Pioneer has announced a new flagship Elite 11.2.4 channel AV receiver, the VSX-LX805 ($2,999 / approximately £2,500 / AU$4,500). This is the first flagship model to arrive from Pioneer since the rights to the AV brand were acquired by Premium Audio Company, a subsidiary of VOXX International, which owns the Klipsch, Jamo and Integra brands. Full of features.
like all best av receiver The VSX-LX805 supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X processing and is also IMAX Enhanced certified. A firmware update due in June will add Auro-3D processing, making the new Pioneer Elite models a complete stock option for immersive audio.
The VSX-LX805’s 11 Class AB amplifier channels are rated to deliver 150 watts each and can be used to power up to three zones. It features 15 RCA preamp outputs for future amplifier upgrades, along with stereo XLR input and output connections.
A total of 7 HDMI 2.1 inputs are provided and there are 3 HDMI outputs including eARC. Of these, inputs 1-6 support 8K passthrough and also support 4K 120Hz signals. PS5 and Xbox Series X VRR, ALLM, and Quick Media Transport (QMS) are also supported, allowing the receiver to switch video output between different frame rates such as 24fps and 60fps without glitches.
Streaming can be done via Chromecast, AirPlay 2, DTS Playfile , all compatible with Bluetooth aptX HD. Chromecast and DTS Play-Fi offer high-resolution audio streaming, and DTS Play-Fi recently added gapless playback as a feature, so both are great ways to listen to music on the VSX-LX805. Otherwise, with built-in support for Tidal, Spotify, and Amazon Music Unlimited, Pioneer’s control app gives you direct access to these music streaming services.
Dirac Live and Dirac Live Bass Control
One interesting feature of the VSX-LX805 is Dirac Live. This is an advanced form of room correction processing for optimizing the sound of multi-channel speaker systems, and the built-in full-bandwidth version offered by Pioneer offers , can correct audio frequencies above 500Hz. Supported by some products.
The VSX-LX805 can also be upgraded to Dirac Live Bass Control for systems with single or multiple subwoofers (cost $349 for single subwoofer, $399 for two subwoofers) is).
In the company’s own words, “In addition to all-pass filtering, the Dirac Live Bass Control leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to calculate the gain, delay and all-pass filtering for each subwoofer. This way , the Dirac solution ensures that the low frequencies add up, so not only is the average controlled, but most importantly, control levels can be achieved at multiple locations at once, thus minimizing sheet-to-sheet variation. You can limit it.”
Pioneer’s VSX-LX805 isn’t short on inputs, offering multiple HDMI 2.1 ports with 8K and 4K 120Hz passthrough. (Image credit: Pioneer) Analysis: Pioneer’s AV receiver is back. Often times, when major audio brands are acquired, the new version is a pale shadow of what was before. With countless examples over the decades, some of us covering the AV space almost gave up on the disappeared Pioneer Elite a few years ago.
But with the new Elite VSX-LX805 AV receiver, the brand is back and it looks stronger than ever.same as recent SONY AV receiver released , Pioneer’s flagship product is equipped with all the latest connectivity options, supporting 8K and 4K 120Hz with multiple HDMI ports. This makes the VSX-LX805 inherently future-proof, supporting the latest generation HDMI versions and knowing that any video signal routed through it will pass without issue, so buy now People can feel safe.
The VSX-LX805’s streaming options are broader and better than Sony’s new AVR offerings. And its big power specs mean it should be able to drive any kind of speaker without breaking a sweat. Complements the :X option.
But even with all these amenities, the feature that really sets the new Pioneer on top is the built-in Dirac Live and Dirac Live Bass Control options. Having used Dirac Live extensively in the past, I am aware that it can dramatically improve the sound of speakers in less-than-perfect rooms (which basically means most rooms). increase. You can also fine-tune the correction curve to your liking using the Dirac Live MacOS or PC application. This goes a step further than the automatic room EQ processing built into many other receivers.
The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 will be available this spring.
