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My judgment on the QOTD is based on your reviews so I’m going to say Onkyo but I’m really in over my head on this one. I love my Yamaha RX-V1085 but it’s limiting me to 5.1.2 for Atmos so I’m looking to upgrade.
@@SeanVedell I have the same receiver also and as you mentioned love it. I was actually thinking of getting a 7 channel amp instead of getting a new receiver since there ain't no 8k content available
@@michelfagan4891 Not a bad strategy but a seven channel amp is overkill to get those two rear Atmos channels I want. A two channel amp would get it done but finding one that’s decent and under $1,000 is a chore and gets real close to the Pioneer reviewed here.
Hear me out. I'm in awe of your experience and knowledge. I've been a wannabe audiophile since 1983 when my dad bought me a Sound Design stereo, 😂 a lot of fake Vu meters and a multitude of EQ options with 4 ft tall speakers.. after a month of listening to those speakers I had to pry off the grills that were glued onto the cabinet and found one 4 inch speaker cone. I felt ripped off. From that moment on I wanted every stereo system I had to be the best that I could afford. I dabbled in Sony ES recievers, Infinity Kappas, Carver amps, Monster interconnect's and thick speaker wire. Boy has the world changed.. I was most proud of myself when S-Video came out and I could not believe the picture. I felt you couldn't get better than that.. And in 2022, I'm ready to retire. I have you to thank for steering me in the right direction of today's options and products. I bought a Sony ES receiver to start my journey again and I think the main reason I returned it was no phono preamp. After seeing this video at least 19 times, I purchased the Pioneer Elite vsx lx305 and I could not be happier. I want to thank you personally for that. I have commented before and told you you could sell me saltwater in the ocean. It still holds true. Thank you Andrew. Keep up the great work! Thank you for talking to us wannabe's and communicating with the true audiophiles in this community. Good luck in your new home and I hope for peacefulness to you and yours.
I just purchased the LX305 based on this review and I DO NOT REGRET IT! This system is the best sounding of all the receivers I've ever had! The Direcac Setup was a breeze, and watching movies is a pure joy! I can't believe how much of a difference this receiver has made! I kept the same speakers I've had for the last 8 years, yet they sound so much better! Thank you for the great review! I purchased this and do not have any regrets!
Your channel is so insightful and therapeutic. Your review helped me make me the decision to go with the 305 and I am blown away by it. This thing is so amazing!!!
Your reviews are amazingly literate, and your delivery is eloquent and detailed without being overwhelming. I'm currently in the market for a successor to my still-performing Pioneer Elite SC-71, and you've given me much to consider. Thank you!
Finally picked one of these up a few weeks ago. So very happy I did. Dirac Live is a game changer compared to the YPAO on my Yamaha receiver and everything is that much more alive on my Rp8000-F's. Even the wife was impressed.
Having owned Onkyo, Pioneer, and Technics receivers 25~15 years ago when I was starting to get into audio, its great to see these companies come back. It almost makes me home sick for my bedroom in my parents place.
i've had this receiver for 1 month and im very impressed with the detail from music, movies and power it puts out. im very happy with the 305 paired with 240f 450c 160m's in the rear
I got my 305 last night, and your review was spot on. Amazing vocal clarity, clear highs without being harsh, and was worried about the power as it only weighs 23 pounds. But it controls my speakers fine. I can finally see 4K HDR from Netflix now. Will be taking this to another level with Dirac this afternoon as well. Thank you so much Andrew! Great work!
Just got the lx305 for $549 to replace my pioneer vsx-1019. Very happy! Sounds amazing and very easy to setup and use! I am running with Infinity TSS-1100 5.1 and an extra pair of 750 satellites. Thank you for the great review! At this price, hard to beat!
I purchased the Pioneer XL305 receiver and Sonance MAG series ceiling speakers and looking forward to providing an update soon. I am new to this area of audio technology but have watched several of Andrew’s videos and his level of detail and knowledge are impressive. All will be installed next week. Continue…
Mobile DJ business owner here. (for over 20 years) I have upgraded my home theater speakers to 5.2.2 (Klipsch Reference Premier) and am in the market for a new receiver. I do love my special effect movies, have a PS5, and have it all hooked up to a Sony A8H. I am learning, quick, that home theater is different than mobile DJ when it comes to setting up. I am glad I have found your channel and I appreciate what you and Kristi do. Soooo cheers to both of you and Happy Holidays! Keep up the good work! (leaning towards the Onkyo after all of your praise)
I got the 305 in January here in Germany. I've only done the basic DIRAC measurements until now but am quite impressed already by the sound quality. It just sounds right with the HECO Aurora 700s that I had also purchased as per your recommendation. The versatility of music features is impressive. I can even play 2-Channel DSD-files from a NAS using the Pioneer's Homeserver feature (DLNA). Music playback via Chromecast occasionally stutters, but will recover after switching the Pioneer off and on again. I paid 1,000 Euros for it, which is really cheap compared to DIRAC-enabled DENON AVRs. Thanks again for your review, I'd never have arrived with this great setup without it.
Would you and Kristi ever consider making a video of how you guys do your testing/review process for equipment? I think it would be awesome to see all the work you guys put in to swapping out speakers/amps and see how that process works out. Also, sorry if I missed it, but it would be awesome to have a video of you explaining the wording/phrasing you use when reviewing gear. “Forward, heavy, forward, speed, scale, reserved”. Again, thank you both for all the hard work you guys put into the channel!
Thank you for this review!! I purchased (fall 2023) and paired with a Klipsch Reference Cinema System…..it is amazing. The mountain of features packed into the 305 makes it a great value.
Amazing seeing Poineer thriving after all these years. The 1st cassette deck i installed in a car was late 90's and it was a pioneer 40 watts x4!!!!!! 🤣🤣 great video.
