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Pioneer VSX-LX505 AVR Review

Rate this AVR:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 165 64.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 44 17.3%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 40 15.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 6 2.4%

  • Total voters
    255
So if there are no hardware restrictions on the 505 for DLBC, it is up to Pioneer if they want to offer the customers the option to be able to buy the Dirac license. Even if they are out of the PAC group, it is in their hands.
Dirac would agree as they can have profit with the additional license. Pioneer could make their model 505 more competitive to the RZ50 as they are no longer in the same group and maybe increase sales. Nobody would buy a 505 today if people know that the RZ50 hardware clone has better Software Features.
Here in Europe you can get the 505 for 899€… with DLBC threy could increase the price and improve sales performance.
The RZ50 costs almost 1300€…
Pioneer has no interest in coming back to the AVR world. If you need further proof of that, I have a Pioneer Elite plasma tv sitting in the attic!
 
Pioneer has no interest in coming back to the AVR world. If you need further proof of that, I have a Pioneer Elite plasma tv sitting in the attic!

I envy the setup in your attic.....
 
Pioneer sold their Home A/V business to Onkyo in September 2014. As an owner of a '505' too, I do not consider myself a customer of Pioneer, but rather a customer of PAC. If you want access to DLBC and greater, consider selling your '505' to raise money for another AVR.

Agree with you…
Never again Pioneer
 
I guess I don't really see the draw for DLBC with a single sub out on either the RZ50 or any of the similar models. I use a MiniDSP and MSO to integrate my subs and while there is a learning curve it works very well.
 
I guess I don't really see the draw for DLBC with a single sub out on either the RZ50 or any of the similar models..

Agreed.

Earlier in 2024, PAC used Adorama in NYC to sell the '505' for as little as $649. The inclusion of a Dirac Live license at that price incentivized me to revive a 4.1 setup for home theater use.
 
Agreed.

Earlier in 2024, PAC used Adorama in NYC to sell the '505' for as little as $649. The inclusion of a Dirac Live license at that price incentivized me to revive a 4.1 setup for home theater use.
Yeah, Adorama had many deep sales for these models. I think as long as the AVR works now and you're not relying on firmware updates to add new features or fix bugs the 505 and 805 are great deals especially at the $650/$1499 sale prices.

I went from a 20y old processor with a crazy HDMI switcher setup to get 4k output to the NR7100 a couple of years ago when it was on sale for $699 and I wasn't really disappointed in most cases and really simplified everything (the 505 and rz50 were more in the ~1200-1500 range at the time and I wasn't impressed by the reviews at the price). That being said it doesn't hit quite the same way as separates in terms of dynamics when pushed which is why I'm kind of looking at the 805 now if it drops back to sale prices which has a very good amp section and of course full preouts.
 
Yeah, Adorama had many deep sales for these models. I think as long as the AVR works now and you're not relying on firmware updates to add new features or fix bugs the 505 and 805 are great deals especially at the $650/$1499 sale prices.

I went from a 20y old processor with a crazy HDMI switcher setup to get 4k output to the NR7100 a couple of years ago when it was on sale for $699 and I wasn't really disappointed in most cases and really simplified everything (the 505 and rz50 were more in the ~1200-1500 range at the time and I wasn't impressed by the reviews at the price). That being said it doesn't hit quite the same way as separates in terms of dynamics when pushed which is why I'm kind of looking at the 805 now if it drops back to sale prices which has a very good amp section and of course full preouts.

Spot on with 'simplicity'. It took a few weeks of trial and error to integrate a subwoofer and program parameters for select sources. Since then, the '505' just works.

I had been using my '505' as a preamp - using some of the 7 channels of the analog multi-channel inputs of a 50 pound Onkyo TX-SR805 for amplification. Since the firmware update of around October 29, 2024 I perceive the internal amplification of the '505' to be yielding more dynamic range - but since I can't roll back the firmware, I am uncertain. Regardless, I have returned the '805' to boat anchor status and rely on four of the internal amps in the '505'
 
Spot on with 'simplicity'. It took a few weeks of trial and error to integrate a subwoofer and program parameters for select sources. Since then, the '505' just works.

I had been using my '505' as a preamp - using some of the 7 channels of the analog multi-channel inputs of a 50 pound Onkyo TX-SR805 for amplification. Since the firmware update of around October 29, 2024 I perceive the internal amplification of the '505' to be yielding more dynamic range - but since I can't roll back the firmware, I am uncertain. Regardless, I have returned the '805' to boat anchor status and rely on four of the internal amps in the '505'
Yeah, I think the latest firmware did tempter the nannies a bit but it's really hard to prove. I do still see limited power as soon as it hits 61c in the web interface which isn't that hard to hit during long action sequences.

I was referring to the LX805 btw, absolute monster for $1499 imo.
 
I am really pissed off that we will not get DLBC on the 505.

This is what the Dirac support wrote to me today:
„We’d be pleased to sell Bass Control licenses to owners of the Pioneer VSX LX 505 but it doesn’t support Dirac Bass Control… sorry!“

So it looks it is a hardware related topic. Or Pioneer simply does not release the 505 for the update. I wonder why. So probably we can forget about DLBC in the 505. So frustated I did not buy the RZ50…
The hardware is capable, but they probably have not done the requisite integration development simply because Voxx/PAC no longer have the licence for Pioneer - so the brand has become an orphan (until the home Pioneer brand who owns the licences decides what to do next).

Both the RZ50 and the Integra DRX5.4 have DLBC available as an option.
 
Hi,
I bought an Integra DXR 3.4. After setting up dirac with a umik 1 mic, I have the sense the soft sounds are hard to hear, like soft speaking or background music. Also, the overall sound volume dropped significantly compared to my previous Denon X3500H. Has anybody experienced similar issues?

