Pioneer VSX-LX505 AVR Review

[fadetoblackbs]

Correct. "Atmos" has no reason to appear on the AVR screen if your setup is only 5.1.

I mean I did not see it on Netflix but I will check out again. Thanks

 

[EWL5]

I mean I did not see it on Netflix but I will check out again. Thanks

Dolby Atmos on Netflix

You will need a plan that supports streaming in Ultra HD, a device that supports Dolby Atmos, and stream quality set to High or Auto.

help.netflix.com

I'm sure it's similar in Germany. The weak link could be your Netflix app from the TV as it may not support Dolby Atmos (only a handful of devices do). Off the top of my head, devices that support Dolby Atmos include:

Apple TV 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K
Fire TV Cube
LG C2 evo OLED

Is your TV advertised to send Dolby Atmos back via eARC?

 

[fadetoblackbs]

Dolby Atmos on Netflix

You will need a plan that supports streaming in Ultra HD, a device that supports Dolby Atmos, and stream quality set to High or Auto.

help.netflix.com

I'm sure it's similar in Germany. The weak link could be your Netflix app from the TV as it may not support Dolby Atmos (only a handful of devices do). Off the top of my head, devices that support Dolby Atmos include:

Apple TV 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K
Fire TV Cube

Is your TV advertised to send Dolby Atmos back via eARC?

You are totally right.

I have Dolby-Vision-Atmos on Netflix, I took a picture.

At the End my Pioneer gets 5.1 out of it.
How would I now how many channels I can get out of this Netflix source? Like 5.2.1 etc is not displayed right?

I try to think if it makes sense to upgrade my 5.1 system based on the available material on mass streaming services.

 

[EWL5]

You are totally right.

I have Dolby-Vision-Atmos on Netflix, I took a picture.

At the End my Pioneer gets 5.1 out of it.
How would I now how many channels I can get out of this Netflix source? Like 5.2.1 etc is not displayed right?

I try to think if it makes sense to upgrade my 5.1 system based on the available material on mass streaming services.

View attachment 426076

The beauty is that the metadata for Dolby Atmos will accommodate whatever you have (7 channels, 9 channels, 11 channels, etc). The number of channels used will typically be displayed by your AVR (on the TV) via an "info" menu (I call it a geekbox).

I have a 7 channel setup and Dolby Atmos sounds fabulous (2 height speakers are in-ceiling).

 

[fadetoblackbs]

The beauty is that the metadata for Dolby Atmos will accommodate whatever you have (7 channels, 9 channels, 11 channels, etc). The number of channels used will typically be displayed by your AVR (on the TV) via an "info" menu (I call it a geekbox).

I have a 7 channel setup and Dolby Atmos sounds fabulous (2 height speakers are in-ceiling).

Allright!

I might give it a try with some lend speakers to test

Thanks!

 

[popej]

Look for virtual speakers in settings of AVR. With this on, you will get Atmos sound on your AVR, even without top speakers. Probably not that immersive like with a proper setup, but at least you could test streaming config.

 

[DavidMcRoy]

Dolby Atmos on Netflix

You will need a plan that supports streaming in Ultra HD, a device that supports Dolby Atmos, and stream quality set to High or Auto.

help.netflix.com

I'm sure it's similar in Germany. The weak link could be your Netflix app from the TV as it may not support Dolby Atmos (only a handful of devices do). Off the top of my head, devices that support Dolby Atmos include:

Apple TV 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K
Fire TV Cube

Is your TV advertised to send Dolby Atmos back via eARC?

Add to this list the Netflix app in the LG C2 evoOLED, probably other LG models, too.

 

[EWL5]

Add to this list the Netflix app in the LG C2 evoOLED, probably other LG models, too.

Added. The list grows every year but it's still safer to assume the TV can't do it and prove that it does!

 

[Printdivision]

Hello, I bought the Pioneer SVX-LX305 receiver, I connected it to Dynavoice DF-8 front speakers, and satellites, some JBL speakers, I listened to music (a few favorite songs) and watched a few movies, what I can say is that it sounds very good stereo, clear for my education and ears, the separation of frequencies (especially low and high) is very good, it behaves very well, the guitar, piano, violin strings, are heard quite well for a receiver. In movies, the same.
Now let me tell you about a problem....I'm sitting at a distance of 2.5 meters and from a volume of -22 and up (and it increases in intensity, with the increase in volume) background sound begins to be heard (hissing...it's like deflating a bicycle tube...but much slower, this at maximum volume), in the breaks between songs, or in quiet passages in the songs, it is heard slowly (but noticeable, if you're more attentive). I returned it and bought the older brother SVX 505......same. The situation is on any source, I detected it....and the dwarf sat on the brain. from what I've read here, you don't talk about this, has anyone heard the background sound?, is it normal?, or am I exaggerating?. Thanks in advance, any answer/advice is very helpful.

 

[Will P]

Did you try running grounding wire from the AVR grounding screw to the rest of your equipment or to a common ground on the wall receptacle ground pin (round pin)?
That would eliminate a lot of noise.