I ordered the Pioneer VSX-LX105 after watching this video (and your other video comparing multiple recommended units) and I am completely happy with it. I didn't need the 9.2 and felt the extra cost wasn't really worth it considering the specs are pretty much the same. In any case, easy to install and setup, it sounds great, much better than the 7 year old Yamaha that it replaced. Thank you for the excellent reviews and honest feedback regarding what really matters for most people.
I fell into the home theater rabbit hole almost 42 years ago when I bought a Pioneer VDP-1000 laserdisc player in spring of 1980...glad to see them still thriving...
excellently articulate and thus delivered with utmost precision this presentation as always, thank you Andrew for taking us on this kind of ride well done.
I have a sony str-za 2100es that sounds superb, not to many bells and whistles but the build quality, amplifiers and sound with movies and music is way way more than I expected plus a five year warranty. Comming from a Yamama A3000 and a Denon 4300x is a much beefer sounding unit and it does not run hot like the Denon. Had it for the past year and could be happier with it.
I have a pioneer elite receiver as one of my set ups for multichannel music listening and I love it! All the features and sound quality you could ask for totally recommend it!
My LX305 was delivered yesterday. Setup was easy but Dirac is twitchy as hell. Kept failing because of room noise which there was none of. I can’t control cars rolling by the house. I ended up only doing the basic Dirac sweep of three positions. Not sure how much it helps. Still reviewing scenes I’m familiar with. All in all though your review here drove my decision to buy this receiver and 24 hours in I’m very happy.
I'm so glad you did this review at this time. I love the Pioneer Elite products and I've been bouncing back and forth between the Pioneer Elite, Yamaha's and Denon over the last dozen years or two for one of my home theaters. I prefer the pioneer elites and I was just pondering moving from my 304 to the 305 (not a big gain, but get the Dirac and 4k120hz/8k 60hz). Thanks again! Now I need a review on on-wall speakers. I have old Angstrom Suono's
hey andrew, i did alot of research, and couldnt figure out which receiver to go with, after watching your video i was swayed enough to give this thing a shot, and i gotta say thanks! dirac really is worth it. im so glad i watched this video!
Thanks for the review! I've been waiting for this one, as I'm looking to update my receiver soon, and as a frequent Pioneer owner over the years (I've always liked the sound of their amps, and find they usually provide pretty good features for the $$), I've had my eye on this one. It looks like this one might tick all the right boxes for me.
I believe pio is back! Also those magnat speaker are gorgeous 🤤 great review a year ago a was debating between a pio or denon receiver I end up getting a denon since I didn't seen much improvement from pioneer.
Great review as always, Andrew and Kristi! I think Pioneer VSX-LX505 Elite is probably more equivalent to Onkyo RZ-50 in terms of power output (120W) and 9 channel amp plus 2 channel Pre-Amp. But I heard one negative for Pioneer is that LX505/305/105 does not allow individual crossover settings for the speakers. You're stuck with the same crossover for all your channels, while RZ-50 would allow that. Can you comment on that. Is that a big issue for common folks who just want to enjoy movies and music?
Although Mr. Robinson did not answer my question, on the strengths of this review and several others I’ve seen on TH-cam I am throwing my hat in the ring and I just ordered the LX305. I was going to originally purchased a Yamaha Aventage A2A or 4A but was very concerned that all the bugs are not worked out which was confirmed by a telephone call to Yamaha. I then was going to get the Denon 3700 H however that unit has problems with a 2.1 input output and they tend to run very hot and they are internal boards are sourced from all over as confirmed by a call to Denon again reliability issues. Stumbled upon this review and did a final analysis and determined at roughly $1200 price point for 305 would do everything I needed to do and I believe it to be the sister unit of the Onkyo 7100. From my research I believe the Onkyp/ Pioneer to be basically the same although an in person trip to Best Buy told me they thought pioneer to be more robust (questionable). For me the 305 fits the bill less money than a Denon no issues such as a Yamaha and ready to go right out of the box. If I don’t like it I’ll return it.
Thanks for your review, Andrew. I think you just sold me on this one or it's big brother the 505 was holding out for the RZ50 but honestly, this one sounds just as good and it is available to purchase.
Just scored this pioneer on black Friday deal for $759 and 2 weeks latter a pair of Elac Unifi 2.0 5.2 for $379. All just showed up and will be installing over Xmas vacation, just need to order the Sony UBP-X800M2 4K blu-ray player to round out. Looking forward to getting this all together! Small home studio for 2.1 listening and dvd blu-ray for instructional lessons etc. 😊
Another great review this sounds like a great choice for a home theatre set up especially if they get rid of the small bug you encountered. hope you both enjoy yourselves over the holidays
The only reason I would wait for the onkyo rz50 over this one is because of being able to add 2 more channels. I have the pioneer VSX-LX304 now and I love it, and looking to do the 8k upgrade. Thanks for this video! I was almost about to get this one until i found out no extra channels. Great video as always!
I love revisiting this video. I once said to the reviewer, that he could sell me salt while I was in the ocean. I purchased the Pioneer Elite 305 on his recommendation. They pair so well with every speaker I put with them. Musically, they are butterly smooth..... and with 4k, Atmos, DTX etc, it explodes. The sweetest most heartwarming sound for music is the Pioneer Elite VSX-305 paired with the HSU HB-1 MK2 bookshelf speakers. Imaging, warmth, depth and sound stage is the definition of a buttery, non-fatiguing sound. (Of course it's paired with a legitimate subwoofer). Oh, and all of the Paradigm Mini Monitors blend well too. ❤️ ugh. I'm never happy. Hahaha
Honestly guys, I think that the Onkyo RZ-50 and this new line of Pioneer elite receivers are the best, but if Sound United could get their lives together, than I think Marantz will be back on my top list. Also yall are making me highly consider the bigger brother of this receiver, the LX505. Pioneer was myfirst receiver that I ever had and I loved, went to Denon on a sell reps recommendation. I have loved the receiver, but I want a more further thinking receiver with all its current features on it ready to go and I want to get a true Atmos and DTS:X setup. While I want to hear Auro 3D, but its not necessary, so....... if I get it I'm just gonna blame. Still love y'all and y'all are my favorite Hi-Fi channel. Keep up the amazing work.
