a higher end Denon/Marantz + these extra upgrades, then Pioneer might do the trick. If you have the money and don't want to compromise, I think Denon and Marantz are the way to go. I have two Denon and one Pioneer, honestly I'm happy with all three.
As far as Dirac Live keep in mind it doesn't include their sub/bass integration.
Calibration and integration are not the same thing.
Integrating bass between your sub(s) and all your speakers manually is possible but it is daunting.
In the end it may not be a good as a good RC algorithm like DLBC.
So that 85%-90% will vary widely across the board.
I agree if you have access to Editor App, upgrading for just Dirac Live & DLBC doesn't make good financial sense.
A well implemented system should be comparable especially for the price.
BTW if you use MultiEQ-X you won't need the MiniDSP, so it saves you there also.
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