 

[Printdivision]

Hi, I really didn't expect such a quick answer! I didn't think about that, the problem is that I don't have grounding, I don't understand the rest of the equipment?.....why should I connect it, in the absence of grounding? . Do you think the background sound comes from this? , on Denon X1700H and X1500H (in the same situation, I don't have any background sound). You turned the volume to maximum, turned on some source (let's say TV or player), without music, movie and started to raise the volume to maximum......nothing is heard? , a sound like a blow, not a buzz..... Thank you very much for the help, I'll tell you what I solved

 

[EWL5]

Hello, I bought the Pioneer SVX-LX305 receiver, I connected it to Dynavoice DF-8 front speakers, and satellites, some JBL speakers, I listened to music (a few favorite songs) and watched a few movies, what I can say is that it sounds very good stereo, clear for my education and ears, the separation of frequencies (especially low and high) is very good, it behaves very well, the guitar, piano, violin strings, are heard quite well for a receiver. In movies, the same.
Now let me tell you about a problem....I'm sitting at a distance of 2.5 meters and from a volume of -22 and up (and it increases in intensity, with the increase in volume) background sound begins to be heard (hissing...it's like deflating a bicycle tube...but much slower, this at maximum volume), in the breaks between songs, or in quiet passages in the songs, it is heard slowly (but noticeable, if you're more attentive). I returned it and bought the older brother SVX 505......same. The situation is on any source, I detected it....and the dwarf sat on the brain. from what I've read here, you don't talk about this, has anyone heard the background sound?, is it normal?, or am I exaggerating?. Thanks in advance, any answer/advice is very helpful.

I think your speakers are 6 ohm nominal but probably has bad dips on the curve.

A good chance the 305 and 505 hit the "limp mode" that Amir has experienced for low impedance speakers!

 

[Printdivision]

Yes, the speakers are 6 ohms, I turned up the volume... up to about -12 and no problem, no distortion, pretty good behavior (for my ear), just.......too much sound pressure. I'm surprised that this background sound hasn't been discussed before (or maybe I missed it), not a bass, just a whine......and they're discussing a very rare scenario, going into protection after a short time.... I talked to another site in my country yesterday, with a knowledgeable person (sound and image calibrator) and he told me that it's an electronics problem (schematic, design, parts)....I didn't expect it with Pioneer, with cheap Denon (X1500H/X1700H) you can't hear it....unless you put your ear close to the speaker. It's true.......at a volume of -20, -18....you have to have moments of silence in the movie or music (it's a rarer scenario)......but I have it in my head now

 

[Will P]

After I grounded the AVR chassis all different kind of noise - both high noise floor and DSP processing noise - went away.
One of the sound field modes - Theater Dimensional - was so noisy when running BD player over HDMI that it was unlistenable.
Now the AVR is dead quiet. 95dB SINAD or better.

For best results ground all your devices to a common point.

Here are some pictures of how I grounded the chassis to the receptacle grounding pin.
Once the warranty is up I'll replace the 2-wire power cord with proper 3-wire power cord.

 

[Will P]

 

[Printdivision]

Nice of you!, I understood for the first time, but I don't have grounding in the sockets, let's see why I should connect a cable. How nice it would be to solve it like this.......but I'm reserved

 

[Will P]

For quick grounding check - get an unbalanced RCA cable.
Touch the source device housing screw with the RCA pin on one side and touch the AVR housing screw with the other side RCA pin.
Check if that would get the noise level reduced.

 

[Printdivision]

Hello, I checked as you said......and no difference, after that I disconnected everything (HDMI, all speakers) and started reconnecting step by step.....starting with the front speakers, as I made the first connection (the right speaker)....the sound started (it's like a blow/wind), with the volume set to maximum (set by me to 0) and I think it can be heard even from 10-15 meters from the speaker. I didn't need to make any other connections, it's not from the grounding, it's from the electronics (in the same situation the Denon X1700H is not heard, if the grounding was there....it could be heard on it too).......as with the Pioneer VSX LX-305, which I gave up (returned) and bought the 505....thinking I was solving something. I'm sure you can hear it too.....but it probably doesn't bother you. It is true (I repeat) that the scenarios when I hear it are rare, but now I know that it exists.....and I don't think there is a solution to this problem. Can you try (any of you who own the 305 or 505), to put it on a source and without starting music or a movie, turn it up to maximum? If a tone or Dirac is activated, it is heard even louder. Thank you.

 

[Power Pop 23]

@Printdivision ,

Thanks for sharing your experience. Am I correct in assuming your sample of the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 is running the current firmware deployed in late October 2024 ?

 

[Printdivision]

Well, I bought it......a few days ago and I updated it....I guess the one from October. Anyway, before the update (when I took it out of the box and connected it to the TV), I couldn't even use it....it was losing its HDMI connection, I could hardly reach its interface, WI-FI settings, etc. I like the product a lot......but I was disappointed and saddened by the problem with the background sound.