I bought an open box VSX-LX303 (also a 9.2) for $360 in 2020. It's worked flawless for me. Looking at the current AVR market, the Pioneer has by far been the best investment in my setup for its price.
I think the Pioneer is perfect for me if I had a larger room! My friend has a 20 year old Pioneer and it’s functionality is the same as the new LX-305, it just works!
Great review on the pioneer. I had one a while back and it was great.have Yamaha RX a710 now but I'll go back to the pioneer next . your review s are excellent!
I’ve had 3 pioneer elites, it’s all I’ve used until the last time I needed to go 4K and there were no good pioneer options. Ended up with Denon and have been happy but I really liked the Pioneer stuff. All of them still work great, they just became technologically obsolete. Side note, the pioneer elite plasma was one of my favorite televisions as well.
A company with great history. Where would we be without pioneer in the early days developing laser disc players and their massive plasma displays. What I would like to see from them now is to recommence production of the brilliant LX500/800 4K blu ray players. Wish you both a great Christmas and 2022
Dear Andrew, thank you for sharing all of your trustworthy opinion on each one of these topics. I’m grateful that TH-cam brought me to you. I have seen many videos praising Auro-3D in contrast to Dolby Atmos, but I believe most of these people are biased. I would really like to hear your opinion on Auro-3D.
Oh wow, I got into this one early! Awesome! I'm really glad to hear the good things about this review as my current AV Receiver is a Pioneer Elite VSX-50. So if I were to replace it, I'd like to stick with the Pioneer brand, and I'm glad to hear that it would be a good choice going forward. However, I'll have to wait as I have a lot of other things that are begging for my financial attention in my home at the moment, and the VSX-50 still works very well.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When the time is right, there will no doubt be an upgrade path for you and I would encourage you to keep Pioneer in mind when the time comes!
I was looking at the LX105, but you've sold me on the 305. It'll sting a bit more when I buy it, but I'll be keeping this receiver for a long time. I'm really curious to try Dirac!
I was absolutely thrilled to see this review! You changed my mind from the Denon x3700h to the Onkyo RZ-50, but when I saw the Pioneer as an option I've been back and forth on this and the Onkyo. I think you've changed my mind again!! 😂
@@kman9387 I believe the lx505 has pre-outs so I'll most likely be looking for that, going to set it up with a vintage pioneer sx-828 for stereo listening with my turntable!
@@DavidStella Its been pretty much problem free. The Dirac is as awesome as described. It makes a huge difference, especially since I have in wall and floorstanding speakers.
Thanks for the review. I had the previous generation pioneer elite 305. It sounded great, easy to use... but did not have alexa or good streaming services. Looks like IF I want Alexa... i have to step up to the vsx-lx505. May have to try it oout.
Andrew I’m glad that because of your videos, I could learn about hi-end, and I did yesterday night my system with 5.1 Klipsch reference, Svs sb 1000-pro and pioneer vsx-Lx105 7.2, I choice the 105 because is $350 less against 2 channels more, I think is the best cost benefits of the year $849,00. Your video make me glad, I got it before your review! Thanks
I've had Pioneer receivers my whole life and I upgraded a few months ago. Long story short, I waited for the new 2021 models to come out before deciding. I went with the 2019 model SC-LX704. I found a great deal on E-Bay. It's more powerful, more efficient and I don't need the HDMI 2.1 at all. Even if I got a gaming system in the future I would just connect it directly to my LG C1 and eARC the sound to the receiver. Problem completely solved. 8K doesn't interest me at all especially when first generation 4K went obsolete within a year. The 8K is just marketing. Even when and if it does roll out this version of HDMI 2.1 will be obsolete as well. So the 2019 model was the ticket for me. It's got Atmos and all the bells and whistles of the 2021 models and are actually more efficient.
@@MegaDevsta Find the eARC HDMI on your TV and connect that to the HDMI eARC on your receiver. Go into the menu of the TV and turn on the eARC feature. Now everything connected to the TV the sound will automatically get routed to the receiver.
Hi everyone! We hope you are all getting ready to have a wonderful holiday. First though, how cool is today's video sponsor? I wish we were eligible for this one!! Second, I'm a little shocked nobody has commented on the new Magnat speakers in the video. I'm not sure you're ready. :) Lastly, Thank you so much for all the support you've shown us this year.
I’m trying not to look at them because they look like studio monitors and you’ve already sold me on their sound but they just wouldn’t fit my current AV space. But that doesn’t mean I can’t drool over the pictures. Someday….
To me still Onkyo I Started with the TX NR646 and to be honest, it still can match up with my newer RZ50 , Set up and installing the speakers through the firmware are easy peasy, the sound quality of both are sublime, i tried the Denon AVC X4700 and it couldn't match my Onkyo even for a week I have tested the High-End Yamaha (Euro 8799), oh men after 2 days I installed back my Onkyo RZ50. So in my honest opinion go for Onkyo or his sister/brother brand Pioneer. Oh yes my speaker set is DALI Opticon series, 8 - 2- VOCAL and LCR Set and as atmos speaker DALI Alteco C1 and Subwoofers DB4S , and also i wish you both a merry Christmas and a super healthy 2022
Thank you for this review. I have been waiting to pull the trigger on purchasing a new receiver and have held off from Yamaha, Denon and Marantz for their issues with respect to HDMI 2.1. With the release of the Onkyo and Pioneer products I now feel I have real choice with a product that also works out of box. I guess that will also answer your QOTD. Onkyo and Pioneer. I wish Sony would now update their receiver line up as I am a Sony fanboy. I have an old but solid STR-DA5400ES. Maybe I will wait for CES 2022
Onkyo RZ50 allows individual crossover for the Front LR / Center / Side surrounds / Rear surrounds / Ceilings. I believe the pioneer locks all speakers to one crossover when set to small.
