Pioneer VSX-LX505 AVR Review

[Will P]

Did you try eliminating the case of bad power circuit?
You can either plug the AVR in another receptacle at the other side of the house or run an extension cord.

 

[Printdivision]

I disconnected it from the power and put it on an extension cord on a network separate from other sources and as I expected....the same. But I'm still waiting, maybe some colleagues here will try to do what I said earlier, it's very hard for me to believe that there is no one here who doesn't have this situation with the SL 505 ......and I've only found 2 devices, the Sl 305 and the SL 505 with this problem. I repeat, it's not a humming sound (grounding/network), or other noises, it's like a blow. Thank you.

 

[ban25]

Sounds like tweeter hiss, which, depending on the sensitivity of your speakers, you're going to have some at reference levels.

 

[Printdivision]

Something like....., but why is this happening?

 

[ban25]

Something like....., but why is this happening?

The noise floor is getting amplified up to an audible level because you are running at max gain (+0 dB, technically it might go a bit over that, to +3 dB or so). Coupled with high sensitivity speakers, that noise will be audible through the tweeter as hiss (white noise). It would be helpful to know what speakers you are running?

The solution is to turn the volume down and sit further away.

 

[Printdivision]

I have Dynavoice DF-8 speakers...which are probably very sensitive, but almost the same can be heard on other speakers....I think I tried all the options, to solve the problem that "settled in my head"......more than that, with an entry level receiver (Denon X1700H) it is not audible!...., connected to the same speakers, TV, player, power network, etc.

 

[Will P]

Is that AVR the European version 240VAC?

 

[Printdivision]

Yes .

 

[ban25]

I have Dynavoice DF-8 speakers...which are probably very sensitive, but almost the same can be heard on other speakers....I think I tried all the options, to solve the problem that "settled in my head"......more than that, with an entry level receiver (Denon X1700H) it is not audible!...., connected to the same speakers, TV, player, power network, etc.

94 dB sensitivity, extremely sensitive indeed. The amp section of the 505 measures 76 dB SINAD. It's also 120WPC vs 80WPC on the X1700H, so if you are running both at max gain, the 505 is going to be louder and you are going to hear that noise floor.

If you are dead set on eliminating the hiss at SPLs that will cause permanent hearing loss in short order, you could investigate some very quiet Class D (Purifi) or AB (Benchmark) external amps that you could run off the pre-amp outputs of the 505 (97 dB SINAD).

 

[Printdivision]

I think you are right! , to understand that that noise is normal, in this class of amplifiers? Thank you for your time.

 

[GSM58]

I tested the Onkyo TX RZ-50 in my system and it didn't have the power or control to push my Dynaudio Contour 20 speakers.
The Pioneer LX -505 uses the same amplifier as the Onkyo. For lower sensitivity speakers and 4 ohms, you will need an external amplifier.
The Pioneer LX -805 is definitely another standard. It has a lot of power + control.

 

[EWL5]

I think you are right! , to understand that that noise is normal, in this class of amplifiers? Thank you for your time.

I'm sure the 3800 would work if the 1700 was fine.

I read the reviews for the 505, RZ50, and the 3800 and made a decision that worked for me!

 

[GSM58]

One VERY annoying detail is when you change the sound codec through the app. You have to go through all of them until you get to the one you want to listen to.
On my old Pioneer Elite SC-67 the app was amazing. It had a list of all the audio formats... you just had to select the one you wanted to listen to.
The guys managed to make everything worse.

 

[MbphotoX]

94dB sensitivity.. at 8 Ohms, 120WPC and 3m distance, that's a whopping 108+ dB(c)
now, into 6 Ohms and 4 Ohms respectively, we're talking a LOT more than 120WPC..

But it's safe to assume that you're turning up the volume to 110dB here

with a SINAD of 75dB roundabouts, you're looking at 35dB noisefloor.. that really is audible, yes.


If you really listen at these ridiculous levels, I would get separate amplifiers for those speakers.
I for one would probably never be above -30dB on the Pioneer with such speakers. (that's still a very loud 80dB(c) )

 

[Printdivision]

For music, I give the volume around -35.....-30, with rare and short periods....up to -20 (in the case of classical music or with quiet passages). At the movies, around -25, up to -15... the same with rare periods. In the moments of silence (nothing was playing...the volume was left like that from a song), at a high volume (-22), I discovered (unwittingly) that sound (white sound, I think it's called) ......and after that I started to raise the volume (but without content) to see how much it goes up.......and I saw , this does not mean that I listen to those volumes.....or that I will encounter it again soon (I think the situations are rare...to very rare). The point is that I discovered it, I didn't expect such a thing to exist. It seems to be normal.......or at least that's what I understand from here (it would be even better if a colleague with vast knowledge would confirm what I understood ). Do you think the Denon X3800H would have been better? , I understood that (from several colleagues on other sites) that Pioneer is better on stereo and I said that maybe I can get (at least) better on music.......and movies. That's why I got the Pioneer. Thank you for your time everyone, you are doing a very good job, we understand too....those less knowledgeable

 

[Printdivision]

I'm sure the 3800 would work if the 1700 was fine.

I read the reviews for the 505, RZ50, and the 3800 and made a decision that worked for me!

For music (stereo) is it better for you with the Denon?

 

[EWL5]

For music (stereo) is it better for you with the Denon?

These days I've been listening mostly to Dolby Atmos spatial music from Apple TV but when I do listen to stereo music, it sounds great! For background, I've owned Onkyo, Rotel, and 3 consecutive Pioneer Elites before my first Denon AVR!

Your best bet is to get a 3800 from a store w/a good return policy that you can audition in your home. I've had my 3800 for nearly 2 years now and haven't had any regrets (including paying for Dirac Live FB license)!

One other thing to consider is that HDMI failure appears to be quite common on the 2021 PAC units. This is quite rare on Denon/Marantz units so consider that as well even if you ignore the "noise" you're experiencing now!

 

[Will P]

For music (stereo) is it better for you with the Denon?

If your current 505 has all the features you need I'd keep it since it has really good preamp SINAD of 97dB.

I'd just add an external amp for the fronts with really high SINAD like Buckeye Hypex NC252.

You would get really quiet system with more power and you still be spending less than going the Denon 3800 route.

Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye NC252MP balanced stereo class D amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $575. The amp is almost the size of a loaf of bread and literally weighs nearly as much! Amazing how far amplification technology has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Power Pop 23]

One other thing to consider is that HDMI failure appears to be quite common on the 2021 PAC units. This is quite rare on Denon/Marantz units so consider that as well even if you ignore the "noise" you're experiencing now!

I own a Pioneer '505' and was unaware of HDMI failure in select AVR's from PAC. I am not finding a discussion this failure at ASR. Is there another forum where this failure is discussed ? Thank you !

 

[GSM58]

I own a Pioneer '505' and was unaware of HDMI failure in select AVR's from PAC. I am not finding a discussion this failure at ASR. Is there another forum where this failure is discussed ? Thank you !

I had the Onkyo RZ-50 in my system for 20 days and suddenly I lost the HDMI signal on my JVC -RS46 projector. I contacted Onkyo and it didn't solve anything. Then I searched the internet and there were several people with the same problem.