There is a voice/dialogue option available in the app, but not in settings, which is weird, and it doesn't really improve the dialogue. Instead, it spreads the dialogue between center and fronts.
 
My "503" (not a 505) doesn't seem to be shutting down on extended pink noise when I'm running acoustics tests anymore. Update related, you think? (I only uses it as a Dolby Atmos processor.)
 
Hi,
I bought an Integra DXR 3.4. After setting up dirac with a umik 1 mic, I have the sense the soft sounds are hard to hear, like soft speaking or background music. Also, the overall sound volume dropped significantly compared to my previous Denon X3500H. Has anybody experienced similar issues?

There is a voice/dialogue option available in the app, but not in settings, which is weird, and it doesn't really improve the dialogue. Instead, it spreads the dialogue between center and fronts.
If you have low impedance speakers, this thread may interest you:
 
If you have low impedance speakers, this thread may interest you:
I like those two posts between you and dlaloum :D He knows the stuff but he often got "power" and "current" mixed up slightly, and might confuse the issue inadvertently. There, he said "Basically the AVR could not supply the require current to the speakers - power was fine, as my listening levels and speaker efficiencies only...."

The confusing part is, if the AVR could not supply the require current, then power was not fine. Unless fine does not really mean fine lol... We need to remember voltage, current, and power are 100% related so if the value of one changes, it will affect another. Yes, that's even just for resistor load. Sorry, nothing to do with what you are saying, just want to make sure the OP won't get confused that power may be okay even if current is not.
 
I like those two posts between you and dlaloum :D He knows the stuff but he often got "power" and "current" mixed up slightly, and might confuse the issue inadvertently. There, he said "Basically the AVR could not supply the require current to the speakers - power was fine, as my listening levels and speaker efficiencies only...."

The confusing part is, if the AVR could not supply the require current, then power was not fine. Unless fine does not really mean fine lol... We need to remember voltage, current, and power are 100% related so if the value of one changes, it will affect another. Yes, that's even just for resistor load. Sorry, nothing to do with what you are saying, just want to make sure the OP won't get confused that power may be okay even if current is not.
Yeah, I always wondered why he didn't believe the "limp mode" was active and keeps calling it a protection mode despite having all the classic symptoms of "limp mode"! Now we throw in the 61C temp limit into the mix and we have a pretty well defined "limp mode"!
 
Yeah, I always wondered why he didn't believe the "limp mode" was active and keeps calling it a protection mode despite having all the classic symptoms of "limp mode"! Now we throw in the 61C temp limit into the mix and we have a pretty well defined "limp mode"!
I would agree in Adrianconst's case, limp mode is most likely the culprit. IMO, Onkyo should just eliminate that mode, let the protective circuit take care of it, but maybe they feel limp mode could save them on warranty cost, not really sure about that without more details such as the O/C, SC, thermal settings. I think our friend does believe the limp mode's existence, how could he not, Amir got the thing tested thoroughly... More likely he just got too fixated on current being paramount, so tended to not focusing more on other othings.
 
I would agree in Adrianconst's case, limp mode is most likely the culprit. IMO, Onkyo should just eliminate that mode, let the protective circuit take care of it, but maybe they feel limp mode could save them on warranty cost, not really sure about that without more details such as the O/C, SC, thermal settings. I think our friend does believe the limp mode's existence, how could he not, Amir got the thing tested thoroughly... More likely he just got too fixated on current being paramount, so tended to not focusing more on other othings.
There's quite a few members over at AVS who don't believe "limp mode" exists in real-world performance and that my thread over there was wholly unnecessary. The whole point of the thread was to document owner's feedback as they all have very similar symptoms and experience.

I have never seen such feedback on Denons (from 3800 on up) so it proves Amir's bench tests have translated to real-world performance!
 
Hi,
I bought an Integra DXR 3.4. After setting up dirac with a umik 1 mic, I have the sense the soft sounds are hard to hear, like soft speaking or background music. Also, the overall sound volume dropped significantly compared to my previous Denon X3500H. Has anybody experienced similar issues?

There is a voice/dialogue option available in the app, but not in settings, which is weird, and it doesn't really improve the dialogue. Instead, it spreads the dialogue between center and fronts.
What speakers are you using w/the DRX 3.4?
 
you're talking about a protective "limp" mode, right? (because of heat and being driven beyond its rated specs - heat, impedance, power drawn, etc.)

Not the power supply switching to a lower voltage rail to reduce power consumption due to hdmi chips and the likes when listening at lower levels?! The one that all of us can easily reproduce and "remove" by simply turning up the volume to hear the relays switch again.. or see the power consumption jump up..

the weird part is that there's a big fan installed inside the AVR, and that fan NEVER once switched on.. (my AVR is in a small enclosed space and would definitely overheat if I were driving it hard, but we're rarely listening at levels beyond 50-60dB(C) and at night always use headphones (on a splitter, lol) because of the baby)

Has anyone ever seen that thing run?
 
you're talking about a protective "limp" mode, right? (because of heat and being driven beyond its rated specs - heat, impedance, power drawn, etc.)
Technically, no AVR is required to report power under a 6, 4, or lower ohm load under current FTC guidelines. If they did, the 2021 PAC AVRs would be at a severe disadvantage compared to Denon/Marantz and other brands that don’t use this form of gamesmanship. It’s only websites like this one that tells us the whole story via bench tests!
 
you're talking about a protective "limp" mode, right? (because of heat and being driven beyond its rated specs - heat, impedance, power drawn, etc.)
Not according to Amir, he found that it was time based. That would make little sense. Perhaps someone in the design team make a mistake, if so they should fix it via a fw update. More users should let them know of the issue but I guess most users don't realize there is an issue.
 
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