Is this still the case? Any information if it can be corrected with a firmware update? I'm considering pulling the trigger on either a RZ50 or a LX305/LX505. That fixed crossover could be deciding factor.
Todays QOTD is a tough one! I like where Marantz is going with the compact NR1711 receiver because av receivers are usually so big, finding somewhere to put them isn’t always easy. I might buy one of their compact models in the future if they manage to make one with a higher wpc.
Thank you so much for this review Andrew. I am a very happy owner of the LX305. After having a faulty Denon X3700H, the Pioneer is so easy to setup and sounds amazing. I definitely prefer the user experience of the unit compared to the Denon.
Since Cambridge Audio no longer make an AV receiver and my digital inputs had developed a bad hum I moved on to Anthem and very happy with the sound. I use the system for TV (sports), Movies and a third of the time 2 channel music so I am particular about how music is presented. Not sure how to compare but other brands of interest are Marantz, Rotel, NAD and Arcam.
My center speaker on my vsx-831 center speaker disconnected also on certin settings then randomly came back soo weird. Tends to happen when i move my set up around
I don't if would venture myself back to a Pioneer receiver. I had one, and I replaced it with a Marantz 6014 and to me, at that time and moment, was night and day! I could not believe!
Thanks for a great review (as always). Does it have 6 presets for the mcacc (like my older Pioneer)? Gues I have to wait for the step above for the preouts 😊
Great review. I'm looking to upgrade from my Denon S720W and upgrading to some SVS speakers. Would this Pioneer be able to run the SVS Ultra Tower Speakers along with the ultra center channel and rear speakers for my home theater? Thanks.
DENON and PIONEER ELITE is all ill mess with when it comes to receivers do recievers still come with on screen display like they used to on the ELITE ? where u can display everything on your TV for the room setup ,size of speaker , gains of each speaker ect
![[ไฮไลต์] แบดมินตันหญิง "เมย์ รัชนก" ไทย vs เบลเยี่ยม รอบแบ่งกลุ่ม | โอลิมปิก 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qfMROCoiKMY/mqdefault.jpg)
![หมานแต่ผัวเขา - แสตมป์ โตเกียวมิวสิค [ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/m0g1TSBJPgo/mqdefault.jpg)
✅ *For your chance to win $4.3 Million Los Angeles Dream House & support a great cause enter **www.omaze.com/andrewrobinson*
✅ *Shop Pioneer receiver: **bit.ly/3q1vQ1u**, **amzn.to/3DYth56**, **bit.ly/3EluTX3*
★ *QOTD: Who makes the best AV receiver, right now?*
★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions*
★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
My judgment on the QOTD is based on your reviews so I’m going to say Onkyo but I’m really in over my head on this one. I love my Yamaha RX-V1085 but it’s limiting me to 5.1.2 for Atmos so I’m looking to upgrade.
Ya since most of us are like Andrew and already own our dream house and dream car, I suspect we’ll be taking the cash prize.
@@SeanVedell I have the same receiver also and as you mentioned love it. I was actually thinking of getting a 7 channel amp instead of getting a new receiver since there ain't no 8k content available
None, no one makes the best AV receiver, it's like Herding cats ! you can come to a compromise and work with what you have.
@@michelfagan4891 Not a bad strategy but a seven channel amp is overkill to get those two rear Atmos channels I want. A two channel amp would get it done but finding one that’s decent and under $1,000 is a chore and gets real close to the Pioneer reviewed here.
Hear me out. I'm in awe of your experience and knowledge. I've been a wannabe audiophile since 1983 when my dad bought me a Sound Design stereo, 😂 a lot of fake Vu meters and a multitude of EQ options with 4 ft tall speakers.. after a month of listening to those speakers I had to pry off the grills that were glued onto the cabinet and found one 4 inch speaker cone. I felt ripped off. From that moment on I wanted every stereo system I had to be the best that I could afford. I dabbled in Sony ES recievers, Infinity Kappas, Carver amps, Monster interconnect's and thick speaker wire. Boy has the world changed.. I was most proud of myself when S-Video came out and I could not believe the picture. I felt you couldn't get better than that.. And in 2022, I'm ready to retire. I have you to thank for steering me in the right direction of today's options and products. I bought a Sony ES receiver to start my journey again and I think the main reason I returned it was no phono preamp. After seeing this video at least 19 times, I purchased the Pioneer Elite vsx lx305 and I could not be happier. I want to thank you personally for that. I have commented before and told you you could sell me saltwater in the ocean. It still holds true. Thank you Andrew. Keep up the great work! Thank you for talking to us wannabe's and communicating with the true audiophiles in this community. Good luck in your new home and I hope for peacefulness to you and yours.
I just purchased the LX305 based on this review and I DO NOT REGRET IT!
This system is the best sounding of all the receivers I've ever had! The Direcac Setup was a breeze, and watching movies is a pure joy! I can't believe how much of a difference this receiver has made! I kept the same speakers I've had for the last 8 years, yet they sound so much better! Thank you for the great review! I purchased this and do not have any regrets!
Thanks, I also ordered the 305. Can't wait to get it.
Your channel is so insightful and therapeutic. Your review helped me make me the decision to go with the 305 and I am blown away by it. This thing is so amazing!!!
Your reviews are amazingly literate, and your delivery is eloquent and detailed without being overwhelming. I'm currently in the market for a successor to my still-performing Pioneer Elite SC-71, and you've given me much to consider. Thank you!
Finally picked one of these up a few weeks ago. So very happy I did. Dirac Live is a game changer compared to the YPAO on my Yamaha receiver and everything is that much more alive on my Rp8000-F's. Even the wife was impressed.
Having owned Onkyo, Pioneer, and Technics receivers 25~15 years ago when I was starting to get into audio, its great to see these companies come back. It almost makes me home sick for my bedroom in my parents place.
i've had this receiver for 1 month and im very impressed with the detail from music, movies and power it puts out. im very happy with the 305 paired with 240f 450c 160m's in the rear
I got my 305 last night, and your review was spot on. Amazing vocal clarity, clear highs without being harsh, and was worried about the power as it only weighs 23 pounds. But it controls my speakers fine. I can finally see 4K HDR from Netflix now. Will be taking this to another level with Dirac this afternoon as well. Thank you so much Andrew! Great work!
Great to hear!
Just got the lx305 for $549 to replace my pioneer vsx-1019. Very happy! Sounds amazing and very easy to setup and use! I am running with Infinity TSS-1100 5.1 and an extra pair of 750 satellites. Thank you for the great review! At this price, hard to beat!
I purchased the Pioneer XL305 receiver and Sonance MAG series ceiling speakers and looking forward to providing an update soon. I am new to this area of audio technology but have watched several of Andrew’s videos and his level of detail and knowledge are impressive. All will be installed next week. Continue…
Mobile DJ business owner here. (for over 20 years) I have upgraded my home theater speakers to 5.2.2 (Klipsch Reference Premier) and am in the market for a new receiver. I do love my special effect movies, have a PS5, and have it all hooked up to a Sony A8H. I am learning, quick, that home theater is different than mobile DJ when it comes to setting up. I am glad I have found your channel and I appreciate what you and Kristi do. Soooo cheers to both of you and Happy Holidays! Keep up the good work! (leaning towards the Onkyo after all of your praise)
This was probably the best video I’ve heard in years you are truly gifted
I got the 305 in January here in Germany. I've only done the basic DIRAC measurements until now but am quite impressed already by the sound quality. It just sounds right with the HECO Aurora 700s that I had also purchased as per your recommendation. The versatility of music features is impressive. I can even play 2-Channel DSD-files from a NAS using the Pioneer's Homeserver feature (DLNA). Music playback via Chromecast occasionally stutters, but will recover after switching the Pioneer off and on again. I paid 1,000 Euros for it, which is really cheap compared to DIRAC-enabled DENON AVRs.
Thanks again for your review, I'd never have arrived with this great setup without it.
Love your descriptions of the audio characteristics. Another great video. Thanks.
Would you and Kristi ever consider making a video of how you guys do your testing/review process for equipment? I think it would be awesome to see all the work you guys put in to swapping out speakers/amps and see how that process works out. Also, sorry if I missed it, but it would be awesome to have a video of you explaining the wording/phrasing you use when reviewing gear. “Forward, heavy, forward, speed, scale, reserved”.
Again, thank you both for all the hard work you guys put into the channel!
Thank you Andrew! Been waiting on a Pioneer review for a while.
Thank you for this review!! I purchased (fall 2023) and paired with a Klipsch Reference Cinema System…..it is amazing. The mountain of features packed into the 305 makes it a great value.
Amazing seeing Poineer thriving after all these years. The 1st cassette deck i installed in a car was late 90's and it was a pioneer 40 watts x4!!!!!! 🤣🤣 great video.
I remember those days, they make super amazing car decks, mine got stolen with the car and was heart broken for several several months.
@@w0bblyd0inkb0ink getting a deck stolen is like graduation, minus the happiness and diploma 😁👌
I ordered the Pioneer VSX-LX105 after watching this video (and your other video comparing multiple recommended units) and I am completely happy with it. I didn't need the 9.2 and felt the extra cost wasn't really worth it considering the specs are pretty much the same. In any case, easy to install and setup, it sounds great, much better than the 7 year old Yamaha that it replaced. Thank you for the excellent reviews and honest feedback regarding what really matters for most people.
I fell into the home theater rabbit hole almost 42 years ago when I bought a Pioneer VDP-1000 laserdisc player in spring of 1980...glad to see them still thriving...
excellently articulate and thus delivered with utmost precision this presentation as always, thank you Andrew for taking us on this kind of ride well done.
I have a sony str-za 2100es that sounds superb, not to many bells and whistles but the build quality, amplifiers and sound with movies and music is way way more than I expected plus a five year warranty. Comming from a Yamama A3000 and a Denon 4300x is a much beefer sounding unit and it does not run hot like the Denon. Had it for the past year and could be happier with it.
I have a pioneer elite receiver as one of my set ups for multichannel music listening and I love it! All the features and sound quality you could ask for totally recommend it!
Thanks for sharing!
My LX305 was delivered yesterday. Setup was easy but Dirac is twitchy as hell. Kept failing because of room noise which there was none of. I can’t control cars rolling by the house. I ended up only doing the basic Dirac sweep of three positions. Not sure how much it helps. Still reviewing scenes I’m familiar with. All in all though your review here drove my decision to buy this receiver and 24 hours in I’m very happy.
I'm so glad you did this review at this time. I love the Pioneer Elite products and I've been bouncing back and forth between the Pioneer Elite, Yamaha's and Denon over the last dozen years or two for one of my home theaters. I prefer the pioneer elites and I was just pondering moving from my 304 to the 305 (not a big gain, but get the Dirac and 4k120hz/8k 60hz). Thanks again! Now I need a review on on-wall speakers. I have old Angstrom Suono's
hey andrew, i did alot of research, and couldnt figure out which receiver to go with, after watching your video i was swayed enough to give this thing a shot, and i gotta say thanks! dirac really is worth it. im so glad i watched this video!
That's great! Glad you found something that works for you.
Thanks for the review! I've been waiting for this one, as I'm looking to update my receiver soon, and as a frequent Pioneer owner over the years (I've always liked the sound of their amps, and find they usually provide pretty good features for the $$), I've had my eye on this one. It looks like this one might tick all the right boxes for me.
I believe pio is back! Also those magnat speaker are gorgeous 🤤 great review a year ago a was debating between a pio or denon receiver I end up getting a denon since I didn't seen much improvement from pioneer.
Thanks for the Dirac tip. My 505 kept stalling until I tried it out and was off to the races.
Great content and practical too.
Glad it helped!
Great review as always, Andrew and Kristi! I think Pioneer VSX-LX505 Elite is probably more equivalent to Onkyo RZ-50 in terms of power output (120W) and 9 channel amp plus 2 channel Pre-Amp. But I heard one negative for Pioneer is that LX505/305/105 does not allow individual crossover settings for the speakers. You're stuck with the same crossover for all your channels, while RZ-50 would allow that. Can you comment on that. Is that a big issue for common folks who just want to enjoy movies and music?
Good question
Thank you Andrew. I couldn't figure out why my 4k/120hz wouldn't work but setting the port to 8k standard did the trick!!!
Will this passthrough the Xbox series x 4k/120 signal?
Although Mr. Robinson did not answer my question, on the strengths of this review and several others I’ve seen on TH-cam I am throwing my hat in the ring and I just ordered the LX305. I was going to originally purchased a Yamaha Aventage A2A or 4A but was very concerned that all the bugs are not worked out which was confirmed by a telephone call to Yamaha. I then was going to get the Denon 3700 H however that unit has problems with a 2.1 input output and they tend to run very hot and they are internal boards are sourced from all over as confirmed by a call to Denon again reliability issues. Stumbled upon this review and did a final analysis and determined at roughly $1200 price point for 305 would do everything I needed to do and I believe it to be the sister unit of the Onkyo 7100. From my research I believe the Onkyp/ Pioneer to be basically the same although an in person trip to Best Buy told me they thought pioneer to be more robust (questionable). For me the 305 fits the bill less money than a Denon no issues such as a Yamaha and ready to go right out of the box. If I don’t like it I’ll return it.
Thanks for the review, was waiting for it! I have the 505 on pre-order at a pretty good price, will wait for it to be in stock up here in Canada!
I picked up an LX102 for $80 just a year ago or so. definitely like the pioneer brand so far and it being my first receiver has treated me well!
I've always liked Pioneer.
Never been disappointed with them.
Thanks for your review, Andrew. I think you just sold me on this one or it's big brother the 505 was holding out for the RZ50 but honestly, this one sounds just as good and it is available to purchase.
Just scored this pioneer on black Friday deal for $759 and 2 weeks latter a pair of Elac Unifi 2.0 5.2 for $379. All just showed up and will be installing over Xmas vacation, just need to order the Sony UBP-X800M2 4K blu-ray player to round out. Looking forward to getting this all together! Small home studio for 2.1 listening and dvd blu-ray for instructional lessons etc. 😊
Another great review this sounds like a great choice for a home theatre set up especially if they get rid of the small bug you encountered. hope you both enjoy yourselves over the holidays
Thanks for watching and happy holidays to you as well!
The only reason I would wait for the onkyo rz50 over this one is because of being able to add 2 more channels. I have the pioneer VSX-LX304 now and I love it, and looking to do the 8k upgrade. Thanks for this video! I was almost about to get this one until i found out no extra channels. Great video as always!
I love revisiting this video. I once said to the reviewer, that he could sell me salt while I was in the ocean. I purchased the Pioneer Elite 305 on his recommendation. They pair so well with every speaker I put with them. Musically, they are butterly smooth..... and with 4k, Atmos, DTX etc, it explodes. The sweetest most heartwarming sound for music is the Pioneer Elite VSX-305 paired with the HSU HB-1 MK2 bookshelf speakers. Imaging, warmth, depth and sound stage is the definition of a buttery, non-fatiguing sound. (Of course it's paired with a legitimate subwoofer). Oh, and all of the Paradigm Mini Monitors blend well too. ❤️ ugh. I'm never happy. Hahaha
@@mark17840 absolutely!
Hey Andrew, thanks a lot man for the advice on the pioneer 305 man the thing is a beast the auto calibration put off without a flaw
Timely review. I have a Pioneer SC_LX57 and looking to upgrade this year. Looking forward to testing these new Pioneers/Onkyos receivers.
Honestly guys, I think that the Onkyo RZ-50 and this new line of Pioneer elite receivers are the best, but if Sound United could get their lives together, than I think Marantz will be back on my top list. Also yall are making me highly consider the bigger brother of this receiver, the LX505. Pioneer was myfirst receiver that I ever had and I loved, went to Denon on a sell reps recommendation. I have loved the receiver, but I want a more further thinking receiver with all its current features on it ready to go and I want to get a true Atmos and DTS:X setup. While I want to hear Auro 3D, but its not necessary, so....... if I get it I'm just gonna blame. Still love y'all and y'all are my favorite Hi-Fi channel. Keep up the amazing work.
Merry Christmas, Andrew and Kristi, and have a happy New Year too! All the best, you two. :)
Same to you!
I have always wanted a Pioneer Elite AVR and this may be it. Great all around review Andrew.
The elite receivers have been fine midlevel gear. But they are not high end gear.
I love my Marantz 8015 as it is the best step before going separates and means I don't need to rewire my house for a full Dolby ATMOS system.
I bought an open box VSX-LX303 (also a 9.2) for $360 in 2020. It's worked flawless for me. Looking at the current AVR market, the Pioneer has by far been the best investment in my setup for its price.
Merry Christmas Andrew!! Keep up the great reviews. Here’s to a happy new year.
Thanks, you too!
Thank you, Dan! Happy Holidays.
I think the Pioneer is perfect for me if I had a larger room! My friend has a 20 year old Pioneer and it’s functionality is the same as the new LX-305, it just works!
Great review on the pioneer. I had one a while back and it was great.have Yamaha RX a710 now but I'll go back to the pioneer next . your review s are excellent!
I appreciate this review. The lack of pre amp outputs will keep me away but its nice to hear its comparable to the RZ50. Happy Holidays 🎄
Thanks for watching! Same to you!
I’ve had 3 pioneer elites, it’s all I’ve used until the last time I needed to go 4K and there were no good pioneer options. Ended up with Denon and have been happy but I really liked the Pioneer stuff. All of them still work great, they just became technologically obsolete. Side note, the pioneer elite plasma was one of my favorite televisions as well.
I’m sold!
Great vid and production value as always!
I have a lx503 and still love it. I have a 7.2.4 setup and haven’t had a single issue.
That's great! Thanks for sharing your personal experience.
Was gonna get the pioneer 505 - but decided to get a Yamaha a4a. The Yamaha has amazing surround sound and dialogue enhancements.
I purchased the SC-LX501 back in 2018 because of the price. I couldn't pass it up. But its a great receiver, Ive been using it ever since.
A company with great history. Where would we be without pioneer in the early days developing laser disc players and their massive plasma displays. What I would like to see from them now is to recommence production of the brilliant LX500/800 4K blu ray players. Wish you both a great Christmas and 2022
Dear Andrew, thank you for sharing all of your trustworthy opinion on each one of these topics. I’m grateful that TH-cam brought me to you. I have seen many videos praising Auro-3D in contrast to Dolby Atmos, but I believe most of these people are biased. I would really like to hear your opinion on Auro-3D.
Oh wow, I got into this one early! Awesome! I'm really glad to hear the good things about this review as my current AV Receiver is a Pioneer Elite VSX-50. So if I were to replace it, I'd like to stick with the Pioneer brand, and I'm glad to hear that it would be a good choice going forward. However, I'll have to wait as I have a lot of other things that are begging for my financial attention in my home at the moment, and the VSX-50 still works very well.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When the time is right, there will no doubt be an upgrade path for you and I would encourage you to keep Pioneer in mind when the time comes!
Great review Andrew. Great to seed Pioneer coming out with a great value like this.
I was looking at the LX105, but you've sold me on the 305. It'll sting a bit more when I buy it, but I'll be keeping this receiver for a long time. I'm really curious to try Dirac!
I was absolutely thrilled to see this review! You changed my mind from the Denon x3700h to the Onkyo RZ-50, but when I saw the Pioneer as an option I've been back and forth on this and the Onkyo. I think you've changed my mind again!! 😂
Pioneers are readily available, who knows how long you’ll have to wait for onkyo to be in stock
@@freightdawg6762 I'm actually having trouble finding one here in Ontario, trying to snap up an lx505
Denon has been taking a lot of flack, but I love my x4700h.
@@kman9387 I believe the lx505 has pre-outs so I'll most likely be looking for that, going to set it up with a vintage pioneer sx-828 for stereo listening with my turntable!
Wish it did, I want pre-outs on my next receiver
Put in my order at Best Buy. I was waiting (in vain) for the RZ 50. Thank you, Andrew and Kristi for your illuminating review.
What are your thoughts on it after having it for this long?
@@DavidStella Its been pretty much problem free. The Dirac is as awesome as described. It makes a huge difference, especially since I have in wall and floorstanding speakers.
Thanks for the review. I had the previous generation pioneer elite 305. It sounded great, easy to use... but did not have alexa or good streaming services. Looks like IF I want Alexa... i have to step up to the vsx-lx505. May have to try it oout.
Andrew I’m glad that because of your videos, I could learn about hi-end, and I did yesterday night my system with 5.1 Klipsch reference, Svs sb 1000-pro and pioneer vsx-Lx105 7.2, I choice the 105 because is $350 less against 2 channels more, I think is the best cost benefits of the year $849,00.
Your video make me glad, I got it before your review!
Thanks
Appreciate you sharing and enjoy your setup!
A most enlightening review, well done Andrew!
Thank you so much, Joeykitty! We appreciate you watching.
Great videos. Bought the Elite LX505 off your recommendation. Wanted the extra horsepower and the pre-outs.
I've had Pioneer receivers my whole life and I upgraded a few months ago. Long story short, I waited for the new 2021 models to come out before deciding. I went with the 2019 model SC-LX704. I found a great deal on E-Bay. It's more powerful, more efficient and I don't need the HDMI 2.1 at all. Even if I got a gaming system in the future I would just connect it directly to my LG C1 and eARC the sound to the receiver. Problem completely solved. 8K doesn't interest me at all especially when first generation 4K went obsolete within a year. The 8K is just marketing. Even when and if it does roll out this version of HDMI 2.1 will be obsolete as well. So the 2019 model was the ticket for me. It's got Atmos and all the bells and whistles of the 2021 models and are actually more efficient.
I have noticed an issue with e arc having a delay of sound to picture when gaming on my next gen consoles. Did you have any issues with that?
How do you eArc the sound to the receiver? I have a old pioneer lx03 that I was thinking to try and connect
@@MegaDevsta Find the eARC HDMI on your TV and connect that to the HDMI eARC on your receiver. Go into the menu of the TV and turn on the eARC feature. Now everything connected to the TV the sound will automatically get routed to the receiver.
@@mikedinno8413 thanks
Watched this a bought it the next day!!!! Can’t wait for it to arrive
Hi everyone! We hope you are all getting ready to have a wonderful holiday. First though, how cool is today's video sponsor? I wish we were eligible for this one!! Second, I'm a little shocked nobody has commented on the new Magnat speakers in the video. I'm not sure you're ready. :) Lastly, Thank you so much for all the support you've shown us this year.
Would you recommend the Magnat Atmos speakers?
Yes
I’m trying not to look at them because they look like studio monitors and you’ve already sold me on their sound but they just wouldn’t fit my current AV space. But that doesn’t mean I can’t drool over the pictures. Someday….
Happy Xmas to you both
@@sdemosi
Andrew and Kristi. Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a safe and enjoyable New Year.
Thank you, Rob. Right back at ya!!
I've loved my LX301 & LX503! Very much looking to the LX305 and LX505 with their update to Dirac Live.
To me still Onkyo I Started with the TX NR646 and to be honest, it still can match up with my newer RZ50 , Set up and installing the speakers through the firmware are easy peasy, the sound quality of both are sublime, i tried the Denon AVC X4700 and it couldn't match my Onkyo even for a week I have tested the High-End Yamaha (Euro 8799), oh men after 2 days I installed back my Onkyo RZ50. So in my honest opinion go for Onkyo or his sister/brother brand Pioneer. Oh yes my speaker set is DALI Opticon series, 8 - 2- VOCAL and LCR Set and as atmos speaker DALI Alteco C1 and Subwoofers DB4S , and also i wish you both a merry Christmas and a super healthy 2022
Great system you have over there. Wish I could hear it in person, must sound amazing!👍🏼
Thank you for this review. I have been waiting to pull the trigger on purchasing a new receiver and have held off from Yamaha, Denon and Marantz for their issues with respect to HDMI 2.1. With the release of the Onkyo and Pioneer products I now feel I have real choice with a product that also works out of box.
I guess that will also answer your QOTD. Onkyo and Pioneer.
I wish Sony would now update their receiver line up as I am a Sony fanboy. I have an old but solid STR-DA5400ES. Maybe I will wait for CES 2022
Onkyo RZ50 allows individual crossover for the Front LR / Center / Side surrounds / Rear surrounds / Ceilings. I believe the pioneer locks all speakers to one crossover when set to small.
Is this still the case? Any information if it can be corrected with a firmware update? I'm considering pulling the trigger on either a RZ50 or a LX305/LX505. That fixed crossover could be deciding factor.
Will definitely check this one out. Thanks Andrew
Todays QOTD is a tough one! I like where Marantz is going with the compact NR1711 receiver because av receivers are usually so big, finding somewhere to put them isn’t always easy. I might buy one of their compact models in the future if they manage to make one with a higher wpc.
Thank you so much for this review Andrew. I am a very happy owner of the LX305. After having a faulty Denon X3700H, the Pioneer is so easy to setup and sounds amazing. I definitely prefer the user experience of the unit compared to the Denon.
Do you prefer the sound of 3700 or the lx305 in stereo mode? And did you compare the streaming ?
@@simonkershaw7982 I like the LX better.😀
Would love to try out that fancy rotel. For now my 3ish year old previous version of this receiver the 303 works great.
Since Cambridge Audio no longer make an AV receiver and my digital inputs had developed a bad hum I moved on to Anthem and very happy with the sound. I use the system for TV (sports), Movies and a third of the time 2 channel music so I am particular about how music is presented. Not sure how to compare but other brands of interest are Marantz, Rotel, NAD and Arcam.
My center speaker on my vsx-831 center speaker disconnected also on certin settings then randomly came back soo weird. Tends to happen when i move my set up around
Would love to see a review or comparison of the more budget friendly Pioneer VSX-935. Great video as always!
I went with the Pioneer 505 at $1300 over the Onkyo RZ50. I am very pleased with my choice.
Would love to see a review or comparison of the more budget friendly Pioneer VSX-935. Great video
Looks Nice i like it and i Also like the Onkyo but so far i can't get the Onkyo here in Europe that sucks
Pioneer has always sounded good, I listen to the first surround receiver (5.1) in 1995, music just sounded like their 2 channel receiver.
would love to see you do a video about connecting an external amp like the Tonewinner AD-5100PA to the new Pioneer LX505 for front stage LCR
Had always good experiences with Pioneer
Feet that just fall off 😂 i almost fell out of my chair. Great review Andrew and Kristi.
I don't if would venture myself back to a Pioneer receiver. I had one, and I replaced it with a Marantz 6014 and to me, at that time and moment, was night and day! I could not believe!
Thanks for a great review (as always).
Does it have 6 presets for the mcacc (like my older Pioneer)?
Gues I have to wait for the step above for the preouts 😊
Hey Andrew! Great review! Do you know what the equivalent is in the UK/Europe don't think they sell this model here... 😒
Love the review! Now my heads is spinning 😵💫
Great review. I'm looking to upgrade from my Denon S720W and upgrading to some SVS speakers. Would this Pioneer be able to run the SVS Ultra Tower Speakers along with the ultra center channel and rear speakers for my home theater? Thanks.
Hi, Andrew. Which receiver would you recommend to power 4 ohm speakers? Thanks.
I like the McIntosh AV processors and AV receivers.
DENON and PIONEER ELITE is all ill mess with when it comes to receivers do recievers still come with on screen display like they used to on the ELITE ? where u can display everything on your TV for the room setup ,size of speaker , gains of each speaker ect
Hi andrew, could you explain as to what independent dual sub outs are? Does that mean that each sub level can be controlled separately?
Pioneer all day long ,im a Fan since 1990